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WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
August 16, 2010
CD 8A2010
The Weld'Cbuhty ouftaiP4nii•t in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County
Home Rule Charter, Monday, August 16, 2010, 6:30 p.m. at the Weld County Centennial
Center, 915, 10h Street,:Greeley, CO.
ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by President Perry Buck. Vice President
Don Mueller, Councilwoman Ginny Buczek and Councilmen John Kivimaki and Charles
Tucker were present, constituting a quorum of the members. Also present was Bruce
Barker, Christopher Woodruff, Sean Conway, Paul Lind, John Norenberg, Chris
Eikenberg and Karla Ford, Council Secretary.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilman Mueller made a motion to approve the
August 16, 2010 agenda. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kivimaki and
carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilwoman Buczek made a motion to approve the July
19, 2010 minutes. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kivimaki and carried.
APPROVAL OF REPORT TO THE PEOPLE: Councilman Kivimaki made a motion to
approve the 2010 2nd Quarter Report to the People. The motion was seconded by
Councilman Tucker and carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Greeley resident John Norenberg addressed the council regarding
an idea to attract more people to our community, which is an excursion railroad into
Greeley. There are 300 excursion railroads in the United States, which only two of those
have failed in the last two years. There are five currently working in Southern Colorado.
He is currently attending/presenting this information to local town councils. Councilman
Kivimaki stated Erie has been working on an excursion railroad but the safety
regulations/requirements from the Department of Transportation were very in-depth.
Councilwoman Buck applauded Mr. Norenberg on all his positive comments regarding
Greeley and the county. Councilwoman Buczek informed Mr. Norenberg that this
request does not fall under the purview of the council but encouraged him to continue with
his research and meet with the commissioners to discuss the project.
Greeley resident Paul Lind attended the meeting to give his input on the salary for the
Weld County Commissioners. He noted he had read the editorial in The Greeley Tribune
regarding freezing salaries for all elected officials. He stated he is in agreement with the
article that the elected officials are very well paid and would suggest freezing their
salaries. Councilman Kivimaki gave his appreciation for Mr. Lind attending and giving his
input. Mr. Lind also informed the council about weeds at the park near his home. He had
contacted two city workers about taking care of the problem and was told the city could
not afford it. Councilwoman Buczek informed him that would fall under the City of
Greeley Council, not the Weld County Council.
Chris Eikenberg, Weld County resident, came to give input regarding the Weld County
Commissioner's salaries. She informed the council about current child support laws
and that she had attended previous commissioner's meeting and other community
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Weld County Council Minutes
August 16,2010
Page 2 of 4
representatives to discuss this issue and the need for change in the current laws. She
believes the current commissioners are doing a good job and have a very hard job, but
with all the economic issues, she requests that the council freeze the salaries of the
commissioners. She commended The Greeley Tribune article requesting the council to
freeze salaries.
Weld County Assessor Chris Woodruff addressed the Council on behalf of the Weld Clerk
and Recorder and the Weld County Sheriff. The three are running for re-election this
current year and they are all incumbents. He informed the council that by law, other
counties receive a salary survey study as suggested by the State Legislature. This study
assists the State Legislature in setting elected officials salaries in non-home rule charter
counties. The current year study concluded that a 5% increase statewide was suggested.
The State Legislature did not adopt that recommendation. The three do not agree with
the increase, they support the freeze and feel it is appropriate given the economic
circumstances and what is going on in the community. They all three understand the
Council sets the salaries and only use the State Legislature information as a tool when
setting salaries for Weld County officials. He stated that they believe they are well
compensated for the work that they do for the county. All three officials have had to work
hard to cut back on their budgets, realize that staff has had to cut expenses and try to
wisely use the taxpayer dollars to provide as many services even with cutbacks. The
council thanked Mr. Woodruff for attending and giving his input on behalf of the Weld
Sheriff and Weld Clerk and Recorder. Councilwoman Buczek wanted to be sure that for
the record, residents understand that the Assessor, Sheriff and Clerk and Recorder
salaries are set for four years. Nothing can be done to change the salaries even if the
economy improves. She really appreciates Mr. Woodruff and his input.
