COG 2008 Minutes

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Minutes"><U><I><U>March 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#april_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>April 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#may_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>May 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#june_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>June 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#july_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>July 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#august_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>August 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#september_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>September 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#october_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>October 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#november_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>November 2008</U></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#december_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><I><U>December 2008 </U></I></U></A><A HREF="#december_2008" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U>   </U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="january_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>January 2008</b></div> <div> The ECCOG Board of Directors meeting  for January 2008 was cancelled due to inclement weather.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="february_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Annual Reorganizational Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>February 6, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the annual reorganization meeting of the East Central Council of Local Governments to order at 7:04 p.m. Other Board members present included Steve Burgess, John Nichols, Ron Howard, Del Beattie and Rayetta Palmer. Also attending were Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator.</div> <div> Jo Downey led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> <B>Introduction of the 2008 Board</b></div> <div> In addition to John Metli, who represents the Elbert County Commissioners, other 2008 Board members present included Steve Burgess, representing the Lincoln County Commissioners; John Nichols, representing the Kit Carson County Commissioners; Ron Howard, representing the Cheyenne County Commissioners; Del Beattie, representing Lincoln County's municipalities and Rayetta Palmer, representing Cheyenne County's municipalities. Kerry Korsvold, representing Kit Carson County's municipalities, was unable to attend. Jo Downey told the Board that nominations for Elbert County's municipality representative were received from the Towns of Elizabeth and Kiowa. Because there are two nominees, the municipalities will vote during February to select their representative to the ECCOG Board of Directors</div> <div> <B>Nominating Committee Report</b></div> <div> Steve Burgess reported from the Nominating Committee, consisting of Steve, Del Beattie and John Nichols. Steve reported the current officers are willing to serve again.</div> <div> <B>Election of 2008 Officers</b></div> <div> There being no nominations from the floor, Steve Burgess moved the Board accept the nominating committee's report and elect John Metli, Chairman; Rayetta Palmer, Vice-Chairman; and John Nichols, Secretary-Treasurer. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other business to come before the Board at the reorganization meeting.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>February 6, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:08 p.m., February 6, 2008 at the Town Hall in Limon, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: John Nichols, Rayetta Palmer, Steve Burgess, Del Beattie and Ron Howard. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator.</div> <div> There being no meeting in January, Minutes of the December 5, 2007 Board of Directors regular monthly meeting were reviewed. Rayetta Palmer pointed out a typographical error in the paragraph discussing the Tourism Regional Marketing Grant. The words “Out Journey” should be “Our Journey.” Rayetta moved the Minutes of the December 5, 2007 Board meeting be approved as corrected. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $26,830.98, and the total for bills listed for January was $47,047.25. John Nichols moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Steve Burgess seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Federal Transit Funding for 2008 for the Town of Limon</b></div> <div> Outback Express Director Terry Baylie advised the Board that the Town of Limon would accept funding from ECCOG via FTA for continuation of FTA funded transit services for 2008. Terry said issues of concern to the Town were alleviated when the Colorado Department of Transportation agreed that ECCOG should be the state's point of contact with the service providers, rather than contacting all sub-grantees directly.</div> <div> <B>2008 Municipal Board Members</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that county and municipal representatives who served during 2007 would serve again during 2008, except for Elbert County's representative. As of this meeting, there are two nominees for the Elbert County position and the representative will be selected during February after all Elbert County Town Boards vote. For the interim period, ECCOG can operate with a Board of seven directors, she said.</div> <div> <B>2008 Salary Schedule</b></div> <div> The 2008 salary schedule was amended to make base hourly salaries conform to the new federal minimum wage. Because the January meeting was cancelled due to weather, the amended salary schedule was approved using a mail-in ballot. Jo asked that the vote by mail be affirmed by the Board for the public record. Rayetta Palmer moved the 2008 Salary Schedule decision by mail be affirmed. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy/EDA</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reminded members that, last October, the Board approved submission of a pre-application for partial funding for the development of the Colorado Central Plains Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The pre-application has been completed and filed with the federal Economic Development Administration, she said. This region is eligible for designation as an Economic Development Administration District because of Lincoln County's eligibility. Such designation would make the region eligible for additional federal funds to help implement economic development activities. Completion and acceptance of a CEDS is the first step toward becoming a district.</div> <div> <B>Housing Project Agreement</b></div> <div> Board members previously received copies of an agreement updating and reaffirming the roles of Prairie Development Corporation and ECCOG in the continued administration of income (principal and interest) from loans made from closed-out Housing Loan Program grants. Jo told the Board this reaffirmation is a housekeeping item. She reminded members that the original federal grants that funded the housing loan programs were made to Kit Carson County, on behalf of the region. However, ECCOG administered the grants while PDC operated the loan program. She asked the ECCOG Board to consider a resolution to sign the updated agreement. Steve Burgess moved the updated agreement be signed as requested. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. </div> <div> Jo also explained that some of the original grant funds came from the Community Development Block Grant program, and while the original grant contract is long expired, the proceeds made from CDBG loans must still be tracked and reported as project income. However, Kit Carson County can ask that these proceeds be re-designated as miscellaneous income, which will do away with that requirement. She said the county has requested this re-designation.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other unfinished business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Outback Transit System Vehicle Inventory/Replacement Update</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reviewed an inventory of Outback Express vehicles in the region, and told the Board that no bus purchases are anticipated in 2008 or 2009. Three vehicles (Burlington, Limon and Flagler) are scheduled for replacement in 2010. Of the 12 vehicles in the primary vehicle fleet, the Federal Transit Administration still maintains a security interest in six of them. The average age of the vehicles in the primary fleet is 5.5 years.</div> <div> Terry told the Board that the Colorado Department of Transportation would conduct an on-site visit next week. The consultant will be reviewing the transit program's paperwork and will inspect several vehicles. The CDOT Transit Unit administers federal grant funds used to operate the Outback Express system.</div> <div> <B>Museum Signs</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reported the museum sign project, which is part of the Our Journey Heritage Tourism marketing project, is completed. The signs and frames have been delivered to all participating public museums within the four counties, and the museums were asked to have their signs in place before the 2008 season opens Memorial Day weekend. The Lincoln County Hedlund House Museum sign was on display at the meeting.</div> <div> <B>Enterprise Zone Report/Certifications</b></div> <div> Board members received copies of the 2007 Enterprise Zone Report that was recently filed with the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The Three Percent Investment Tax Credit continued to be the most utilized credit within this region, with $781,303 in EZ credits remaining within the region this past year, rather than being paid out for state income taxes. However, this total was smaller than reported over the past several years. </div> <div> Cash contributions to local Enterprise Zone projects totaled $324,921.04 in 2007, with Plains Medical Center in Limon receiving the lion's share of those contributions, $287,577.04 from 160 Colorado taxpayers.</div> <div> <B>Audit Time Frame and Costs</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that the cost of the 2007 audit of ECCOG's books would be 35 percent higher than last year's. The primary reasons for the increase are new auditing regulations. Jo said the auditors would be asked to meet with the Board to explain the increased costs and to answer other questions about the audit. The audit will be concluded by the end of March. While ECCOG has stepped down as fiscal agent for the state's Homeland Security grant, the ECCOG audit will include Homeland Security expenditures into 2009 because of contractual obligations, Jo said.</div> <div> <B>Colorado Tourism Board Regional Marketing Grant</b></div> <div> Prairie Development Corporation applied for a Colorado Tourism Board regional marketing grant on behalf of our four counties, and Jo Downey reported a grant of $15,000 was approved for additional work on the Our Journey program. This grant will require matching funds of $7,500. Funds will be used to develop a library of “B-Roll” film, for use in marketing the region via metropolitan television stations, and a cross-marketing brochure and smaller version of the Our Journey ticket. This less-costly brochure will be similar to the Our Journey brochure, but will focus on the museums in the region. Jo said 75,000 copies of the brochure would be distributed through the museums and the Colorado Welcome Center at Burlington.</div> <div> <B>Census Information “Quick Facts”</b></div> <div> The two-page U. S. Census Bureau “People Quick Facts” for each of the four counties was sent to the Board as information only, Jo said. Some of this information is used from time to time for grant preparation and for various economic reports, and is generally of interest, she said.