Mineral County commissioners hired a Licensed Professional Counselor for school mental health services and evaluated a $24,000 PermaZyme road treatment proposal during their January meeting. Public Health Director Joni Adelman announced the counselor will work 32 hours weekly starting February 1st, handling Safe2Tell services and suicide training funded through a $10,000 firearms safety grant. County Administrator Janelle Kukuk and Search and Rescue coordinator Clint Leggett reported wildfire code enforcement will affect 478 buildable parcels, with three enforcement options under consideration. The Sheriff’s Office reported recent incidents including a January 7th DUI arrest, $31,000 Rolex theft at Wolf Creek ski area, and bomb threats affecting four regional schools.
Mental Health Services Expansion
Public Health Director Joni Adelman announced a Licensed Professional Counselor will start February 1st, working 32 hours weekly with 12 hours at school beginning fall 2026. The counselor has certifications in early childhood and play therapy, and will handle Safe2Tell services, suicide training, and mental health components of weapon safety education.
The position is funded through a $10,000 firearms safety grant for weapons education. The department plans school assemblies, community sessions, and hunter safety classes with a goal of implementing curriculum in PE classes.
The department hired a CNA for skilled nursing and secured $5,000 from OutCult for community health worker funding through June. Transportation challenges persist, with MedRide serving only Medicaid patients while Ladies Aid pays mileage costs for others.
Community Services Transition
Adelman discussed Delta County’s community paramedic program serving Hinsdale County twice monthly with care coordination meetings, home visits, and needs assessments. The county is considering a similar program through ReeTac.
South Central Seniors is phasing out, with Council of Governments taking over Area Agency on Aging functions. This transition offers opportunity for more equitable funding distribution and volunteer transportation programs similar to Region 10.
Road Treatment and Maintenance
Road and Bridge Superintendent Randy Riggs presented a $24,000 PermaZyme proposal covering three miles, targeting the school road and first half-mile of Deep Creek’s east end. The quote expires February 5th but requires soil testing materials that haven’t arrived.
Riggs reported unusual January road blading due to warm weather on Deep Creek and Dick Foot Road. The airport project continues with 30 loads daily, though crews took a break due to fatigue while awaiting surveyor elevations.
Riggs visited Gunnison County’s shop to evaluate walk-behind rollers. Gunnison County has nine rollers and offered to let Mineral County try their articulation unit at discounted price. The department is coordinating with Colorado Parks and Wildlife on easement placement for lodging tax panel signs and may provide gravel assistance at the Collar area.
Wildfire Code Implementation
County Administrator Janelle Kukuk and Search and Rescue coordinator Clint Leggett reported on Headwaters Economics meetings regarding Wildfire Resilience Code enforcement. The current map designates 478 buildable parcels as yellow, orange, or red zones based solely on wildfire intensity, ignoring risk and likelihood factors.
Officials identified three enforcement options: building department integration, self-certification through affidavits, or self-certification with photos. Self-certification puts compliance responsibility on homeowners through sworn affidavits requiring attorney review for liability questions.
The county cannot make maps less restrictive without spending $200,000 on custom mapping but can implement stricter measures. The code includes only annual reporting requirements due July 31st, 2026. Leggett and Kukuk are developing recommendations for board consideration.
Water Basin Representation
A resident recommended county representation on Rio Grande Basin Roundtable after attending a meeting where recreation wasn’t mentioned despite its economic importance to Mineral County. Dale Paisel currently holds the county’s roundtable slot. Commissioners agreed to research roundtable bylaws and explore recreational representation options.
Law Enforcement and Safety Updates
The Sheriff’s Office reported a January 7th DUI arrest, $31,000 Rolex theft at Wolf Creek ski area, and criminal mischief including a Toyota Tundra bed kicked in on Christmas by a non-extraditable North Carolina perpetrator. The department issued traffic tickets to high school students for reckless driving and served a felony summons for a Thanksgiving night DUI involving illegal guns.
The department received fingerprint machine grant approval with equipment expected January-February. Concealed carry classes are scheduled February 5th-7th with refresher training February 28th reflecting new July law changes. The department completed three days implementing national incident-based reporting and is working on ID cards for first responders.
Search and Rescue coordinator Clint Leggett reported a January 1st vehicle extraction on Ivy Creek and Flight for Life training with five team members at two landing zones. Leggett is developing red flag warning response protocols after studying other county models and contacted local school administration about bomb threats affecting four regional schools via robocalls.
Administrative Actions
Commissioners approved December meeting minutes from the 23rd, 10th, and 17th, with meeting dates adjusted due to Christmas Eve. The board scheduled work sessions January 21st and February 4th, CCA meeting January 26th, and regular meeting January 28th. A potential jury trial January 27th-28th may require meeting location changes.
The Morris right-of-way proposal was postponed after the applicant failed to appear. A Kosciuszko subdivision appeal regarding drainage plan approval was addressed, with disputes over whether this is an existing subdivision lot or new subdivision requiring bonding for road completion concerning a 10-acre separation with access through Holiday Acres lot 8.
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