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KSJD Newscast - January 4th, 2016

  • Montezuma County commissioners postpone a decision on whether the Cortez Journal will be its newspaper of record.
  • Montezuma County commission may expand its use of executive sessions.

For decades, Montezuma County has published legal notices in local newspapers, but that may not continue. On Monday, the county commissioners postponed a decision on whether the Cortez Journal will be its newspaper of record for 2016. Commissioner Larry Don Suckla asked whether legal publications had to be in print form and said radio or the Internet might be an alternative. Commissioner Keenan Ertel said the Journal does not reach as many people as it used to and publishing notices in the paper is expensive. Commission attorney John Baxter said he would be comfortable with public notices being on radio but the issue probably should be discussed in executive session. The board agreed to take up the matter next week. During public comment, audience member Gala Pock said newspapers remain the best way to reach many people and negotiating the county website is difficult.

The Montezuma County commission may expand its use of executive sessions. On Monday, attorney John Baxter said that at a recent meeting of the Colorado County Attorney’s Association he had learned  many counties hold closed sessions weekly, although others have them rarely or never. Baxter suggested he might compile a monthly list of topics to be discussed behind closed doors, such as contracts and issues involving historic RS 2477 road claims and the federal government. Prior to 2013, the Montezuma County Commission had never held an executive session.

Gail Binkly is a career journalist who has worked for the Colorado Springs Gazette and Cortez Journal, and was the editor of the Four Corners Free Press, based in Cortez.
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