The Regular Meeting of the Meeker Town Board was held Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at Town Hall.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Loshbaugh called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

All board members were present with the exception of Trustee Halandras.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Trustee Thomson made a motion to accept the agenda as presented.  Second by Trustee Ham. All aye.  Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

Trustee Etheridge made a motion to approve the minutes of December 12, 2006 as corrected.  Second by Trustee Mills.  All aye.  Trustee White abstained.  Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

Mayor Loshbaugh questioned Item 45 of the General Fund, Eddy’s Hay Hauling, freight for hauling recycled material, wanting to know the income received from this shipment. Planner Sheridan replied that the revenue received from a shipment is received several weeks later than the invoice for freight as they are different companies.  Mayor Loshbaugh suggested that staff prepare a spread sheet reflecting freight charges and income from each shipment and present it to the Board on a yearly basis.

Trustee White made a motion to approve the revised vouchers dated January 2, 2007.  Second by Trustee Thomson.  All aye.  Motion carried.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Heard after New Business Agenda Item VII. D. Discussion concerning Ridge Estate’s request.

NEW BUSINESS

Approval of Mobile Home Park Licenses.  Planner Sheridan addressed the Board stating that Finley’s Trailer Park license had been approved by the Board at the December 12, 2006 meeting, while GIC Mobile Home Park still has several violations and Sizemore’s Trailer Park has two.  Sheridan reported that the major violations at GIC were no steps on the back entrances of several trailers in this park.  GIC is aware of the violations and has required their tenants comply notifying them of such as well as stating that if they had questions to call the Town Planning Dept.  Sheridan went on to say that compliance was placing a hardship on the tenants due to weather conditions and also financially due to the time of year.  Sheridan informed the Board that GIC has offered financing to their tenants to help with the expense of the stairs and that it was staff’s recommendation to issue GIC and Sizemore’s parks temporary permits that expire on July 31, 2007.

Mayor Loshbaugh stated that he was concerned with GIC’s attitude for their tenants to contact Town Hall when in fact it is the mobile home park that is licensed and requested that it be made clear to the owner of GIC that compliance is their responsibility, not the tenant’s.

Trustee Ham questioned whether the stairs were part of the new code recently adopted or whether they have never been compliant.  Administrator Day replied that the building inspector walked from space to space this year noting more items that were not in compliance from previous years.  Trustee Ham voiced his concern regarding the Town’s liability in the case of a fire.  Planner Sheridan replied that it could be an issue but that most spaces needed only three steps.  Mayor Loshbaugh felt that it was not a true safety issue as a tenant could jump out of the trailer in the case of a fire.

Trustee Etheridge made a motion to grant the mobile home parks temporary permits that will expire on July 31, 2007.  Second by Trustee Mills.  All aye.  Motion carried.

Discussion concerning the 1^st Annual Pow Wow July 26^th through 28^th at Ute Park and update concerning Ute Park Committee.  Administrator Day informed the Board that the response to forming the Ute Park Committee had been wonderful and anticipated the first meeting would be later in January.

Liz Turner, representing the Northern Ute Pow Wow Committee, addressed the Board by stating that the committee hoped to continue their relationship with the Northern Ute Tribe by pursuing an annual pow wow on July 27^th and 28^th to be held, with the Board’s permission, at Ute Park.  Lynn Lockwood presented the Board with informational packets, diagrams and a map of Ute Park.  Turner introduced committee members consisting of herself and Lynn Lockwood-US Forest Service; Suzan Dole and Bernie Gantt-Meeker Chamber of Commerce; Dr. David Steinman-RBC Historical Society; Aaron Grimes-Bureau of Land Management and Shelly Flannery-Northwest Cultural and Heritage Tourism.  They anticipate 300 Ute to participate in the pow wow with 300 to 700 spectators in attendance.  The committee hopes to raise $25,000 to $30,000 to be used for prize money by targeting sponsors at a national level.  The Ute do not allow anyone participating in the pow wow to use drugs, alcohol or permit gang activity and will send a representative from their law enforcement agency to meet with the Meeker Police Department to go over any concerns if desired.

