Bluff Town Council approves reimbursements, IT upgrades, sheriff training and cancels November election

The Bluff Town Council on Sept. 16 voted unanimously on several administrative motions: approval of minutes, reimbursement for travel and testing for an advanced EMT course, authorization for the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office to use the Cooperative Cultural center for training, approval to upgrade several town laptops to Windows 11 (and permit one council member to receive a tablet), payment of town bills and formal cancellation of the Nov. 4 municipal general election after several candidates became unopposed.

The council treated the items as mainly administrative but noted some carry operational implications: the approved travel/test reimbursement supports local emergency medical capacity; the IT upgrade addresses imminent Windows 10 end-of-support; and the cancellation of the municipal general election allows the town to declare unopposed candidates elected and avoid a costly print-and-mail ballot production.

Key votes and outcomes

- Approval of regular meeting minutes (08/19/2025) — motion passed (unanimous).

- Approval of Bluff Town Council work session minutes (09/09/2025) — motion passed (unanimous).

- Motion to reimburse travel to the advanced emergency medical technician course and to pay the required test fee (motion language recorded in the minutes included an apparent transcription anomaly listing the total as "$66,660"). Council discussion prior to the vote described a staff recommendation to provide an up-front stipend of $500 for mileage and to pay the $160 test fee, with possible additional payment or bonus after successful course completion. The council voted to approve the reimbursement motion (unanimous).

- Motion to allow the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office to use the Bluff Cooperative Cultural Center for training purposes — motion passed (unanimous). The council said deputies would coordinate scheduling and key/access logistics with staff.

- Motion to upgrade four town laptops to Windows 11 and to procure an iPad/tablet for a council member (hybrid approach discussed to balance immediate security needs and incoming council preferences) — motion passed (unanimous).

- Motion to pay bills, including routine legal, maintenance and payroll expenses and an asbestos testing invoice of $2,021 — motion passed (unanimous).

- Motion and resolution to cancel the Nov. 4, 2025 municipal general election and declare unopposed candidates elected in accordance with applicable law; council adopted related resolutions and a published notice of cancellation — motions and corrective language were approved (unanimous). The council directed staff to file required notices with the county elections office and the lieutenant governor’s office.

The council recorded the votes as unanimous on the listed motions. Where the meeting transcript did not supply a roll-call tally by name, the minutes show each motion was approved with all present members saying “aye.”

Background and next steps

Council members and staff said the IT upgrade must be completed before Oct. 15, when Windows 10 loses security updates; the town manager was authorized to proceed with procurement and to return for formal expenditure votes if needed. For the EMT course reimbursement, staff will process payment per the motion and follow up on documentation for any completion bonuses the council discussed but did not obligate in a separate binding vote. The sheriff’s office will coordinate key access and scheduling with staff for regular training sessions.

The council asked staff to file the election cancellation paperwork immediately so the county would not proceed with ballot printing. Staff said cancelling the Nov. 4 election will substantially reduce printing and administration costs.