RGC commissioners releases official statement regarding out-of-state employees

By LYNDSIE FERRELL
Posted 1/31/25

RIO GRANDE COUNTY – The Rio Grande County Board of Commissions during its recent meeting released an official statement pertaining to the concerns about two key personnel that work for the county but live out of state. 

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RGC commissioners releases official statement regarding out-of-state employees

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RIO GRANDE COUNTY – The Rio Grande County Board of Commissions during its recent meeting released an official statement pertaining to the concerns about two key personnel that work for the county but live out of state. 

Over the past several weeks, the public has voiced concerns about employing Rio Grande County Public Health Director Dr. Kolawole Bankole and Rio Grande County Attorney Nancy Lake, who both live out of state.  

At the start of last week’s meeting, the public again voiced their concern about county tax dollars being used to pay for the two county employees that live out of the state. The employment contracts for Bankole and Lake were unanimously approved, 3-0, by the commissioners in October of 2024. The contracts are for one year. 

After hearing from the public and working through the agenda, Rio Grande County Commissioner Chairman Tyler Ratzlaff stepped down as chairman per regulation and asked for a vote to approve the statement regarding the employment of Lake and Bankole. 

“I have reviewed the contracts and we did not have opposition when they were approved. I appreciate everybody coming in and I definitely see your points but these two positions are positions that require extensive knowledge and experience and I believe the two people we are talking about agree with me in saying that its not an ideal situation by any means, but in life nothing really turns out ideal. I believe it is the best decision for the county and the residents of the county,” said Commissioner Ratzlaff. 

The statement released and approved by Rio Grande County states, “Recent public comments have highlighted the fact that two of our talented public servants principally work remotely, our County Attorney and our Public Health Director. The County Attorney has been under contract with Rio Grande County since November 2020 and she recently relocated out of the San Luis Valley and out of the State for her husband’s health. Similarly, our Public Health Director recently relocated out of the state for family health reasons as well. He was hired in November of 2020 and lived locally until recently. In both cases, we made the unanimous decision to allow remote work because we believe it best serves our interests to retain highly talented individuals while simultaneously providing reasonable accommodation to meet their family situations. While both principally work remotely, they travel at their own expense to be in-person one week a month. The effectiveness in their respective responsibilities remains undiminished.” 

The document continues, “In accordance with section 30-11-118 C.R.S., the requirements of a County Attorney in Colorado are simply to be ‘member of the bar of the supreme court of this state and at least twenty-five years of age.’ Our current County Attorney meets both requirements. Furthermore, this is a contracted and appointed position, meaning it is not a competitive selection process, and a consideration of appointment is the exclusive purview of the Board of County Commissioners. State statutes are slightly more stringent in the requirements of a county Public Health Director. 

“In accordance with section 25-1-508(5)(C)(I) C.R.S., a Public Health Director serves at the pleasure of the county board, possess qualifications as may be prescribed by the state board, be a qualified public health professional, and maintain an office location designated by the county. Our current Public Health Director meets all these requirements. Additionally, he is a physician and, thereby, eliminates the need for the county to employ or contract with a medical officer to advise the Public Health Director on medical decisions.” 

During the discussion prior to a vote on the statement, Rio Grande County Commissioner Scott Deacon said that the original contract was in the consent agenda for the regular commissioner meeting on Oct. 9, 2024, at 10 a.m. and that the contract should have been added to the main agenda. 

Commissioners can ask that an item on the consent agenda be pulled and added to the main agenda. A consent agenda or consent calendar is a list of items on a meeting agenda approved with a single motion. 

Deacon said he would not have approved the contract had it been on the regular agenda. 

“I made a mistake,” he said. 

After the discussion, Chairman Ratzlaff made a motion to approve the statement. Rio Grande County commissioners Gene Glover and Ratzlaff voted yes, and Commissioner Deacon voted no. Commissioner Glover said that the issue would be up for discussion at a future meeting.