Bernie Gantt addressed the Board stating that Ute Park is the only site that meets the needs of the pow wow due to the availability of electricity needed by the numerous vendors that will be attending the event.  Fifteen to 20 spaces are needed for RV camping, no tent camping will be allowed and he also requested permission to construct a temporary arbor with cedar covering on the site.  Mr. Gantt informed the Board that the committee was aware that the hay field portion of the park would probably not be harvested by this time and had plans to block off entrance to the bridges that allow access to this portion of the park.  He also requested permission to utilize the triangle property between Main Street and Highway 13 for additional parking if needed.  Mayor Loshbaugh responded by saying that the triangle portion is leased to the Dunham’s and is also very wet.

Mr. Gantt stated that he had contacted the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Committee and they had no concerns of disturbance to their portion of the lease as the ground will be watered two to three weeks before their event and concluded his presentation by asking the Board’s permission for use of the park and the supply of power.

Suzan Dole reported that she had been in contact with Mountain West Insurance regarding insurance coverage for the two day event and that the Town of Meeker, and anyone else deemed necessary, will be listed as an additional insured.  Administrator Day stated that she believed the amount the Town requires is $1,000,000.  Ms. Dole also said that she will be asking to use the High School gym in case of bad weather.

Trustee Thomson asked the committee if they were aware of any other events happening at this time.  Ms. Turner stated that the Rio Blanco Fair Horse events are scheduled for this date.

Trustee Ham made a motion directing staff to work with the Northern Ute Pow Wow Committee on a lease for Ute Park. Second by Trustee Etheridge.  All aye.  Motion carried.

Administrator Day asked if the lease would be at no charge.  It was the Board’s consensus that there would be no charge for the first year.

Discussion concerning request from Meeker Sanitation District to remove RV sewer dump from Town Park.  Administrator Day informed the Board that she had received 16 calls from citizens requesting that the sewer dump at Town Park not be removed as they felt it was a valuable service to the community.  Leslie Sorensen, representing Meeker Sanitation District, stated that the Sanitation District had received complaints that children were playing in raw sewage and with hoses left at the site.  Ms. Sorensen indicated that the Sanitation District was willing to help with the expense of relocating the dump to another site, but after checking around, no one was interested in providing the service at this time.  She stated that Stage Coach Campground had been contacted and they were willing to accommodate the RVs and committed to being open for the next two years.

Citizen Darrell Kendall addressed the Board stating that he uses the dump approximately 12 times per year and has always found the dump site to be very clean, with no trash or hoses left behind.  Ms. Sorensen responded stating that they had received comments about people using the hose for flushing their tanks to fill their RV’s fresh water tanks.  Administrator Day said that Town staff checks the site several times a day during the summer and fall months to make sure that it stays clean.  Day also informed the Board that she had received only one complaint about the site from a resident living across the street.  Day had suggested that the Town could put up a fence, but the resident did not want that as it would block their view of the river.  Day also stated that another resident on Water Street that lives two or three doors down from the site was one of the phone calls she had received in support of keeping the site where it is.  Day commented that if the site were removed that people may start dumping their sewage in inappropriate places which could become a health and safety issue.  She also felt that the site was more important now than ever due to the increase in RV usage from energy company employees.

Trustee Ham stated that the only other dump sites in this end of the County were at Lake Avery and Trapper’s Lake and stated that the Town should not abandon the current site with no alternative.  Mayor Loshbaugh said that he felt the Town should stick to their guns and continue to maintain the current site.  Administrator Day informed the Board that construction of the site had been a 50/50 proposition by the Town and the Sanitation District and is owned by both entities.  Ms. Sorensen indicated that since the site dealt with sewage that it belonged to the Sanitation District, and if they deemed it necessary, could shut it down.  Mayor Loshbaugh stressed that until another option was available that the site must be kept open and made better where we can.