</div> <div> <B>March Meeting Date/Location</b></div> <div> The next regular meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at Limon.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other new business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, Steve Burgess moved the meeting be adjourned. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="march_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>March 5, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:15 p.m., March 5, 2008 at the Town Hall in Limon, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Steve Burgess, Del Beattie, Ron Howard and Jon Gleiforst. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator. Also present were John Hill of The Ranchland News at Simla and Mike Bruckner of Limon.</div> <div> After introducing Jon Gleiforst (the new municipal representative from Elbert County) to the rest of the Board and staff, John Metli led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> The Minutes of the annual reorganization meeting on February 6, 2008 were reviewed. Steve Burgess moved the Minutes of the February 6, 2008 annual reorganization meeting be approved as mailed. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> The Minutes of the regular February 6, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. Rayetta Palmer moved the February 6, 2008 regular meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $26,583.65, and the total for bills listed for February was $368,394.67. Jo explained there were several large bills connected with the Homeland Security grant that will not be repeated. For the benefit of Jon Gleiforst, Jo summarized ECCOG's experience as fiscal agent for the Northeast Colorado All-Hazards Region, and explained costs relative to other funds in the budget. She also briefly described ECCOG and Prairie Development programs for Jon's benefit. Steve Burgess moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>CDOT On-Site Visit</b></div> <div> Outback Express Director Terry Baylie advised the Board that a letter from the Colorado Department of Transportation's Transit Unit Manager was received regarding the state's on-site visit in the region February 13-14. Terry reviewed the letter and shared with the Board her written response. The on-site visit consultant did not report any compliance issues, she said. The Board approved her response by consensus.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy/EDA</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reminded the Board that, last Fall, the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) had suggested Region V (Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties) consider becoming an EDA district. As an EDA district, the region would become eligible for annual federal funds to support economic development projects, both existing and new. Jo said she has submitted a pre-application for grant funds to complete a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) plan. If PDC is asked to submit a full application, it is likely the planning grant will be approved. </div> <div> In original talks with the EDA, Jo was told it would be necessary to alter the make-up of the Prairie Development Corporation Board of Directors, but PDC would be allowed a year following grant approval to make the alterations. However, she since has learned it must be the ECCOG Board that is changed, since all PDC staff persons are ECCOG employees. The PDC Board would have less impact, as it would serve only as a strategy committee.</div> <div> Further, changes to the board must be accomplished by the time of formation of the district. To meet the EDA criteria, the Board probably would have to be expanded. No more than 65 percent of the directors can be government representatives (all members must be local elected officials at the present time), and 35 percent to 49 percent of the members must be non-government representatives.  The Board now has no at-large representatives, but the EDA rules would permit at-large directors.</div> <div> Jo said she hasn't researched the ramifications of a re-invented ECCOG Board for other operations. However, she said ECCOG can complete the plan and adopt it, without going any further, or it can complete the plan and take the necessary steps to become a district, including changing the make-up of the Board.</div> <div> John Metli asked Jo to develop an outline of ED district benefits to the region and its impact on the ECCOG Board. Jo agreed to do so, but asked the Board to state whether the planning effort should go forward.</div> <div> Steve Burgess moved to proceed with development of the CEDS with the knowledge that, if a district is funded, the Board understands that private sector representation on the Board would be required. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo said it would take another twelve to eighteen months to get to that point.</div> <div> <B>Revised State Fiscal Year Aging Services Funding Request</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie explained that, on February 22, she received notice from the State Unit on Aging that it might be necessary to revise the region's aging services request for State Funds for Senior Services for FY 2008. The request was submitted last June. Terry said the revision is necessary because funds were transferred from the ombudsman, material aid and congregate meals line items to increase the capital equipment line item. The need to purchase two new ranges for kitchens and to repair the Burlington walk-in freezer increased the capital equipment line from $5,000 to $11,000. Since the revision must be submitted to the state by March 14, Terry asked the Board for approval pending the recommendation of the Senior Services Advisory Board, which won't meet until March 13. </div> <div> Del Beattie moved the Area Agency on Aging revision of its request for State Funds for Senior Services for FY 2008 be approved as presented, contingent on a recommendation for approval from the Senior Services Advisory Board. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other unfinished business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Our Journey 2008</b></div> <div> Jo Downey called the Board's attention to the Our Journey packet insert listing antique and collectible shops, bed and breakfast and other guest houses and tea rooms, and asked members to help determine any changes in the listings for the 2008 tourist season.</div> <div> Other plans for the coming season include publication of a karaoke compact disk that will accompany the songbook, and a new insert for the Elbert County Museum at Kiowa and, possibly, for the telephone museum at Cheyenne Wells. Staff already is working on radio and television promotions, designed to attract metropolitan residents to the Plains, and over the next month, Jo and Terry will meet with all of the region's museums to discuss audio tours, implementation of design concepts, and cross marketing among the museums. Jo said museums also will be reminded to have their new signs installed prior to the opening of the new season, and they will be encouraged to take advantage of grant funds through the Little Songs on the Prairie project, which was extended to September 30, 2008.</div> <div> <B>Aging and Transit Services Reports</b></div> <div> Copies of 2007 year-end reports for aging and transit services were mailed to Board members prior to this meeting. Terry Baylie reviewed the reports, noting that Dynamic Dimensions, Inc. in Burlington has changed to a four-day operational week that has resulted in fewer transportation trips being offered. This change will impact the service numbers for the entire Outback Express operation, she said.</div> <div> <B>Impact Grant Hearing and Update</b></div> <div> As of this meeting, Jo Downey said she was aware of no proposal from Region V to be reviewed at the next state Energy Impact Assistance grant hearings. She said Cheyenne County is withdrawing its application for a new clinic, which will be resubmitted at a later date. Applications being drafted include one from Kit Carson County for road improvements and one from the Town of Arriba, strengthening an earlier proposal for water system improvements. </div> <div> Under new rules, Jo said, applications for funding of $200,000 or less for non-controversial projects can be decided by administrative review at the Colorado Department of Local Affairs executive level. Lincoln County recently obtained an out-of-cycle grant to help pay for increased courthouse security measures. These applications can be submitted to the state at any time, but it is her understanding that any administrative decision would not be made until after the close of the grant cycle following the submission. Applications to be submitted for review in the next funding cycle are due by April 1, with hearings set in July. Later application deadlines are August 1 and December 1.</div> <div> <B>April Meeting Date/Location</b></div> <div> The next regular meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at Limon.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> Board members were asked to bring their Board Handbooks to the next meeting. ECCOG staff will update the information in the handbooks and will return them to the members at the May meeting.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, Steve Burgess moved the meeting be adjourned. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="april_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>April 2, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:06 p.m., April 2, 2008 at the Town Hall in Limon, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Steve Burgess, Del Beattie, Ron Howard, John Nichols, Jon Gleiforst and Kerry Korsvold. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator. Gary Bégin of The Ranchland News at Simla, Joanne McLain of Elizabeth and Paula Lamphier of Limon also attended.</div> <div> John Metli asked John Nichols to lead those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> The Minutes of the regular March 5, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. Rayetta Palmer moved the March 5, 2008 regular meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $26,289.25, and the total for bills listed for March was $45,446.84. Steve Burgess moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Aging Services 2007 Carry-Over Funding</b></div> <div> A spreadsheet showing Aging Services contract carry-over funds available for re-allocation was provided to Board members in their pre-meeting packets. Terry Baylie reviewed the information at the meeting and said the Senior Services Advisory Board recommended allocation of the carry-over funding as stated in Column F of the spreadsheet. Rayetta Palmer moved the Board accept the advisory board recommendation. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Approved carry-over allocations include: Part B, $4,654, and Part E, $811.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy/EDA</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reported that work is progressing in preparation of the final application for partial funding for the development of the Colorado Central Plains Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and potential designation of the area as an EDA District. One of the issues raised by this process is the necessity of redesigning the ECCOG Board of Directors to meet federal Economic Development Administration requirements. Jo said the ECCOG Articles of Association permit such an amendment, and it appears the Colorado Constitution and state statutes are silent regarding COG Board composition. Once begun, completion of the CEDS will take nine months to a year, she said.