EDITOR’S NOTE: Meeker Skijor was canceled due to lack of snow and safety concerns just prior to press time Wednesday.
MEEKER I Meeker’s Board of Trustees heard a last minute request Tuesday from the Meeker Skijor committee to move the skijor races, planned for this weekend, from the Fairgrounds to Ute Park due to lack of snow. Whether that happens or not will depend on if enough snow arrives on Wednesday as forecast.
Committee chairperson Janelle Urista said, “It’s a bit of a hopeless plea because we have no snow right now.” Warm weather this week has turned the track at the Fairgrounds into an icy lake, unsafe for horses.
Urista said the skijor committee originally considered Ute Park as a venue, and would like to consider it for next year, regardless.
If this year’s event occurs, only the actual races will be at Ute Park. Other skijor events will still be held at the Fairgrounds. “If we don’t get snow, it’s not going to matter anyway,” Urista said.
Trustees approved a resolution designating the Fifth Street bridge as the Peter F. Kiser Sr. Memorial Bridge and the 10th Street bridge as the Ernie E. Garcia Memorial Bridge.
Vicky Crawford thanked the board on behalf of the VFW and Auxiliary. “It means a lot to our organization.”
Trustees also approved a letter of support for the Pioneers Medical Foundation Enterprise Zone designation that will allow them, if the application is approved to offer up to $100K in tax credit incentives to private donors to the Foundation. Trustees questioned whether there were boundaries to the zone, or if it encompasses all of the existing Enterprise Zone in the town. That information was not readily available at the meeting, and the deadline for the letter was Feb. 18.
In staff updates, the police department is looking for another officer and had no transports to the Moffat County jail last month. Public Works has been working on the remodeling project on the second floor of Town Hall, where the Meeker Chamber offices will be relocating. The Cabin on Market Street will remain open as the visitor center. Town Clerk Lisa Cook said they are preparing for the annual audit, and updated the board on the Main Street/Project 45 program, which plans to offer board training in May for nonprofit and special district boards, and will be updating its strategic plan and objectives. Town Manager Mandi Etheridge said the community development and planning position is being advertised and one application has been submitted. Interested applicants have until Feb. 25 to apply.
The board went into executive session “for determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategy for negotiations, and instructing negotiators,” pursuant to statute.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com