HomeMy WebLinkAbout20091630.tiffRECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
MINUTES
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
JULY 15, 2009
The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, met in regular session in full conformity
with the laws of the State of Colorado at the regular place of meeting in the Weld County Centennial
Center, Greeley, Colorado, July 15, 2009, at the hour of 9:00 a.m.
ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by the Chair and on roll call the following members were
present, constituting a quorum of the members thereof:
Commissioner William F. Garcia, Chair
Commissioner Douglas Rademacher, Pro-Tem
Commissioner Sean P. Conway
Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer
Commissioner David E. Long
Also present:
County Attorney, Bruce T. Barker
Acting Clerk to the Board, Elizabeth Strong
Director of Finance and Administration, Donald D. Warden
MINUTES: Commissioner Rademacher moved to approve the minutes of the Board of County
Commissioners meeting of July 13, 2009, as printed. Commissioner Conway seconded the motion, and
it carried unanimously.
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA: There were no amendments to the agenda.
CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Conway moved to approve the Consent Agenda as printed.
Commissioner Kirkmeyer seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
PUBLIC INPUT: No public input was given.
COMMISSIONER COORDINATOR REPORTS: Commissioner Conway stated he gave a report regarding
the Long -Term Financial Stability Committee and last night the second Highway 85 Coalition meeting
occurred. He stated representatives for Senators Udall and Bennet attended the Highway 85 Coalition
meeting. In response to Commissioner Conway, Commissioner Kirkmeyer stated the representatives for
Senators Udall and Bennet indicated they felt encouraged by the meeting and they would present and
support some of the proposed projects. She stated the City of Evans, and the Towns of Gilcrest and
Platteville have passed Resolutions similar to Weld County's and the City of Fort Lupton anticipates
passing a Resolution on next Wednesday.
Commissioner Long stated he attended a tour of the Pawnee National Grassland yesterday and there were
hours of spirited discussion regarding the closure. He stated it was a bad situation in the area the closure
occurred and it needed remedied; however, he does not believe a closure was the appropriate remedy.
He further stated the Greeley Tribune indicated the Forest Service did everything possible to mitigate
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problems; however, he feels the Forest Service did nothing to mitigate the problems before closing the
area. Commissioner Long stated the only measure the Forest Service took was posting a 8 1/2 inch by
11 inch signs on steel posts and the signs have been rubbed off by cows. He stated regulations are only
useful if they are enforced and the Forest Service is not able to enforce its own regulations; however, the
Weld County Sheriff's Office has been patrolling the area more, which the Forest Service is thankful for,
and the Forest Service indicated it will post some larger, protected signs. He stated simply banning a
behavior did not put an end to the vandalism and problems related to shooting guns in the area.
Commissioner Long stated he spoke with the representatives of Senators Udall and Bennet and they
indicated they are against the closure also, and are interested in alternatives, such as identifying shooting
areas and safety measures.
Commissioner Rademacher indicated he was contacted by a representative of the Greeley Tribune
yesterday regarding the situation with the gas wells and contaminated water near the City of Fort Lupton,
and there was a press release this morning indicating there was no production gas identified in the water
and the natural gas found in the water is a natural occurrence, which is what he had previously relayed.
Commissioner Conway stated he also received a call from the press and he is disappointed the Oil and
Gas Conservation Commission failed to communicate with the Board regarding the issue. He stated he
and Commissioner Kirkmeyer met with the Commission in the Town of Hudson last March, and the Board
met with the head of Commission in late May, 2009. He stated there seems to be a lack of attentiveness
and communication on the part of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and although he is pleased
with the result of the investigation, concluding the gas is naturally occurring, he is disappointed the County
was not notified of the finding and he had hoped the communication would improve after the two meetings
he participated in with the Commission.
NEW BUSINESS:
CONSIDER CONTINUATION APPLICATION FOR COLORADO PREVENTION PARTNERS STRATEGIC
PREVENTION FRAMEWORK STATE INCENTIVE GRANT AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN: Judy
Griego, Director, Department of Human Services, stated the application is for an additional nine months
of grant funding, for a term commencing September 30, 2009, through June 30, 2010. Ms. Griego stated
the application was reviewed at a work session conducted on July 14, 2009. She stated the Department
of Human Services will act as the fiscal agent for the grant, North Range Behavioral Health will act as the
program administrator, and the Interagency Oversight Group will provide the oversight for the Project. She
stated the purpose of the Project is to reduce substance abuse in Weld County by following
evidence -based strategies using a multi -tiered approach. Ms. Griego stated the continued funding will be
an amount not to exceed $149,165.00, which will pay for a project coordinator who is employed by North
Range Behavioral Health, survey expenses, and related operating expenses. She stated the source of
the funding is the Colorado Department of Human Services, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division.
