MEEKER | In the last regular meeting of the year for the Meeker Board of Trustees, trustees approved the 2023 town budget as presented to the public with the addition of about $2,000 in revenue due to increased property tax valuation. Trustees also certified the property tax mill levy for 2023 at 9.781 mills. With $23 million in assessed value, the mill levy will generate approximately $229,000 in tax revenue for the town.
Bruce Clatterbaugh’s application for a septic system permit within the town’s protected watershed sparked considerable discussion. Clatterbaugh is installing a vault tank on property located within the town’s watershed and requested a fee waiver or reduction, and questioned the additional requirements “on top of what the county demands.”
The permit request raised questions about the protected watershed. Trustee Travis Day said changes need to be made. “It’s not advertised that it’s a watershed protection area. It’s not on GIS, there are no signs on the road. We need to work on this. Bruce [Clatterbaugh] kind of got caught in the crosshairs.”
Clatterbaugh told the board the 1,100 acre protected watershed district is “not recorded” and property owners have no knowledge of its existence, nor is it included in property title work. “You imposed this district on us landowners without due notice, without due process.”
Town attorney Melody Massih said she will be asking questions as to why the title company is not pulling district information when properties within the protected watershed are sold.
The board agreed to reduce Clatterbaugh’s permit fee from $5,000 to $200.
Trustees also approved a special event liquor license during Meeker Skijor for the Meeker Arts and Culture Council, approved a liquor license application Blanco Cellars Wine and Whiskey Bar LLC and a request to set the public hearing, and reviewed proposed changes to the land use code expected to be approved in January 2023.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
