Present, County Represented
Terry McMillian – Crowley
Roger Stagner, Meagan Hillman – Prowers
Troy Bishop – Baca
Jennifer Scofield – Bent
Rob Oquist, Donna Rohde – Otero
Meagan Hillman – Kiowa
Karl Sporleder – Huérfano
Felix Lopez, Tony Hass – Las Animas
Miles Lucero – Pueblo
Call to Order
Rob Oquist called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.
Approval of Agenda
Roger Stagner and Jennifer Scofield moved and seconded the approval of the Agenda – Agenda approved.
Approval of Minutes
Donna Rohde and Troy Bishop moved and seconded the approval of the minutes, with the change of putting Scofield in as Jennifer’s last name in the attendance part. – Minutes approved.
Public Comment
No public comment at this time.
Facilitator Update
Rose gave an update in regards to a press conference interest, since the Board had one a year ago. She wanted to know the interest this year of having another. Felix and Donna both spoke up and were in favor of it. Rose said she will send out dates that work for everyone and start working with Pueblo to get a date set up and get the press to the conference.
Financial Manager Report
Wendy updated the Board on the financials. The updated spreadsheet was given to the Board about three weeks before the meeting and was sent out the day of the meeting to make sure everyone received it. There were no questions and since LaShelle from Crowley County was out on vacation, there was not an update of financial information on that report. Wendy attended two state Opioid meetings with the AG’s office, one being a gathering of all the regional rural facilitators and financial people. It has been very helpful to run ideas by each other to see what others are doing in their regions.
VOTING ITEM: Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association on Contract
The Board wanted to break down the request into two issues. The first issue is the use of the extra funding left over from the purchase of the van. The cost savings from the purchase of the van would be used to buy a shelter for the van and make sure the van is covered. Danielle Harwell, SCHRA, explained that this would be a benefit to the community because the protection of the van would also extend the life of the use of the van.
The second issue that the Board is reviewing is for the funding of an EMT instead of using the funding for a PEER specialist. Danielle explained that when they are remote and servicing clients, they are in need to the services that an EMT can do, such as wound care, that PEER’s are not able to perform and they would like to shift the funding to accommodate that position and not a PEER. Peers would be on scene but they would like to use funding for one of the peers on an EMT.
Felix feels that this request changes the spirit of the award. Miles talked about Appendix E and that mobile outreach is still in the scope of the original proposal. Danielle explained that the EMT would be with the Peer and would just be expanding care.
Meagan and Donna moved and seconded to approve the extra funding to be used on the van storage–Motion approved via roll call vote.
Baca – Yes
Bent – Yes
Crowley – Yes
Huerfano – Yes
Otero – Yes
Kiowa – Yes
Las Animas – Yes
Prowers – Yes
Pueblo – Yes
Meagan and Felix moved to deny the funding for the EMT and the funding can only be used as originally proposed for the Peer–Motion approved via roll call vote.
Baca – Yes
Bent – Yes
Crowley – Yes
Huerfano – Yes
Otero – Yes
Kiowa – Yes
Las Animas – Yes
Prowers – Yes
Pueblo – Yes
VOTING ITEM: Health Solutions Extension
LeAnna Pacheo, Health Solutions, is requesting a 5 months extension on funds. Interviews are scheduled and they have back-up plans to find a candidate. There are behavioral health needs and SUD needs for youth. They had staff that left and the remainder of the funds were not used because of the vacancies. This remainder equated to $28,755.42 and the request is for an extension of the contract to use this savings when a new person is hired. The extension is until October 15, 2025 and they will update the Board at the next board meeting on their hiring progress.
Miles and Meagan motioned to approve the extension of the contract–Motion approved via roll call vote.
Baca – Yes
Bent – Yes
Crowley – Yes
Huerfano – Yes
Otero – Yes
Kiowa – Yes
Las Animas – Yes
Prowers – Yes
Pueblo – Yes
VOTING ITEM: Pueblo Counties SOCOYoGo and Stigma Contracts extensions
Jessica Apodaca from Pueblo County would like to request a contract extension until December 1, 2025 for the two contracts because of a hiring issue and the extension would be used to pay salary for the two-health connection specialist for both of the programs.
Donna and Miles motioned to extend the contract for SOCOYoGo contract for Pueblo County–Motion approved by roll call vote.
Baca – Yes
Bent – Yes
Crowley – Yes
Huerfano – Yes
Otero – Yes
Kiowa – Yes
Las Animas – Yes
Prowers – Yes
Pueblo – Yes
Rob and Jennifer motioned to extend the Stigma Pueblo County Contract–Motion passed with a roll call vote.
Baca – Yes
Bent – Yes
Crowley – Yes
Huerfano – Yes
Otero – Yes
Kiowa – Yes
Las Animas – Yes
Prowers – Yes
Pueblo – Yes
DISCUSSION Item: Criminal Justice funding and RFP
Sheriffs Mobley and Zordel were on the call. Rose read the MOU on the uses of the Criminal Justice Services funding. Sheriff Mobley said they could use the money. Felix and Meagan weighed in on their perspective on how the money could be used. Donna talked about the MOU and what it says and having them submit budgets and what money would be used for. Rose asked which counties do not have jails and Kiowa was the only one that does not have a jail, but they used Bent and Prowers jails, as needed. Miles asked for head counts: Pueblo 380, Prowers 40 to 57, Las Animas 40 to 50, Otero said that they will have 60, Bent has 50.
Rose told the Board that if they go in the direction of allocating the money directly to Region 19 counties and not using the RFP process, the state plan will have to be amended.
Other Business:
Harm Reduction will be deferred to the next meeting and there will be 30 minutes added to the agenda to allow them time for questions and answers.
Adjournment
Donna and Felix moved for adjournment. Adjournment was at 3:58 p.m.
Next Meeting:
Monday, June 9, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.