Commissioner Rademacher moved to approve said application and authorize the Chair to sign. Seconded
by Commissioner Kirkmeyer, the motion carried unanimously.
CONSIDER TWO ONE-TIME FUNDING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL AND
MIGRANT/SEASONAL HEAD START PROGRAMS AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN: Ms. Griego
stated the applications were reviewed at work sessions conducted on July 13, 2009, and July 14, 2009.
She stated the requested funding will be used to improve the quality and safety of older modular facilities
and outdoor play areas for the Regional and Migrant/Seasonal Head Start Programs. She stated
$125,419.20 is being requested for the Regional Head Start Program, and $74,388.52 is being requested
for the Migrant/Seasonal Head Start Program. Commissioner Conway stated he saw a news report last
night regarding the foam being used in playgrounds, which can heat up to 150 degrees on hot days, and
it has burned children in the Denver Metropolitan area. He stated he is aware the Department is following
federal regulations; however, newfacts are being discovered and the foam equipment may put the children
at more risk than the old equipment; therefore, he does not want staff to move forward with changes that
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may need to be corrected the next year. Chair Garcia stated Commissioner Conway made an excellent
point to consider as the equipment is being purchased. Ms. Griego stated the Department will work with
Central Purchasing and staff will include the new criteria in the process. Commissioner Conway stated
because the information is new, he does not want a delay in receiving the funding to cause staff to have
to tear out equipment made from foam in situations in which the purchase could have been avoided; and
he moved to approve said applications and authorize the Chair to sign. Seconded by Commissioner
Rademacher, the motion carried unanimously.
CONSIDER NON -FINANCIAL AGREEMENT FOR REFUGEE HEALTH SERVICES COORDINATOR -
LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF COLORADO: Commissioner Conway moved to continue said
agreement to July 20, 2009, in order to conduct a work session prior to considering the matter. Seconded
by Commissioner Rademacher, the motion carried unanimously.
CONSIDER INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ON CR 15 BETWEEN
CRS 2 AND 6: Janet Carter, Department of Public Works, stated there will be a special event held in
Adams County, called Heaven Fest, and staff has been working closely with the event's coordinators to
to reroute traffic from County Road 15 to County Road 13, in order to protect the gravel road and the
surrounding residences from dust. Ms. Carter stated the reduced speed limit on County Road 15 will
hopefully encourage more people to travel on County Road 13.
In response to Commissioner Conway, Ms. Carter stated the Weld County Sheriff's Office has been
involved with the conversations regarding the event, and the City of Thornton police will be onsite at the
event in order to direct traffic.
In response to Commissioner Rademacher, Ms. Carter stated County Road 15 is gravel from County
Road 8 to County Road 2, which is approximately two miles. Commissioner Rademacher suggested using
water for dust abatement on the gravel section of roadway. Ms. Carter stated it is a one day event;
therefore, it is not cost effective for the County to perform dust control measures. Commissioner
Kirkmeyer stated the event is being held at a church located on State Highway 7; therefore, the church
should be responsible for providing the necessary dust control. She stated the church posted directions
on its website for people to take County Road 15 this year and last, and last year there was a wall of dust
for approximately three hours as a result of the additional traffic on the road. Commissioner Kirkmeyer
stated the directions have been removed from the website; however, they were posted when she
previously checked the website. She stated there is approximately 1/2 mile of County Road 8, which is
also very dusty. Ms. Carter stated the section of roadway Commissioner Kirkmeyer is referring to is not
maintained by Weld County; it is maintained by the City of Dacono, and she would like to advise the City
to lower the speed limit temporarily on that portion of roadway for the event. Responding to Commissioner
Kirkmeyer, Ms. Carter stated the Department considered closing County Road 15 for the day; however,
if the road is closed, the County must provide a detour route and some people will drive around the barrier
signs and continue to use the road; therefore, staff hopes that by the church web site being changed to
direct people to drive down County Road 13, rather than County Road 15, and by lowering the speed limit
on County Road 15, the problem will be better resolved. In response to Commissioner Rademacher,
Commissioner Klrkmeyer stated the church should have to treat the road with water for dust abatement.
