PUBLIC COMMENT:– new giant countdown clock to make sure comments adhere to 3 minutes.
Victoria Thalimer: Emails sent to commissioners have not had a reply in over a week. BOCC meetings published to calendar for Feb, and having one meeting per month in the evening. It shouldn't be difficult to send a quick reply. Also that replies have been received to citizens reporting on Independence, and have been added to the application file, which should be growing. The developer is allowed to make many presentations of unlimited length, but citizens are not allowed to speak at all. Brought hard copies for commissioners and for the record. Commissioner response: Town Hall Meeting is being held in the evenings, and BOCC is a working meeting and that's why the Town Hall meeting is being done so that the two way communication can happen. Please come during office hours to discuss anything. They've done that town hall because they understand that public comment is as good as “talking to a wall” Commissioner Richardson. They will reply and send on to CDS, but they have been flooded with emails regarding Independence. For public comment to be meaningful, it should be made at the time of application. Grant Thayer.
Marlene Groves: Thanks for the efforts on the grass fire. Thanks for providing agendas, et al since the change to new commissioners. She has received replies to emails. And hopes things will continue to develop well.
ACTION ITEMS:
Rick Petit, Treasurer: Gallagher Amendment presentation. Residential taxes would pay 45% of taxes in Colorado starting in 1982, so taxes have been decreasing to meet that. Residential is 66% of tax base, 1982 res at 21%, most other things were 29%. Since then, the residential has dropped to 7.96% since 2004. Other classes at 29%. Tabor amendment noted that rate cannot be increased without a vote of the people. Proposed rate for 2017 is 6.56 which results in an 18% decrease in residential property tax revenue. Residential is 66% of tax base, 12% state assessed, 8% commercial, 4.5% vacant land, ag is 6.5%. A few other small amounts. Depending on location, it will have different effects. NW county might see an increase to their fire protection, while quiet parts of the county may see the opposite, as an example. The state has mentioned they would be putting together a committee to determine the impact statewide.
Bank of West Property Update, Ed Ehmann: Staff has received a draft contract for the purchase. All the inspections will be noted in the 30 day period of the contract. $496k purchase, 10,000 sq ft building. Feb 22nd meeting will have contract presented. The monies were from bond refinance. Grant notes that we shouldn't be putting any monies towards things like inspections until contract, even during the due diligence portion of the contract. Willcox wants to be assured that the county has an “out” in the contract, and Ed says there is. July 1, 2017 would be the optimistic move in date.
Marlene Groves: Public comment regarding what the building will be used for. She believes they are just looking at buildings that are available, instead of building one. Planning should have been done first to determine needs instead of putting this due diligence into effect.
New Voting Equipment contracted, Dallas Schroeder: Current voting systems are 10 years old, end of life per contract. Testing and diagnostics showed that 8 machines had to be removed from use due to age. Would like a Universal Voting System which is accepted through the state, and would help in situations like 2013 when Elbert County lost Elections Manager and no one else new the system, and no other counties could provide help because of the uniqueness of our system. New technology, new lease. The vendor will upgrade equipment on new contract as time goes on to keep system current. 8 year contract includes training, prep, etc. Slightly more than we pay now, but will relieve a lot of current issues. Would like to have this executed before end of February. Move to approve the execution of the contact, passed.
County Manager Policy, Ed Ehmann: Commissioners have policy before them. Equipment upgrades and other things are in the policy. Chris Richardson has some wording issue changes. Would make changes and represent to board for approval.
Marlene Groves: Public comment regarding what the building will be used for. She believes they are just looking at buildings that are available, instead of building one. Planning should have been done first to determine needs instead of putting this due diligence into effect.
Elbert County Finance Department Policies and Procedures, Ed Ehmann: Revision to current refinance policies, rewording, etc. to current policy. Staff tries to update these documents annually. New sections for purchase agreements, and Sale of assets. Danny Willcox: Credit card forms need to be added to the policy. Will likely be up for approval at Feb 22nd meeting.
Appointment Policy: For boards, commissions, etc. Working on ironing out some of the policies to appointment. Trying to avoid appointments from becoming political, conflicts of interest, term limits. In the past, the policies have been ignored, so they will be adhered to going forward. May or June this should be completed.