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MINUTES
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
May 19, 1998 �l ,
Tapes #101AB98, #102AB98, #103AB98 i 0' 1 '' -
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County
Home Rule Charter at the Severance Town Hall Tuesday, May 19, 1998, 7:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by President Judy Curtis. Vice
President Dan Oster, Councilman Ralph Campbell, Councilwoman Pam Malcom, and
Councilman Al Roberts were present, constituting a quorum of the members. Also
present: District Attorney Al Dominguez, Peggy Davis, Sharon Hopper, Ginny Shaw,
Shirley Smith, Kay Stehle, Nick Meier, and the Council secretary, Bev Thomas.
GUEST SPEAKER: Weld County District Attorney Al Dominguez explained that the
19th Judicial District has the same boundaries as Weld County. The District Attorney's
office is not a County office, but it is funded by Weld County with a current annual
budget of 1.7 million dollars.
Currently the Weld County DA's office is seeing approximately 18,000 to 20,000 new
criminal misdemeanor cases per year. The felony cases are averaging 1000 per year.
Before the end of 1998 seven murder cases are to go to trial and all of the perpetrators
are under twenty-one years of age. In 1989 the DA's office was handling 375 juvenile
cases per year and now there are 900 to 1200 juvenile cases per year. As a result of
federal funding, there are more state patrol and city police officers on the streets and
therefore more crime comes into the courts. There are forty-four employees at the
Weld County DA's office. The DA's office has a juvenile diversion program for first-
timers in the system. If juveniles successfully complete this program the case is not
filed against the juvenile.
A question and answer time followed Mr. Dominguez's presentation. He answered
questions about charging parents for crime committed by their children; schools, under
threat of lawsuits, sending young people to the judicial system; the grand jury system;
status of chain gangs and the American Disability Act in the jail system; Weld County's
bad check unit; the relationship between the DA and the Weld County Council; the
Colorado Supreme Court Grievance Committee; problems getting convictions in cases
of sexual assault of children and in cases of date rape; salaries of District Attorneys in
Colorado; DA's contact with victims; prison overcrowding problems; the jury system;
and intensive probation supervision.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilman Ralph Campbell made a motion to approve
the April 21, 1998 meeting minutes. Councilwoman Pam Malcom seconded the motion
and it was approved unanimously.
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Weld County Council Minutes
May 19, 1998-Page 2
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: There were no additions to the agenda.
APPOINTMENTS: The Council decided to meet at 5:00 p.m. before the June 16, 1998
Weld County Council meeting to discuss the Council's 1999 budget.
Councilman Al Roberts will try to attend the July 13, 1998 Elected Officials Meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE: The Council reviewed the correspondence. The Council asked
Bev Thomas to research the expenses noted in the Council's budget on line items 6225
and 6954.
Councilwoman Pam Malcom will get more information about the invitation to the Council
to participate in the Evans Day Parade June 13.
Department of Social Services minutes are being distributed as a document separate
from the Board of County Commissioners regular meeting minutes as of March 1998.
COORDINATOR REPORTS:
Centennial Center Hearing Room Sound System
Councilman Al Roberts reported that Commissioner Webster had updated Councilman
Roberts about the improvements to the Centennial Center Hearing Room sound
system. New microphones have been installed along with improvements to the
speakers and special equipment for hearing impaired persons. The Council decided to
send a letter to the Board of County Commissioners thanking the Board for the
improvements to the sound system. Weld County citizens in the audience also voiced
their appreciation for the improvements in the sound system.
Social Services Concerns
Vice President Dan Oster made a motion that the Council draft a letter to the State's
Attorney General asking for an opinion on the Weld County Council's jurisdiction to
review the Weld County Department of Social Services. Councilman Ralph Campbell
seconded the motion. Councilman Ralph Campbell called for the question. The motion
carried unanimously.
Councilman Ralph Campbell made a motion the Council draft a letter to the Weld
County District Attorney asking for an opinion on the Weld County Council's jurisdiction
to review the Weld County Department of Social Services. President Judy Curtis
seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
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Weld County Council Minutes
May 19, 1998-Page 3
Weld County Airport Question
President Judy Curtis said that she had heard about the possibility of Con Agra moving
from the Weld County Airport to Loveland Airport and that would impact the user fees
received at Weld County Airport. Councilman Ralph Campbell asked President Curtis
to check with Con Agra about the motivation for it potentially leaving the Weld County
Airport.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Research RE: Setting Weld County's Coroner's Salary
President Judy Curtis said that the Council would set a date for a work session to
discuss the Coroner's salary after the Council's budget work session on June 16.
NEW BUSINESS:
July 4, 1998 Stampede Parade
The Council decided not to participate in the July 4, 1998 Stampede Parade as all
Council members would not be available to participate that day.
Weld County Council Open House
Councilman Ralph Campbell made a motion that the Council do an informational open
house for potential candidates for the Weld County Council. The Council decided to
sponsor a Weld County Council Open House to offer information to County residents
about the Council and the opportunity to run for the Weld County Council. The
Saturday of the Greeley Arts Picnic was suggested as a possible date. President Judy
Curtis said that she would check about advertising the Council's open house in the Arts
Picnic program. The Council asked Bev Thomas to reserve the Weld County
Centennial Center hearing room from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. on the Saturday of the Arts
Picnic. Councilman Dan Oster seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
Payment of the Bills
Councilman Ralph Campbell made a motion to pay the following bills
Mileage for Councilman Ralph Campbell $ 32.40
Mileage & Meals for President Judy Curtis $73.40
Mileage for Councilman Dan Oster $31.32
Mileage for Councilman Al Roberts $28.08
Mileage for Councilwoman Pam Malcom $ 8.64
Metro West Publishing for Mtg Notice $ 4.88
Bev Thomas for Office Supplies $ 7.37.
Councilwoman Pam Malcom seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
Weld County Council Minutes
May 19, 1998-Page 4
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Salaries of Elected Officials
The idea of merit pay for the Board of County Commissioners was discussed.
Distribution of Weld County Lottery Funds
Ginny Shaw expressed her concern that lottery money was not being allocated to south
west Weld County to purchase parks and open space.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 p.m..
June 16, 1998
Date approved ` dy Cirtis, President
Beverly Thomas, Secretary
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