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,861 OFFICE OF WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
915 10TH STREET
P O BOX 758
U 1 GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
G A U N T Y EMAIL: countycouncil@co.weld.co.us
BIN PHONE: 970-356-4000 EXT. 4780
WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co.us
FAX: 970-352-9019
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
2012 — 2nd Quarter
REPORT TO THE PEOPLE
August 20, 2012
The Weld County Council is mandated in accordance with the Home Rule Charter of Weld
County, Colorado, to report to the people of Weld County on a quarterly basis, those matters
related to the council's review of Weld County government. This report summarizes the
activities of the Weld County Council during the first quarter of the calendar year 2012.
April 16, 2012 —Weld County Administration Building
Program Review
Elizabeth Garner, State of Colorado Demographer, distributed information regarding Colorado
population and economic trends with a focus on Weld County. The State Demography Office
does population estimates, population forecast for counties, and economic job estimates and
forecasts. The office also helps assist in finding and using population data.
Weld County was one of the top five counties for population growth from 2000 — 2010. Eight of
the 15 fastest growing municipalities in the state were in Weld County. The population
change under 18 years of age has also grown for Weld. Graphs were distributed showing the
population by different ages in Colorado and Weld County population change by ethnicity, and
ethnicity and age, economic and population forecasts.
Ms. Garner informed the council about the Colorado new jobs and net migration over time
periods, Colorado population change and Colorado population by region. Colorado is looking
at hitting 7.8 million people by 2040.
The Weld County population and job forecast is to grow from 254,000 people in 2010 growing
up to 570,000 in 2040. The drivers of this growth will be due to agricultural, processing,
marketing, oil and gas, national and regional services such as health care and construction,
retirees, local resident services related to population growth and commuters.
Ms. Garner discussed the aging baby boomers, which are people born between 1946-1964,
and are currently 47 to 65 years old. These types of reports can help Weld Officials plan for
the population forecasts. This will be an economic driver by this group of people aging into
retirement. This issue will be for the entire state, not just the county. Some of the issues that
will affect the aging issues consist of the numbers, economic drivers, civic engagements, labor •
force, housing, transportation, health services and public finances — revenues and costs.
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8 a7 aota 2012-2291
Weld County Council
2012 2""Quarter Report to the People
August 20,2012
Page 2 of 4
In summary, the population growth in Colorado will slow but continue growing faster than the
US. Weld County's forecast is the county will grow faster than most counties in the state 2.5 —
3.2% per year. The county is also becoming more diverse racially/ethnically— especially at the
young end. The aging of Baby Boomers is having a significant impact to the state and Weld
County and the fastest growth in the 65+ in this decade.
May 21, 2012 —Weld County Administration Building
Program Review
Weld County Commissioners Sean Conway, Barbara Kirkmeyer, Douglas Rademacher,
William Garcia and David Long attended the meeting to answer questions the council had
regarding the ambulance service transactions.
Commissioner Conway gave some history of the Weld County Paramedic Services and the
costs to operate this department. He stated that over the last three years, $11 million dollars in
collectables had to be written off. It became apparent the current model was unsustainable
and at the federal level, changes are coming down to force the county to affiliate with a
hospital by January 2014 to be reimbursed for Medicaid or Medicare payments.
Over the last year, the commissioners reached out to many medical health care entities to
discuss changing the current model. During this time the City of Greeley had put out an RFP
(request for proposal) to find a transport group for City of Greeley and Commissioner Conway
understood that the City of Greeley received no response to the RFP.
The Weld County Commissioners had two main goals going forward — to maintain a county
wide service and to maintain the paramedic team. In February, NCMC Inc. came to the county
with an interest in acquiring the Paramedic Services. This was not solicited by the county in
any way. Banner sent a formal proposal and it was announced in a presentation in April.
There were two hearings and the final approval was on April 23rd the transfer was made on
May 7th. All work sessions held with health care experts, PVH, NCMC, Inc. and Banner were
on the public schedule. Anyone could attend and they were not closed. These sessions are
posted on-line and on the Commissioner Bulletin Board at the Administration Building.
Residents can see what the commissioners are meeting about at any time.
Commissioner Long, who currently oversees the Department of Health — which the Paramedic
Services falls under, wanted to make the distinction between the stopping a service of a
department versus the transition of a department. With the transition of a department, which
was done with the Paramedic Services, the county was trying to recoup the costs, not make a
profit. Making a profit would be the stopping of a department and selling it off. The
commissioners wanted the services to continue with the area within Weld County and also
keep the employees intact with seniority, pay, vacation, retirement, benefits. He wanted to
make the distinction between the two. They reviewed the parameters carefully before making
the decision.