County Commissioner Sean Conway addressed the council and thanked the council for
their work. He stated he is representing himself as an individual. He is in no way
speaking for any other commissioner. He is in support of the salary freeze. With
unemployment in double digits, it warrants that leadership comes from the top. As a
county commissioner, he wants to lead by example. He added that the county is in
good shape, even with some challenges ahead. Weld County is one of few counties in
the United States that is debt free. In the last year with the help of department heads
and employees, the county reduced the budget by 10.7%, employees did not receive a
pay raise but the county did pick up the 9% employee benefit increase. He stated he
talked with many employees about receiving a 2% salary increase or rather the county
pay for the benefit increase and many were understanding and preferred the benefit
increase paid for.
Councilman Tucker stated is very proud of the commissioners running the county debt
free. Commissioner Conway said the county is very blessed to have outstanding
leadership and also commended Don Warden on a job well done in all his years of
service to the county in helping stay debt free. He also stated that the commissioners
have worked hard to lower the mill levy. The commissioners believe that not raising the
mill levy and no county sales tax can help attract new industry to the area. Councilman
Mueller commented that Don Warden has done a great job with the county.
Councilwoman Buczek stated she is happy to be part of a county with a low mill levy, no
sales tax and no county debt and this is a great county for a new businesses.
Commissioner Conway wanted to note that with the council resolution 180 that
encouraged commissioners to donate their 2010 pay raise to Weld County or charities,
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Weld County Council Minutes
August 16,2010
Page 3 of 4
every commissioner did donate their 2010 pay raise. Donations were made to United
Way, Weld County Food Bank, NCMC Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, local churches
and several others benefited from the donations. The council applauded the
commissioners on their donations.
NEW BUSINESS:
Salary Setting of Weld County Elected Officials
Bruce Barker, County Attorney, came to answer questions regarding the salary settings
of the elected officials. Councilman Kivimaki asked Mr. Barker about the issue of the
State Legislature not changing the salaries for the next four years and how that effects
the upcoming elections in non-home rule charter counties. Mr. Barker stated the
salaries would continue for the next four years at the rate which was in House Bill 06-
1295 and effective since January 2007. Councilman Kivimaki also inquired if it was
possible for the council to make a contingent salary motion that would make the elected
official's salary contingent upon Weld County tax revenues increasing to a certain
percent, State Legislature raising the salaries for other counties or on Weld County
employees receiving raises in addition to the steps. Mr. Barker suggested not making
that kind of motion because our Home Rule Charter and state statute states that the
salaries can't be changed once they are set. He stated the previous resolution passed
in February requesting the commissioners to donate their salary increase to local to
charities or back to Weld County is the proper way to address the salary increase for
the commissioners for 2011 and 2012.
After a short discussion, Councilman Kivimaki made a motion to prepare resolutions to
leave the salaries the same as current year for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for the Weld
County Sheriff ($111,100), Assessor ($87,300) and Clerk and Recorder ($87,300) and
leave the salaries of the commissioners at $87,300 for 2013 and 2014, which is no
increase. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Buczek and passed.
Office Hours
The office hours for the Weld County Council office will change to Tuesdays and
Fridays.
Coordinator Reports
Councilman Kivimaki attended the commissioner office hours in the south part of Weld
on August 13th
Payment of Bills
Councilman Mueller made a motion for the bills to be paid as listed below:
Mileage for Councilwoman Perry Buck $ 53.28
Mileage for Councilman Don Mueller $ 9.36
Mileage for Councilwoman Ginny Buczek $ 30.72
Mileage for Councilman John Kivimaki $ 43.20
Mileage for Councilman Charles Tucker $ 37.44
The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Buczek and passed.
Weld County Council Minutes
August 16,2010
Page 4 of 4
ADJOURNMENT: By acclamation the meetin was .djour d at 8:01 p.m.
September 20, 2010 PerrAuck, Council President
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Karla Ford, Council Secretary
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