Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

All right. Good morning, everyone. Liz, are we good? Yeah, we're good. Thank you. All right. Good morning, everyone. Mass Alcoa County Commissioner Chair. This is board discussion time. It is October 14th. It is 8.30 a.m. Commissioner, please introduce yourself.

Marsha Porter Norton, La Plata County Commissioner.

Great. Thank you. Welcome, everyone. All right. A couple items here. We have first board discussion of liaison updates from the commissioners. Then we will work on to get an update from Brian and then future BDTs and then any other items from our staff here at the table. All right. Commissioner Portnoy, any items for discussion, updates, et cetera?

Yeah, I have a bit of a list, and it's circling back on some things we've talked about on Monday and in public meetings. I think we need to circle back at a different time, not now, related to the city's meeting last night. I believe that it is not in the best interest of anybody to get to know, and that's how the meeting was great until the last five minutes, and then it felt like we were getting to know again. That isn't what the public wants. It's not what is good for the community. I think we have some real thinking and talking to do with them about how we can get out of that mode of just

Can we work off of each other on that? I agree. And what my suggestion would be is I think that I don't want to get to know. In our jobs, we have to try to find that middle ground. Therefore, I think that, in my opinion, there's a couple of items that are hot tickets that we need to deal with, like the budget. My suggestion would be, and I would like to run this by with the attorneys and with Jeff, and that is, is any session, these are negotiations.

I would like to work on that here in the future, near future. but let's get the other priorities out of the way, but I still like the idea of a chair and a mayor. Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. The two managers together, but that would be after working on what, how, what, where's that middle ground?

What direction are you given, essentially? Yeah, yeah. And again, I'm going to be positive the meeting was great. I think our, you know, we can talk. I think it's fine to talk about hard issues. But when we are sort of saying, well, we want this and we want this and no to this and, you know, we know you, you know, that's not what, that's not called getting to yes. That's not operating out of common interests. And I think a retreat is a great idea. I have been involved in the Neighbors in Need of Assistance, linking with them. I used to be in the group for years. I did want to let both of you a

Yeah, so these are, Region 9 does this, I think it's actually because they're an EDA. They have, like, all counties that are EDAs in the country have to do this. And it's essentially saying, what are your economic housing, you know, basic priorities? And then they use that for leveraging grants. And is there another reason they use it?

Yep. And so it's really, I mean, yeah, this has been around forever. But I was like, I can only imagine how long the work session would be if we're sitting here discussing 53 projects, which are all worth it. Let's see.

That was kind of... Can I just play off of another item, too, for just the discussion during JST for yesterday? What I also heard, too, was a 3% increase budget to the senior services. And so, great. I will... Jeff, if we can just make sure... I already know they will, but just follow back up with Adam and Erin just to make sure that that budget is reflected for the 3% increase. Okay. And then the 30th is for Nina, and go through that process. Thank you, Commissioner, for bringing that up. But what I also, too, and I want to follow up, but I think this may tie into a e-session or a retreat, et

I would like to, I think maybe that's all tied together on future discussions. Yes, it is.

The IGA, for any listening public, we have a, it's an intergovernmental agreement that says, basically lines out very, broad terms about how the city and county will work together to deploy the joint sales tax. And it is 11% of one penny of the three pennies that we collect. We just got another penny last fall, as everybody knows. And there was currently two pennies, two cent sales tax. And that is all distributed in various ways, including to the municipalities. And so they agreed or suggested that we redo that IGA.

It's 1990. That was shocking. So it's like all IGAs and other agreements. It's a living document, so let's get that updated.

I know, that's amazing. Look at this. We have hurricane, near hurricane. I should be careful with what I say. Let's see I am going to be out Friday and out a little bit this week for some family stuff and then I think that's it for now great thank you a couple items that you brought up so I don't have to repeat that I have a Sword monthly meeting this afternoon

I need to verify, but I believe SORD has been scheduled for VDT here in the near future, I believe. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that I'll have to look back at my emails, but I can verify that with Ogun.

You might let him know, Commissioner Salka, about the drug incineration. I mean, it's a small win, and it's a win nonetheless. So it'll be a subscription service subscription. And Lieutenant, he is a Lieutenant, correct, Joey?

Yes, Lieutenant LaVenture is reaching out. I don't think we solidified that to see if the service might be used by Bayfield and Ignacio as well. And so there's, you know, some intergovernmental stuff. And then it's like I was saying yesterday in the meeting, it's a service that comes through for not only our drug incineration, but as the city's take-back program might be able to use it to.

Perfect. The other item, too, is anything that we would like to speak on for our work session on Monday is due tomorrow, just a reminder. And then next week, for the listening public and for Commissioner Porter-Norton, myself, and Commissioner Silbert, we have a ton of meetings for budget time. Yes. This is the season, as I always say, we've got a full week of talking numbers.

Yeah, my calendar is green. I don't know what color you put me inside. Mine's red all across. Red, you need a different color. Yeah, that's alert. It's like that would stress me out.

