DEL NORTE— The Rio Grande County Board of County Commissioners addressed a range of issues and added two members to the Rio Grande County Museum (RGCM)board during their meeting on Dec. 19.

As part of the public health update, commissioners received a grant-funding presentation and discussed the new behavioral health facility estimated to open near the Mystic Biscuit in late January or February. District 3 commissioner Gene Glover praised the hospital’s coordination to address mental health issues in the county.

County Administrator Roni Wisdom received interest from South Fork residents Karen Miller and Doug Knudson to join the RGCM board. The commissioners approved Miller and Knudson, and outgoing board member Karla Shriver noted how "Knudson has been heavily involved with the Spanish Trail." Speaking of both newcomers, Shriver said, “it’s a nice fit. It’s nice to have people who want to help.”

Wisdom presented a list of seven edited policy documents for approval, primarily internal bookkeeping processes. The board approved all the changes.

Prior to the meeting, County Clerk & Recorder Cindy Hill asked for a review of the county annex rental policy document as well, a topic the board will address in 2019.

Wisdom received levy certification from all cities, special districts and schools in the county. Wisdom double-checked the totals before submitting them to the board, and they discussed a few districts in detail, the Del Norte Library in particular. The board plans to research old tax records and the original library district files to see if the Del Norte facility is receiving its fair share of funds.

The board approved all the levy certifications, but they did not approve a 20-year commitment for a solar garden subscription. Solar energy technology is not a problem with board members, Wisdom clarified, but the 20-year contract did not include safeguards to protect the county from unpredictable energy cost changes.

Monitoring themselves, Wisdom asked the board to again approve the governance policy she sent to board members. Calling it, “a living document,” Shriver said it, “reminds commissioners how they should function and act as a board and board member.” The board agreed to add it to the agenda for their meeting on Jan. 8, 2019.

Kevin Wilkins, executive director of the San Luis Valley Development Resources Group, secured signatures from Rio Grande County for a block grant application covering six Valley counties. A loan program, this poverty-reduction measure helps business startups access funds when bank loans are unavailable. The SLVDRG manages the funds and loans, planning to submit the application once commissioners from Saguache and Conejos counties sign.

Wilkins received proposals for Opportunity Zone funding, a large federal incentive program targeting six census tracks in the Valley covering four counties. To qualify, projects require more than $1,000,000, significant real estate and the ability to exceed an eight-percent annual return.

On Dec. 28, commissioners will meet again at 9 a.m. at the Rio Grande County Courthouse, and officials invite residents to the county annex building to honor county retirees from 1 to 3 p.m. The four individuals include Treasurer Peggy Kern (24 years), Sheriff Brian Norton (16 years), Commissioner Shriver (eight years) and Mona Syring (Clerk of the Board for Rio Grande County since 2015).