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Montezuma County delays decisions on sheriff jail fees, fairgrounds and public-health OWTS language
Summary
Commissioners deferred several fee changes — including a proposed jail daily fee and changes to on-site wastewater (OWTS) fee language — to allow staff to gather more data and to refine wording; the board will revisit the items when staff present additional information.
Montezuma County commissioners on April 22 discussed but did not adopt proposed changes to several departmental fee schedules, instead directing staff to return with additional information.
Board members and staff identified four fee-related topics for further work: short-term rental (STR) rules and fees (planning and zoning); jail/daily booking fees recommended by the sheriff’s office; fairgrounds fees (pending information from Justin, county staff indicated); and changes to public health’s OWTS (on-site wastewater treatment system) fee language.
County staff said many fees are set by statute and will not change, but the sheriff’s office is considering a daily fee for jail services. A preliminary recommendation mentioned a $25-per-day figure, but commissioners raised concerns that a higher figure (the transcript referenced $125 as an example of costs staff should compare against) may be closer to covering costs. Commissioners directed staff to use cost-based analysis rather than adopt an arbitrary fee.
Public health staff and the board discussed changing the OWTS fee description from “penalty fee” to “after-the-fact fee” to better communicate that the charge covers extra work when an existing system is reviewed after installation. The board agreed to roll the OWTS language change and related fee items over until staff can present revised wording and supporting rationale.
Commissioners asked staff to compile comparative studies (including one from La Plata County referenced during the meeting) and to return with recommended fee schedules and clearer cost justifications before any vote.