Well, mine is all black background, so it just pops for me in my aging eyes.

I did also want to let you know, it's all good, that at the 5x5 meeting that I wasn't able to attend. I think you know that. I'm at 101 on this. I'm not even going to attempt to say what this is, but there is a different model that can be used for Medicaid on how Medicaid is funded. It doesn't impact our eligibility that we do at DHS, but it could theoretically mean more Medicaid dollars are coming into our region for places like Axis. And so it was announced we were going to have a meeting on the 23rd. And this is, AXIS is planning this. We don't have to plan this. But it's the 23rd at 730. A

I'm just trying to quiet the noise. That's okay.

It's kind of like people talking in the background. But we have a lot of community work to do around ameliorating this and and honestly won't be able to ameliorate it for everybody. People are losing their health care already. I was at this thing on Sunday giving a talk about this. I'll email you my notes. And we know about 20% of people in La Plata County are on Medicaid. And so there's 3,900 people very much at risk for losing their care because they are in something called the expansion population.

In La Plata County are on Medicaid. So not to re-give my speech from Sunday, but there's two ways the county interfaces with Medicaid. We sign people up through DHS, right? So that's benefits management. And are you, you know, there's paperwork and all that. With work requirements coming on board, I think you all know this from the budget, we've had to hire four additional people. And then with the penalties coming down around SNAP, that meant an additional $600,000 had to be set aside. But we are having a situation where benefits are being cut left and right for many, many, many reasons. And

I've been reaching out to Archuleta County Commissioners, and I was able to speak with Commissioner Brown yesterday afternoon. We're talking about a budget times. We share a budget item for D.A. Murray, and those were great conversations, but I was just asking him just his overall picture of how his budget's doing over there in their county, and they are needing to cut $1.2 million. They now have it down to $400,000. We've been there. Yeah, we have been there. And I asked if they're doing any riffing. They're not. So that's good news just for their staff. And it's just really difficult. But I'

So they're out pretty bad, way more than us. But anyway, I think this Medicaid and healthcare thing is going to continually come to the forefront as we see more and more people getting kicked off of care. The work requirements, I mean, as I said, I've said publicly, we want people to work. If you're able-bodied and can work, of course. And they don't apply to everybody if you're disabled or, you know, child, obviously, but So what is going to happen is that there's going to be a lot of confusion. Our people won't get the right paperwork in. You have to work 80 hours a month, which, again, that

I like those ideas at the end of your spiel. So I have asked those questions. I'm trying to get that ball. I would like for us to try to get that ball rolling, too, to be able to provide low-level services just to give people a little bit more knowledge of how their health is doing.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, and we also help with insurance navigation through the health department. Yes, we do. So, yeah, they're going to have a lot of people coming in. As people are like my premium just went up 140 and where is there a you know so not to be a bearer of bad news I just think it's a bearer of realistic news it is it is that's all I have all right I saw Brian out there yeah do you want me to get him maybe please yep commissioner if we're good we can always do more if anything pops up we can do that at the end

Brian, please introduce yourself, and you have the floor.

So, Brian, you've been apprised on this information. Commissioner Porter, you have too as well? Yes. Okay, perfect. Yes, I have. And so it's one where we want to make sure that, one, we do the best that we can to save or best use of our taxpayers' money, funds. And so with this, at least from my immediate input, would be is that if we're able to have the ability to buy a patrol cruiser at that cost, we should probably jump on that. Yes, sir.

Agreed. And look at the conversation we just had due to various things coming down from the feds. We're probably out. Please don't take this to the bank, so to speak. We're out a million already on what we have to pick up. And so we need to save, you know, even with 1A, it's kind of shocking how we're still looking for every single penny we can, as we should be doing anyway.

You have to do the wiring still, but at least the bars still work.

Any of the vehicles that you're replacing, are there any, and we have not gone through that budget yet, but is there any available cruisers that could be used, repurposed?

So, and then there was assessor Woodson was interested. And I think that that's something that we'll have further discussions when we get for a deeper into our budget. But I don't know if there's any available vehicles to be able to potentially be used there. So that's, you don't have to answer any of that. It's just more of just trying to, Hey, we, if we're replacing 14 However, we can use them. Yes, sir.

What does happen? Is there a market for used patrols, vehicles?

And maybe police departments or sheriff's offices in other places. That's what our hope was.

Right, right. Well, and they're, you know. For people that don't need to use them as hard as our sheriff's office does, it would be a good car for a while.

And so this is the one, this is the one that a car hit the sheriff, the cruiser, correct?

Wow. When I was mayor, we had a Marshall's Cruiser, a bear, hit the side of it in total.

I appreciate all this. I know you work so hard on trying to keep this. How many vehicles do we have again?

That is incredible. That is incredible. I mean, I can barely kind of keep my little household fleet going and alive. So thank you. And I think saving this money is critical and appreciate the concept of recycling stuff where we can. And so it's good policy. Yep.

Well, I think it's brilliant because I, I mean, we've been here for six years and every year I learn more about our fleet. You know what I mean? Like it's not my area of expertise.

