Morgan County Board of County Commissioners recognize staff for years of service, approve bids for new police vehicles

The Morgan County Board of County Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 17. Commissioners Mark Arndt, Jon Becker and Gordon Westhoff were all in attendance.

Board of Social/ Human Services

The commissioners first convened as the Morgan County Board of Social/ Human Services and approved DHS minutes dated Apr. 19, March DHS warrants and March DHS certification of provider, vendor and benefit authorizations.

Accounting Manager Susan Nitzel reported that about $60,000 less was spent or DHS warrant totals in March ($198,914.43) than in February ($264,432.35), mainly due to property and casualty insurance. The combined amount for March warrants and payroll totaled $370,680.57. She also reported that the March provider, vendor and benefit authorizations totaled $1,116,148.95, which was about $14,000 less than the February total despite a slight increase in Food Assistance Benefits (Food Stamps) and Child Care payments.

Director of Human Services of Morgan County Jacque Frenier also announced that May is Foster Care Appreciation Month and thanked the local businesses who have showed their support for foster parents.

Frienier also said she has been able to hire three more employees since her last report but is still down three staff members.

Employee Service Recognition and Awards

The commissioners reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners, and following the approval of the Consent Agenda, they discussed general business and administrative items. They started with employee service recognition and awards presented by Morgan County Human Resources Director Tracy Amen.

The following employees were given recognition for five years of service: Debra Ferguson (DHS), Chris Monahan (Road and Bridge), Deputy Matthew Ryan (Morgan County Sheriff’s Office), Deputy Adriana Hernandez (MCSO) and Sergeant Heather Clement (MCSO).

Sheila Hastings (Communications Center) was recognized for 10 years of service.

Susan Bailey (County Clerk and Recorder) and Amy Sagel (DHS) were both recognized for 15 years of service.

Lonnie VanMeter (Road and Bridge) was recognized for 20 years of service.

Kisa Gertson (Communications Center) was recognized for 30 years of service.

Bid Tabulation and Award

Public Works Director Bruce Bass presented the bid tabulation and award for RFP 2022-0505-001, which is for a passenger utility police vehicle with emergency lighting.

Bass reported the three potential bids included Falls Dodge (Niagara Falls, NY), Johnson Auto Plaza (Brighton) and Ken Garff Ford (Greeley). His recommendation was to choose the lowest bidder, which was Falls Dodge’s bid for three 2021 Dodge Durango Police vehicles for a total of $107,985 ($35,995 for each vehicle). The estimated delivery time is between two to three weeks.

The commissioners followed Bass’ recommendation and approved the bid from Falls Dodge.

Resolution 2022 BCC 15

2022 BCC 15, is a resolution approving the 2022 Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) Program, which includes INFRA and/or rural surface transportation grants.

Representatives from Weld County Public Works and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) were in attendance to present the resolution. They asked the commissioners to submit the one application for both the Rural Surface Transportation Program and the INFRA grant program.

A draft of the application was presented to the commissioners, though they would be provided with the final copy to have on record after it is submitted.

The $63 million highway project, which will go through Morgan County, has been in the works since 2012 and would improve rural safety, economy and mobility. If all goes well, it is estimated to be completed by 2026.

The commissioners unanimously approved the resolution.

Transfer and Opening of Fair Sale Accounts

Commissioner Arndt presented the transfer and opening of Morgan County Fair Sale accounts with signature authorizations from Bank of the West to Bank of Colorado.

“We thank (the Bank of the West) for the many, many years that they’ve clerked the Morgan County Fair Sale. As in any businesses, (because of) staff shortages and just the differences in operations, they declined to be able to do that Fair Sale clerking again. But the Bank of Colorado has generously said that they will supply staff to help clerk that sale, and of course it’s best if the accounts are at the bank that does the clerking,” said Arndt.

Arndt requested that Dan Kendrick of Kendrick Livestock and Bank of Colorado representative Darrick Ohr, along with himself, be approved as signatories.

The commissioners unanimously approved the motion.

Employee Hearing and Consideration of Approval for Resolution 2022 BCC 14

Amen returned to read Resolution 2022 BCC 14, which is a resolution approving the County to opt out from participation in the Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act program.

Coverage under the Act would begin Jan. 1, 2023 unless the County opted out at least 180 days in advance. The Resolution reads, “the County finds it is in the best interest of the public safety, health and welfare to decline participation in the Act.”