County Manager Sam Albrecht announced that the county has been facing severe technical/IT issues this week, and therefore documents for today’s meeting are unavailable. No paper copies of the documents were available to citizens at the meeting either.

ELBERT COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH: Public Hearing
-Fees are being reviewed and adjusted. Relevant information is on website.
-Community health assessment improvement 5-year plan to be completed this year.
-Access to care: EC is in better shape than some counties.
-Staffing updates: introduced new employee who will be doing inspections.
-Hope to add public health nurse soon.
-Public hearing: onsite wastewater treatment systems regulations - based on CO Regulation 43, changes entail reductions of wastewater flow, assisting citizens with locating their septic systems, percolation tests, and flow allowed from smaller pipes. Use permit/title transfer permit ensures homebuyers have working septic system. Will prohibit pit privys. Resolution passed to be effective June 1, 2018.

Public hearing closed. BOCC meeting convened.

CONSENT AGENDA: -Approval of vouchers/mylars, acknowledgement of receipt of variance reports, EC Annual Fire Operation Plan

ELECTED OFFICIALS/DEPARTMENT/STAFF REPORTS:
Sam Albrecht reported on Town of Elizabeth/BOCC meeting to “reinvigorate economic development.” Will be a joint meeting between Elizabeth, Kiowa and Simla approximately every 6 weeks; Clay Brown from DOLA will be present at next meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
-Richard Smith thanked commissioners for opening Sunset Drive in Sun Country Meadows, however the recycled asphalt has turned the road into washboards. Asked for more frequent grading of roads.
-Susan Schick spoke about the documents being unavailable to citizens; commissioners should not take action on any items that impact citizens if citizens have no access to these documents to review and consider ahead of time.
-Marlene Groves reiterated about the BOCC’s silence regarding the video that disrespected her character and asked the commissioners: if the county can’t get items up on the website, how did they get the video posted on the website? Again, the commissioners were silent regarding an apology to Ms. Groves.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:
*Water Study Report: ( Forsgren and Associates) Will Koger repeated information from previous presentations about population growth (60,000+ by 2050) and location of that growth within the county. Projected demands for water use - Denver Basin (aquifers) water use will increase from 51%-69%. Water supplies in EC: creeks, alluvial water, Denver Basin Aquifers, designated basins (Bijou and Upper Big Sandy). Only .8% increase in water usage from aquifers even with large population increase. “Denver Basin supply can meet EC demands well into the future if managed carefully. Individual well production will generally decrease as aquifer pressures decline,” per Mr. Koger. Need to replace 10% of planned aquifer usage with renewable water from 2035-2050 and save $35million in net present value. “Much of the needed water will be moved from irrigated agriculture to municipal use.” Also, a renewable water supply system would assist during droughts.

Recommendations:
-county continue well monitoring program indefinitely (county has already budgeted for this)
-need water conservation; have tiered rate structures
-water reuse
-centralized water and sewer systems (can pump from deeper aquifers)
-water efficient landscaping standards
-regional water planning: renewable water supply system
-water storage options
-develop water/wastewater master plan: pipeline options
-low well productivity zones need to be identified; not conducive to dense development to which Commissioner Thayer stated that the 300 year plan negates the possibility of dense development out east. Commissioner Richardson stated that conservation steps can help achieve the 300 year water requirements.
-Complete report will be available later.

Public Comment:
-Ric Morgan summarized WAC’s process that culminated in this report and offered continued support to the commissioners. Commissioner Richardson stated that this was bigger than a county problem and declined continued WAC involvement.
-Susan Schick asked that the county staff make copies of this report available to public. (An electronic copy is required by the contract to be made available to the public. Not up on the website yet).
-Mike Buck concerned about the statement: “individual well production will decrease.” Sounds like current residents’ wells will be sacrificed in favor of future growth.
(Editorial note: Will Koger was on the county Water Advisory Commission (WAC) until it was apparent that the county would be contracting for a water study. Forsgren and Associates was awarded that contract. Forsgren also engages in regional water planning).