I have one more question since you brought it up. Is it cheaper to send a certain amount of people to drive them versus a couple 18-wheelers trucking them back?

Okay, so that's quite a few 18-wheelers.

And then we're cutting into our $100,000 savings. Right.

Yeah, but it's just done. I picked up a 1955 Chevy truck a long time ago in Oklahoma and drove there and back, and that was tough. So kudos to you and your team and everyone that's doing that. Absolutely. Thank you.

This is the one we talked about when you came in here last time.

31 years. I was going to say 21. I'm like math in public is not my strength. Our fleet keeps them going.

Well, Brian, thank you very much. Thank you, Brian. You've got the direction. Thank you.

Exactly. Yeah, maybe get some reservoirs filled up.

I do want to say, though, with this weather, just want to thank our first responders, sheriff's office, as well as our road and bridge crew. It looked like via seeing social media that they were busy last night. And so thank you to all that were involved to make sure the safety and welfare of our residents and those that are on our county roads were able to, one, be safe, and then, in time, was able to drive back on that road again.

And was it only 250 that had the most major, but I know there was some stuff in the southeast county as well.

It's just a scary thought, though, if 180 did not pass. This is dipping into funds, and it's just, one, we're happy for the rain, but it also, the rain can destroy some county roads. And so, yeah, thank you to the sheriffs as well as our road and bridge crew. All right. Commissioner, any future BDT items?

Neither do I. The whole list. Yeah, we have the Region 9 coming up, and then Sword I will get verified, but that's all I have right now on my list. All right, Jeff.

You're doing great. So I appreciate your dedication and all your hard work because there's a lot on your plate. This has been good. I enjoyed it. And I'm glad you have great staff to be able to assist you when you need. So do not ask, even ask the commissioners if you need anything.

The RFP for the Connections magazine closes on Friday.

You did. And I'll give that to you right after this meeting. Great.

It was just swamped with everything else piling on the emails. I will get you that this morning.

It's the week of the actual Veterans Day. 4th through the 11th. That's which is on the 11th. Culminating on the 11th. Yep. We should do a wear green that week. I love it. Yeah, like do we have a business meeting that week?

May I suggest, too, as well, Triangle Blue Star Moms, if you could reach out to, she's a county employee. Thank you. She's at the sheriff's office. Reach out to her. She might have some good contacts of just spreading the word. And then I would like for us, anything that is green, would love for us to take photos of all that and for us then to provide that to NACO.

Great. We have a business meeting on the 10th of November. Not that like anybody cares really, but like using the commissioners, if we were green and then we had a picture, we can use that as part of the messaging. I love it. Yeah.

Yeah. So commissioner 10th of November, we're green.

And that's all I have. You know, I will just note, and unless the budget's in front of me, sometimes I'm not good with numbers, but we pay into NACO. They are our national lobbying and advocacy and data. And I love that you're using their stuff because sometimes I get their emails and I'm like, oh, I'm going to read that on a Sunday, but they do a ton of work and they have all kinds of media kits and, You know, I'm trying to do a much better job of like, oh, let's look at PILT. I'm going to go on NACO's site and read about PILT and make sure I know what's going on with that. So thank you for d

We can probably get you on the mailing list, too, as well. Great. Okay. Yeah.

That would be good to get you guys on the mailing list.

I'll take on that to figure out how to do that for you.

Awesome. Lovely. Thank you, sir. And we have been, I can't remember if this is budgeted next year, they have an annual legislative conference in February. Okay. And it's expensive, but you go with, there's about 3,600 counties in the country.

It's in the D.C. Yeah, that's in D.C. And I am hoping, we've been. Wow. And they have like a rural caucus. They, you get to, you know, we go up on the hill. Wow. And being senators and representatives. Yeah. Matt got me in a press conference a couple years ago that went viral federal electeds and I'm like marcia you're going so I'm part of this group so stand there with a little thought I was representing wow that was on broadcast awesome yeah so I am hoping we can get a commissioner to have the experience because it's amazing and it goes Wednesday through so it's a hall I mean it's like Wedne

Two times that you and I have gone, it was like pressing issues, and we would have to go to senators' and representatives' offices, sit down with them, speak with them. It's really neat. It's like half conference and the other half is wheeling and dealing and just trying to bend the ears of our federal electeds.

And other commissioners. It's where I believe our strength in our regional commissioners has come from. One of them in addition to CCI is that we you know, we have time to talk to each other and we're traveling together And it's like let's form this five by five group. So anyway, it's all good stuff.

Awesome All right, I will hunt down how to get you out of the email. Great. Wonderful.

especially children going to school I remember those days I feel like I'm sick all the time perfect alright anything else I will call this BDT adjourned then thank you everyone thank you

And it sounds like Ignacio is planning on doing the road improvements for 2020. All right, great. But not with any other contribution? I know they don't want a contribution. It didn't sound. I was like, well, that's good. Because typically when we want to annex a road, it's half the time.