HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210214.tiffMINUTES
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
February 17, 2020
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County.Home
Rule Charter at 6:32 p.m., Monday, February 17, 2020, at the Weld County Administration
Building, 1150 0 Street, Greeley, CO.
ROLL CALL:
The meeting was called to order by President Tonya L. Van Beber. Councilmembers Nancy
Teksten, James Welch, Brett Abernathy and Gene Stille were present, constituting a quorum
of members. Also present was County Attorney Bruce Barker and Council Secretary Linda Kane.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA :
Councilmember Abernathy made a motion to add an item to the agenda under New Business,
to discuss a timer, it was seconded as amended by Councilmember Welch and carried.
APPROVAL OF DOCUMENTATION:
Approval of January 20, 2020, Minutes
Councilmember Welch made a motion to approve the January minutes, seconded by
Councilmember Abernathy, and the motion carried.
Approval of February 12, 2020, Minutes
Councilmember Welch made a motion to approve the February minutes, seconded by
Councilmember Abernathy, and the motion carried.
Approval of Resolution 217
Councilmember Abernathy made a motion to approve Resolution 217, stating dates for 2020
meetings, it was seconded by Councilmember Still, and carried.
REVIEW PROGRAM:
There was no review program.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Dave Kisker, of Johnstown, said he appreciated the openness regarding the appointment of a
County Commissioner. He suggested that when applications are published publicly, personal
information be redacted.
Steve Kanten said Republicans wish Commissioner Sean Conway well per his resignation. He
looks forward to a commission that will remain entirely Republican.
Steve Hall said despite two commissioner candidates planning to run in November for a
permanent place on the Board of County Commissioners, they should still have to run, even if
one is appointed by Council.
Bill Gillard, of Greeley, asked again that Council meetings be video -recorded for public review.
He also requested a timer so public speakers know when their three minutes is up.
Co MMU( ; Co -Fzo S
of/2-512i
2021-0214
Sherrie Pief, of Greeley, said her editors at Complete Colorado wanted clarification about a
ranking system for commissioner candidates.
Steven Grand, of Evans, echoed sentiments of Steve Hall. He said the candidate selected by
Council will be facing significant issues during the next several months. He did not support
appointing either of the two candidates planning to run for Commissioner in November.
NEW BUSINESS:
Timers
Councilmember Abernathy asked Secretary Kane to research timers to be used during
meetings. Council wants two timers, one for the President and one for the public podium.
Coordinator Reports/Councilman Reports
Councilmember Abernathy expressed deep appreciation to Commissioner Conway. He said
Conway represented Weld County in a positive way and was a wonderful commissioner.
Councilmember Van Beber also stated her appreciation for Commissioner Conway.
Bills
Councilmember Abernathy made a motion to approve bills, it was seconded by Councilmember
Stille and carried. The bills were paid as follows:
o Weld County Phone Bill for January $25.12
o 4th quarter RTTP legal ad, Tribune $65.10
Interviews of Five Candidates for Weld County Commissioner
Councilmember Van Beber read an opening statement.
See addendum 1.
Councilmember Abernathy made a friendly amendment to have each Councilmember read into
the record his or her votes ranking the five commissioner candidates after interviews.
Councilmember Welch seconded the friendly amendment, and it carried unanimously.
Council then discussed questions to ask the five commissioner candidates. They were:
1) If you are selected, would you support the Council having its own attorney, independent
from the county attorney who also represents the commissioners?
2) Do you plan to run for this office in November?
3) Will this be your primary employment?
4) What issues do you feel are most pressing in the county and why? What are your visions
for that issue?
5) The commissioners focus on three categories — financial, legislative and administrative.
What is your knowledge of each and which is your weakest and your strongest?
6) What three key things would you like to accomplish as commissioner?
7) Please share your specialized knowledge of any issue or department.
8) What motivated you to apply for commissioner?
Mike Finn
The five candidates to be interviewed drew numbers and Mike Finn was the first to be interviewed.
Mr. Finn said he would support Council having its own attorney.
He said the financial arena is his strongest asset and he's also been involved in the executive
aspect, too. He said his weakness probably lies in the administrative facet.
He said he is retired and being a commissioner would be his full-time job. He said he has a
planning degree and ran for commissioner a couple years ago.
He said that a comprehensive plan is a critical part of what commissioners are doing for next
year. He'd like to see them help alleviate some miscommunications of land use issues.
He said he's worked with the commissioners for nearly 10 years. He's been on various boards
will almost all of them.
As far as leadership skills, Mr. Finn said listening is the most important talent.
Perry Buck
Perry Buck of Windsor was the second candidate to be interviewed.
She said she'd support the Council having its own attorney. She served on the Council for two
terms and said it's an important aspect of local government.
Ms. Buck said she is good at unifying people with different backgrounds. She has served four
terms in the legislature and currently is serving her eighth and final year.
She said it's important to stay within your budget and she's proud of Weld County being debt -
free and having no sales tax. She said she's a fiscal conservative. She said her father was a
commissioner and he took pride in spending time with residents of smaller towns. She would act
as a liaison for the county with smaller communities.
