Jefferson County commissioners approve routine minutes, consent items and set hearing on open-carry ordinance

Jefferson County commissioners on Jan. 28 approved routine minutes, multiple consent items and a first reading to publish and set a public hearing date for amendments to the county’s open-carry ordinance.

The board formally approved the minutes from its Jan. 14 meeting and passed consent agenda items 6.1 through 6.8 and hearing consent items 10.1 and 10.3. Commissioners also approved regular-agenda item 7.1, which is a first reading to publish an ordinance and set a public hearing on Feb. 25 for proposed amendments to county policy addressing open carry of firearms.

Why it matters: The first reading does not adopt an ordinance; it directs staff to publish the proposed ordinance and sets the date for a full public hearing and debate on Feb. 25. That hearing will be the forum for substantive amendment discussion.

Key votes and outcomes - Approval of minutes (Jan. 14, 2025): Motion passed (unanimous). - Consent agenda items 6.1–6.8: Approved (unanimous). - Regular agenda item 7.1: Resolution CC25-028 (open carry ordinance) — first reading; hearing date set for Feb. 25 and ordinance ordered published. Vote: Commissioner Kerr, Aye; Commissioner Zenzinger, Aye; Commissioner Dahlkemper, Yes (motion passed). - Adjourn/reconvene as Law Enforcement Authority: Motion to adjourn as the Board of County Commissioners and convene as the Law Enforcement Authority board of directors — motion passed (unanimous). The board later adjourned as the LEA and reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners (motion passed, unanimous). - Hearing consent items 10.1 and 10.3: Approved (unanimous). - Hearing consent item 10.2: Resolution CC25-030 (zoning code "quick fixes"): Approved. Vote called: Commissioner Kerr, Aye; Commissioner Zenzinger, Aye; Commissioner Dahlkemper, Yes (motion passed).

Process notes: The board followed standard procedure for first readings: today’s action for item 7.1 only set publication and the Feb. 25 public hearing; full debate on the ordinance will occur at the scheduled hearing. The board also handled procedural items to move into and out of the Law Enforcement Authority for a scheduled quarterly report.

What’s next: The public hearing on the open-carry ordinance amendments is scheduled for Feb. 25; the board will consider public testimony and the full ordinance text on that date. The published ordinance text will be available to the public per county publication procedures prior to that hearing.

Ending: The meeting included routine procedural approvals and set next steps for several items; commissioners noted additional briefings and reports would follow at future meetings.