Arapahoe County commissioners approve Select Source Waiver for Teledyne FLIR camera for oil-and-gas inspections

Katie Curtis, a representative of Arapahoe County Public Works and Development, asked commissioners for permission to use a Select Source Waiver to buy a Teledyne FLIR optical gas-imaging camera for the county’s new oil-and-gas inspections program. “The purpose of this drop in was to, get approval for the Select Source Waiver for a FLIR camera. It's a Teledyne FLIR camera, for our new oil and gas inspections program,” Curtis said.

Curtis told commissioners the camera detects hydrocarbons, methane and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) across multiple stages of the oil-and-gas supply chain and reported that the unit is certified to the EPA’s New Source Performance Standards and the subpart the presenter called “OOOA.” She said the camera measures leak type and severity and is rated safe for potentially explosive atmospheres.

The camera’s listed purchase price in the discussion was $110,050, while the Select Source Waiver authorization on file was described as $100,000; Curtis asked for permission to proceed with Teledyne and to sign the waiver despite that gap. Commissioner Jeff Baker clarified the acronym, noting, “it's forward looking infrared,” and suggested the sheriff’s office might also find the device useful for some investigations; Curtis replied the county’s Select Source Waiver is structured so other county agencies that later obtain funding could piggyback on it.

After brief questions, commissioners indicated approval by a show of hands. Curtis requested signatures to finalize the waiver after the thumbs-up approval.

Separately, the board voted to go into executive session under Colorado Revised Statutes section 24-6-402(4)(b), (e) and (f) to discuss a public-health staff reorganization and collective bargaining with AFSCME. The motion to enter executive session was moved by Commissioner Jeff Baker and seconded by Commissioner Moore and Commissioner Gary Gully; the chair announced the motion passed.

Why it matters: the county staff said the camera helps identify methane and VOC emissions from oil-and-gas sources and meets EPA performance standards cited by staff, which county staff framed as supporting local enforcement and inspection work. The discussion also flagged a $10,050 difference between the stated camera price and the waiver amount on file, and staff indicated administrative steps (signatures) remained to complete the procurement.

Votes at a glance: - Select Source Waiver for Teledyne FLIR camera — approval indicated by show of hands (5 thumbs up); signatures requested to finalize. Motion formalization: approval by consensus (no roll-call vote recorded). Camera price $110,050; waiver authorization on file $100,000. (Action recorded as approved by consensus.) - Motion to enter executive session under CRS 24-6-402(4)(b),(e),(f) to discuss a public-health staff reorganization and AFSCME collective bargaining — moved by Commissioner Jeff Baker; seconded by Commissioner Moore and Commissioner Gary Gully; announced as passed.

The meeting moved on after signatures were arranged and routine board and calendar updates began.