A short Garfield County commissioners (BOCC) meeting Monday included approvals for an event permit for the Colorado Extreme Hockey Association’s Dec. 14 NHL Alumni Outdoor Classic in Carbondale and an increase for the Garfield County Sheriff Department’s checking account from $9,000 to $12,000 for training and civil-fee refunds. Commissioners also signed a resolution about investor-held tax liens and approved the sale of a lien on Silt Farms due to delinquent taxes.
The BOCC also approved the consent agenda, including a request to sign an amendment to a memorandum of understanding with Habitat for Humanity for the purchase of one priority housing right for GarCo employees. They also approved an affidavit about the proposed revisions to state Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) regulations 7, 25, 26 and 27.
On Nov. 13, Commissioner Tom Jankovsky drafted an affidavit supporting West Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association’s (WSCOGA) rebuttal statement to the AQCC about proposed revisions to regulations related to midstream greenhouse gas emissions. The rulemaking hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18-24.
Regulation 7 controls emissions from oil and gas operations. Regulation 25 and 26 control emissions from solvents, surface coating, solvents, engines and stationary sources. Regulation 27 requires “manufacturing stationary sources” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
WSCOGA said in its rebuttal statement that it does not support the proposed rules and that they are not feasible on the West Slope. “They are largely technically infeasible, economically infeasible and disproportionately burdensome to West Slope operators without adding meaningful air quality benefits to Western Colorado.”
Jankovsky’s affidavit supports midstream oil and gas operations, which include infrastructure needed to move oil and natural gas, such as pipelines, trucks and railways. Upstream operations focus on drilling; downstream refers to fossil fuel refining.
The affidavit states that midstream operations provide local jobs, increased county property taxes as well as natural gas and power to local communities, and expresses concerns about over-regulation. The affidavit is now included in the AQCC documents related to the upcoming hearing.
Moving right along, the BOCC approved the transfer of landing fee collection at the Rifle/Garfield County Airport from Atlantic Aviation to Virginia-based Vector Airport Systems. Vector provides automated fee collection, which, said the representative, could increase profit for the airport. Atlantic Aviation’s representative was on-hand to okay the transfer.
The board also listened to an update from Alpine Legal Services (ALS) Executive Director Jennifer Wherry and from The Buddy Program. Both agencies presented an increase in services in Garfield County. Wherry said that ALS hired a full-time housing attorney this year to address senior housing and Medicaid issues.
“A quick email can sometimes keep people in their homes,” she said, adding that housing and domestic violence are top issues. The agency has been able to help about one immigrant each month get authorized to work in the U.S. She reminded commissioners that the pro-bono Ask a Lawyer hotline is available on Wednesday evenings from 5-7.
Brooke Bockelman, assistant director for the Buddy Program, said that the agency launched in Aspen 51 years ago now has services available in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. So far this year, The Buddy Program has served 287 youths in Garfield County. Programs include peer-to-peer mentoring, a leadership program in Rifle and the traditional adult-student mentoring. She added that she could use more adult mentors.
The BOCC approved October EBT/EFT disbursements at $1,654,677, closed the county Department of Human Services petty cash checking account and signed a seven-party memorandum of understanding and cooperative agreement to fund meals and transportation for seniors.
Commissioners and the county attorney, Heather Beattie, entered an executive session to discuss a revenue sharing agreement for the 2024 County Fair, legal questions related to a potential county noise ordinance and to receive legal advice in regard to a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement with the Garfield County Library Board. No action was taken based on those items.
The BOCC has a public meeting with the Garfield County Library Board scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1pm to discuss an Intergovernmental Agreement about library board appointments. The next regular BOCC meeting is on Monday Dec. 2.