MEEKER | Meeker’s Board of Trustees approved the appointment of another board member to fill the seat vacated by Scott Nielsen last Tuesday. There were three applications: Dr. Bob Dorsett, Jan Zuber and Jeff Madison. Trustees thanked the applicants for their thorough resumes and asked questions about their reasons for applying and qualifications for the position.
The board ultimately voted to appoint Jeff Madison to the vacancy. A 45-year resident of Meeker, Madison previously served on the Board of Trustees from 1990-2000. Madison said his “agenda” is to “keep Meeker, Meeker,” saying, “This is a town where you can still raise your kids safely, they can play, they can walk to school.” Madison will be sworn in at the next meeting on July 15.
Marlo Coates of Colorado CPA Services presented the annual financial audit report for the Town, noting that the audit “didn’t find anything materially wrong” and that there were “no egregious processes.”
Trustees reviewed and approved a second change order for the Garfield Street water line replacement contract. Chris Hale, the town’s engineer, explained that during the replacement leaking service lines connected to the main line softened the ground and caused it to buckle under the weight of the excavator in several sections.
“We could just leave it, but it’s buckled and breaking apart and from a PR perspective with the residents of Garfield and the town, to have damaged asphalt be there until we get a paving project in would look bad. The other issue is there’s already a crew in place to tear out the poor subgrade. There is an economy to having one that’s already mobilized on site do it,” Hale said.
The original contract was for $1.26 million. The first change order was to order more fill dirt to replace the unsuitable fill discovered during the project. The second change order brings the new contract price to $1.5 million. The project is funded with water fund reserves and a Department of Local Affairs energy impact assistance grant.
Town Manager Mandi Etheridge updated the board on the Circle Park renovation. Mayor Travis Day requested another walkthrough and approval from the engineer. The park project is expected to be completed in August. Mayor Day questioned the costs outlined for the planned third phase of the Circle Park project and requested more detail.
Etheridge said the town received seven applications for the public works superintendent position. As of Tuesday, interim superintendent Jak Kilduff was named to the role.
Trustees and staff extended their gratitude to Meeker Police Officer Wylie Hetzel for the investigative work that resulted in the arrest of Gypsy Soul on multiple charges, including sexual assault on a child, sexual exploitation of a child, enticement of a child, and internet luring of a child. Soul’s first court hearing was scheduled for Tuesday in Meeker.
The Meeker Police Department has submitted an application for a Federal grant to help fund a school resource officer for the Meeker.
Trustee Chris Lockwood noting that the town’s blinking red light at Main and Sixth “needs to go away” as two of the lights aren’t functioning. “Fix it or take it out.” Town staff have already recommended removal of the light.
That discussion prompted further discourse about traffic safety with Trustee Amanda Smith requesting that the yield sign on Fifth and Cleveland be replaced with an actual stop sign. Smith said she has witnessed some near-misses with kids on bikes.
Trustees also asked about the status of Robert Street. Neighboring property owners have created a dirt “ramp” at the top of Robert Street that could limit emergency access for residents of Sage Hills subdivision. Etheridge said as of Tuesday “no dirt has been moved” by the neighboring property owners to restore the street and there is no code enforcement applicable to the problem.
Trustees went into executive session at the end of the meeting to obtain legal counsel related to water rights and easement agreements.