Ms. Carter stated she will contact the event coordinators and ask them to apply water to the road for dust
control. Chair Garcia stated he thinks Ms. Carter's idea to coordinate the speed limits with the City of
Dacono is a good one and encouraged her to pursue it. Commissioner Rademacher moved to approve
said installation of temporary traffic control devices. Seconded by Commissioner Kirkmeyer, the motion
carried unanimously.
CONSIDER CHANGE ORDER #1 FOR SOCIAL/HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING AND AUTHORIZE
CHAIR TO SIGN - ROCHE CONSTRUCTORS, INC.: Don Warden, Director, Department of Finance and
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Administration, stated the change order is to perform some remodeling of Building B, in conjunction with
the Department of Human Services offices being relocated. He stated the floor will be leveled and there
will be work done to the interior walls. He stated competitive bids were taken for this project; however, staff
determined the change order is more economical, and the change order is in the amount of $232,700.00.
Commissioner Kirkmeyer moved to approve Change Order #1 and authorize the Chair to sign.
Commissioner Long seconded the motion. In response to Commissioner Conway, Mr. Warden clarified
the change order has several purposes, which are: to address the change in the building's uses because
there have been some issues concerning security in the business office regarding the protection of food
stamps, cash, and confidentiality; to address the slight slope in the floor; and to provide new paint and
carpet. Mr. Warden stated the building has not been remodeled in more than15 years and it is a good
opportunity to update the building while the employees are not in it. There being no further discussion, the
motion carried unanimously.
CONSIDER ENTRY UPON VARIOUS LANDS BY WELD COUNTY VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
SPECIALIST: Tina Booton, Department of Public Works, stated according to the Colorado Weed
Management Act in the Weld County Code, staff must seek permission for right of entry from the Board
to enter upon various properties and perform weed control measures. In response to Commissioner
Rademacher, Ms. Booton stated a contractor, Mark Buckley, has been selected to perform the mowing
services this year, and the work is typically made available via the bid process each year; however, last
year Mr. Buckley's contract specified the contract could be renewed if the price was not increased more
than five percent and he offered to perform the services at the same price as last year. Further responding
to Commissioner Rademacher, Ms. Booton stated several of the property owners on the list have been on
it in previous years. In response to Mr. Warden, Ms. Booton stated the County charges $120.00 per acre
to mow,a $120.00 set-up fee, and a 20 percent administration fee. She stated she has instructed staff to
call the individuals on the list and advise them the County will be checking the properties on Monday and
bringing the contractor on Tuesday, in order to give them one last chance to remedy the problem on their
own. Commissioner Rademacher moved to approve said entry on various lands. Seconded by
Commissioner Conway, the motion carried unanimously. There was no public testimony. There being no
further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.
CONSIDER GRANT AGREEMENT FOR TREATMENT OF PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE ALONG SOUTH
PLATTE RIVER AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN: Ms. Booton stated the State added purple
loosestrife to the "A list" species, which means mandatory eradication. She stated purple loosestrife is
difficult to control because it grows along the river bottoms and it has taken over the wetlands in the States
of New Jersey and New York. She stated since purple loosestrife grows in the flood plain area, it is difficult
for the landowners to access it and the State's Weed Fund is intended to promote hands-on ground work;
therefore, the grant will allow the County to perform the service of removing the purple loosestrife for the
landowners. Ms. Booton stated Weld County has teamed up with Adams County, who has been working
on controlling purple loosestrife, and later Morgan County joined the effort. She stated the three counties
will share the equipment; however, each county will only perform work within its own boundaries.
Commissioner Rademacher stated it does not seem the $2,000.00 requested will go far. Ms. Booton
stated the amount is sufficient to buy the canoes, kayak, life jackets, and paddles; and Weld County uses
less than one gallon of the chemical each year to treat the purple loosestrife. Commissioner Conway
moved to approve said agreement and authorize the Chair to sign. Seconded by Commissioner Long, the
motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES: The resolutions were presented and signed as listed on the
Consent Agenda. No Ordinances were approved.
Let the minutes reflect that the above and foregoing actions were attested to and respectfully submitted
by the Acting Clerk to the Board.
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Page 4 BC0016
There being no further business, this meeting was adjourned at 9:40 a.m.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COU Ta OLORADO
ATTEST:
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY: Vail
De ' v Cle to the Boar
illiam F. Garcia, Chair
glas adem-c er, Pro-Tem
Se -n P. Conway
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cui
David E. Long
Minutes, July 15, 2009 2009-1630
Page 5 BC0016
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