[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6574218,"mediaKeyId","3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433","parentId",3100528,"title","At-a-glance: Elbert County commissioners approve routine minutes and defer fleet-policy action","audioSeconds",105,"startMs",1753030,"endMs",1858640,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433&start=1753&end=1858","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433/thumbnail_1753030.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574218/Elbert-County/Colorado/At-a-glance-Elbert-County-commissioners-approve-routine-minutes-and-defer-fleet-policy-action","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574218-6ff9eefc2510804201d9853725a452c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524375&Signature=fgvPemxl9QyaLkia9n73Kuri1zqxhArEnACxP~qmcc8FnYiqtryv853KctkN8ZmNdNWj5AiRnFphDDH51zM0aby7091K3ZEAlycHtsa43n3EqncjnZfVs5kHP17EcMrWJANj~nItyafqONzrw94WfaLpoi-D0WqDlv~Rvszj6a3wNihbdQoj6zZHaM7M5Y6i1I~-UMo~VvMkTq7UQd0F-c1A70iS1cFsCe8WUqdtMyAN6zgM3PgzoyVFYtjU2sZd6RL0ONyg8~FzyI7pteo6gwEdNwXkWRrHHbD2DmjUihNM5vKYqbjWkNRcDRSiQbn39zPRxjvlAR9qYvFdPjYSow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elbert County","date","2025-04-23T09:55:00Z","article","The Elbert County Board of County Commissioners took several routine procedural votes during the meeting.

- Approval of minutes: A commissioner moved to approve the April minutes and dispense with the reading; the motion was seconded and the board voted unanimously \"aye.\" Outcome: approved.

- Fleet management policy: After discussion, one commissioner said they would vote no to sending the policy to action immediately and another moved that the draft be taken up at the next Board of County Commissioners meeting as an action item. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Outcome: deferred to next meeting for action.

- Board of Health procedural votes: Commissioners moved to open the Board of Health portion of the meeting and later to close it; both procedural motions carried by voice vote (\"aye\").

No controversial roll-call or recorded roll votes were taken; actions were recorded by voice and the clerk announced motions and outcomes.

Ending
All listed procedural items passed by voice vote; substantive ordinance or fee-adoption votes were not taken on the main policy items presented.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elbert County - County Commission - Apr 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the April minutes and voted to place an updated fleet-management policy on the next meeting's action agenda; the Board of Health presentation was opened and closed by vote.","taxTitle","Elbert County, Colorado","taxId",27336,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574223,"County attorney presents inflation-adjusted fee-in-lieu option for properties outside fire-district coverage",206,1532920,1739050,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433&start=1532&end=1739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433/thumbnail_1532920.jpg","/articles/6574223/Elbert-County/Colorado/County-attorney-presents-inflation-adjusted-fee-in-lieu-option-for-properties-outside-fire-district-coverage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574223-3b8cb798981167b4b8c0621d89417c74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524375&Signature=XAlkRtMkxs6oLEGJmoXaR3y98fugVDrUwMGaHdG9jZ8hMcLZEdx7nPNp5YB~fLPmgyAdX2XO142wKJ3G9SnPFqBAggnlQERMhVHm4CzSWkOYpUYcsh1aeDyVMx1Scfk83I1o~-gGIQF4ioB1ka1gxKBgHFz4oiLKE9s4aO9kd4Pnft2BtxxDGmOwW8yn7VZLRpBqrx7-PFJYDrSzcvmVtF1OX7pGrb8hAz6-8Tqg2azbhc1ToYZ~rDVGlNvVImS1XFJiKNP07DojUogzQP9jMUpHAxCippVDzGIAEyRsyGi9kUn545scE1yqTxwy1fmN3X3sSmj2ej~PFqZIAatsvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elbert County Attorney Bart Gripp updated commissioners on a resolution that provides a fee-in-lieu option for properties lying outside established fire-district service areas.

