HomeMy WebLinkAbout20183461.tiff MINUTES
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
August 20, 2018
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County Home
Rule Charter at 6:30 p.m., Monday, August 20, 2018, at the Weld County Administration
Building, 1150 0 Street, Greeley, CO.
ROLL CALL:
f The meeting was called to order by President Gene Stille. Councilmen Charles Tucker,
Brett Abernathy, Michael Grillos and Jordan Jemiola were present, constituting a
quorum of members. Also present was Council Secretary Linda Kane.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA :
Ea Councilman Abernathy made a motion to approve the agenda, with two additions,
seconded by Councilman Grillos and carried.
Councilman Jemiola made a motion to add discussion regarding the proposed 2019 budget
under Old Business.
Councilman Abernathy made a motion to add clarification to a motion made last month
regarding procedures for a recall under Old Business.
APPROVAL OF DOCUMENTATION;
Approval of July 16, 2018, Minutes
la Councilman Tucker made a motion to approve the July minutes, seconded by Councilman
Abernathy and the motion carried.
Approval of 2nd Quarter Report to the People
Councilman Tucker made a motion to approve the 2nd quarter Report to the People,
seconded by Councilman Grillos, and the motion carried.
REVIEW PROGRAM:
Presentation of Public Works by Director Jay McDonald
a Public Works is devised of six operations divisions, an engineering department and
administration department. It has 2 deputy directors, 7 supervisors, 2 managers and several
foremen and lead workers. When fully staffed, it has 256 employees.
McDonald said Public Works maintains 740 miles of paved roads; 2,200 miles of gravel
roads and 448 bridges. At any time, they have dozens of projects ongoing.
County Road 49, the largest project in scope and cost in the 157-year history of Weld
County. County Road 47 is the final phase of the project. CR47 was designed by the
engineering team and is a five-lane highway that links 1-76 with 392. McDonald said it's
essentially complete.
Regarding the CR 53 bridge over the Platte River just north of Kersey, that bridge must
be closed whenever there is above average snowpack in the mountains due to high water
runoff. That bridge is currently under construction. After the flood of 2013, the bridge is being
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fixed and shouldn't have to be closed after its completion next year.
The bridge on CR87, north of Highway 34, across the Platte River, has caused problems
during high runoff years. This is the last flood-control project they will be doing. It's currently
under construction.
Several years ago, public works and commissioners met with residents in Grover and
promised to pave the road from the Wyoming state line to Highway 14, including CR390. If
weather allows, it will be complete before winter.
The last load-restricted bridge in Weld County. Thirty years ago, Weld County had more
than 200 load-restricted roads and bridges. Today, the county has one remaining load-restricted
bridge and it's planned to be fixed by next year so it's no longer restricted.
Public Works also provides more than 20 miles of maintenance overlay to paved roads
every year. It repairs 300-350 miles of maintenance gravel which involves more than 400,000
tons of gravel annually.
Councilman Grillos asked where county maintenance ends and state maintenance begin
on county roads especially in southern Weld County. Particularly, County Road 4 at the 76 over
pass. McDonald said that's a state right-of-way. The county maintains the surface of the road,
but it's generally a coordinated project with the state. McDonald said overpasses are maintained
in general by the state.
Councilman Jemiola asked about resurfacing costs? To pave one mile is about $1
million. McDonald wasn't sure of the cost of resurfacing. Councilman Jemiola said the oil and
gas industry has had a huge impact on county roads and the response from Public Works is to
be commended.
Councilman Tucker asked whether work would be done on CR74, east of 392.
McDonald said they've looked at that, where flooding is a problem, but he's not sure what can
be done.
Councilman Abernathy asked why dividers were placed at the intersection of CR47 and
CR66. McDonald said it's to restrict turning movement.
McDonald said the county commissioners have been generous throughout the years, but
they couldn't fix everything even if they had an endless budget.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Dave Kisker, of Johnstown, said the audio version of minutes is still not working. He said
an independent ethics commissioner, moved against Commissioner Julie Cozad's motion to settle
her complaints. It will continue into a full investigation.
He said he's disappointed with the inaction of the whistleblower program.
Gerald Kilpatrick, of LaSalle, was a designated filing agent for the We Care for Colorado
organization designed to set up the recall of Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer. He said a press
release stated they will not be submitting a petition for the recall. He said many people were afraid
to sign the petition in fear of retribution and some people were harassed.
