Montezuma County commissioners approve setback variance, liquor-license renewal, appointment and ballot language; set cleanup day

Montezuma County’s Board of County Commissioners approved several routine and policy actions at its Feb. 17 meeting, including a setback variance for a privately owned parcel, the renewal of a retail liquor license, an appointment to the Southwest Roundtable and direction to place term‑limit changes on the November ballot.

The most substantive land-use action was approval of a continued setback variance for property owned by Larry Mahaffey at 23892 Road M in Cortez. After discussing driveway alignment, turning radius from Highway 491 and site constraints, the board approved a 20‑foot variance to the north. Applicant Larry Mahaffey described the proposed shop as having a 14‑foot peak and 10‑foot sidewalls. The county attorney advised the board that approval must meet the land‑use code’s variance criteria and said, “These conditions do need to be met in order for [the board] to make a decision approving this variance.” The board voted to approve the variance; staff will follow up with a written resolution for the board’s consideration next week.

The board also approved a retail liquor license renewal for Mancos Brewing Company LLC. Jerry Frizzell, who handles liquor licenses for the county, presented the application and said he had “the letter from the sheriff’s office saying that they’ve had no violations.” Frizzell read one address for the business (he initially said 464 East Frontage Road), but the motion and vote recorded the business address as 484 East Frontage Road, Mancos, Colorado 81328; the record contains that address discrepancy. The renewal passed on a recorded voice vote.

The board appointed Ty Copenhaver as Montezuma County’s representative to the Southwest Roundtable. The board considered two applicants, contacted one candidate and moved to appoint Copenhaver; the motion carried.

In a policy direction with broader procedural consequence, commissioners directed the county attorney to prepare ballot language to remove term limits for the assessor, the clerk and the treasurer. Commissioner (speaker 4) moved the action; the motion carried. Commissioners clarified that removing term limits would not change the requirement that these offices run on four‑year election cycles and that the proposed language would be prepared in time for the November ballot.

Separately, the board approved establishing a countywide cleanup day for Montezuma County residents, to be held on a date to be determined in May or June. County staff noted that hazardous materials and electronics will be excluded and that the budget will require an amendment to cover costs once details are finalized.

Other updates included a Road and Bridge report on CDOT access permitting and equipment, a motor‑vehicle services update on the CORE 21 system rollout, and a county staff note that Montezuma County expects to receive just under $64,000 in TPR funding to support engineering work on the Paths to Mesa Verde project. Commissioners also discussed Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) calculations and the recently filed Senate Bill 097 (described in the meeting as a bill to decriminalize prostitution), with at least one commissioner urging opposition or a county opt‑out amendment via County Commissioners of Colorado (CCI).

Next steps recorded at the meeting: staff will bring a written resolution documenting the variance approval; the county attorney will draft ballot language for the term‑limit change; the cleanup day date and any required budget amendment will be set after staff consultations; and the liquor license renewal will be recorded per established licensing procedures.