DEPARTMENT HEADS MINUTES MARCH 19, 2022  Thel Department Heads meeting was held in the Ambulance Building. Those present were Ashley Hernandez, Collin Koop, Cory Wall, Davel Hornung, Heather Morris, Pam Mills, Randy Gorton, Shawn Franz, Stan Hitchcock, Susan Corliss, Tiffany Ramos, Travis Belden, and Scott Stinnett, Terry Hubbell, Abbey Mullis, and Lynsay Cormack were absent.  Valerie Boyd.  Meeting to Convene with Pledge of Allegiance Host Coroner/Solid Waste Director Randy Gorton  The meeting was called to order at 8:31 a.m. by Randy Gorton with all members  reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Department Head Monthly Reports:  All Department Heads that were present reviewed their portion of the Strategic Plan and their monthly update. The 2022 Strategic Plan is attached, so presentations as not included.  Grounds & Buildings - Collin Koop the possible snowstorm.  Currently, they are working at the fairgrounds preparing for the new building and for  Emergency Manager Ashley Hernandez  Working on training, outreach, and building relationships. A meeting was held with CDOT leadership, Sheriff Belden, Communication Center Director Franz, Commissioner Wall, and Emergency Manager Hernandez to get acquainted and work on better communication during weather situations. She has met with the county fire departments and  plans on meeting with the town councils next. Communication Center/Dispatch - Shawn Franz  There has been an increase in calls compared to last year with 1,229 calls year-to-date. There are two openings currently in Dispatch. The tornado testing went well finding a siren in Burlington and Cheyenne Wells that need to be repaired. The CODE RED issued multiple calls including Lincoln County, the initial launch was stopped and resent to only Kit Carson and Cheyenne Counties. The Communication Center really needs more room, especially storage. They will look at storing spare  telephone parts at the Ambulance Building or Landfill Building.  Sheriff Travis Belden  The department has been super busy plus wrapping up drug cases after three months of work that have found 13 major meth & fentanyl distributors. Now it is business as usual with being down two patrol officers. He has contacted the training units; there are 37 currently enrolled that  not committed to an agency; job openings will be sent to theseindividuals.  20220309  Department_Hcad.mm  Page/1    Human Services Director- Tiffany Ramos  The workload continues to grow for the Eligibility Team. SNAP, which is the EBT cards, was in the news about over payments. They continue to work on community outreach and timeliness of cases. She has an interview with a possible bookkeeper and advertising fora Child Welfare supervisor position. There is still ai need for childcare facilities for the county plus there is approximately $100,000 in state funding that is available but turned by to the state  each year that could help families with their childcare expenses.  Ambulance Director - Heather Morris  She will bet talking to the commissioners about an option for EMT classes that could be taught here through UCHealth that would include local clinicals. Shannan is currently in Advance EMT Class. There were. 20 calls in 18 hours over the weekend. Year-to-date Stratton has had 13 calls and Burlington 187 calls for at total of200 calls this year, which is three times the calls from last year. Transfers are up also including calls from the Cheyenne Wells hospital. NW Kansas is short 1 paramedic and Limon is short staffed as well; these both check insurance before they accept the runs. Currently, there is a glitch in thel Medicare billing that is allowing for reimbursement for ambulance runs to the airport for the Air Ambulance trips. Ambulance Fees were raised last week to be comparable to the neighboring services; there has not been an increase in 12 years. County residents will continue to receive a 60% discount on bill after  insurance.  Public Health Director Valerie Boyd will be a Wellness Retreat on March 26th. Treasurer & Public Trustee - Pam Mills  Department Heads were invited tot the retirement party for Dawn James on Wednesday, March 23rd, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Annex. Her last day will be on March 25th. There  The Treasurer's Office is fully staffed and doing well. After first deadline, the county taxes are 33.02% collected. She has been busy tightening things up with the auditor this week. The historical tax rolls need to be digitized and preserved; State of Colorado does the imaging but grant fundingi is not available. Additional digitization companies will be sent tol Pam. The office needs an additional full-size desk. The auditor is requesting that the county look into aj program with Tyler toi interface with the Administrator, sO that there would be al better workflow for the  accounting.  Clerk & Recorder - Susan Corliss preparing for the Primary Election in June. Commissioner - District 1- Stan Hitchcock  Updates were given on the current staffing and that she is still looking for an employee. The Hospital Special District Election for May has been cancelled, which gives more time to start  Road & Bridge District 1 has new grader man that is doing really well with training. Thej price of culverts has went from $27,000 to $58,000 in just over 2 years, which will effect the budget.  20220309  Department_Head.mn  Page [2    Commissioner - District 2- Cory Wall  Road & Bridge District 21 has been replacing culverts also. They are looking for gravel pits ini the northeast part of the district; this will allow more gravel on the roads with less haul time. Thel DOLA grant has been successfully submitted for the County Road 30 project. He has listened tol Duke Energy's blade repurposing proposition. The CDOT meeting with emergency department leaders in the county was a good intro to their newi management team.  Commissioner District 3-1 Dave Hornung  Accomplishments in the Strategic Plan were covered. The replacement plan for the graders has been working well but it's unknown when this year's are going to arrive; it makes ordering a concern for 2023. Older bridges are being replaced by culverts. He thanked Lynsay Cormack for the update of the layout of the Strategic Plan. There are concerns with workforce with applications being slim to none; there is a need to be competitive tol keep the offices staffed. Road  &B Bridge District3 are working in shop mainly right now. Coroner, Solid Waste Director Randy Gorton  The Coroner office has been busy this year. They have had the second fentanyl death and more: meth deaths in the past 11/2 years. There is increased cost because of state mandates for more testing and paperwork. Training is needed for the deputy coroners to be certified death Landfill is down an employee plus occasional illness. The Annual inspection by Zoom last Thursday with al lot of review oft the paperwork from the state. He will do a site inspection independently, no contact with anyone, in the near: future. Winds are making it hard to stay open and in compliance. Hei is budgeting for purchasing additional land; as it takes 5 years to start a new pit. Cell A & B can be covered at the same time with the estimated life of 15 years for Cell B. The  inspectors.  fill dirti is running out, so he is looking at a site for Cell C.  Adjournment  Next Meeting April 13, 2022 -] Host Ambulance Director Heather Morris The Department Heads meeting adjourned at 9:40a.m. Submitted By: Susan Corliss, Kit Carson County Clerk & Recorder  O SEAL COLORADO  M Stan Hitchcock, Chairman Suaaa  March 16, 2022  Date  Corliss  Susan Corliss, County Clerk and Recorder  20220309  Department_Head.mm  Page_13