Goodbye Community Center Board-Bent County Makes Changes

~Anne Boswell

Thursday Bent County Commissioners voted unanimously to eliminate the Bent County Las Animas Community Activities Center Board of Directors.

The agenda item was listed alongside another item that would then appoint County Administrator Wick Turner head of operations and would include supervising all employees at the center.

Bent County resident Mimi Marmom sat patiently awaiting her turn to speak out during the meeting's public comment section. Marmon asked commissioners for clarification.

County Commissioner Jennifer Scofield replied that the action was taken because of a discrepancy of how the board was established.

"There was discrepancy between the resolution that established the board and the authorities it gave, and their understanding of what their job was."

Scofield went on to explain they had a group of county employees that nobody was overseeing.

"In dissolving the board we can clean up that mess and bring those employees underneath the umbrella of the county and actually manage staff and everything the way we need to."

Marmom inquired about what would happen to the grants the community center had received, Scofield said nothing would change but the grants would be coming over to the county.

A volunteer type community board could be in the plans for the future but not right now as Scofield explained they will be having the county administrator oversee the operations.

Marmon said she wants to see the community continue to support the center and encourages local volunteerism.

"My big thing is that I do not want to discourage community volunteers, I mean, that's our big complaint always that people do not want to get involved, and if you do any with the board that has some input into what's going on.."

Commissioner Phil Hemphill recused himself from the vote to dissolve the board and appoint Wick Turner, because Hemphill sits on the board for the Community Center.

The changes will take place immediately.

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