</div> <div> <B>Our Journey Work Program</b></div> <div> Jo Downey circulated a spreadsheet showing all new components of the 2008 Our Journey season, the fourth, will be in place by mid-May. She told the Board that she and Terry Blevins have been meeting with the various museums, updating their information for the Our Journey materials, obtaining ideas for the new cross-marketing brochure funded by the Colorado Tourism Board, and discussing the schedules for shooting the B-roll film that will be used to illustrate television interviews about the area and the campaign. Jo said the film would be obtained in three two-day shooting efforts.</div> <div> The Our Journey songbook will now be a karaoke songbook, with guitar accompaniment on a compact disc. The 2008 Explorer's prize, given to visitors who visit most of the museums in the region during the season, will be the book Land of Grass and Sky, a naturalist's prairie journey, by Mary Taylor Young.</div> <div> The only print advertisement thus far this season appears in the Colorado State Vacation Planning Guide. However, Jo said the Colorado Tourism Board is promoting a heritage tour with links to Our Journey web pages, and other commercial publications have featured Colorado's Central Plains in advertising.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> Joanne McLain and Paula Lamphier of the Elbert County Coalition and Outreach (ECCO) met with the Board to discuss further the possibility of providing commuter transit services from Elbert County to an RTD station for county residents employed in the city. Terry Baylie provided a worksheet that showed the approximate cost to passengers for this service would be $5.50 per one-way trip. Board members generally felt there was inadequate information available relative to need, projected use and logistics. Jon Gleiforst suggested this service might be more appropriate for a private sector operator. Jo Downey told the ECCO representatives that ECCOG's Transit Advisory Committee could be a partner in securing federal grants for buses for such a project, once ECCO completes a workable implementation plan for the project.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>2008 Events Guide</b></div> <div> Jo Downey briefly updated the Board on the timeline for completion of the 2008 summer events guide. Copies of the 2007 guide were circulated, and Jo asked Board members to contact her with any changes or additions for 2008. As in past years, the events guides will be distributed through the schools, at motels and restaurants in the region, at the Colorado Welcome Center at Burlington, and will be included on the Our Journey website, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><A HREF="http://www.ourjourney.info" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ourjourney.info"><U><U>www.ourjourney.info</U></U></A></FONT>. </div> <div> <B>Senior Legal Service Program</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie presented this proposed addition to the Legal Assistance Program Policies and Procedures, under “2. Legal Services”:</div> <div> c. All legal services are offered on a first come, first served basis, except requests by individuals for the same legal service (such as Will changes) more often than every three years will be considered only in the 4th quarter of the service program year to insure persons with first-time needs have readier access to the available funds.</div> <div> Terry said the Senior Services Advisory Board had recommended adoption of this addition. John Nichols moved the Senior Services Advisory Board recommendation be accepted. Kerry Korsvold seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Homeland Security Grant Closeout Status</b></div> <div> Jo Downey said the two special vehicles ordered by Front Range counties under this grant program have been delivered. While payment was approved in March, the checks are still being withheld pending reimbursement to ECCOG by the State. Jo said the three percent allowed for administrative costs over the 12-month period was actually spread over a 26-month period.</div> <div> While acting as fiscal agent for this all-hazards region proved to be too much for this region's resources, Jo said ECCOG was able to improve its purchasing policies and manual during that period.</div> <div> <B>State Unit on Aging On-Site Visit  </b></div> <div> Terry Baylie told the Board that the State Unit on Aging would conduct an on-site visit in the region April 8-10. The visit will include meals at the Arriba and Burlington meal sites, and possibly at a third meal site to be determined. The State personnel will review the Area Agency on Aging's policies, procedures and processes at the Stratton office, with specific attention to transportation program, and also will meet with AAA contract service providers.  </div> <div> <B>May Meeting Date/Location</b></div> <div> The next regular meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Limon.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that it was time to replace the photocopier at the ECCOG office as the current lease is expiring at the end of the month. The new copier can be leased by resolution of the ECCOG Board. Steve Burgess moved the ECCOG proceed with a three-year lease of a new photocopier for the Stratton office. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. This lease allows ECCOG to purchase the copier for $1.00 at the end of the 36 months.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="may_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>May 7, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:30 p.m., May 7, 2008 at the Town Hall in Limon, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Steve Burgess, Del Beattie, Ron Howard, and John Nichols. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Debby Conrads, Senior and Transit Services Assistant Director. Gary Bégin of The Ranchland News at Simla, Del Schwab of Elizabeth, Joe Kiely of Limon, Art Schmidt of Burlington, John Shipper of Kiowa, and Andy Wyer of Ramah also attended.</div> <div> John Metli led those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> The Minutes of the April 8, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. Rayetta Palmer moved the April 8, 2008 meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. John Nichols seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $26,289.25, and the total for bills listed for April was $49,307.35. Steve Burgess moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Transit Updates:</b></div> <div> <I><B>2007 Year-End Transit Program Statistics</b></I></div> <div> Copies of 2007 year-end reports for the transit service were mailed to Board members prior to this meeting. Terry Baylie reviewed the reports, noting that Dynamic Dimensions, Inc. in Burlington has changed to a four-day operational week that has resulted in fewer transportation trips being offered. This change will impact the service numbers for the entire Outback Express operation, she said.</div> <div> <I><B>Status of the 2007 Vehicles</b></I></div> <div> Debby Conrads explained that there have been wheelchair lift problems with both vehicles received in 2007.  The lift on the DDI vehicle is now working well after two days of DDI staff working with the Braun Company.  There has been no report from staff on the Elbert County, Kiowa based, vehicle, but they have been provided with the Braun Company information.</div> <div> <I><B>CDOT On-site Visit</b></I></div> <div> Outback Express Director Terry Baylie advised the Board that a letter from the Colorado Department of Transportation's Transit Unit Manager was received regarding the state's on-site visit in the region February 13-14. Terry reviewed the letter and shared with the Board her written response. The on-site visit consultant did not report any compliance issues, she said. </div> <div>            <I><B> 2009 FTA Funding</b></I></div> <div> Terry stated the 2009 update to the grant application submitted for 2008/2009 funding is due on June 9th, explaining that TAC will need to meet on June 4th, in order to make recommendations to the ECCOG Board of Directors at it's June 4th meeting.  The TAC will meet at the Limon Town Hall at 7 pm .</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy/EDA</b></div> <div> Jo Downey updated the Board and others on the current status of the decision by the Economic Development Administration as to granting partial funding to ECCOG for the development of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the four county area. Completion of a CEDS is necessary if the area is to consider becoming an EDA District.  Grant funds have been awarded and a management conference call is scheduled for Monday, May 12th.  Rayetta Palmer will participate.</div> <div> <B>Our Journey Phase IV</b></div> <div> Jo Downey distributed samples of various new materials to be included in the upcoming 2008 Our Journey marketing campaign. Included in Board Packets was the public relations plan for the summer. The B roll film schedule has been finalized and filming began today.  Filming is also scheduled for May 25th and June 1, 2, and 3.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Summary</b></div> <div> Included in Board Packets are summaries of the State Income Tax Enterprise Zone Credits claimed in 2008 (for 2007 Returns) through April 15. Credits to date total just over $928,290. Jo Downey discussed the certification process and recent changes to process and/or forms used.</div> <div> <B>2009 Title III Senior Services Program Funding</b></div> <div> Senior and Transit Services Director, Terry Baylie, reported on the time line for the 2009 Title III of the Older Americans Act funding request from ECCOG to the State. This grant provides the base for the various Senior Services provided by the East Central Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging in Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson and Cheyenne Counties.  Terry distributed and reviewed the spreadsheets showing the available funding for SFY 2009 (July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009), explained that the funding request for these funding is due on June 2nd.  An extension of this deadline until June 6th was requested so that it could be reviewed by the Board at its June 4th meeting.</div> <div> <B>2009/2010 Salary Schedules</b></div> <div> Included with Board Materials were copies of the proposed salary schedules for 2009/2010. It is necessary to have this two-year schedule (or an alternative schedule) in place so that 2009 Budgets and grant proposals can be drafted. Jo Downey discussed the reasoning for the base amount revisions (steps remain at 3%) and asked for a resolution of adoption for both the salaried and waged schedules.   Ron Howard moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Division of Insurance</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reported on the changes to the insurance counseling program. ECCOG will no longer be receiving an actual contract, but instead will be viewed as a “key collaborating agency” to the Colorado Division of Insurance. ECCOG will be receiving $9500 in funding to provide insurance counseling and fraud awareness presentations.</div> <div> <B>Enterprise Zone Boundary Change Request</b></div> <div> Jo Downey discussed the need for Elbert County to adjust their Enterprise Zone boundaries to address the need and desire to provide EZ credits to businesses and for vacant building rehabilitation in the unincorporated community of Elbert. Jo Downey and John Metli outlined the boundary change request (to include the area within the Elbert Sanitation District) and asked for ECCOG Board approval. Any approval by COG would still have to be approved by the State Economic Development Commission.  