The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved a letter of engagement with Northland Securities to provide advice on funding for capital projects, as stated in the Oct. 15 meeting agenda.
The item was included in the new business portion of the meeting’s agenda, and multiple public comments were given on the matter.
The first comment was given by Bill Hudson, who stated that the BoCC motioned in a previous meeting to find a financial advisor to provide the county with options on how to move forward with a new administration building and location.
Hudson explained that the letter included in the Oct. 15 meeting says that Northland Securities will not be a financial advisor, but rather someone who is advising the county on a presentation.
“Doesn’t seem like the person you’re looking for,” Hudson added.
Another comment on the matter was heard from Marybeth Snyder, who claimed the letter indicates Northland Securities will be advising the county with the issuance of certificates of participation.
Snyder also mentioned the county previously indicated it would engage with the community about how to move forward with a new administration building.
“I thought all of you agreed it’d be a good idea to get the community involved in talking about different options for an admin building,” she said. “Now it looks like you’re just moving right along without even talking to the voter about whether they would like to borrow money.”
Snyder added that the county should stop and get input from the community instead of “plowing forward” and “leaving us out all the time.”
Commissioner Veronica Medina addressed the public comments, acknowledging that the BoCC previously discussed getting input from the community on the matter.
“We did talk about getting community input, and this is part of the process,” Medina said.
She mentioned that she had concerns when initially reading the letter and that it does read more like it’s talking about certificates of participation, but that “it is really about providing us information, financial information, about the properties that the county will be looking at.”
She noted that she is anticipating a spreadsheet of some sort to be provided that will give detailed information in regard to purchasing land and potential building costs.
“So, no, a decision has not been made on a property. No, we are not plowing forward and just moving this all forward,” Medina said, explaining this is part of the process in order for the BoCC to gather the information “we need in order to make a decision.”
Medina indicated the BoCC will continue to have more conversations and more opportunities to receive community input on the matter.
“Obviously, as we know, the longer we wait on any one item those costs could vary substantially,” she added.
Medina went on to explain that is the purpose of approving the contract with Northland Securities.
“I, too, asked the same question,” Medina said in regard to the public comments heard on the matter of the contract being geared toward certificates of participation.
Medina added she “was very concerned how it reads, it’s not how I’d like it to read,” but that she received confirmation that the intent is to have Northland Securities provide additional financial information relating to a new administration building.
“We are only seeking information on the properties and how much it’s gonna cost,” Medina said.
Airport weather station
Also during the Oct. 15 meeting, the BoCC unanimously approved the purchase of a new weather station to be installed at Stevens Field Airport.
The county’s head of airport maintenance, Jace Johnson, briefed the BoCC on the matter earlier in the day during a work session, explaining the new weather station is “vital” for the safety of pilots.
Johnson explained that the Automated Weather Observing Station (AWOS) is a real-time weather station that provides weather information to pilots and other aviation personnel.
Johnson explained the airport’s current AWOS system was manufactured in 2003 and has “worked well for the airport for many years,” but that components for the system are becoming harder to find when they fail due to the age of the system.
He indicated the new system is a F1 STA - AWOS system and “is the latest generation of FAA certified AWOS.”
According to the invoice included in the Oct. 15 meeting agenda, the total amount for the new weather station is listed at $103,187.
clayton@pagosasun.com
