Special to the HT
MEEKER | Representatives from the Colorado Main Street Program, Larry Lucas, and Matt Gordon with the Department of Local Affairs, spoke to town trustees at their Nov. 4 meeting. After describing the program’s mission, they praised the work that has been done by the Meeker chapter of the program, Uplift Meeker.
“Your community has a variety of unique assets, unique artisans, unique individuals, businesses and offerings. The best way to get the word out is to share it with as many people as possible in the ways that you as a localized community want to do. It’s not a goal of unchecked growth and absolute demand. It’s more along the lines of, who would we like to bring into our community, to show these assets off, to how can we capitalize off of tourism, to support our local community and our businesses and the like,” Lucas explained. The Main Street program provides consulting services, mini-grants, and more, for the purpose of “recentering and revitalizing” downtown corridors.
Meeker resident Annie Long returned to the board to ask again about the possibility of closing the bulk water loadout at night because the noise and light are disruptive to her Water Street home. She also shared ongoing concerns about parking conditions on Second Street. Town Administrator Mandi Etheridge assured Long that town staff is looking at potential code updates for parking and exploring a plan for the water loadout to address her requests.
Rio Blanco County Historical Society Executive Director Teresia Reed presented the annual request for funding for the museum. Reed shared plans for the upcoming semisesquiquincentennial celebration in 2026, and the anticipated arrival of a Smithsonian exhibit. In the past the town has provided $5,000 in funding. Last year they increased that to $8,000, and this year motioned and approved $10,000 in support from the community improvement fund.
In regular business, trustees approved two “housekeeping” resolutions for next spring’s election, authorizing a mail-in ballot election in April, designating an election official, establishing voter precincts, and allowing for the designated election official to appoint election personnel.
Trustees discussed a proposed intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the county, the library district, and the town for the appointing members to the library board. The IGA has been requested by the library district’s attorney.
Town Attorney Melody Massih said the IGA covers all of the terms agreed upon by the legal teams, and leaves the town and county responsible for interviewing their applicants. The IGA also includes a process for removal of an appointee at the discretion of the appointing board. On review, trustees requested removal of a clause that would allow the board to petition back to the appointing authority to remove a member.
“It’s a really good agreement,” commented Massih.
Trustees approved the IGA contingent on removal of the aforementioned item.
Following up on the joint meeting with the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District board the previous week, trustees once again tackled the language of the lease agreement. The rec district has been responsible for maintenance of the town’s parks for more than a decade, but reduced valuations for property tax revenue and increased costs have put the rec district in a financial bind. Earlier in the fall they asked the town to transfer ownership of the park properties to them, saying they can’t continue to invest in property they don’t own, and to work together on a mill levy request. The town agreed to split the cost of maintenance for 2026, but requested credit be provided for the expenses of electricity and water at the parks that the town has been covering. The prior joint meeting ended at a stalemate.
Etheridge said her recommendation was to approve the agreement and pay the approximately $175K to maintain park properties through 2026. After a lengthy discussion on details, trustees approved requesting credit for water and electricity expenses and then covering half the remaining amount, with a plan in place in case ERBM decides to move forward with termination of the contract, as the rec board suggested earlier this fall. If the contract is terminated, the town will have six months to prepare.