Gripp described so-called \"non-inclusion\" zones'areas not taxed by any fire district but which still receive fire responses. The resolution provides a pathway for owners in those areas either to join the applicable fire district and pay the associated mills or, when building residential structures, to pay a one-time fee in lieu of inclusion.

Gripp said the only substantive change from the prior approval is an inflation adjustment to the fee level. \"Really the only change between this and what was previously approved is the fee that was approved previously has been adjusted for what inflation has been over the last several years,\" he told the board. Gripp said, to date, no property owner has chosen to pay the fee; instead, affected owners have opted to join fire districts.

County Assessor Susan Murphy asked whether the fee is one-time or recurring; Gripp confirmed it is a one-time fee unless the property owner requests reimbursement due to a fire that consumes the entire fee amount, in which case the owner would be responsible for replenishing the fund.

No formal vote was taken on the update during the meeting; Gripp recommended approval of the inflation adjustment and commissioners did not record a formal action at that time.

Ending
Staff presented the inflation-adjusted fee as a recommended update; commissioners did not take action during this meeting and may consider formal adoption at a later date.","Attorney Bart Gripp updated the board on a previously approved mechanism allowing properties outside a fire district to pay a one-time fee in lieu of joining; staff adjusted the fee to reflect inflation and recommended approval, but no vote was recorded.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574226,"Elbert County Board of Health hears quarterly public-health update; staff proposes septic permit fee increases to fund public-facing map",816,1955750,2772400,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433&start=1955&end=2772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433/thumbnail_1955750.jpg","/articles/6574226/Elbert-County/Colorado/Elbert-County-Board-of-Health-hears-quarterly-public-health-update-staff-proposes-septic-permit-fee-increases-to-fund-public-facing-map","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574226-d3a51839c4dc0b202980ed02b09e0578/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524375&Signature=aYP9PeI0y58pcsjQULi1-WvJsgUv3qzEaC3mvvEeBhFDnBViwO3FVpgeKSiSvn1YiD9R54m7raWltoQXbKJ35q4gtf6VBLFZvYJE82hkLzoUug559ysjLl9Kf~~sghuOWlzOj2xFYivBZGXrOeYNMqN7r7HZYOaEJoZIfVx0VQTlX6EjXnj4mcKvSo-wVlkuiNbUmDcO1l6O2bp7xxTs9CDJzptS0~bMetImWolnMhbIdsWj7MC5inMxUVH-LgCsME-2sWZzmOODbDQ6hCMXGqBQdSXy48HNgEuSNPhu~I0hIcHxmKGaoepfTdw1JD8HeH4FGGweDvkhvLiG2t5odw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elbert County Public Health delivered its first-quarter 2025 Board of Health update, reporting expanded clinic services and staff and proposing targeted increases to several on-site wastewater system (OWTS) permit fees to fund an online, public-facing septic-mapping and records system.

Public health director Sarah McIntosh said the department has added clinician capacity and contract financial support: two nurse practitioners now provide regular clinic days (pediatric NP Lori Coring on Mondays; family NP Dawn Newbury on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), and finance and grant manager Teresa Klaus has moved to a contracted role to manage billing and grants. The department also contracts with Dr. Marvin Couch (Fort Collins) as medical officer and has two per-diem environmental health staff to backfill inspections.

Clinic and programs: McIntosh reported growing clinic visit volumes since the clinic opened in late 2022, with immunizations, well-care and sick visits, lab draws (LabCorp and Quest), respiratory fit-testing and drug testing among services offered to county residents and local businesses. Health educator Lisa Halseth reported vital-records issuance and ongoing health-promotion work, including suicide-prevention collaboration across a four-county region (Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties) and continuing blood drives at the fairgrounds.

