Alisa Granger Photo
RBC | The Rangely Town Board of Trustees met briefly about 2020 budget requests Sept. 24 prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. Town Manager Lisa Piering said Mayor Andy Shaffer rode along with water department supervisor Don Reed and viewed the areas of concern Reed had requested funding for in the coming year. An important budget request made by the water department at the last budget work session was replacement of the problem riddled cement/asbestos water line on Kennedy Drive. After Shaffer and Reed met, it was determined that redirecting the line along U.S. Highway 139 to the backside of the La Mesa Subdivision was the best course of action. Piering said they will need to do some research and engineering on the possibility of a pump station.
Trustees reviewed the proposed budget including the budget request from interim Chief of Police Ti Hamblin for a sixth officer position and patrol vehicle.
A marketing coordinator position that had been budgeted for the current year was recently offered to a perspective candidate and Piering is waiting for an answer. She noted that the Kennedy Drive bike path needs repaired and that should be a priority for the safety of the citizens and college students.
The town will close on the sale of two empty lots in the La Mesa Subdivision on Sept. 27 and that unbudgeted revenue will go into the housing fund. The new owner plans to build on the land.
A cost of living increase and some merit increases has been proposed for the town employees in 2020. Piering said department supervisors would like to keep up with the cost of living increases.
Trustees mulled over increasing rates. Piering said they should get a rate structure analysis underway, rates in the gas department haven’t been increased since 2004.
Severance revenue came in about $200,000 more than projected and sales tax was steady. Piering hopes the town will come out a little bit ahead on the sales tax after the Shop N Dine program in November.
During the regular meeting, Piering said the safety committee met about the security at town hall. They spoke with Interim Police Chief Hamblin about the future implementation of securing employee-only areas at the business office and an emergency preparedness program.
During council reports Shaffer said he spoke to Ryan from Ennovate. They are still moving forward but, “their permitting is causing them lots of havoc.” They hope to make progress in 2020.
Granger attended the Club 20 meeting and said that it was a great networking opportunity. Representative Perry Will would like to visit Rangely. Trustees discussed inviting Perry Will to Rangely for a “Town Hall” style meeting.
Kelli Neiberger said a fire on Mesa Drive damaged a gas meter and they capped it off underground until further instruction from the property owner. There was an issue on W. Bell Dr. with pressure on the meter set due to settling of the earth at those homes. Flexible pipe has been used at that location to alleviate pressure on the meters.
Town of Rangely employees attended a Stop the Bleed training hosted by Rangely District Hospital. Lastly, Neiberger reports that their atmospheric corrosion inspection on every meter in the system has been completed.
Piering said former Rio Blanco County Building Official Jeff Kummer has bee n hired on a temporary basis while County Building Inspector LaDonna Eubanks recovers from injuries. Piering said, “I felt that it was important for the town to have a certified building inspector to continue doing ours [inspections].” Kummer will be working in Rangely on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “He will help to get the building code up to par and some other things while we have him here.”
Ti Hamblin will be promoted to Chief of Police effective Sept. 20. “Be sure to congratulate him, he has earned that position and I think he will do us a great job,” Piering said.
The board approved a renewal of the liquor license for Giovanni’s Italian Grill. Candra Robie, athletic director for Colorado Northwestern Community College was on hand to answer questions about a special event permit application for the CNCC Foundation Murder Mystery Dinner in October.
A motion was made to support Proposition DD, which implements a 10% tax on newly authorized casino sports betting to fund systematic and bipartisan effort to preserve Colorado’s Water future. After some brief discussion about how the 10% tax was devised the motion passed unanimously. There are still two vacancies on the RDA/RDC Board and one vacancy on the Planning and Zoning Board. The next Rangely Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
By ROXIE FROMANG | Special to the Herald Times
