Lisa Hemann

The Rio Blanco County Strategic Plan provides a framework to guide county policy, budgeting, and operations, reflecting a commitment to responsible stewardship, transparency, and long-term sustainability. It is built upon two foundational pillars: 'Responsible Stewardship of County Assets and Infrastructure,' which focuses on managing county-owned assets like transportation, facilities, and equipment; and 'Transparent and Sustainable Fiscal and Workforce Stewardship,' which addresses the management of public funds, budgeting, and employee compensation. The plan aims to strengthen governance, responsibly manage resources, and ensure Rio Blanco County remains a desirable place to live, work, play, and grow for current and future generations.

The meeting was dedicated to the Rio Blanco County 2026 Budget Hearing. Discussions included conditions for any future supplemental budget changes, specifying that expenditure increases must be offset by decreases elsewhere or matched by unanticipated revenue as defined by Colorado statutes. Key actions involved the adoption of Resolution 2025-30, summarizing expenditures and revenues and adopting the 2026 budget. This was followed by the adoption of Resolution 2025-31, appropriating sums of money totaling $48,695,411 to various funds and agencies for the 2026 budget year. Staff were thanked for their thorough work on the budgets, especially in managing cuts while still supporting health plans and cost-of-living adjustments (cola). A plan was mentioned to table mill levies until December 19th to allow special districts time to meet and adopt their own levies.

The session was convened as a special work session which was not streamed live on the RBC YouTube channel. The agenda was approved, including any changes for the July 23, 2025 meeting date. A motion was made and seconded to enter into executive session pursuant to CRS 24-6-402 to discuss positions relative to matters subject to negotiations, develop strategies for negotiations, and instruct negotiators specifically regarding the CSU agreement concerning salaries and budgeted expenses.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance, noting the presence of legal counsel. Key business discussions included the approval of the agenda and the consent agenda, which covered payroll, accounts payable, and minutes from various meetings held in January and early February 2026. Under general business, the board approved the annual renewal of the MER golf course liquor license. Ratification was sought for an agreement with SGM Moon Inc. for Emergency Watershed Protection engineering services related to landfill and county road work, which is intended to be completed quickly to secure up to 75% funding from the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The board also approved a grant agreement with DHS SEM for the EWIB program, detailing how funding contributions from EWIP and DHSM would minimize the county's financial exposure to 12.5% for associated projects. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Treasurer's semiannual report, although its formal review was deferred briefly. Finally, the board addressed the appointment of Michael Cobb to the MER Regional Library Board, with discussion centering on the library board's perceived positive direction and consistency. A motion was also presented to approve the initiation of an online tax search feature for the Treasurer's office, costing $15,000 initially, to provide real-time, accurate tax information to the public, banks, and oil and gas companies, thereby reducing staff administrative burden related to inaccurate assessor data and manual statement generation.

The meeting involved extensive discussion regarding managing a park, including efforts to organize a local club to assist in management and establish an agreement to reduce control by current administrators due to perceived ineffectiveness in event hosting. The Board conducted numerous appointments for 2026, including Ellie Scritchfield as Chairman, Jennifer O'Harren as Chairman Pro Tem, and appointments to the AGNC board, County Investment Committee, Northwest Transportation Planning Commission, E 911 board, Rio Blanco County Board of Social Services, Rio Blanco County Board of Equalization, Rio Blanco County Board of Health of Public Health, Rangely Development Agency/Corporation, and the Yampa White Green Basin Roundt. The Board ratified appointments for the County Attorney and the Department of Human Services County Attorney. Approval was also given for the 2026 USDA APIs wildlife service contract, the contract modification with Value West, Inc. for the Assessor's contract, a new contract with Digital Map Solutions LLC for the Assessor, the 2026 Landfill scope of work, and the appointment of Carmen McCay as the Department of Human Services Director. The setting of regular meeting days for 2026 was approved, scheduling meetings for the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at designated locations in Meeker and Rangely. The purchase of a new bus for Pioneers Medical Center was tabled, as was the contract related to the hospital.