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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 08/10/2021 PUBLIC HEARING August 17, 2021 Present: Matt Scherr Chairman Jeanne McQueeney Commissioner Chandler-Henry Commissioner Jeff Shroll County Manager Kathy Scriver Deputy Clerk to the Board This being a scheduled Public Hearing,the following items were presented to the Board of County Commissioners for their consideration: Commissioner Updates Commissioner McQueeney acknowledged the hiring of two important roles for the county. One was Tory Franks,Director of Resiliency,who had moved up from working in the Housing Department and the other was Justin Patrick in charge of Strategic Communication. She just wanted to recognize that work was still happening, and there were still very important goals that were moving forward. Commissioner Chander-Henry gave a big shout out to CDOT for getting I-70 open through Glenwood Canyon. It was a tremendous amount of work in difficult conditions. Also working long hours and in difficult conditions was the Sheriff's Office and the Eagle County Road&Bridge Department. Commissioner Scherr reminded everyone that school had started. He hoped that everyone would drive safely and watchout for kids making their way to and from school. County Manager Updates Jeff Shroll, Eagle County Manager, provided an update on a meeting with Senator Bennet's Office and Director Lew from CDOT on Sunday. Garfield and Eagle County continue to push for federal emergency dollars to address the safety issues on Cottonwood Pass. At this time it wasn't designed to be more than a county road. According to all the experts,this was going to be a regular occurrence for the next five to ten years. Heath Harmon, Eagle County Public Health Director, spoke. He wished to address the frustration and anger regarding the recent mask mandate. Making a decision like that did not come lightly and he understood the impact given the timing. This was not a political decision by any means. From his perspective, it was based on the science that he had access to and that he trusted. He believed it was important for he and the board as public officials to hear what the concerns in the community were. He stated that working with local healthcare providers,they realized that there were a number of cases that were not being reported into the state system. Since June 1, 90 cases had not been documented in the state's system. From August 1st through August 10th, 50 of those cases were not entered into the state system. This created a significant gap and changed the case incident rate by nearly 100%. This transmission in the community was much higher as a result of the data. There were a couple of instances where youth under the age of 12 had been exposed to the disease,were infected, and then transmitted the infection to other household members. There was not a lot of data on a national level that helped them understand what risk could play in terms of spreading the disease. He wanted to acknowledge that schools were the highest community priority, and it was really important as a community to protect that institution. The school institutions serve much more than just the education piece. Given the challenges over the past 18 months,there needed to catch-up in terms of education time. Education had a profound impact on one's health later in life, and the quality of one's life as they 1 08/17/2021 age. It was found through research that mental health was really key, and the driver in terms of poor mental health had been more associated with remote learning as well as with isolation. The public health order was passed after consultation with school leaders throughout the county. The testing volume was higher than it's ever been. Of all the cases reported since June 1, there had been 537 individuals infected and reported. Of those 537 cases,292 of them were reported since the first of August. As of the past two weeks,the reports were the same. The goal was to get community transmission down to 50 cases or less per 100,000, or to three new cases being reported each day. He took the responsibility for his signature on the order. The order wasn't in perpetuity and would be reviewed month to month. Consent Agenda 1.Resolution 2021-061 Final Collateral Release for Public Improvements - Stillwater PUD Rickie Davies, Engineering 2. 21 -22 Core Service Plan with Colorado State Department of Human Services Tracey Branch,Human Services 3. Agreement between Eagle County Public Health and Environment and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for Core Immunization Work Danielle Magargle,Public Health 4. Resolution 2021-062 providing for the submission to the registered qualified electors of Eagle County, Colorado, of a ballot question which would limit a person elected to the Office of County Commissioner to serving three(3)consecutive terms as permitted by Article XVIII, Section 11, of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. Brian Treu,County Attorney 5. Resolution Appointments to the Eagle County Planning Commission Rhea Silverkorn,Administration 6. Resolution Appointments to the Roaring Fork Valley Regional Planning Commission Rhea Silverkorn,Administration 7. Second Amendment to Thyssenkrupp's Elevator/Escalator Service Agreement Term Extension Koltin Howard-Talbott,Airport Chairman Scherr reviewed the Consent Agenda and noted that Item(s) 5 and 6 would be tabled to allow time to review additional public comment. Brian Treu,Eagle County Attorney,provided details related to Item 4. He stated that if approved this would add a third term for county commissioners; currently there was a two term limitation. He believed