Barbara Kirkmeyer stated the commissioners followed a process within state statutes and
within the county code. The two major goals were accomplished and the process has been
seamless. The transition has not changed the care of residents.
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Weld County Council
2012 2nd Quarter Report to the People
August 20,2012
Page 3 of 4
Commissioner Conway noted that with Banner owning the Paramedic Services now, patients
still have a choice of what hospital they will be transported to. Unless it is a life threatening
situation, patient choice is protected by state statute.
The Colorado Revised Statues 30-11-107 Power of the board - allows the board of county
commissioners make such orders concerning the property to the county as it deems expedient
and also to organize, own, control direct, manage contract for, or furnish ambulance service.
The Home Rule Charter section 3-8 allows the board of county commissioners to purchase or
otherwise acquire, hold, own, sell, trade, transfer, divide, lease, encumber or reserve interest
in real and personal property, and received gifts and grants, in the name of the County. In
section 4-3 under the Hospital Division it states except as provided herein, the administration
of Weld County General Hospital shall remain as provided by law and the rules and regulations
of the Board of Trustees, and they shall be directly responsible to the Board of County
Commissioners.
The Weld County Code Section 5-4-160 contains a provision regarding disposal of surplus
property. This entire section needs to be read in whole.
The transfer was written to include the employment of 97 staff members and also that services
are provided throughout all of Weld County. This contract is for five years and the standards
must be met.
Commissioner Kirkmeyer addressed several of the questions and comments that residents
had brought up during public comment. She stated the board of commissioners thought about
this transfer long and hard and acted in the best interest of the residents in Weld County.
June 18, 2012 —Weld County Administration Building
Program Review
Weld County Assessor Christopher Woodruff distributed a handout to council members and
presented an overview of the Assessor functions. The office currently has 32 employees,
which is a decrease from 42 in the year prior. This year is not a reappraisal year.
Mr. Woodruff went over the methods of valuation and assessment rates for 2011-2012 as
follows:
Vacant Land (Cost, Market, Income 1/1/2009 — 06/30/2010) — 29%
Residential (Market 1/1/2009 — 06/30/2010) — 7.96%
Commercial (Cost, Market, Income 1/1/20099 — 06/30/2010) — 29%
Industrial (Cost, market, income 1/1/2009 — 06/30/2010) — 29%
Agricultural Land (Production Formula, 10-year Average [2001-2010]) — 29%
Agricultural Residences (Market 1/1/2009 — 06/30/2010 — 7.96% (projected)
Natural Resources (Production Formula, Prior Year Data) — 29%
Oil & Gas (Production Formula, Prior Year Data) — 87.5% Primary and 75% Secondary
State Assessed (Unitary Method, Property Tax Administrator) — 29%
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Weld County Council
2012 2n'Quarter Report to the People
August 20,2012
Page 4 of 4
Business Personal Property (Taxpayer Reported Cost— Dept) —29%
The value and revenue statistics included the Weld value trends from 2000-2012, Weld
assessed value for 2011, beneficiaries of the property tax (abstract of assessment) and the
forecasts for value for 2012.
The Weld County tax base for 2011 assessed value were as follows: State Assessed -
11.36%, Vacant— 1.5%, Residential — 20.48%, Commercial — 12.91%, Industrial — 6.34%,
Agricultural — 2.16%, Natural Resources — 0.24% and Oil and Gas —44.99%.
Mr. Woodruff distributed the most current Abstract of Assessment to the council and explained
what information is included in the brochure. All citizens can now find the Abstract of
Assessment for 2011 brochure on the Weld County Assessor website.
The property valuation issues for 2012 included oil and gas values, intervening year values,
reappraisals of all property in 2013, protest of valuations, Legislative Council Audit from 2011,
Senior and Disabled Property Tax Exemption and the legislation for 2012 —which included the
Integral Ag Residence and income information for commercial appeals. The Senior and
Disabled Property Tax Exemption were funded and will take effect on the January 2013 bills
for senior citizens who apply in the program.
Weld County Council meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
except in February 2012 when the meeting was held on the second Monday of the month.
Meetings in 2010 will be held at the Weld County Administration Building located at 1150 "O":
Street in Greeley, CO. For meeting locations or other information, please contact the County
Council office or visit the council's website at www.co.weld.co.us.
1.17 WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
President Char es Tucker (_he5)
Vi --'r nt uczek (yaa. )
oun ilw a erry Buck (fits)
:'. . Glma j.n Mueller (1/45)
C uncilw•man M- ge Klein , )
Date Signed: August 20, 2012
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