Ellen DeLorenzo, of Johnstown, asked when the audio of minutes would be posted and
when the whistleblower program would be addressed.
Councilman Stille said employees have many resources and agreed the whistleblower
program could use some work.
Karen Grillos, of Hudson, said Councilman Abernathy did a good job in leading the
Council. She said her husband, Councilman Grillos, serves as an example of what this citizen
board can be and that he has mobilized others through his dedication.
Chris Robloff, of Erie, asked to share his experience as an employee in the coroner's
office. He said he served 10.5 years as a death investigator when the forensics department was
dissolved. He said the department is a toxic work environment and it had a huge impact on his
health. He said turnover has been 100 percent since he was terminated in 2013.
Councilman Stille said it might be a good idea to audit the coroner's department.
NEW BUSINESS:
Coordinator Reports/Councilman Reports
Councilman Stille received an email about a four way stop on CR44 and CR43. He forwarded
the issue to Jay McDonald, Director of Public Works, and it was resolved.
Bills
Councilman Abernathy made a motion to approve bills, it was seconded by Councilman Tucker
and carried.
The bills were paid as follows: phone bill for July $6.31
Discuss Replacement of Elected Official
Councilman Abernathy said it's important to move forward with recall procedures. The
proposed procedures are as follows:
Weld County Council Article XIII, County Council
Pursuant to Section 3-15 Vacancies
(1) A vacancy in the office of the County Commissioner shall be filled by appointment by
County Council.
Pursuant to Section 13-8
(3) A vacancy in the Board of County Commissioners shall be filled by appointment by
the Council. Said appointees shall be of the same political party as that of the previous officer, and the
appointment shall be effective for the remainder of the term.
Board of County Commissioners vacancy procedure 08/13/2018
1. Confirmation by the Weld County Clerk and Recorder of a valid recall petition shall be made
to the Weld County Council.
2. Notification as required by Colorado Revised Statues shall be made for applications for a
qualified replacement commissioner. Notification shall be made requesting applicant resumes to be
delivered to the Weld County Council office in a sealed envelope by a date specified. (Should
applications be requested prior to election day?)
3. Upon notification by the Weld County Clerk and Recorder to the Weld County Council that a
recal.l election has been successful and certified to the Colorado Secretary of State, two (2) appointed
Weld County Council members shall open and review all applicant resumes. Five resumes shall be
selected from the responding applicants. (How do we confirm that applicant has been of the same party
for a while and not recently changed due to the vacancy?)
4. The President of the Weld County Council shall call a special meeting within 3 business days of
the certification of the ballot to the Colorado Secretary of State. ( estimating around December 15th)
5. The Weld County Council shall receive and review each of the five resumes during that
meeting. A date for interviews of the chosen applicants shall be established at the special meeting.
Resumes of applicants not chosen will be returned to applicants at next meeting or destroyed per
County personnel document standards.
6. Invitations to each of the applicants shall be made by the Secretary of the Weld County
Council for an interview at a specific time on the chosen date. ( can this be a private interview?)
7. All Weld County Council members shall be in attendance for interviews.
8. One applicant shall be selected for the vacancy on the Board of County Commissioners
following completion of interviews. (Can this discussion be made in executive session?)
9. Notification of selection shall be made by the President by electronic communication to the
successful applicant after adjournment of the meeting, but not to exceed 24 hours in duration after
meeting.
10. Applicant shall be sworn in at the earliest available opportunity following notification.
Councilman Abernathy said revisions were still being made and it needs to be reviewed
by the County Attorney.
OLD BUSINESS:
Discussion of Proposed 2019 Budget
Councilman Jemiola said the Council needs its own attorney, independent from County
Attorney Bruce Barker.
Councilman Abernathy said the County Charter gives Council to the power to hire its own
attorney.
Councilman Jemiola said the budget should be amended to include an increase of
$30,100 in purchase services for a total of $60,000. And that personnel services should be
increased by $20,000 to $41,023 to hire a part-time attorney.
Councilman Jemiola made a motion to revise the proposed budget to $101,323, it was
seconded by Councilman Abernathy, and it passed after a roll-call vote showed Councilmen
Jemiola, Abernathy and Grillos in favor and Councilmen Stille and Tucker opposed.
ADJOURNMENT:
By acclamation, the meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m.
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Sept mber 17, 2018 Council ice-President, Char Tucker
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.1a1t Council Secretititktjl
Linda Kane
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