Park County to help reorganize over‑the‑air TV boards after longtime secretary retires

County staff told commissioners on Nov. 4 that Billie Kaye, long‑time secretary‑treasurer for the Shields Valley and Paradise Valley over‑the‑air TV boards, is retiring. Greg Diaz said he had reached out to both boards, identified gaps in governance documents and recommended convening meetings to gather bylaws and discuss recruitment and organizational options.

"She's been serving since 1996," Greg said, noting that Billy Kaye has been a long‑standing asset to the boards. Residents and board members in the room urged broad outreach and suggested options ranging from recruiting volunteers for separate officer positions to hiring part‑time bookkeeping support. Bob Lee, who gave public comment, said the local over‑the‑air service remains valuable to residents who lack satellite or streaming: "There's people watching it, and it's worthwhile," he said.

Commissioners directed Greg to call meetings of both boards, help gather governing documents, and work with interested community members to recruit new officers. A motion was made to ask Greg to spearhead the reorganization effort; the motion carried.

Why it matters Local over‑the‑air TV boards manage equipment and grant and resort‑tax‑funded operations that provide free local access and emergency communications services. The retirement of a long‑time volunteer official raises governance and continuity questions that county staff and commissioners aim to address now to avoid service disruption.

Next steps Staff will convene joint meetings, collect bylaws and consider options (separating duties, recruiting a treasurer/bookkeeper, or a small paid position) and return recommendations to the commission.