RANGELY | The Rangely Board of Trustees met Tuesday, April 13 to discuss the following public business.
CONSTITUTIONAL RESOLUTIONS
The Rangely Board of Trustees unanimously approved Resolutions 2021-02, a “Constitutional Sanctuary Resolution” and 2021-03, “reasserting the rights of the Town of Rangely and its residents and condemning the unconstitutional limitations imposed upon their freedoms by the Governor of Colorado.”
Elaine Urie, one of the three residents behind the resolution, again expressed why she and others saw the resolution as important for defending constitutional rights.
“It’s really just to protect our rights. It’s not an ordinance, it’s a resolution saying that we want to stand up for our rights as citizens of Colorado and the United States,” Urie said.
Rangely Trustees asked RBC commissioner Ty Gates what the county’s stance on the resolutions would be. Gates noted that commissioners were still waiting to see what the Town of Meeker would say about the proposed resolutions. The matter has not yet been discussed by Meeker Trustees, but Urie and others noted the board had received the same information about them as Rangely and the county. Gates also noted “we’re still trying to figure out what the legal ramification or consequences could be.”
RBC commissioners are set to discuss the resolutions again at their next regular meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.
Urie wrapped up her comments by noting the group behind the resolution was “just getting started,” saying future goals include using an algorithm to prove election fraud in the state of Colorado in the 2020 election, as a way to fight back against the “illegitimate government” at both the state and federal level.
Susie Berardi, who helped draft the language of the bill, shared additional clarification. She said the resolution did not take away businesses or individual’s rights to shut down, enforce mask wearing or limited capacity restrictions. It instead specifies that businesses can assess their own capacity limits and generally ignore public health mandates and recommendations if they wish.
ARBOR DAY EVENTS
RJSHS students Addison Scott, Braydin Raley and Courtney Files from RJSHS Change-Makers presented to the board about their efforts to organize the town’s first annual Arbor Day event, in coordination with Rangely TREAD and the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District.
As part of the event the group announced various arbor day competitions, including a poster competition, a poetry competition, and a tree naming contest. Competition winners will be announced at a special tree-planting event on Main Street, Thursday, April 22 at 2 p.m..
PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE
Public Works Supervisor Jeff LeBleu shared an update with the board about ongoing seasonal cleanup and maintenance work around town. He also shared an update about an “AARP Community Challenge” grant the town is pursuing. LeBleu noted funds would be used to repair and improve a pathway that connects Colorado Northwestern Community College and surrounding neighborhoods to downtown Rangely.
If awarded a grant, the Town would pay $31,000, or 38% of the overall project cost. Town Manager Lisa Piering noted that expenses to the town would include labor costs.
By LUCAS TURNER | [email protected]om