Discussion concerning Ridge Estate’s request to extend Town public water system south of the river.  Administrator Day explained that the item had been placed on this agenda at the request of a few Board members and suggested that it was critical the Town begin the water feasibility study immediately due to the numerous requests for Town water in the past several months.  Day also stated that Jim Joy, representative for Ridge Estates, would be happy to answer any questions the Board may still have.

Trustee Thomson commented that he didn’t feel it was right to extend water beyond an existing development (Mesa View) when the Town had denied their request for water, especially since the proposed development has no contiguity to the Town, nor has any hope to be in the future.  Mayor Loshbaugh stated that the Town needed to provide a more definitive answer in writing to Empty Enterprises (Ridge Estates).

Trustee Thomson made a motion to deny the request to extend the Town’s public water system south of the river to Ridge Estates subdivision.  Second by Trustee Ham.  All aye.  Motion carried.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Citizen Dirk Garcia addressed the Board concerning the Town’s Public Works Department hauling away snow left behind by private enterprise.  Mr. Garcia’s main concern was the amount of snow pushed in to Main Street from the Carsten and the Halandras Building’s parking lots.  Garcia stated that this was becoming a liability issue to the Town as people have to drive up on to the ridge in the middle of the street when trucks are parked along the curb and that in doing so his vehicle had slid back down the ridge nearly hitting a vehicle parked along the curb.

Mayor Loshbaugh commented that this issue had been addressed by the Board in the past with Administrator Day adding that the Ordinance failed adoption by the Board at that time.  Planner Sheridan stated that all parking lot owners must designate 10% of their lot for snow storage.  Mayor Loshbaugh asked if the Town could charge the owner for hauling it away.  Attorney Viscardi replied that the Town currently has no mechanism in place to charge for this service.

Trustee Thomson stated that he would like to hear from Public Works Superintendent Overton on how much of a problem this issue is for the Town.  Mayor Loshbaugh requested that this item be placed on the next agenda for further discussion and suggested sending letters to the business owners along Main and Market Streets urging them to attend the meeting.

NEW BUSINESS continued

Report concerning workshops.  Administrator Day requested that the Board hold a workshop to prioritize capital projects planned for the coming year and another to meet with the County Commissioners to discuss some of the issues facing our area.  The Board concurred to schedule the workshops for late January or early February.

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORTS

Administrator Day requested the Board’s permission to sponsor the sled derby at the ERBM Recreation and Park District’s Winter Games again this year.  The cost of a Gold Sponsorship is $250 and Town staff is willing to organize the derby, giving Chamber bucks as prizes for the event.  The Board concurred to sponsor the event.

Day informed the Board that Colleen Williams, of Colo. Rural Water Assoc., was willing to give a presentation regarding a source point protection program for the Town’s water field at no cost.  Mayor Loshbaugh requested that if the presentation was 30 minutes or less that it be given before a regular Board meeting.

TOWN ATTORNEY’S REPORT

None.

OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS

Trustee Thomson inquired as to the status of hiring a Sergeant on the Police Department.  Administrator Day informed the Board that Lt. Gregory Charles had been hired and would begin his employment on January 8^th.  Day also informed the Board that Officer Luchaco had resigned, effective December 31^st, to pursue other interests.

Trustee Mills stated that he had been contacted by Deby Merriam who was asking for consideration from the Board regarding her water bill. Due to a leak at her residence, the bill was approximately four times higher than normal.  Mayor Loshbaugh commented that Ms. Merriam’s residence is not annexed to the Town; therefore her water rates are double.  Administrator Day stated that the Town’s Ordinance is very clear and due to the loan on the water system, any water that passes through the meter must be paid for by the owner, and that the Town is willing to work with Ms. Merriam by accepting payments.

Trustee Mills also informed the Board that Becky and Gary Dunham, tenants of the triangle property at Ute Park, inquired if the Town would be interested in assisting with a nice looking fence at this site.  The Board concurred to turn the matter over to the Ute Park Committee.

 ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Loshbaugh adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m.

                                                                                     §Steve Loshbaugh, Mayor

Attest:

§Lisa Cook, Town Clerk