Features, Meeker

Meeker school board votes 6-1 to hire bonding help

MEEKER | The Meeker Board of Education held a special meeting Monday night to discuss the presentation from the George K. Baum & Company’s Denver office the board had at their work session last week. This presentation—focused on the investment banking firm’s ability to help the Meeker School District achieve success in funding the construction of a new high school and related facilities—was covered in our report on the board last week.

Before their discussion on bonding, the board honored their regular agenda item allowing for general public comment. Resident Mike Selle, a retired BLM archaeologist, spoke to the board about school safety. He told the board that, in his view, legislating against certain weapons solves no problems. He suggested school safety is “a people issue, how do we protect kids without turning schools into prison camps or gulags?”

On bonding, there was an unusual level of discussion about the GK Baum proposal. Board members had heard concerns over the past week about bringing in “outside” help. Board member Dave Smith expressed concern that some folks are still pretty raw about the public money spent and idea of the outdoor adventure center pursued by the county and Meeker town council, and their development of the special Urban Renewal Authority to facilitate funding and attract investors—an effort which has seemingly failed.

Superintendent Chris Selle emphasized to the board that the district would be contracting with Baum to engage district voters in the potential and need for bonding to renovate and replace Meeker High School.

“We are not contracting George K. Baum & Company,” Selle said, “to ‘sell’ a bond campaign for the school district. Out of respect to our voters, we owe them a complete and accurate understanding of our project with which to make their decisions, if a bond election were to become a reality. George K. Baum & Company has experience and expertise in engaging voters that the school district does not currently possess internally. George K. Baum & Company’s primary responsibility is to guide the district in its efforts to ensure our community has accurate, factual information.”

Board member Bob Dorsett questioned whether the approximately $30,000 to be spent on the Baum contract couldn’t be better spent on district programs and in the classroom. Selle reminded the board that this would be a one-time expenditure, not an ongoing annual expense like a new program, new teacher or the like.

Several board members expressed agreement with Dorsett’s doubts and especially his idea that certain students ought to be involved in reviewing the situation and helping the district achieve funding, possibly as some kind of ongoing class project.

Board member Tom Allen said he would be riddled with regrets if the board and the district didn’t get the district’s needs met, and they hadn’t sought out the help they could have to achieve their goals.

In the end, the board voted six to one to contract with Baum. Dorsett was the sole dissenting vote. With its vote, the board actually approved both public policy services and bond underwriting engagement agreements with Baum. The next regular school board meeting is Monday, March 26, at 7 p.m.

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  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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