MEEKER | Meeker’s Board of Trustees approved an ordinance that will allow for electronic participation via telephone or online during emergency situations at the March 17 meeting in response to ongoing uncertainty about the coronavirus pandemic.
The town is encouraging the public to use the dropbox outside for payments, or to call or email with questions; and are diligently sanitizing the front counter and doors, as well as trying to keep public works staff and the police officers from all working together at the same time in the same place.
Staff Updates
Chief of Police Phil Stubblefield said the town’s newest officer has completed his training and they’re planning to interview another officer when he completes the police academy. Meanwhile, the search for Stubblefield’s replacement continues. He’s retiring in early April. Stubblefield offered an endorsement to Lieutenant Otis Hayes to fill in for Stubblefield in the interim.
Public Works Superintendent Russell Overton said the town, county and school district had trouble for a few days after water got into the fuel tanks at the county shop. Overton said all the vehicles had to be drained and filters changed. According to Overton, the company that performed a tank inspection for the county didn’t put a plug back in and water ran into the fuel tanks.
Asked by Mayor Regas Halandras about the pile of “stuff” left over from the street sweeper, Overton said they give that material — sand, rocks and “a lot of trash” — away to property owners who request it. It can be used to fill in washes, but because of the trash mixed in, it’s not suitable for most homeowners.
Town Clerk Amy Tupy said 1,412 municipal election ballots would be mailed to registered voters on Wednesday.
NEW BUSINESS
– Trustees revisited a request for Range Call sponsorship presented at the last meeting. Town Manager Lisa Cook told the board the town paid about $3,000 in costs for event security last year, not including overtime pay for the police department; contributed $1,500 toward the fireworks display put on by the Meeker fire department; and “paid for a sign” at the fairgrounds for several years.
“It’s a lot of stuff when you consider the police department’s contribution,” she said.
The board agreed to support $500 for a “Choice” sponsorship.
– The board received a recommendation from the town’s engineer, Chris Hale, to award the bid for the Water Street water line project to the CW Construction, LLC, which was the low bidder at $871,950.
– Appointed Deanna Roach, Amber Douglas, Kathy Sizemore and Libby Morton to the Housing Authority Board. One additional vacancy will be filled by a town trustee, but the board agreed at the last meeting to wait until after the April 7 election to determine who that person will be.
– Discussed a quit claim and nonexclusive utility easement agreement between WREA, ERBM and the Town related to the planned fishing pond at Circle Park. There was some confusion about wording in some areas, pointed out by mayoral candidate and former county attorney Kent Borchard. Town Attorney Melody Massih agreed that the language of the agreement needs to be clarified, and said she would speak with the rec district, which has already approved the agreement. The board agreed to approve the agreement contingent on the clarification.
– The board budgeted $50,000 toward construction of a sidewalk on School Street, but an engineer’s estimate came back at $175,000, Cook told the board.
“The good news is that CDOT has about $600,000 left in a multimodal grant fund,” she said. The grant is a 50% match, and the town will apply for it. Funds budgeted toward Market Street sidewalks and curb and gutter replacement could also be applied to the School Street sidewalk project.
Trustees expressed some concerns about old-growth trees along the proposed sidewalk route, which would be on the east side of School Street.
– Cook said plans for Colorado Northwestern Community College to occupy the second floor of Town Hall have fallen through. The college has said they plan to focus more on the dual enrollment program through the high school and evaluate “what Meeker needs from them.”
Trustees discussed possible options for the space before adjourning.
