Otero County Commissioners Approve Grants, Letters of Support, and Projects at March 23, 2026 Meeting

Description: Otero County Commissioners approved grants, support letters, permits, and reports during the March 23, 2026 board meeting in Colorado. Read the full meeting minutes...

Otero County Board Approves Multiple Grants, Permits, and Support Letters in March 23 Meeting

March 23, 2026

The Board of County Commissioners now meets pursuant to adjournment.

Present:

Rob Oquist Chairman

Tim Knabenshue Commissioner

Jim Baldwin Commissioner

Kaysie Schmidt  Administrator

Rose Pugliese  County Attorney

Holly Huerta-Hudak  Deputy Clerk

Guests in attendance in person: Nancy Harrington, Bette McFarren, Adrian Hart, and Cathy Garcia.

Guests on Zoom: Anne Boswell and Rose Pugliese.

Chr. Oquist asked everyone to stand for Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chr. Oquist called for approval of the consent agenda. The agenda includes approval of the minutes from March 9th, 2026, and bills and payroll for March 1s, 2026, through March 15th, 2026. Co. Baldwin motioned to approve the consent agenda. Co. Knabenshue seconded. Motion carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented a letter of support for the Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development Inc (SECED) and requested it to be ratified. Co. Knabenshue motioned. Co. Baldwin seconded. Motion Carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented a letter to support Dr. Michael Bartolo for nomination of the "Friends of the Arkansas" award, and requested it to be ratified. Co. Baldwin motioned. Co. Knabenshue seconded. Motion Carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented a letter of support for Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center (AVRMC) for their Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) and requested to be signed. Co. Knabenshue motioned. Co. Baldwin seconded. Motion Carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented a request for letter of support for Otero Partners Inc (OPI) for a State Historical Grant (SHG) for the Masonic Lodge Rehabilitation Project to be signed. Co. Baldwin motioned. Co. Knabenshue seconded. Motion Carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented a request for approval for a CDS grant application to be submitted for the Masonic Lodge Rehabilitation Project. Co. Knabenshue motioned. Co. Baldwin seconded. Motioned Carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented a request for approval to submit a grant application to the Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) for two different upgrades to the Courthouse. Co. Baldwin motioned. Co. Knabenshue seconded. Motioned Carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented a request for approval to submit a grant application for the 2026-2027 Court Security Cash Fund Grant. Co. Knabenshue motioned. Co. Baldwin seconded. Motioned Carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented permit requests for the Secure Transportation Vehicle License (2026-2) and Permit (2026-7) for the Metro One Ambulance to be approved. Co. Baldwin motioned. Co. Knabenshue seconded. Motion Carried.

Admin. Schmidt presented the Sales Tax Reports for December 2025, and the first report for January 2026.

Co. Knabenshue attended the following meetings; Forest Service, Lower Arc Water, Colorado Counties Incorporated (CCI), Emergency 911(E911), OPI, and Otero County Landfill Incorporated (OCLI).

Chr. Oquist attended the following meetings: Region Six Alcohol & Drug Abuse Corporation (RESADA), OPI, OCLI, Southeast Colorado Business Retention (SEBREA), SAGE, Forest Service, water meetings, and the Quilts of Valor.

Cathy Garcia, the Southern Colorado Regional Director with Congressman Jeff Hurd's office came and gave a short presentation.

Admin. Schmidt announced that Otero County offices and Landfill will we closed on Friday, April 3, 2026, in observance of Good Friday

With no further business, the Board adjourned the meeting.

Next meeting will be on Monday, April 13th, 2026, at 1:30 pm.

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