it was a better platform for commissioners to deal with issues. It was his suggestion to do this,allowing commissioners to have more expertise in areas that weren't just local. Chairman Scherr stated that the commissioners participated in a lot of statewide organizations, and each county did things differently as far as term limits for their commissioners. What's been seen with commissioners able to serve and move up through organizations was that they had more influence on behalf of their county. This was something that the county attorney had recommended to them and was a choice of the voters. Commissioner Chandler-Henry stated that voters still had the choice to make any commissioner a one term commissioner. If people want their commissioners to have some influence at the state and national level,it takes a while to make connections and establish relationships. 2 08/17/2021 Commissioner Chandler-Henry moved to approve the Consent Agenda for August 17,2021, excluding Items 5 and 6. Commissioner McQueeney seconded the motion. The vote was declared unanimous. Constituent Input Kevin Dasgupta of Gypsum expressed concern about all the propaganda around COVID. He expressed concern that the vaccine had not been FDA approved. He believed that this movement was insane for something no more than a cold virus. There was no justification for mandating a vaccine. Lynn Keiser, a retired pharmacist ih Edwards, spoke. She spoke about early treatment for the COVID virus. She explained that the virus replicated quickly when it got into the cells, therefore there was a short window of opportunity where early treatment was effective. It was negligent bordering on criminal for physicians to not let people know that there were options. Thankfully there was now a movement of highly credentialed physicians and respected medical institutions to disseminate accepted protocols for early treatment of COVID. The recommendations were zinc along with a zinc ionophore and vitamin C and D. These were available over the counter, inexpensive and readily available. Her desire in speaking today was to encourage anyone present or listening to educate themselves to the effectiveness and importance of early COVID treatment. Rebekah Zenor from Eagle spoke. She believed the children were in crisis. Children have been asked to make huge sacrifices and were being asked to hang in there a little longer. She believed that kids should not be asked to suffer one more day in the name of protecting adults. Kids needed normalcy now or this crisis would be beyond repair. She believed the risk of infection was low if the risk for children and this was an adult disease. She believed that the mental health of kids was being overlooked. The cost benefit of keeping children masked was not worth it. Susie Huxford spoke. She believed that masks were step one to the government having complete control over everyone's bodies. The end goal of this local government was clear,they would not stop until every child was vaccinated. She believed the vaccines were released too quickly and the issues were popping up all over the world. She believed the governments, local and worldwide,needed to quit interfering with the practice of medicine. Doctors should be able to treat without government interference. Heather Bergquist of Gypsum spoke. She expressed opposition to the public health order requiring masks in schools. She believed the order must be removed. She believed that children were more at risk from drowning than they were from dying from COVID. She asked the board to do the right thing,return parental authority to its rightful place, allow parents to assess the risk and let the children go back to living a full and unrestricted childhood. Betsy Barney of Gypsum spoke. She spoke about the adults in the community that were gathering and socializing without masks or social distancing. Yet,those same adults mask up their children and send them to school. She believed that after reading the studies, COVID was low risk for children. She believed that if parents weren't comfortable sending their children to school with unmasked children, they had other options. The side effects from long term mask wearing were not yet known. Bobbie Jo Barela spoke. She believed it was nice to see diplomacy. She believed that this came down to choice. As parents and community members,they were looking for the ability to not coparent with the government. As parents they wanted to decide what was right for their children. What bothered her the most was that the decisions being made in the county were from someone that they did not have the ability to communicate with. She has taught in Eagle County for 20 years and has been in health and wellness for 15 years. Health was the state of being free from illness. As Mrs.Keiser said,there were so many options and choices to help people stay safe. There were so many ways to fight illness. There needed to be a resource to be able to communicate their concerns with the people making these measures. He needs to see the faces and hear the voices of the people that the measures effect. 