Jo discussed the challenges of securing economic distress data for the area within the proposed boundary.  Such data is critical if the Economic Development Commission is to even consider ECCOG's request.  Steve Burgess moved to include the Elbert Sanitation District (Old Elbert) within the Enterprise Zone boundary. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.  </div> <div> <B>CDOT Open Houses/Rail Relocation Study</b></div> <div> Rail Study Advisory Committee member Joe Kiely explained information presented at series of public open houses regarding the Colorado Department of Transportation's Rail Relocation Study. The study examines a public/private partnership effort among RTD, Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe to relocate rail freight traffic from along the Front Range to somewhere on the Eastern Plains.  Joe briefed those in attendance on the study recommendations and will make a similar presentation to the Mid States Port Authority next week.  One alternative would bring traffic down east of Limon.</div> <div> <B>June Meeting Date/Location</b><B> </b></div> <div> The Board will meet Wednesday, June 4th at 7:30 in Limon.  A Transit Advisory Committee meeting will precede the Board meeting.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other new business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="june_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>June 4, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:46 p.m., June 4, 2008 at the Town Hall in Limon, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Steve Burgess, Ron Howard and Jon Gleiforst. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator. Art Schmidt of Burlington was a guest.</div> <div> John Metli asked Steve Burgess to lead those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> The Minutes of the regular May 7, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. Steve Burgess moved the May 7, 2008 regular meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried 4-0, with Jon Gleiforst abstaining.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $26,208.56, and the total for bills listed for May was $38,267.70. Rayetta Palmer moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Jon Gleiforst seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. </div> <div> Jo told the Board the search is under way for a new COG fiscal officer. Jo said this matter would be discussed further under “New Business.” </div> <div> <B>2007 Audit Presentation</b></div> <div> Lori Hendrick of May Jackson Hendrick, LLC presented the COG's 2007 audit report. She reported COG's accounting as “clean,” and said COG had maintained a perfect set of books with no material deficiencies. She discussed the new audit requirements that resulted in more detailed looks at more transactions, and warned the new requirements will continue to cause higher-cost audits. Steve Burgess moved the Board accept the 2007 audit report. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>2009 Federal Transit Administration Funding</b></div> <div> Outback Express Director Terry Baylie reviewed the 2009 update for Federal Transit Administration funding. She stated the regional Transit Advisory Committee (TAC) had recommended the COG Board submit the 2009 FTA funding update as presented. Ron Howard moved the TAC recommendation to submit the 2009 FTA funding update be accepted. Jon Gleiforst seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy/EDA</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reviewed the Economic Development Administration's grant award letter that offered $31,395 to undertake a comprehensive economic development strategy for Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties. This grant would be matched with $13,465 from the COG budget, she said. Rayetta Palmer moved the Board accept the federal investment in this project and authorize Chairman John Metli to sign the contract on behalf of the East Central Council of Governments. Jon Gleiforst seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Our Journey Phase VI</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board she will pick up all of the 2008 season materials for the Our Journey packets this coming Saturday. Completion of these materials is behind schedule for a number of reasons, she said, but everything is ready to go now. She briefly reviewed the contents of the new packet.</div> <div> Jo also discussed the Colorado Tourism Office's Western Heritage Vacation contest. The CTO website, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><A HREF="http://www.colorado.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.colorado.com"><U><I><B>www.colorado.com</b></I></U></A></FONT>, offers a chance to win one of five Colorado vacations, including one on Colorado's Central Plains. She said the website had received 84,898 entries by May 22, 95 percent of them for all five trips. The Our Journey page views had 39,298 visitors, she added.</div> <div> She told the Board she would begin talking about Our Journey on Colorado radio and television stations in about two weeks. Her interviews will be illustrated using the new B-Roll film of the various attractions in the region.</div> <div> <B>2008 Fun Fairs and Festivals Guides</b></div> <div> The 2008 events guides were completed and were provided to the region's school districts for students to take home to their parents. Jo provided Board members with copies of the events guides and again asked them to let the COG office know of any overlooked annual events that can be included in the 2009 events guide.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other old business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>2009 Title III Senior Services Program Funding</b></div> <div> Included in Board members' pre-meeting packets were copies of the Area Agency on Aging's 2009 Title III federal and state funding requests. Area Agency on Aging Director Terry Baylie reviewed these requests in detail, and reported the Senior Services Advisory Board had recommended COG Board approval. Jon Gleiforst moved the Board accept the Senior Services Advisory Board's recommendation. Steve Burgess seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Private Activity Bonds for Local Officials</b></div> <div> Jo Downey advised the Board of a meeting scheduled June 27 in Colorado Springs entitled “Private Activity Bonds for Local Officials.” She circulated an agenda for the meeting for informational purposes only.</div> <div> <B>Heritage Tourism Regional Grants</b></div> <div> Also for informational purposes, Jo announced the Colorado Tourism Office would hold a meeting at the Limon Town Hall on June 12 to discuss the next round of heritage tourism project grants. Jo said she would attend the meeting to learn the requirements of the grants. Interpretation of New Deal historic sites in this region would be a possible project for this funding source.</div> <div> <B>Department of Local Affairs Region Meeting</b></div> <div> Jo Downey said the Colorado Department of Local Affairs held a strategic planning session on May 30 to discuss future partnerships between the state and regional governmental associations. Also discussed at that meeting were revisions to the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance grant program.</div> <div> <B>CEDS Committee Discussion</b></div> <div> Due to the lateness of the hour, Jo Downey touched on the subject of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy committee briefly. She said three Prairie Development Corporation Board members have expressed an interest in serving. Jo will contact local governments in the region to identify all local economic development groups, and will obtain from these a list of suggested names for appointment to the committee. This list of names will be brought back to the COG Board.</div> <div> <B>July Meeting Date/Location</b></div> <div> The next regular meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at Limon. COG business will be conducted by mail during August, and the following meeting will be scheduled in September.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> Jo Downey asked the Board to consider compensation for the COG fiscal staff for the immediate future. She said the salary schedule gives the base salary for fiscal officer as $35,000. Due to her knowledge and seniority, the recent fiscal officer's annual salary was $44,450 at the time she resigned. The Program Specialist/Accounting Assistant presently is at $26,450 on the salary schedule.</div> <div> Jo said the former COG fiscal officer would continue doing books for the Prairie Development Corporation that would reduce the workload of her replacement. In addition, the Program Specialist/Accounting Assistant has agreed to assume extra duties that formerly were performed by the fiscal officer.</div> <div> She recommended the salary schedule be amended, changing the title of the fiscal officer to “chief accountant/fiscal officer,” reducing the base salary for that position to $30,000 per year for a 40 hour week, and immediately increasing the Program Specialist/Accounting Assistant's salary by two steps on the schedule.</div> <div> Steve Burgess moved that the Program Specialist/Accounting Assistant's salary be moved to Step 7 on the schedule, or $27,830, effective June 1, 2008. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jon Gleiforst moved that the fiscal officer position be reclassified as “chief accountant/fiscal officer,” and that the base salary on the schedule for this position be set at $30,000 for 2008 (based on a 40-hour week) and $33,000 for 2009. Steve Burgess seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 9:58 p.m.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="july_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>July 2, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:04 p.m., July 2, 2008 at the Town Hall in Limon, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Kerry Korsvold, Ron Howard, Del Beattie and John Nichols. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator. Joe Kiely, Limon Town Manager, Beth Shelly of the <I>West Elbert County Sun</I> and John Hill of the <I>Ranchland News</I> were guests at the meeting. </div> <div> John Metli asked Rayetta Palmer to lead those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> The Minutes of the regular June 4, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. Rayetta Palmer moved the June 4, 2008 regular meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. Kerry Korsvold seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $25,549.85, and the total for bills listed for June was $53,848.75. She explained that the estimated cash in bank total was in error by about $23,000 as final financial reports for June could not be completed until a new fiscal officer was hired, and assured the board there are adequate funds available to meet the fiscal needs of the COG for the ensuing month. Ron Howard moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. </div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Fiscal Officer</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board ECCOG received nine or ten applications for the open position. Four applicants appeared to have the necessary qualifications; Jo interviewed two of them and ECCOG's auditor conducted phone interviews with the same two applicants. The position was offered to one of the applicants, and Jo said she should know if the applicant is accepting the offer by tomorrow. If neither of the top two applicants accepts the position, it will be readvertised, she added. Jo gave high praise to Eileene Andrews for her willingness to work extra hours and to perform extra duties until this position is filled.