She said Weld County is under attack and she'd work to preserve its oil and gas industry. She
supports jobs that provide a living wage, good retirement, health care and supporting law
enforcement.
Elijah Hatch
Elijah Hatch, of Kersey, was next to be interviewed.
Mr. Hatch said he held strengths in finances, administrative and legislative issues. He has no
plans to run for commissioner for the 2021 session. Despite owning several businesses, being a
commissioner would be his full-time job.
He said he's a firm believer in the Second Amendment, that gun rights should never be tampered
with. Oil and gas regulations are something he would fight for, too. He said it's tough for people
on the other side of the state to see how Weld County relies on it.
He said his goal as commissioner would be to support residents. He would represent his
constituents in a just and honorable way.
Mr. Hatch has served on the planning and zoning board in which they make recommendations
to commissioners on zoning issues. He's also served on the county fair board and he has a
diverse ag background.
Gary White Jr.
Gary White Jr. of Ault was fourth to be interviewed.
He said to be a good commissioner, you have to listen well, be clear -spoken and have a
willingness to see new ideas.
He said his strengths lie in the financial arena and his weakest would be legislative. He currently
is mayor of Ault, but being a commissioner would be his full-time job.
He said the number one item on his radar is what's happening with oil and gas. A comprehensive
plan is vital to the county and land use issues are also at the top of the list.
Another issue he's passionate about is water. He'd like to see the county coordinate a
relationship between development and agriculture.
A couple years ago he was asked to be on the Road 29 Coalition. He spent 2-3 years working
on an access plan for Road 29.
Kevin Ross
Kevin Ross, of Eaton, was the final candidate to be interviewed.
He is currently the mayor of Eaton and would resign should he be appointed commissioner.
He said he takes the executive role seriously and knows how to work with personnel, how to
create tasks and goals and how to motivate a team.
The judicial role would be similar to what he does as mayor where listening is a strong asset to
possess.
When dealing with the legislative aspect, it's important to keep in mind unintended
consequences, making sure the decisions commissioners make don't have negative impacts on
the future of residents.
He said he's a geek about understanding financial issues. He said the county is amazing in that
it has no debt and no sales tax, and also has a low mill levy.
He would also focus on the attack of the oil and gas industry; investing in capital improvements;
hardening IT infrastructure; and budget items.
He plans to run for the commissioner seat in November. He said Weld County is the largest
producing ag county in the state and the largest in oil production. With Weld being such a fast-
growing region, comes pressing issues like transportation.
Other key issues important to him include protecting the ag industry, transportation and a
comprehensive plan. He would also work to protect county assets such as water shares.
Councilmembers each announced their rankings after the interviews.
Councilmember Abernathy said the Council had a unique opportunity in appointing a
commissioner and had to seek the person most prepared and focused on taking over the position.
His rankings, from first to last, were; Ross, Hatch, White, Buck and Finn.
Councilmember Teksten said is was important to respect the time and energy of elected officials
and department leaders who will work with the appointee. Her choices were; Ross, Hatch, White,
Buck and Finn.
Councilmember Van Beber said it was Council's responsibility to select the best candidate for the
county. While they appreciate everyone's point of view, Council was not required to consider who
would be running for the position in the fall. Her choices were; Ross, Buck, Finn, Hatch and White.
Councilmember Welch said he struggled with his selections. His choices were; Hatch, White,
Ross, Buck and Finn.
Councilmember Stille said each of the candidates would make a good commissioner. His
selections were; White, Hatch, Finn, Ross and Buck.
Councilmember Abernathy made a motion to appoint Kevin Ross as At -Large Commissioner for
Weld County, it was seconded by Councilmember Teksten. A unanimous roll call vote affirmed
the appointment.
ADJOURNMENT:
By acclamation, the meeting was adjourned at 9:23 p.m.
4/72 0/2020
LAz (/ta,
April 20, 2020
/.Q o l�o�
Council President, Tonya L. Van Beber
Council Secretary, Linda Kane
'I move that the following voting process be used to appoint for a
vacancy of a Weld County Commissioner:"
1. The ranking should be from 1 through 5 for applicants as they
are listed on a paper ballot ----again to ensure impartiality (to allow
for non -prejudicial voting) and to create a process of elimination,
with one being the least preferred and 5 being the council
member's strongest preference. The two applicants with the
highest numerical scores would become the two finalists in a
second vote. These numbers shall be tallied by the County
Attorney and/or his representative and the Council Secretary after
interviews and all follow-up questions of applicants are
concluded.
2. The Council Secretary, with supervision of County Attorney
and/or his representative, will then return the two names with the
highest numerical count in no particular order and without scores
to the Council President. Council President will then read the two
names for the second portion of the voting process.
3. Council will then have a second paper ballot vote to ensure a 3-
2 majority as required by the original appointee process in the by-
laws.
4. Council members will then vote for just one name of the two
finalists to become the appointee. The remaining name will be the
alternate should the appointee not be able to fulfill duties as
required by February 19th, 2020.
p(�lIU�AW�I \
Hello