OWTS regulation changes and proposed fee adjustments
Environmental health specialist Marissa Ginger alerted the board to state-level OWTS (onsite wastewater system) regulation changes (referred to in the meeting as \"Regulation 43\" updates) that will be rolled out in June; counties have up to a year to begin enforcement. Some changes are mandatory statewide; others are optional for counties. Ginger said many of the operational impacts will fall to contractors who must adapt to new design and compliance requirements.

To support program administration and improve public service access, staff proposed modest increases to four of six septic-related permit fees (examples provided in the presentation):
- New system (new construction or additional dwelling unit): increase from $973 to $1,000 (a $27 increase);
- Tank-and-fields permit (replacement of failed system): increase by $100 to $600;
- Fields permit: increase by $150 to $400 (staff noted the county sometimes designs gravity-fed systems and the extra fee would offset staff time);
- Tank permit: increase to $300;
- The department proposed removing a separate reinspection fee and left the use-permit fee (required for property sales and typically third-party inspected) unchanged.

McIntosh said the department has not raised septic fees since 2013 and that revenue trends have declined; she proposed using new revenue to pay for a public-facing septic-map system, letting contractors, pumping companies, homeowners and real-estate agents look up septic maps online instead of calling/emailing the health department. Ginger said many other counties already provide that service.

Board questions and follow-up
Commissioners asked whether the department could purchase the mapping software from existing fund balance without a fee increase. Staff said they would run additional numbers to estimate expected revenue or whether fund balance could cover the software cost. McIntosh said she would return with more precise revenue estimates.

Other public-health items
- Vital records: the department reported 59 issuances and $1,089 in revenue for Q1 2025.
- Health promotion: the department is working on community outreach and suicide-prevention training with CSU Extension and local organizations; Lisa Halseth reported continued blood-drive operations with the next drive scheduled for July 9 at the fairgrounds.
- Public notifications: staff said they will provide clearer online guidance about use-tax and permit-payment options.

No formal vote was taken on the proposed septic-fee increases; staff will provide cost estimates and a proposed fee schedule for future Board of Health consideration.

Ending
Public health staff will return with revenue estimates for the septic-fee changes and options for procuring the public-facing septic-mapping system, and will present specific Regulation 43 implementation choices at the next board meeting.","Public health staff reported clinic staffing and service expansion, proposed modest septic-permit fee increases tied to new public-facing septic-mapping software, and outlined upcoming OWTS regulation changes the county must implement.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574231,"Elbert County staff propose cuts to accessory-structure and other permit fees; commissioners weigh budget impact",1418,28370,1446830,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433&start=28&end=1446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100528-3f17cc29d05ae32b055b1274e5a14433/thumbnail_28370.jpg","/articles/6574231/Elbert-County/Colorado/Elbert-County-staff-propose-cuts-to-accessory-structure-and-other-permit-fees-commissioners-weigh-budget-impact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574231-94c8259576a6797a8a68751b79f8ae0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524375&Signature=Oizmab6lCpdHRbDcfrlDbPkg3e9OpnKWVanI88PCS0H64xoxNJm9WvwzAMC6bQFWeKhO9luSSXNrbkk~acXU7OSCZtdUniN72e9A3jJfoE0O~CATKG32rO7JgQ4~Me9Uat-XYEUtAaHR95Xe64Bpd48RDbKq7CbGxo4AtZO1Xp86Xle2yJd~0~-2PNvMoF5vMYUv6TQioxEGsiDfqctr~9EgeobvWB8H~9j0dsHJ234OksMJY9901cPGcCsDCrr1uzXtaVjLo3wXiwxldiKeHiusEjTGluFBAKVQJRXFrRnTvQM2408sRI7xqgAknbLO4eIXzHNZWcXkFFoNZxRkDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elbert County staff recommended several changes to the county building permit fee schedule, including a 25% reduction for Group U (accessory structures) and updates to the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Code Council (ICC) fee tables.

