Present, County Represented
Blaine Arbuthnot, Terry McMillian, Crowley
Meagan Hillman, Prowers
Joni Wilk; Kim MacDonnell, Bent
Rob Oquist, Otero
Meagan Hillman, Kiowa
Karl Sporleder. Huerfano
Felix Lopez, Las Animas
Steve Bryant, Pueblo
Call to Order
Felix Lopez called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m.
Approval of Agenda
Blaine Arbuthnot and Rob Oquist moved and seconded the approval of the Agenda – Agenda approved.
Approval of Minutes
Karl Sporleder and Steve Bryant moved and seconded the approval of the minutes – Minutes approved.
Facilitator Update
Rose introduced Terri Schreiber and Keely Williams on the partnership opportunities that is coming before the region with the Infrastructure grant from the State Opioid Attorney Generals funding opportunities.
Terri Schreiber from the Schreiber Group presented a PowerPoint on their request for support for the ROAC grant funding to develop a community need assessment for data assessment. They are building a plan for a regional data dashboard. They have already built parts of the dashboard with Otero, Crowley and Bent Counties and would like to build it out for the six remaining counties in the SECOR region. This will foster a unified structure. They would also want to partner with the Board in regards to appointing people in each County that would work with their group on this project for future regional stability with opioid structure and services. Felix asked Terri on the benefit of doing this informational and database focused project. Specifically, he asked what could SECOR benefit from the real time data and how it could be used to inform future grant funding.
Mindy Baumgardner from the AG’s office said the Letter of Intent is only a letter for the AG’s office for the intent to apply and will help the AG’s office in planning for review of the grants that will be submitted. The date for the Letter of Intent has been changed to December 20, 2024 from the 10th. Joni Wilke, Bent County, talked about the great work that the Schreiber’s group has done for their county and how the information has helped with them reviewing real time data and helped them with their decision making on certain parts of public health.
Blaine suggested a vote of support for intention for application. The SECOR board will have to be the applicant and the implementation would be the done by the group that submitted the application; not on the Board.
Keely Williams and Lisa Evans from the Dana Proper Real Estate Group presented on the Jaffa Opera House project in Trinidad. This is an overall project of $13 million and is using Federal and State partners. This project is in downtown Trinidad and is a community impact project with outpatient treatment development. They have already formed a 501c3 for this project. They have done the E street school on other projects for reference. Felix asked about timing and the amount of funding they will be needing for this project. They gave the maximum amount of $500,000 from this funding source.
Terri Schreiber also presented on the SECOR small group focusing on lived experience and the providers’ group as a sub-group of the SECOR board. Terri talked about HRSA funding for this group will be available through August for her to facilitate this sub-group, but will need to have some information on how the Board sees this going forward after that funding runs out. Terri will have the kick off meeting on January 17 th at 1:15 – 2:00.
DISCUSSION ITEM: Modification to the board.
Rose went over the list of people that the MOU lines out that can be on the board. Kim talked about the experts that regularly attend and have deep knowledge. She would like to bring this back for a vote in the future. Felix asked for a letter of conflict of interest for the board members to be created so transparency can continue for the Board members.
VOTING ITEM: Consider approval of Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association extension of Prevention and Education grant.
Rose gave a brief overview of what she received from SCHRA. They would like an extension to December 1, 2025 because when they applied for the grant, they had a two year plan for the funds and they have implemented their program with that timeline in mind. They did not realize the funding was for one-year time. They have submitted an outline for this extension.
Blaine Arbuthnot and Kim MacDonnell moved to approved the SCHRA extension to December 2025, with a roll call vote as follows:
- Baca – Absent
- Bent – Yes
- Crowley County – Yes
- Kiowa – Yes
- Otero – Yes
- Huerfano – Yes
- Las Animas – Yes
- Prowers – Yes
- Pueblo – Yes
Motion passed.
VOTING ITEM: Consider allocation additional award of Treatment funds.
