Montezuma County commissioners approve contracts, vehicle leases and a $50,000 funding transfer

Montezuma County commissioners on Jan. 14 approved a series of routine administrative and procurement actions, from a memorandum of understanding for offsite data services to a fleet vehicle lease and a $50,000 transfer to seed a new senior services and transportation fund.

Key actions approved by the board included: a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Data Safe Services; formal acceptance of the county's Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) reporting totals for the year; a five-year lease for three 2025 Subaru Ascent all‑wheel‑drive vehicles for the county pool; a $22,220 award to Environmental Products LLC for landfill daily cover; a one‑year jail health-care contract with Southern Health Partners; authorization for the county to engage outside counsel to review the employee handbook; and an initial transfer of $50,000 from the general fund to create the Senior Services and Transportation Fund.

The board approved the MOU with Data Safe Services as presented (the MOU was dated Dec. 22, 2024). The board accepted the HUTF reporting totals as presented, which the county staff said list 790.49 total road miles (248.7 paved; 541.79 unpaved). The vehicle-maintenance supervisor presented a plan to replace three pooled vehicles with 2025 Subaru Ascent all‑wheel‑drive models on a five‑year lease; the board approved leasing three vehicles and accepted the bid language and lease term discussed in the workshop.

The board accepted a single-bid recommendation for landfill daily cover, awarding Environmental Products LLC a contract in the amount of $22,220. The sheriff's office and detention lieutenant presented a contract renewal with Southern Health Partners to provide jail medical services; the board approved the contract for the period Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025, with an annual base fee stated in the meeting as $314,052.12.

The board also approved an engagement letter with outside counsel (Polsinelli) to review the county employee handbook and authorized Chair Commissioner Candelaria to sign the engagement letter. The county attorney and staff said the review would start with a baseline engagement amount presented in the workshop; staff referenced an initial sum of $25,000 for review services.

Finally, the board authorized Transfer Order No. 1 (2025) to provide initial funding of $50,000 from the general fund to the newly created Senior Services and Transportation Fund; officials said the fund will operate on fees for services and grants after this initial appropriation.

Most motions were approved by voice vote with commissioners answering "Aye"; no roll-call tallies with member-by-member votes were recorded in the minutes for these items. Several of the items had been presented in more detail during the board's Jan. 13 workshop and were brought forward for action on Jan. 14.

Votes at a glance (approved items): - Approve proceedings/minutes for Jan. 7, 2025 — approved by voice vote. - Memorandum of Understanding: Data Safe Services (dated Dec. 22, 2024) — approved; signer: County Administrator/Jim McClain noted for signature. - Accept Highway Users Tax Fund reporting totals (HUTF) — accepted; totals stated: 790.49 miles (248.7 paved; 541.79 unpaved). - Approve lease of three 2025 Subaru Ascent all‑wheel‑drive pool vehicles on five‑year leases — approved; three vehicles to be replaced. - Award landfill daily-cover contract to Environmental Products LLC — approved; amount $22,220. - Southern Health Partners jail medical contract (Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2025) — approved; annual base fee stated as $314,052.12. - Engagement letter with Polsinelli for handbook review — approved; initial review funding referenced at $25,000 and Chair authorized to sign. - Transfer Order No. 1 (2025): Senior Services and Transportation Fund initial funding — approved; amount $50,000. - Accept October financials — approved; total $4,268,887.48. - Accept November financials — approved; total $3,988,435.35.

Items noted as informational (no board action required): planning department signings of two mylars (Kaminsky and Hales), a public-auction vehicle list and upcoming public surplus posting, and workshop presentations previously given on Jan. 13.

The board's approvals were framed as routine items that had been previewed in the Jan. 13 workshop; staff and department heads answered questions where raised and the board passed the motions by voice vote.