The recommendations, given during a work study discussion, would lower the current ICC Group U price per square foot (presently $66.48 under the county's table) to about $49.86 if a 25% modifier is applied, staff said. Staff also proposed moving the county's formulas for residential permits from an older Universal Building Code-based table to a more recent IRC permit-fee schedule (the county could adopt the 2024 IRC fee schedule now or transition on a rolling January 1 schedule), and applying a similar Group U modifier to that table.

County staff described how the 25% reduction would apply directly to the fee formula: for example, a valuation band that currently charges $993.75 for the first $100,000 would drop to roughly $745.31 under the reduced formula, with proportional decreases to the per-$1,000 line item.

Why it matters: Staff framed the changes as targeted relief for typical homeowners doing small projects (pole barns, greenhouses, storage sheds) and as an incentive to encourage permit pulls. \"Ideally, if we get them in line and it doesn't seem... fair to the citizen,\" a commissioner summarized when discussing the goal of increasing permit compliance.

Other proposals discussed
- Plan-review fee: The county's plan-review fee is currently set at 65% of the permit fee. Staff proposed reducing that percentage only for Group U permits to either 50% or 35%, noting that other jurisdictions studied mostly keep a 65% ratio. Staff gave an example: the current plan-review portion on a sample accessory project would fall from about $900 to roughly $700 (at 50%) or $500 (at 35%).
- \"Other permits\" flat rates: Staff proposed simplifying disparate line-item rates (for example, basement finishes) into flat fees of $30'$40 in that category instead of the existing per-square-foot structure. The current example cited: a basement finish currently priced at $141.84 per square foot under the county table would move to a flat rate under the proposal.
- Contractor licensing fees: The county instituted annual contractor licensing fees in 2023 to curb transient \"fly-by-night\" companies. Licensing fees currently range from $100 to $125. Commissioners asked for a breakdown of how many licensees are in-county versus out-of-county; staff did not have that figure on hand and agreed to return with analysis. Staff estimated that cutting the licensing fee in half would reduce revenue roughly by $30,000 annually.

Budget implications
Staff ran fourth-quarter 2024 figures forward to estimate fiscal impact. The staff estimate showed roughly $265,000 in reduced revenue for the permit-fee adjustments discussed (Group U modifier, other-permit flat rates, and plan-review reductions). For context, the 2025 building-department projections listed expenses near $1.5 million and projected permit-fee revenues of about $2.6 million (staff noted that the department has added staff and is moving away from contract services, which could generate savings of roughly $200,000). Staff also warned that building-permit activity has slowed in 2025 so far and that first-quarter results trailed projections by roughly $100,000.

Commissioner questions and follow-ups
Commissioners pressed staff for additional detail on the distribution of contractor-license holders (in-county vs. out-of-county), the specific budget model tying fee reductions to personnel changes, and historical comparisons with peer counties. Staff agreed to provide the residency breakdown for contractor licenses, more precise revenue projections tied to the proposed fee changes, and to bring recommended language for any fee ordinance or schedule change back to a future public hearing.

What happened next: No formal vote was taken on fee changes during the meeting; staff said they would return to a future public hearing with more information. The presenters also said they would update the building-department web pages to explain use-tax and permit-payment options for the public.

Ending
Staff signaled they will return with a proposed ordinance/schedule and detailed budget impact numbers. Commissioners asked staff to return with the county contractor-licensing residency breakdown and refined revenue estimates before any final action.","County staff presented options to lower permit fees for Group U (accessory structures), update IRC/ICC fee tables, reduce plan-review percentages and streamline other permit line items; commissioners requested more data on budget effects and contractor-license residency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

At-a-glance: Elbert County commissioners approve routine minutes and defer fleet-policy action

County attorney presents inflation-adjusted fee-in-lieu option for properties outside fire-district coverage

Elbert County Board of Health hears quarterly public-health update; staff proposes septic permit fee increases to fund public-facing map

Elbert County staff propose cuts to accessory-structure and other permit fees; commissioners weigh budget impact