3 08/17/2021 Marina Lebaroba spoke. She was born in the USSR and came to America 12 years ago. She was born in Ukraine and this was not the America she learned about. She opposed the mask mandate and encouraged the board to stand up for the children. Marissa Bergstreser spoke. She has two children that didn't feel safe going to school. She did not believe masks were safe. Home school was challenging, and she chose to send her children back to school this year. She believed it was a parent's choice to protect their children. She believed children were resilient and choice was a right. Celena Olden of Eagle spoke. She believed that the pandemic had caused damage to children's mental health,the breakup of families, and division between friends. She believed there was a lack of evidence and wondered where all the other viruses went. She believed there had been a lot of misinformation about COVID. It had come down to fear. It was time to see the evidence and the scientific research. This had affected her and everyone deeply. People were angry because the distrust was deep. John Lyons spoke. He believed if the board was unable to find the isolated case then everything they had done was without reason or cause and there were possible fraud implications and possible legal complications. The board could he held responsible for harming the children, for harming the community,and every person connected with this. He encouraged the board to make the right decision. John Rico of Eagle Vail spoke. He expressed concern for the uncertainty in all the data and case numbers. Tina Medina,owner of Magical Mala, spoke. She stated that community was important to her and thanked the board for taking the time to listen to the community. She wanted everyone to come together and remember what the United States was based upon, and it was freedom and the freedom to choose. Masks should not be a mandate. They should be a choice. She formally announced her candidacy for mayor of Gypsum and would be running in November. Maria Azar,Vail resident, spoke. She came from Mexico and reminded everyone that America was supposed to be a free country. She believed that the virus was just a sickness and everyone needed to remember that they were all going to die. People should not live in fear because a virus was out there. This was a free country. People needed to stand up for themselves. She believed that this was economical. This was an effort to control the population and was coming from high above. The United States was in a lot of debt and now they were coming for everyone. She believed that a lot of people would die. Jan Rosenthol of Eagle spoke. She supported the people who had children. She did not. She was emotional about this subject. This was about freedom. This is America and we the people should be in control. She spoke about the three people who died recently. She wondered why the public was not told whether those individuals were vaccinated or not. There were people currently in beds at Vail Health who were also vaccinated. She believed it was a choice to be vaccinated. She knew a lot of people that had side effects after receiving the vaccine. This was a life and death situation. She asked about the data that showed how many vaccinated people were spreading the disease. She asked the board if they were really listening. The community wanted action and their freedom. Chairman Scherr closed public comment and thanked everyone for sharing their comments. Business Item(s) 1. First amendment to agreement between Eagle County and Walking Mountains Science Center as it relates to the Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement(EVOM) Peter Suneson, Open Space Mr. Suneson stated that the grant was supplied by Great Outdoors Colorado to Walking Mountains Science Center. The EVOM was a program to insure everyone in Eagle County had equal access to opportunities in nature. Eagle County was the fiscal sponsor and needed to sign off on it. 4 08/17/2021 Commissioner McQueeney moved to approve the first amendment to agreement between Eagle County and Walking Mountains Science Center as it related to the Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement. Commissioner Chandler-Henry seconded the motion. The vote was declared unanimous. 2. Resolution 2021-063 Authorizing Eagle County to accept additional funding from Great Outdoors Colorado in support of the Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement Peter Suneson, Open Space Commissioner Chandler-Henry moved to approve,the resolution authorizing Eagle County to accept additional funding from Great Outdoors Colorado in support of the Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement. Commissioner McQueeney seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner McQueeney moved to adjourn as the Eagle County Board of County Commissioners and reconvene as the Eagle County Board of Equalization. Commissioner Chandler-Henry seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. County Board of Equalization 1. 2021 Abstract of Assessment Mark Chapin, Eagle County Assessor Mr. Chapin presented the report. This was a statutory requirement to post the County Board of Equalization values and present the Abstract. Commissioner Chandler-Henry moved to approve 2021 Abstract of Assessment Commissioner McQueeney seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner McQueeney moved to adjourn as the Eagle County Board of Equalization and reconvene as the Eagle County Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner Chandler-Henry seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Work Session - Eagle County Room 1. Eagle County Strategy Deployment Update -Airport&Water Quality Commissioner McQueeney spoke on the record to express her appreciation of Chairman Scherr's facilitation of the meeting and believed it was important to acknowledge the number of emails and comments from those people in the community who supported the mask mandate. 5 08/17/2021 Town of Vail Joint Meeting - Vail Town Council Chambers 1. Vail Town Council and Eagle County Commissioners Joint Meeting � oc EAGLECO%. P� There being no further business befo e• r rd, meeting was adjourned until August 24,2021. roco•Aoo Attest: lerk to the Board Chairman 6 08/17/2021