</div> <div> <B>Title III On-Site Corrective Action Plan</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reviewed the results of the on-site visit conducted by the State Unit on Aging in April, as well as the Area Agency on Aging's corrective action plan. All in all, she said, she believes the assessment was a good one for the AAA.</div> <div> The only difficult correction required by the state was preventing donations from being handled by AAA staff to ensure anonymity in donating and the security of the donated funds. Terry said she has reviewed the state manual (Volume X) and the state policies regarding Title III programs, and nowhere can she find language prohibiting the Area Agency on Aging staff receiving donations from program participants. Furthermore, donations for Title III programs comprise 55 percent of the programs total funding, and implementing the state's recommendation is likely slow the rate of donations to a trickle from which there is no recovery. She said she feels ECCOG should not make this change, and she told the Board that other Area Agencies on Aging in Colorado are opposed to the change for the same reasons.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy/EDA</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that everything is in line to commence work on the CEDS. Letters have gone out to potential members of the advisory committee, seeking their participation and cooperation, and Jo said she hopes to have the committee in place by the end of July. The next step will be development of a request for proposals for collection of regional data to be incorporated in the plan.</div> <div> <B>Our Journey Update</b></div> <div> Recent achievements of the Our Journey marketing program have been completion of new rack cards, completion of the B-roll film project, and completion of the crossover brochure (now known as the “museum guide”). Jo Downey said the new rack cards that explain the Our Journey program will not be included in the kits mailed to prospective visitors but will be displayed at local businesses and other places where travelers might see them. Stiffer versions will be in place at the state Welcome Centers. Also in place at the Welcome Centers will be the new museum guides. There were 75,000 copies of these guides printed, along with 10,000 inserts giving museum schedules that can be changed as schedule information changes without outdating the guides. The museum guides also will be distributed at local museums with the hope they all will encourage their visitors to see the other attractions in the area. </div> <div> Although the warm weather and high fuel prices have caused a general decline in museum visitors this summer, Jo said interest in the region continues to be high. She compared reports on activity at the website (<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><A HREF="http://www.ourjourney.info" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ourjourney.info"><U><U>www.ourjourney.info</U></U></A></FONT>) showing that more persons are viewing the website so far in 2008 than viewed it during a comparable period a year ago. Jo also gave the Board copies of the Our Journey media tour for this season, and said more than 200 requests for Our Journey packets resulted from this tour.</div> <div> The Colorado Tourism Board website is offering chances for visitors to win one of five western heritage vacations in the state. One of those vacations would be on Colorado's Central Plains, and offers nights at area bed and breakfast businesses and other benefits. The drawing for the vacations will take place August 15,  and the vacations will be offered between March and July 2009. So far,  Jo said,  there have been 108,000 entries for the five vacations, and the website page for this region's vacation has been viewed 63,120 times.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other old business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>2008 First Quarter Services Reports for Title III and FTA Programs.</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie circulated for the Board's information first quarter service reports on the region's senior citizen and public transit programs. Senior citizen programs include transportation, which is operated using the Outback Express public transit system, outreach, information and referral, client advocacy, long term care ombudsman, legal, in-home services, nutrition education and screening, congregate and home-delivered meals. All programs are offered to area residents over the age of 60, regardless of ability to pay. Donations are accepted for the services, but are not required under federal law. Terry reported that donations for the meals programs (the region's largest) average $2.80 per meal. Actual cost of providing each meal is $7.36.</div> <div> During the first quarter of this year, the Outback Express provided 7,916 trips. Operating costs continue to be lower than the maximum allowed under the ECCOG's contract with the Colorado Department of Transportation, she said.</div> <div> <B>Heritage Tourism Pilot Project</b></div> <div> Jo Downey said the new round of heritage tourism pilot project grants offered by the Colorado Tourism Office are for expansion of existing projects, and the Our Journey program could be eligible for these funds. The state will make only three grants, of $35,000 to $50 000, with local agencies providing 25 percent of the project costs. Prairie Development Corporation will be submitting the competitive grant application by August 2, Jo said, with the project title being “Off the Beaten Trail.”</div> <div> Most of the region's Our Journey attractions are seasonal, closed to the public between Labor Day and Memorial Day each year. Jo said “Off the Beaten Trail” would develop attractions for travelers during this off season. She said 8 to 12 significant but not often viewed sites would be selected for interpretation, and the grant would pay for interpretive signs and a professionally narrated compact disk to be used as a tour guide. </div> <div> Also included in the proposal is addition of geocaching to Our Journey.  Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world. Players are equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and navigate to the treasures using positions determined by satellite contact. At the site, hunters would find a waterproof container with a visitor's logbook and the “treasure” inside.</div> <div> <B>Senior Services Board Member Appointment</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie told the Board that David Crismon of Hugo was nominated by the Lincoln County Senior Centers/Meal Sites for appointment to the Senior Services Advisory Board. He would represent Lincoln County residents aged 60 and older. She said David is willing to accept the job; he would replace longtime SSB member Rebecca Humrich of Limon, who has resigned. Kerry Korsvold moved David Crismon be appointed to fill the Senior Services Advisory Board vacancy. John Nichols seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Terry said the City of Burlington has recommended Gordon Mandis of Burlington for appointment to fill the vacancy left by Jeff Prochaska. Kerry Korsvold moved Gordon Mandis be appointed to fill the Transit Advisory Committee vacancy, representing vehicle owners. John Nichols seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>September Meeting Date/Location</b></div> <div> COG business will be conducted by mail during August, and the next regular meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at Flagler.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other new business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="august_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><B>The East Central Council of Local Governments</b></FONT></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors did not meet in August 2008.</b></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="september_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>September 3, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:10 p.m., September 3, 2008 at the Second Central School Museum in Flagler, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Kerry Korsvold, Ron Howard, Del Beattie, Steve Burgess and Jon Glieforst. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator. Lyle Stone of the Flagler Historical Society also attended. </div> <div> John Metli led those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> The Minutes of the regular July 2, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. Kerry Korsvold moved the July 2, 2008 regular meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $27,593.38, and the total for bills listed for August was $50,263.04. Jo pointed out that an Enterprise Zone contribution of $2,500 had been passed through to the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation. Del Beattie moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. </div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Fiscal Officer</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that Paulette Thompson, former Stratton Town Clerk, is ECCOG's new fiscal officer. After a full first month, she has the agency records up to date, Jo said.</div> <div> <B>Title III On-Site Corrective Action Plan</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie told the Board that the State Unit on Aging, as anticipated, did not accept Region V's “no corrective action” regarding the current method for accepting home-delivered meal donations. A corrective action plan to change the Area Agency on Aging's policy for collecting these donations was written, but is on hold pending further developments. Terry said the 16 AAAs in the state intend to request a federal interpretation of the regulations at a meeting set for September 18th.  She hopes this action will put the issue to rest. The state also is requiring the AAA to provide annual nutrition education in a different format than in the past.  This corrective action plan is in process, she said.  Kerry Korsvold said he believes older people now participating in the home-delivered meals program may stop participating if they perceive new state donation requirements as bills for service.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy/EDA</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that work is underway on the CEDS in the four counties. The advisory committee has been finalized, and the work of the committee will be reviewed by both the full ECCOG and Prairie Development Corporation Boards of Directors. The next important work item will be development of a request for proposal from consultants wishing to provide data collection services for the CEDS. Jo said there won't be any alterations to the make-up of the ECCOG Board of Directors because of the CEDS until 2010.</div> <div> <B>Our Journey Update</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that, from a public relations standpoint, the 2008 tourist season was the best to date since the Our Journey marketing program was implemented. She circulated updated public relations schedules so that Board members could see the amount of publicity the Our Journey has attracted. She said the project has mailed out more Our Journey kits to prospective visitors than ever before.</div> <div> The very hot summer, coupled with the price of fuel, had an adverse impact on visitations, however, although Jo noted that a couple of museums actually reported small increases over the previous season.</div> <div> The Colorado Tourism Board has selected winners for the five Colorado vacations offered for next summer, including an Our Journey (The Western Heritage Vacation) trip. Jo said there were 94,000 entries nationwide for this competition.</div> <div> <B>Heritage Tourism Pilot Project</b></div> <div> A few years ago, Prairie Development Corporation applied for one of four pilot Colorado Tourism Office heritage tourism grants. Jo Downey said that application was unsuccessful, but this year, the grants are for expansion of existing projects. PDC has submitted a new application, one of 12 applications received by the Colorado Tourism Office this year, and PDC is one of three finalists for this year's grant funds.