Larimer County Board of County Commissioners - Administrative Matters 7/23/24

Highlight

Larimer County and Prospect Energy resolved violations and enforcement through the Energy and Carbon Management Commission. This agreement includes ceasing production of all of Prospect’s 49 wells, including 10 in the city limits of Fort Collins, with the following actions:

1. “Shutting in” of all 49 wells and. Removal of equipment
2. Third party inspection for leaks of all wells
3. Complete clean-up of a spill at the Hearth Fire Site
4. Suspension or waiver of $1.7 million in fines and $377,000 in fees

Consent Agenda

After approval of the minutes of the previous meeting and a review of next week’s meetings, Commissioner Kefalas reviewed the items in the Consent Agenda. These included:

1. An agreement with Signal Health Network to provide Strategic Individualized Remediation Treatment for those with serious drug and alcohol issues who face incarceration without treatment. The amount is $1,086,000 for the year July 24-June 25.
2. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for parking areas at Carter Lake and Horsetooth Reservoir. The county share is $3,050,000 and the federal share is $11,250,000.

Commissioners’ Guest

The Commissioners welcomed Rodeo Queen Corra Fetzer, chosen by Larimer County Fair and the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association. The fair and rodeo will be held August 2-6.

Discussion Items

1. The Commissioners convened as the Board of Equalization. Elizabeth Carter and Deirdre O’Neill reported on the hearings by referees. To date there have been 95 hearings, 38 of which were virtual. Most hearings were scheduled within 24 hours of being requested. Adjustments have led to a reduction in assessment of 18.53%. These hearings occur when an appellant requests a hearing after the assessor’ decision was made. The Board voted to approve the referee decisions. Another report will be given in a week. They then adjourned as the Board of Equalization.
2. Tina Harris of the Clerk and Recorder’s Office reported on the election data for party primaries. In Larimer County 29.5% of the voters voted. Statewide that number is 26%. There were 74,070 ballots submitted with 544 rejected. Many of these were Undecided voters who voted both the Democratic and Republican ballots. She encouraged people to apply to be election judges for November 5. Harris said her office has been at many events with booths to encourage people to register and to vote. The “I Voted” sticker, chosen from a competition between youth, will be in Spanish and English. 
3. Finance Director Carol Block and Controller introduced Matt Marino and Max Haberkorn from the public accounting firm Rubin Brown. They informed the Board that the county received a clean audit with no significant findings. The County also presented the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report to the Board. The Board voted to approve the 2022-23 Comprehensive Financial Report. 
4. Attorney Frank Haug of the County Attorney’s Office and Community Development Director Rebecca Elliot presented an agreement with Larimer County and Prospect Energy regarding violations and enforcement through the Energy and Carbon Management Commission. (See Highlight above.) Fines and fees were waived in exchange for cooperation. Haug and Elliot suggested that Prospect would likely pursue bankruptcy and not complete the necessary action without the agreement. The Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the settlement agreement.
5. Justin Whitesell of the Sheriff’s Office presented on fire conditions. Some rain is expected, but drought conditions remain in effect. The smoke Larimer is receiving is coming from fires in Canada, California, and Oregon. 

The meeting ended at 11:38 a.m.

Next Meeting: July 30 2024, 9 a.m. at 200 West Oak, Ste. 2200 80521 or live streamed.

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For more information (including members in attendance) see the full notes document here.*

View the meeting agenda

When available, a video recording of the meeting will be on the Larimer County Government YouTube channel.

From the Board of Commissioners website:
“Larimer's three-member Board of County Commissioners is the main policy-making body in the County and works to represent the interest of the citizens of Larimer County at local, state and national levels. Commissioners are elected at large from one of three geographic districts for four-year staggered terms.  In Larimer County, Commissioners are limited to serving three four-year terms.”

*Citizen Observers further the commitment of the League of Women Voters to its principle of Citizens Right to Know, however, we are not acting as journalists. Omissions and errors are possible. It is assumed that users of this information are responsible for their own fact-checking. This could include contacting a government clerk, conversing with an elected official or staff, and/or asking us to speak to the Observer who attended.