RANGELY I The Rangely Town Council met for a short meeting Nov. 24 with all members present to discuss a public hearing, special events permit application and renew several liquor licenses.
After calling the meeting to order, the council was presented with the first public reading of Ordinance Number 687 titled “Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention and Making Necessary Changes to Related Sections of the Municipal Code.”
There were no comments, from council or audience members about the new ordinance.
Town Manager Peter Brixius updated the council on the capital budget, which was set at $2.95 million for fiscal year 2015. The town has currently spent $1.59 million of that budget, year to date. Brixius expects another $645,000 in additional expenses by the end of the year, however $270,000 of that will be covered by grant reimbursements.
Brixius also informed the board that it will cost approximately $100,000 to finish the asphalt work on Hillcrest. The work, which he projects will take three to four weeks, will begin sometime in April, contingent on the weather.
The council learned that once again profits from gas utilities are down.
Brixius believes the cause is primarily the warmer temperatures. He also said he expects that gas prices will stay competitive for consumers in the coming winter.
With Shop ‘N’ Dine in its final week, Brixius told the board that the town had given out $2,900 in vouchers so far. However, according to Brixius, the last few days of the program are typically more “robust,” and he expected that number to grow.
The council also learned that a Rangely police officer had resigned earlier in the week, choosing to move to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Department. The resignation leaves the town with five open positions at this time.
Brixius mentioned that Rangely was featured in a story on Fox 31 Denver News last week in a short piece about the musical sensation, The Tank. Brixius was pleased with the coverage that the acoustical wonder has brought the town.
Following updates, the council quickly ratified a special event permit for the Elks Charity Ball, which was held Nov. 21 and approved the liquor licenses for the BPOE Lodge and Nichols Store.
Near the end of the meeting, the council approved a grant application to the Energy Impact Assistance Fund for $600,000 towards Phase III of the Water Treatment Plant Renovation, which is expected to cost $1.2 million.
The council will meet again at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 in Town Hall.