Crossroads had submitted an application for grant funding for Treatment and it was inadvertently dropped from original consideration and when the mistake was found, they have reviewed it and recommended the proposal for funding at $237,820.00.
Rob Oquist and Meagan Hillman moved to approve the funding award for Crossroads for Treatment, with a roll call vote as follows:
- Baca – Absent
- Bent – Yes
- Crowley County – Yes
- Kiowa – Yes
- Otero – Yes
- Huerfano – Yes
- Las Animas – Yes
- Prowers – Yes
- Pueblo – Yes
Motion passed.
VOTING ITEM: Consider allocation award of Recovery funds.
Blaine Arbuthnot and Karl Sporleder moved to table the item until the January 13th meeting, with a roll call vote as follows:
- Baca – Absent
- Bent – Yes
- Crowley County – Yes
- Kiowa – Yes
- Otero – Yes
- Huerfano – Yes
- Las Animas – Yes
- Prowers – Yes
- Pueblo – Yes
Motion passed.
VOTING ITEM: 2024/2025 Budget
Year 3 Funding Total Amount: $1,880,191.44
Allocations:
- Treatment – $564,057.43
- Education and Prevention – $564,057.43
- Harm Reduction – $188,019.10
- Recovery – $376,038.29
- Administrative – $188,019.15
Breakdown of Administrative Dollars:
- Crowley County Administrative Costs – $25,000.00
- Facilitation and Legal Services – $84,000.00
- Conferences and Travel – $10,000.00
- Website Maintenance Services – $12,000.00
- Website Hosting Services – $1,200.00
────────────────────────── - Total for Administrative Services – $132,200.00
- With a remaining outstanding balance of ($55,819.19)
Year 4 Funding Total Amount: $1,880,191.43
Allocations:
- Treatment $564,057.43
- Education and Prevention $564,057.43
- Harm Reduction $188,019.10
- Recovery $376,038.29
- Administrative $188,019.14
Breakdown of Administrative Dollars:
- Crowley County Administrative Costs – $25,000.00
- Facilitation and Legal Services – $84,000.00
- Conferences and Travel – $10,000.00
- Website Maintenance Services – $12,000.00
- Website Hosting Services – $1,200.00
────────────────────────── - Total for Administrative Services – $132,200.00
- With a remaining outstanding balance of ($55,819.19)
Blaine Arbuthnot and Meagan moved to approve the budget as presented, with a roll call vote as follows:
- Baca – Absent
- Bent – Yes
- Crowley County – Yes
- Kiowa – Yes
- Otero – Yes
- Huerfano – Yes
- Las Animas – Yes
- Prowers – Yes
- Pueblo – Yes
Motion passed.
VOTING ITEM: Consider approving contract with Rose F. Pugliese, LLC for facilitation and legal services from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
Blaine Arbuthnot and Karl Sporleder moved to approve the facilitation and legal services contract with Rose F. Pugliese, with a roll call vote as follows:
- Baca – Absent
- Bent – Yes
- Crowley County – Yes
- Kiowa – Yes
- Otero – Yes
- Huerfano – Yes
- Las Animas – Yes
- Prowers – Yes
- Pueblo – Yes
Motion passed.
VOTING ITEM: Consider approving contract with Barefoot Public Relations, LLC for website maintenance services and hosting from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
Blaine Arbuthnot and Meagan Hillman moved to approve the contract for Barefoot Public Relations, LLC for website maintenance services and hosting, with a roll call vote as follows:
- Baca – Absent
- Bent – Yes
- Crowley County – Yes
- Kiowa – Yes
- Otero – Yes
- Huerfano – Yes
- Las Animas – Yes
- Prowers – Yes
- Pueblo – Yes
Motion passed.
Other Business
Felix thanked the leaving Commissioners for their services to the Board and wished everyone a Happy Holiday season.
Adjournment
Felix Lopez adjourned the meeting at 4:17 p.m.
Next Meeting:
Monday, January 13, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.