HomeMy WebLinkAbout20062698 Minutes
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL'
August 21, 2006 2325 SEP 19 PM 3: 4 I
Tapes 8A2006 & 862006
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The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County
Home Rule Charter, Tuesday, August 21, 2006, 6:30 p.m., at the Southwest Weld County
Complex, located at 4209 WCR 24 '', Longmont, CO.
ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by President Gene Stille. Councilwoman
Ginny Buczek and Councilman Dwaine Kurtz were present constituting a quorum of the
members. Vice President Tom Pettit arrived at 6:40 p.m. Councilman Chip Marks was
excused. Also present: Member of the Weld Planning Commission Chad Auer, Milliken
Police Chief Jim Burack, District Attorney Ken Buck, Sheriff John Cooke, Greeley Police
Chief Jerry Garner, Former Weld County Sheriff Ed Jordan, Julie Jordan, Brad Leach of
Intrado Communications, Johnstown Police Chief Reggie Mayes, Firestone Police Chief
David Montgomery, Cara O'Brien of MetroWest Newspapers, Sadie Rademacher, and
Weld County Sheriffs Office Personnel: Public Safety Bureau Chief Kim Fliethman, IAD
Commander Bruce Martin, Patrol Commander Steve Reams, and Bev Thomas, council
secretary.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/APPROVAL: Councilman Dwaine Kurtz made a motion to
approve the agenda as written. The motion was seconded and carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilman Dwaine Kurtz made a motion to approve the
July 17, 2006 council minutes. The motion was seconded and carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Consider Alignment of WC Council Petitions' Filing Dates with State of CO Dates
Councilman Dwaine Kurtz made a motion to table consideration of the alignment of
Weld County Council petitions' filing dates with Colorado's filing dates. The motion was
seconded and carried.
Public Comment RE: Salaries for Weld County Elected Officials
President Gene Stille opened the meeting for comments from the audience regarding
setting salaries of Weld County elected officials. The following persons spoke in favor
of raising the salary of the Weld County Sheriff. Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner,
Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, Brad Leach of Intrado Communications, retired
Weld County Sheriff Ed Jordan, Milliken Police Chief Jim Burack, Johnstown Police
Chief Reggie Mayes, Firestone Police Chief David Montgomery, and Weld County
Planning Commission member Chad Auer.
Reasons given by members of the audience for increasing the Weld County Sheriffs
salary included: Sheriff Cooke is doing a fantastic job. There is great cooperation
between the Sheriffs Office and other law enforcement agencies. The quality of the
Sheriffs work is exceptional. Sheriff Cooke was the first in the state to put the sex
offender's list on the web. He is extremely innovative particularly with housing 600
2006-2698
Weld County Council Minutes
August 21,2006
Page 2 of 3
inmates in 405 jail beds. The quality of information the Sheriff Department brings to the
District Attorney's Office is very high. The Sheriff has focused on lowering traffic
fatalities and they have decreased dramatically. The Weld County Sheriffs salary
should be consistent with or be more than police chiefs in Weld County, and currently
the sheriffs salary is lower. The Sheriff has mentored area police chiefs and has
always been there for them. The Weld County Sheriff has much more responsibility
than the area police chiefs as he manages the county jail and many more personnel.
The Weld County Jail is the county's largest liability and the Sheriff is responsible for it.
The Weld County Sheriff is also responsible for the civil process, and his salary should
be paid the same as other Category I counties. Speakers emphasized Weld County is
fortunate to have Sheriff Cooke stating he is very engaged with his deputies and with
the police chiefs in the county. The Sheriffs salary sends a message, and sets an
example, and a competitive salary is needed.
District Attorney Ken Buck also spoke to the good job the County Commissioners do,
and Chad Auer said he believed all of Weld County's elected officials should be properly
compensated.
Weld County Sheriff Cook said he did not come to ask for a raise, but to give the County
Council information. He noted the salaries set by the Colorado Legislature for Colorado
Category I Counties is considerably higher than those in Weld. He said the Weld
County Sheriff is also the county's Chief Fire Warden and is in charge of the Office of
Emergency Management. He said the Weld County Sheriff currently supervises 242
employees, and when the next jail wing opens, he will supervise 352 employees, as well
as 800 jail inmates. Besides providing law enforcement for unincorporated Weld
County, the Sheriffs Office provides law enforcement for many incorporated
municipalities in rural Weld. Weld County Sheriff Bureau Chiefs are two of several
Sheriff Department's employees that receive higher salaries than the Weld County
Sheriff.
Sheriffs Salary
After a ten minute recess the meeting was called to order. President Gene Stille asked
to relinquish the chair to Vice President Tom Pettit to make a motion. Councilwoman
Ginny Buczek made a motion President Gene Stille be allowed to relinquish the chair to
make a motion. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Councilmember Gene Stille made a motion the council prepare a resolution setting the
Weld County Sheriffs salary at $105,000 for the years 2007 and 2008 and $111,100 for
years 2009 and 2010. Vice President Tom Pettit seconded the motion, and it carried
unanimously.
Commissioners' Salaries
Councilman Dwaine Kurtz made a motion the council prepare a resolution setting the
Weld County Commissioners' salaries at $76,000 for the year 2009 and $80,000 for the
year 2010. Councilwoman Ginny Buczek seconded the motion and it carried
unanimously.
Weld County Council Minutes
August 21,2006
Page 3 of 3
Salaries of the Weld County Assessor and of the Clerk and Recorder
Councilwoman Ginny Buczek made a motion the council prepare a resolution setting
the salaries of the Weld County Assessor and of the Clerk and Recorder at $81,000 for
the year 2007 and 2008 and $87,300 for 2009 and 2010. Vice President Tom Pettit
seconded the motion. President Gene Stille, Vice President Tom Pettit, and
Councilwoman Ginny Buczek voted yes, and Councilman Dwaine Kurtz voted no.
NEW BUSINESS:
Appointments and Announcements
Councilmen Kurtz, Pettit, and Stille will attend the September 11 Elected Officials
meeting.
Correspondence
Council President Gene Stille will reply to the letters received from former council
members Stephanie Hayward & Douglas Rademacher.
Procedure to Pay Council Bills
Council secretary Bev Thomas was instructed to pay the council's bills upon receipt with
the county purchasing card and then note the bills paid on the council's meeting
agenda.
Coordinator Reports
Councilwoman Ginny Buczek will schedule a review program for the council's
September 18 meeting.
Payment of the Bills
Councilwoman Ginny Buczek made a motion to pay the bills as listed:
Mileage for Councilwoman Ginny Buczek $ 4.25
Mileage for Vice President Tom Pettit $35.28
Mileage for President Gene Stille $39.53
Ft. Lupton Press for RTTP as Legal Notice $50.25
Subscription to Johnstown Breeze $25.00
The motion was seconded and carried.
ADJOURNMENT: By acclamation the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
September 18, 2006
Date Approved Tom Pettit, Council Vice President
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Beverly Thomas, Council Secretary
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