County officials will highlight recent progress within Montezuma County’s Road and Bridge Department during the next Coffee with the County, including staff transitions and expanded training efforts.
The Feb. 9 meeting will feature the county’s new lead foreman, Heath Higgins, who will join commissioners to discuss changes in recent months and how they may affect community members.
According to Vicki Shaffer, the county’s public information officer, the department has undergone several adjustments. After the retirement of long time supervisor Rob Englehart, his replacement also departed, and additional staffing and structural changes followed.
Commissioners plan to discuss those developments and outline how the department aims to move forward, with a primary focus on training existing staff, Shaffer said.
The meeting will also include time for residents to share what they are hearing in the community.
“At recent meetings, the commissioners have started taking a few minutes to discuss any rumors that community members have heard,” Shaffer said. “Sometimes, we have heard ones that they will address, but usually they just talk about what community members have heard.”
The event will follow the county’s typical Coffee with the County format, with brief commissioner updates followed by open discussion.
County cites weekly engagement with Road and Bridge staff
During a Tuesday board meeting, county officials highlighted ongoing efforts within the Road and Bridge Department.
County Administrator Travis Anderson said the county is increasing its engagement with staff and evaluating training, technology and equipment needs.
“So, I’ve spent a lot of time with Road and Bridge. We're having weekly meetings with them,” Anderson said. “We created a promotional format that was actually measurable… We're currently evaluating their training and equipment needs. We're having constant communication with them, like I said.”
Anderson said the county plans to purchase additional equipment, including a new tilt trailer.
“The one they have now is insufficient, we’ve got a cost for a tilt trailer. It’s about $9,500,” he said. “We also will be purchasing some protective equipment for them.”
Commissioners said they are already seeing improvements within the department.
“I have definitely seen a change in attitude in the road department,” Commissioner Kent Lindsay said. “So, I'm real positive that things are turning around out there, and these guys are coming to life.”
Commissioner Jim Candelaria agreed, pointing to increased staff involvement and upcoming road projects.
“I just got to tell you, it's exciting to watch these guys now get their input, let them help with the decisions that are being made,” Candelaria said.
He said the county is planning a chip sealing project covering at least 14 miles this year, with the possibility of expanding to 18 miles depending on funding. Work would focus on the county’s southern areas, from Road G to Road H.
“So, they pick the worst of the worst, and we're going to actually get traffic counts on them so we actually have verification they are the highest traffic counts we have left to do,” he said.
Candelaria added that progress continues on magnesium chloride distribution and application, which is used as a deicer and for dust control.
Coffee with the County will be held Monday, Feb. 9, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the board of commissioners meeting room at 109 W. Main St. in Cortez. The event is open to the public.
