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Commissioners continue public hearing on alleged wastewater violations at Cortez property to July 7
Summary
Montezuma County health staff said an anonymous Dec. 17, 2025 complaint alleged mismanagement of wastewater at 29181 Road J.6; the property owner said there is no septic system and that wastewater is emptied via a portable tank. The board authorized a site inspection and continued the hearing to July 7, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
The Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners, sitting as the Board of Health, continued a public hearing June 23, 2026 on allegations that the property at 29181 Road J.6, Cortez, has been operating without an on‑site septic permit and mismanaging wastewater.
Miss Hill, public health staff, told the board she received an anonymous complaint through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Dec. 17, 2025 alleging improper handling of wastewater at the address. Hill said county staff mailed and attempted service repeatedly, noting letters were sent Feb. 11, March 2, March 23 and a final letter on June 9, 2026, and that an attempted in‑person service by a sheriff’s deputy involved five delivery attempts before the county relied on mailing.
The complaint, Hill said, identified several recreational vehicles and a single‑wide trailer on the property and noted the county had no septic permit on file. "I received an anonymous complaint that went through the state ... alleging mismanagement of wastewater on this property," Hill said during the hearing.
The person identified in the hearing as Mr. Smith, who the board addressed as the property owner or the owner's representative, told the commissioners there is no septic system on the site. "We got a portable one that we fill up and we go down the Maverick," Mr. Smith said, describing a portable holding tank used to transport wastewater to a commercial disposal point. He added there is no running water at the property and that a disabled occupant showers at another residence.
Board members pressed for specifics about whether gray water, black water or shower water had been discharged on the ground; Mr. Smith said the contents were being transported to Maverick but could not confirm tank capacity. Hill told the board she had not yet conducted an on‑site inspection and that an inspection was necessary "otherwise we're speculating."
The board voted to continue the public hearing to July 7, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. and asked staff to schedule a site visit and report findings at the continued hearing. The motion to continue was moved, seconded and approved by the commissioners.
Next steps: Miss Hill will arrange and complete the on‑site inspection, collect contact information from the property representative, and report inspection findings at the July 7 public hearing. The hearing record includes the county's OWTS (on‑site wastewater treatment system) regulations cited in the notice; enforcement or required corrections will depend on what the inspection confirms.