</div> <div> The proposed project, entitled “Off the Beaten Trail,” would identify eight heritage tourism sites that could be signed and interpreted, and that would be accessible, i.e., visible to travelers and could be promoted the year around.  These sites must generally interpret “built environment,” as opposed to people or events. </div> <div> To encourage visitation by younger heritage tourists, near the interpreted sites would be “treasure sites” for a new geocaching game in which players, equipped with global positioning system receivers, would locate the “treasure” and sign the accompanying logbook. The game would be marketed via the website, <A HREF="http://www.ourjourney.info" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ourjourney.info"><U>www.ourjourney.info</U></A>, Jo said.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other old business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Revisions to Policies and Procedures Manual</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reported that, during the recent State Unit on Aging on-site visit, it was discovered that the Area Agency on Aging's Policies and Procedures Manual regarding the meals program should be updated. Terry said the new policies had been in practice for some time, but the language in the manual never was changed. As the proposed revision was reviewed by the Board, Terry said the Senior Services Advisory Board previously reviewed the revision and recommended its adoption.  Steve Burgess moved the proposed Policies and Procedures Manual revision be adopted. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Six Month Service Profile</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie briefly reviewed the six-month profile of Area Agency on Aging services and expenditures for the Board.</div> <div> <B>2009 Energy Impact Community Development Assistance Grant Submittal</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reminded the Board that ECCOG has received Energy Impact Community Development grant funds for the past 26 years to support working as a region or with individual communities on special projects. Applications for the new round of funding were due September 1. Jo said ECCOG has applied for $55,000 to help pay for travel, salaries, fringe benefits and any necessary consultants. Rayetta Palmer moved the Board affirm the staff's decision to submit the application by the September 1 deadline. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Update</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board the updates were not available for this meeting because the computer reports were in error. She said the information would be reviewed at the next Board meeting.</div> <div> <B>Enterprise Zone Contribution Project Requests</b></div> <div> Two requests for designation as Enterprise Zone Contribution Projects were presented for the Board's consideration. Jo Downey said one of the projects is seeking reinstatement after having been dropped from the list for inactivity. Five inactive projects were cancelled last year, Jo said. The Cheyenne Wells Growth Committee and the Cheyenne Wells Library District made the new requests. Rayetta Palmer moved these projects be designated as East Central Enterprise Zone projects. Kerry Korsvold seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Jo said the requests must now be reviewed by the state.</div> <div> <B>Update to Emergency Preparedness Plan</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie told the Board that the Area Agency on Aging's emergency preparedness plan is updated annually. This year, she said, a continuity of operations plan was also required. The plan was reviewed by the Senior Services Advisory Board, and was recommended for adoption. Steve Burgess moved the continuity of operations plan be adopted as recommended. Jon Gleiforst seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Terry also said she has been working toward creation of a Special Needs Registry. For Cheyenne, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties, she has been working with Kim Schallenberger, regional coordinator for the Plains to Peaks Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Region (which also includes El Paso and Teller counties). The registry will include all persons with special needs and won't be limited to persons over the age of 60, she said. ECCOG will collect the initial data and will maintain the database. Reports will be sent to Kim Schallenberger, who will distribute the information to the appropriate emergency response teams. Terry said she will be meeting later in September with a planning group working on a similar registry in Elbert County.</div> <div> <B>2009 ECCOG Local Contributions</b></div> <div> Jo Downey briefly discussed the proposed local government contributions to the ECCOG budget for next year. The contributions are based on population, for the towns, and on population plus a base amount for the counties. She noted that all four counties and every municipality except Seibert experienced slight decreases in population over the last year. For that reason, the total amount anticipated from the local governments will be $515 less than in 2008. Jo said notices to the local governments would be going out soon. Del Beattie moved the Board approve the 2009 contribution schedule as presented. Steve Burgess seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Assessed Values Summary</b></div> <div> Board members received copies of county assessed valuation summaries prepared by the Colorado Division of Property Taxation. Jo Downey said the summaries were for informational purposes only, but she reminded the Board that the information from the summaries would be used in preparation of the annual Enterprise Zone Objectives report.</div> <div> <B>Staff Car/Mileage/Lodging Costs Discussion</b></div> <div> Jo Downey asked the Board for input regarding staff vehicle replacement. ECCOG owns a 2003 automobile with 103,000 miles, used by Jo, and a 2000 van with 90,000 miles, used by the Area Agency on Aging. Jo said the vehicle replacement funds are paid mileage by the programs, the the funds presently contain about $14,500 and $16,000 respectively.</div> <div> Jo also asked if the Board had any problem with her driving extra miles to stay at a condo that she and her husband own in Fort Collins while en route to meetings in the mountains or beyond, compared with staying overnight in Denver. She said the added mileage, compared with the hotel rate, could save ECCOG around $50 per trip.</div> <div> Steve Burgess moved that ECCOG staff be permitted to use their own judgment in determining when to replace staff vehicles, and that Jo be permitted to use her own discretion in deciding whether to stay overnight at Denver or at Fort Collins. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>October Meeting Date/Location</b></div> <div> The next regular meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at Cheyenne Wells. The Board tentatively scheduled the November 5th meeting at Limon and the December 3rd meeting at Stratton. The Transit Advisory Committee will meet prior to the Board meeting in November.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other new business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="october_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>October 1, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:03 p.m., October 1, 2008 at the Town Hall in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Kerry Korsvold, Ron Howard, Del Beattie, Steve Burgess and John Nichols. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator. </div> <div> John Metli asked Rayetta Palmer to lead those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> The Minutes of the regular September 3, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. Steve Burgess moved the September 3, 2008 regular meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. Kerry Korsvold seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $27,342.20, and the total for bills listed for September was $36,627.41. Rayetta Palmer moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. </div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Title III On-Site Corrective Action Status</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reported that the State Unit on Aging's requirement for collection of participant contributions was discussed in mid-September at a meeting of local Area Agencies on Aging and the state. She said it does not appear that the state will rescind the corrective action requirement, and the East Central Area Agency on Aging will implement the new process for collecting donations from home-delivered meals participants, effective January 1, 2009.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)/EDA Conference</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board she attended a federal Economic Development Administration conference in Denver that attracted individuals from 25 states. Topics covered included CEDS regulations and best practices, motivating people to work together on a regional basis, and a session entitled “EDA 101” for new grantees. She said she found the conference beneficial.</div> <div> <B>Heritage Tourism Pilot Project Grant Award</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reminded the Board that Prairie Development Corporation was one of three finalists for this year's Heritage Tourism Expansion Pilot Project Grant, offered by the Colorado Tourism Office. PDC requested $50,000, but was offered a grant of $33,000, she said. The PDC Board of Directors accepted this grant on September 16th. </div> <div> The proposed project, entitled “Off the Beaten Trail,” would identify eight heritage tourism sites that could be signed and interpreted, and that would be accessible, i.e., visible to travelers and could be promoted the year around.  These sites must generally interpret “built environment,” as opposed to people or events. Jo said letters were sent to contacts in the four counties seeking ideas for the eight sites. She also asked Board members to make suggestions.</div> <div> The proposed new geocaching game in which players, equipped with global positioning system receivers, would locate “treasures” relative to the sites and sign the accompanying logbooks proved to be a popular idea with the Colorado Tourism Office, Jo said. </div> <div> <B>Special Needs Registry</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie said she met with the Elbert County Office of Emergency Management to discuss implementation of a special needs registry. The purpose of such a registry is to provide emergency response personnel with as much information about persons with special needs as possible, for use during emergency situations.</div> <div> As a result of the meeting, Terry said, Elbert County will be using a version of ECCOG's intake form and will develop its own database for information. The Area Agency on Aging office will develop databases for the other three counties, which will be maintained either at the ECCOG office or locally, at the counties' option.</div> <div> John Nichols noted it would be costly and difficult to maintain up-to-date information in these databases.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reported that the Prairie Development Corporation Board of Directors randomly drew the name of Derek Hankins of Centennial as the 2008 winner of the Our Journey promotion. Hankins won two nights at a bed and breakfast in this region, including two breakfasts and a special dinner, by visiting most of Our Journey's participating museums during the past summer.