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Commissioners discuss BLM road closures, pager delays and AOG hiring; procedural votes approved
Summary
During board reports commissioners raised local concerns about BLM road closures and emergency pager delays, previewed hiring for a five-county AOG director, proposed a Flag Day resolution and approved routine procedural motions to adopt the agenda and approve minutes.
At a Garfield County Commission meeting (date not specified), commissioners used the board reports portion of the agenda to raise several local operational issues — closure of certain BLM roads, delays in emergency pager notifications, and an upcoming hiring process for a five-county Association of Governments (AOG) director — and proposed a Flag Day day-of-service resolution.
Commissioner Debs said residents had complained that the Bureau of Land Management and a local interest group had closed long-used roads and campsites in a wilderness study area without notifying the county. "If they're gonna do anything like that in the future, we would like to be notified," Commissioner Debs said, adding that the Forest Service has generally been communicative and county staff value coordination.
Commissioners also discussed reports of delays in emergency pager notifications. County staff and local fire chiefs explained the new system can experience multi-minute delays; commissioners characterized a 4- to 7- to 10-minute lag as "an eternity in an emergency." Commissioners said the issue had been raised at fire chiefs and EMS meetings and that they would continue to follow up with the sheriff and communications staff.
On regional coordination, commissioners said the five-county AOG completed a national search with about 48 to 50 applicants for a new director; interviews were scheduled for Wednesday. Commissioner Debs and others encouraged more frequent outreach from the AOG to county towns and cities once a new director is in place.
Commissioner Debs suggested recognizing June 14, Flag Day, as a county day of service; a commissioner proposed drafting a resolution for future consideration. Staff noted a county resolution could be prepared quickly if commissioners wished to proceed.
Votes at a glance
- A motion to adopt the agenda as written was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. - A motion to approve the minutes of the May 27 meeting was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
Neither procedural motion included a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript.
