Meeker URA has first meeting

MEEKER | Meeker’s new Urban Renewal Authority board officially met for the first time Tuesday. County commissioner Shawn Bolton was named chair and town trustee Scott Creecy was named vice chair. Town manager Scott Meszaros will serve as the board’s executive director, as per the recommendation of legal counsel.
The board will review and establish their bylaws and the initial request for quotation (RFQ) from operators interested in participating in the Meeker Adventure Center at the next meeting. The RFQ will be open to the public and will be seeking applicants for the general operator, service operators and co-located businesses for the center.
Public questions regarding specific sites that will be analyzed to determine if they fit the criteria for a URA project area have not been answered yet. Kelby Bosshardt of Better City said they feel the operators “should be the ones making the final decisions” about the site and architectural design. “We need to start those negotiations and move past the what-ifs.”
Meeker resident and business owner Henry Arcolesse asked if the property owners of the potential sites for the center have been contacted. Bosshardt said most of the landowners they’ve contacted have indicated a willingness to sell, but reiterated the need for the operators to be involved in those discussions.
The URA board will meet again on April 18.
Following the URA meeting, Arcolesse urged the town board of trustees to put out public notices “via whatever means possible” so the general public has a chance to attend and participate and give public input. “The URA meeting today I didn’t know anything about,” Arcolesse said. “I found out about it today.”
In the regular town board meeting, trustees agreed to issue a letter of support for a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) bill to go before the legislature that will give CPW the right to set their own fees for local licenses. CPW is seeking to increase local licensing fees for the first time since 2005.
In other business, the board:
n Approved the use of Ute Park for the Meekerpalooza event in June, which will coincide with several other events including the metal art competition and races sponsored by ERBM.
n Approved a bid for crack fill to Rocky Mountain Asphalt.
n Heard from Rio Blanco County Economic Development Coordinator Katelin Cook about the Colorado Rural Jump Start program, which will offer tax incentives for new businesses.
n Heard a request from Berry Bros./Adams for a minor subdivision northeast of the Curtis Creek Industrial Park.