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>2009 ECCOG Board Selection Process and Time Line</b></div> <div> Jo Downey said letters would be sent out to member municipalities later this month, seeking nominations for their representatives on the ECCOG Board of Directors. If more than one nominee is submitted from any county, the municipalities in that county will select their representative by a vote in November or early December.</div> <div> The four counties will appoint their ECCOG Board representatives at the annual reorganization meeting in January. Jo noted that three of the existing members, John Metli, Ron Howard and John Nichols, will be replaced next year as they are leaving elected office.</div> <div> The first meeting of the new Board of Directors will be in February, as the existing Board will close out 2008 business at the  January 7, 2009 meeting.</div> <div> Jo said members will be appointed in 2009 for two-year terms on the Prairie Development Corporation Board of Directors, as well. Two PDC Board members are appointed by each county and the ECCOG Board will appoint the ninth at-large member.</div> <div> <B>Arriba/Genoa Senior Services Coordinator/Outback Express Driver</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie said the Area Agency on Aging received two applications for this vacant position, and following the personal interviews, the position was offered to Linda Berry of Limon. She will replace Elaine Covington, who has resigned.</div> <div> <B>Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Update</b></div> <div> Jo Downey circulated copies of ECCOG's Enterprise Zone Certifications for 2008, through August 25th. Total Enterprise Zone tax credits certified during the first eight months of the year was $925,206, which Jo said represents tax dollars that remain in use within the region. The majority of the tax credits were investment tax credits from the agriculture industry, she said. She reminded the Board there could well be thousands of dollars in uncertified credits, also.</div> <div> Nine Enterprise Contribution projects received $21,500 in cash contributions and $6,940 in in-kind contributions through June 30. The state has approved two new contribution projects in this region, the Cheyenne Wells Growth Committee and the Cheyenne Wells Library District. The ECCOG Board approved these projects in September.</div> <div> <B>2009 Budget Process</b></div> <div> Jo Downey said work has begun on the proposed ECCOG budget for next year. A draft budget will be brought for Board review in November, if possible. Second reading and adoption would then be in December.</div> <div> <B>CML District 5 Annual Meeting</b></div> <div> Board members were reminded of the annual District 5 meeting of the Colorado Municipal League Thursday, October 16. An overview of legislative and ballot issues, an update from state and federal agencies, and a report on the latest CML activities, will be presented at 4 p.m. at the Elizabeth Town Hall. The Social Hour and dinner will be held at Spring Valley Golf Club.</div> <div> <B>November Meeting Date/Location</b></div> <div> The next regular meeting of the  ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday,  November 5,  2008 at Limon. The meeting will immediately preceded by a meeting of the regional Transit Advisory Committee.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> <I><B>Carry-over funds--</b></I>Terry Baylie told the Board that the Area Agency on Aging's congregate meals program exceeded the state limitation on carryover funds in state fiscal year 2008. The problem was caused when staff inadvertently neglected to update the allocation of expenses between the congregate meals and home delivered meals programs at the beginning of the year. She said the AAA would be adjusting the allocation percentages every six months hereafter.</div> <div> She said the AAA must tell the state how the carryover funds will be expended by October 10th, which doesn't allow time for the Senior Services Advisory Board to consider the matter at its next meeting in November. She asked the Board to authorize the expenditure of the carryover funds in the program areas noted on the request. Del Beattie moved the Board authorize expenditure of the carryover funds as recommended by the AAA staff. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried 5-2, with John Metli and John Nichols opposed. John Nichols stated he opposed the expenditure of carry-over funds for shelf-stable emergency meals under the Title III C program.</div> <div> <I><B>Health Insurance--</b></I>Jo Downey presented the employer options offered by ECCOG's health insurance carrier, County Technical Services, Inc. (CTSI). After discussing the options, Jo recommended ECCOG switch from a three-tier system to a two-tier system, which she said would be more cost-effective. She told the Board that any decision made now would be in effect for three years. John Nichols moved the ECCOG change its health insurance coverage to a two-tier system. Steve Burgess seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <I><B>Appreciation--</b></I>And finally, the Board and staff expressed appreciation to Rayetta Palmer for organizing this meeting in Cheyenne Wells.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="november_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>November 5, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 8:02 p.m., November 5, 2008 at the Town Hall in Limon, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Jon Glieforst, Ron Howard, Del Beattie, Steve Burgess and John Nichols. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator. Guests included Joe Kiely, Limon Town Manager and John Hill of the Simla <I>Ranchland News</I>.</div> <div> John Metli asked Jo Downey to lead those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.</div> <div> The Minutes of the regular October 1, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. John Nichols moved the October 1, 2008 regular meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $28,468.76, and the total for bills listed for October was $44,129.47. John Nichols moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. </div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>2008 Fuel Reimbursements</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reviewed the fuel awards for 2008, which will be distributed when the October expense payments are made.  These awards are distributed based on the total miles traveled as of December 31, 2007. John Nichols moved to accept the 2008 Fuel Reimbursements as awarded. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies Research RFP</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that ten consulting firms were invited to the request for proposal developed for the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) research and data collection effort. She said the proposals are expected to be subjective, focusing as much on methods and sources as on cost. The proposals are due by November 19 and will be evaluated by the staff and the CEDS advisory committee. Jo said she hopes a selection can be made by the end of December.</div> <div> <B>Heritage Tourism Pilot Project Grant Award</b></div> <div> Although the Colorado Tourism Office offered a Heritage Tourism Expansion Pilot Project grant of $33,000 to Prairie Development Corporation and the PDC Board accepted the grant in September, Jo Downey said no grant contract has been provided by the state yet. She said a moratorium on new state contracts is in place until the attorney general's office is able to redesign the basic state contract format.</div> <div> This project, “Off The Beaten Trail,” would identify eight heritage tourism sites that could be signed and interpreted, and that would be accessible to travelers the year around. Jo said staff has received a number of suggestions for potential sites and has visited several, including the Riverbend Cemetery and the former Elbert Russell Gates Mercantile building in Elbert County, the Beedy Barn, Walk's Camp Park and the former Hugo Civilian Conservation Corps camp site in Lincoln County, and Kit Carson Hill in Kit Carson County. Other sites that may yet be visited include the Aroya/JOD Ranch area, the old Cheyenne Wells Caves and the Olson-Chubbuck bison kill site in Cheyenne County, and the Tuttle community and Crystal Springs in Kit Carson County. John Metli also suggested consideration of the Norton stage station and cemetery in Elbert County.</div> <div> This project also would develop a geocaching game in connection with Off The Beaten Trail to provide more offerings to younger and/or more electronically sophisticated travelers.</div> <div> <B>Required FTA Reimbursement Documentation</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reported that, from October 2008 through July 2009, the Colorado Department of Transportation's Transit Unit will conduct audits of all grantees, and based on the results of the audits, the Transit Unit will determine how much documentation will be required of each grantee based on a three-tier approach, with “3” being the least documentation necessary. Terry said she is very confident that ECCOG's Outback Express will be put on tier 3 when the audit is completed.</div> <div> Terry said ECCOG has not received reimbursement from the state for expenses paid in July, August and September. In response to her request for the reason for the delay, she was told that ECCOG needed to supply documentation from a federal agency approving the in-kind type and amount. Terry said  ECCOG was never before asked to provide documentation of this nature and doesn't consider it a requirement of COG's contract with the state.  Delayed reimbursements place financial hardships on small agencies, however, Terry said the consensus of the Transit Advisory Committee was that shutting down the transit system at this time, pending receipt of all reimbursements, would place a huge burden on passengers and staff. She said Joe Kiely, chairman of the TAC, will draft a letter to the Colorado Department of Transportation expressing concern over the ongoing reimbursement problems.  </div> <div> <B>Municipal Board Members for 2009</b></div> <div> Jo Downey advised the Board that Elbert County municipalities submitted three nominations for the single position on the new ECCOG Board of Directors, and Kit Carson County municipalities nominated two candidates. She said the town boards in those counties will vote on the nominees to select their counties' representatives for 2009. Only one nominee was submitted from Cheyenne County, and it appears incumbent member Rayetta Palmer will represent the municipalities of Cheyenne County for another year. No nominees were submitted from Lincoln County, to date.</div> <div> Representatives from the four boards of county commissioners will be selected at the counties' January reorganizational meetings. There will be at least three new county members on next year's Board, as John Metli of Elbert County, Ron Howard of Cheyenne County and John Nichols of Kit Carson County will not be county commissioners in 2009.</div> <div> The present Board will meet in January 2009 to close out 2008 business, and the first meeting for the new Board of Directors will be in February.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other old business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>2009 Federal Transit Administration Funding/Resolution</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reviewed the proposed 2009 Federal Transit Administration funding for the regional transit program, the Outback Express. She explained that ECCOG received about a seven percent increase over 2008 funding levels. Terry said the Transit Advisory Committee had recommended ECCOG adoption of Resolution 09-14 allowing ECCOG to accept the FTA 2009 funding.  