Residents tell Moffat County commissioners of gaps in emergency alerts and concerns about a private dump on County Road 30

Two residents used the public-comment period at the Aug. 12, 2025, Moffat County commissioners meeting to raise separate concerns about emergency notifications and a private dump near County Road 30.

Michael Lawson told the board he and his neighbors did not receive a reverse-911 alert during a recent fire. Lawson said the sheriff told him dispatch is a contracted service that “did everything but press the final button” to send reverse-911 messages and that an “all clear” message was routed to Rio Blanco County rather than Moffat County. Lawson said he is signed up for Moffat Alerts but noted the system takes only cell-phone numbers; he warned many county residents rely on landlines or lack cell service in remote areas and said Facebook is relied on by law enforcement but many residents do not use it. He urged the county to ensure dispatchers are properly trained and to find alternative notification methods for people without cell phones or internet.

John Zimmerman, a property owner on County Road 30, told commissioners a second “county dump” operated by a private owner — identified in public comment as Gordon Birch’s property — is located about eight-tenths of a mile from the highway and is harming nearby property values. Zimmerman said the site appears to host mechanic work and other activity that lacks permits; he asked the county to enforce ordinances or create rules if existing enforcement is insufficient. Zimmerman estimated his property value has fallen “at least $35,000 to $45,000” because of the nearby condition.

Commissioners acknowledged the comments and thanked both speakers for raising the issues. No formal action was taken during the public-comment period; staff follow-up on dispatch practices and code-enforcement options was not recorded as a formal direction in the transcript.