Steve Burgess moved the Board adopt Resolution 09-14 as recommended by the TAC. Rayetta Palmer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Severance Tax Direct Distribution</b></div> <div> Jo Downey reviewed for the Board the FY2008 Severance Direct Distributions to towns and counties in Colorado, specifically those for the local governments within this region. These funds are distributed automatically in September, based on the number of minerals-related employees living in the local jurisdictions. Local governments in East Central Colorado received $119,042.91, of the nearly $25 million distributed statewide.</div> <div> <B>Timelines for the 2010/2011 FTA Grant Application/Reports</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reviewed timelines for submitting the next two-year federal grant application for transit services, as well as other required report deadlines. The application for FY2010/2011 grant funds must be submitted to the Colorado Department of Transportation in mid-June 2009.</div> <div> <B>Regional Marketing Funds</b></div> <div> Jo Downey said Prairie Development Corporation and ECCOG recently were awarded $15,000 in regional marketing grant funds. Last year, this grant paid for development of the “cross-over” brochure to increase awareness of the region's museums and for the B-roll film used for television publicity for the Our Journey heritage tourism marketing program. This year, Jo said PDC and ECCOG plan to add narrative and music to the B-roll video to permit streaming video of the region and museums on the Our Journey website, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><A HREF="http://www.ourjourney.info" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ourjourney.info"><U><U>www.ourjourney.info</U></U></A></FONT>, and to develop bus tours from the metropolitan areas to increase visits to this region in the off-season months.</div> <div> <B>2009 Budget</b></div> <div> Jo Downey noted the inclusion in Board packets of the draft 2009 ECCOG budget. She urged members to review the document, which will be formally adopted at a later meeting.</div> <div> <B>December and January Meeting Dates/Locations</b></div> <div> The next regular meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at Stratton. The January meeting will be in Limon.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other new business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, Rayetta Palmer moved the meeting be adjourned. Jon Gleiforst seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="december_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>East Central Council of Local Governments</b></div> <div> <B>Board of Directors Meeting Minutes</b></div> <div> <B>December 3, 2008</b></div> <div> <B>Call to Order</b></div> <div> Chairman John Metli called the regular monthly meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors to order at 7:20 p.m. December 3, 2008 at the Claremont Inn in Stratton, Colorado. In addition to John Metli, board members present included: Rayetta Palmer, Jon Gleiforst, Ron Howard, Del Beattie, Kerry Korsvold, Steve Burgess and John Nichols. Staff members present included Jo Downey, ECCOG Executive Director, Terry Baylie, Senior and Transit Services Director, and Terry Blevins, Special Projects Coordinator.</div> <div> There was no Pledge of Allegiance as no flag was available at the meeting.</div> <div> The Minutes of the regular November 5, 2008 Board of Directors meeting were reviewed. Steve Burgess moved the November 5, 2008 regular meeting Minutes be approved as mailed. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> Jo Downey circulated the Financial Report and list of bills, which showed total payroll of $25,439.99, and the total for bills listed for November was $40,891.75. Rayetta Palmer moved to approve the Financial Report and to pay the monthly bills. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. </div> <div> <B><U>Unfinished Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>Federal Transit Administration Reimbursements</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie said some progress was made in obtaining reimbursements from the Colorado Department of Transportation for expenditures made by the Outback Express public transit program under a contract for the use of Federal Transit Administration funds. She reminded the Board that a recent federal audit of CDOT resulted in a requirement from CDOT's fiscal office that all reimbursement requests be accompanied by thorough documentation for every line item on the invoice. After numerous letters and two telephone conference calls in which Terry and Jo Downey both participated, ECCOG has agreed to submit some vehicle logs showing documentation of in-kind fuel expenses, and CDOT agreed to release reimbursement for ECCOG transit expenses in July, August and September. She said ECCOG has requested a meeting at CDOT headquarters in January to find a long-term resolution to this issue.</div> <div> <B>Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies Research RFP</b></div> <div> Four proposals were received as a result of the request for proposals issued by ECCOG for the provision of  data  and  research  needed for the Comprehensive  Economic  Development Strategies  (CEDS).   Jo Downey said the proposals were all scored in-house, and then members of the CEDS Advisory Committee were offered the opportunity to score them, as well. So far, she added, only one member of the committee has requested the review materials. Board members Rayetta Palmer and Steve Burgess also agreed to score the proposals. Jo said she hopes to have the consultant hired by the end of December. Kerry Korsvold moved that, upon concurrence of the CEDS Advisory Committee, the ECCOG Board and the Prairie Development Corporation Board, ECCOG staff be authorized to retain the top-scoring consultant. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Heritage Tourism Off The Beaten Trail Sites Update</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board that staff members still are reviewing the sites recommended by a number of community members across the region. She said she hopes to have a final list for the Board meeting in January. She reported that the grant contract from the Colorado Tourism Office and Prairie Development Corporation was received and executed.</div> <div> <B>Municipal Board Members for 2009</b></div> <div> Jo Downey advised the Board that three of the four municipal board members for next year have been selected: Rayetta Palmer, representing municipalities in Cheyenne County, Del Beattie, from Lincoln County, and Jon Gleiforst, from Elbert County, all were reappointed for another term. Appointment of a municipal representative from Kit Carson County is pending. The current member, Mayor Kerry Korsvold of Burlington, did not choose to seek reappointment.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> There was no other old business to come before the Board.</div> <div> <B><U>New Business</U></b></div> <div> <B>2009 Federal Transit Administration Funding Contract</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie reported that the option letter extending the 2008 FTA contract for regional transit services was received November 28. This letter permits service to continue through December 2009. Terry said three copies of the signature page must be returned by December 10 to ensure there is no interruption in services locally. Rayetta Palmer moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the FTA option letter. Ron Howard seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Vehicle Bids</b></div> <div> Terry Baylie presented copies of bids from two Limon auto dealers for the replacement van used by the senior services programs. She said no bids were received from Burlington dealerships. All bids received included using ECCOG's existing 2000 Dodge van as a trade-in, and were:</div> <div> 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT with Stow `N Go Seating-Limon Chrysler-Dodge, used vehicle with approximately 20,000 miles, $12,640; Anderson Motors, used vehicle with approximately 18,000 miles, $12,100; 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT with Stow `N Go Seating-Limon Chrysler-Dodge, used vehicle with approximately 30,000 miles, $10,640; Anderson Motors, used vehicle with approximately 27,000 miles, $9,600. </div> <div> Terry told the Board that Anderson Motors did not have these vehicles on the lot, but would acquire them if the Anderson bid were accepted. Limon Chrysler-Dodge did have the 2008 vehicle on the lot, and Terry was able to test-drive it. That vehicle has been sold, but the dealership has another one like it available. Terry has not driven the second vehicle.</div> <div> Kerry Korsvold moved that the bid of Limon Chrysler-Dodge of $12,640 for the 2008 vehicle be accepted, and Jon Gleiforst seconded the motion. Following discussion, Kerry and Jon agreed to amend their motion to add the condition that Terry Baylie inspect the available van and approve of it before purchasing it. ECCOG was directed to accept the Anderson Motors bid, instead, if the available vehicle at Limon Chrysler-Dodge was not acceptable. The amended motion carried unanimously. </div> <div> <B>2009 Budget</b></div> <div> Jo Downey presented the proposed 2009 ECCOG Budget document, noting the addition of 2008 comparison figures where applicable, as requested at an earlier Board meeting. Following review of the document, Steve Burgess moved the 2009 ECCOG Budget be adopted as presented. John Nichols seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>PDC Board of Directors At-Large Member Appointment</b></div> <div> Jo Downey told the Board the Prairie Development Corporation Board has nine members, two appointed by each of the four counties in the region for two-year terms. All PDC Board seats must be filled at this time, and the county representatives will be appointed in January. The ECCOG Board appoints the ninth, at-large member, she said. The present at-large member, Dana Siekman of Stratton, is willing to continue his service if appointed, she said. John Nichols moved that Dana Siekman be reappointed to the at-large position on the Prairie Development Corporation Board of Directors. Kerry Korsvold seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>Colorado Association of Regional Associations</b></div> <div> Jo Downey advised the Board that the Colorado Association of Regional Councils has reorganized under a new name, the Colorado Association of Regional Associations. The reorganization has made it necessary to update the organization's by-laws, and the updated versions must be ratified by the organization's membership, she said. Rayetta Palmer moved the ECCOG Board ratify the by-laws of the Colorado Association of Regional Associations as presented. Del Beattie seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.</div> <div> <B>January and February Meeting Dates/Locations</b></div> <div> The next regular meeting of the ECCOG Board of Directors will be Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at Limon. The February meeting also will be in Limon.</div> <div> <B>Other</b></div> <div> On behalf of the ECCOG Board, Del Beattie expressed appreciation to those directors who will not return in 2009 for their years of service and contributions to the East Central Council of Local Governments. Those members who will be replaced in 2009 include Mayor Kerry Korsvold of Burlington, Commissioner John Nichols of Kit Carson County, Commissioner Ron Howard of Cheyenne County, and Commissioner John Metli of Elbert County.</div> <div> <B>Adjournment</b></div> <div> There being no further business, John Metli declared the meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#cog_2008_minutes" TITLE="COG 2008 Minutes"><U><U>top of page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>