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. MINUTES
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
March 16, 1977 J( '1
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The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity
with the Weld County Home Rule Charter at 401 N. 15th Avenue,
Greeley, Colorado, on Wednesday, March 16, 1977 at 1:30 P.M.
ROLL CALL: The meeting began with silent prayer. On roll call the following
Council members were presents
President Nancy Clark
Vice President Bob E. White
Councilman Floyd Oliver
Councilman John T. Martin
Councilman Robert Martin
Also present: Barton Buss; several members of the press; and
secretary Bonnie Hickman.
MINUTES: Bob White made a motion, seconded by Floyd Oliver, to accept the
minutes of March 2, 1977 as recorded. Motion carried unanimously.
REPORTS
CORRESPONDENCE: The Council reported their actual expenditures for 1977 through
February were $466.21 or 3.64 percent of their total budget.
Council members were reminded of the northern towns meeting. Several
council members will be attending.
Nancy Clark reported she will be attending the Weld County Press
Association meeting on March 19 to answer questions about the Council.
A resolution as to payment of funds to the Dunbars on behalf of a
foster child was received from the commissioners. Discussion was
tabled until the end of the meeting.
CENTRALIZATION OF ROAD & BRIDGE: Chief Accounting Officer, Barton Buss,
answered questions and discussed the financial changes taking place
as a result of the centralization of the road and bridge department.
Mr. Buss remarked that there is better recording of expenditures in
the county road shops which has resulted in a large savings of gasoline
and parts. A new IGA computerized system for recording use and repair
on all equipment (except the sheriff cars) is being developed.
Mr. Buss felt that early planning of next year's costs for road
paving and bridge building, etc. by use of traffic counts and
computerized programming could help the commissioners at budget time
to plan priorities.
770952
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County Council Minutes, Page 2
a March 16, 1977
When asked if more investigation needs to be done in the area of
past problems, Mr. Buss said that the new supervised reporting system
should not permit further misuse of parts or materials in the future.
Council recessed for five minutes.
SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL: Bob Martin reported he will check into the special
legal counsel expenditures and report at the next meeting.
COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS: Floyd Oliver reported received a call from Mike
Loustalet on behalf of the county elected officials in regard to
their salaries. The Council directed a letter be sent to him in-
viting him to discuss this matter with the Council on either
April 20 or May 4.
SEVERED MINERALS: Bob White noted that about four years ago the severed
minerals were to be placed on the tax roles. This has not yet been
done. Mr. White felt some action needs to be taken.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT VISIT: Council members Nancy Clark, John Martin and
Floyd Oliver met with Drew Scheltinga of the engineering department
on March 8, 1977. They reported Mr. Scheltinga gave a presentation
of the work currently being done. He expressed the opinion that more
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could be done by the county engineering department and less by private
enterprise.
John Martin and Floyd Oliver reported on the county road tour. They
viewed work being done on various county roads. Mr. Oliver felt
certain things need to be considered before building a highways
local use, dust and dirt from traffic and the absolute need of the
people. Council members were impressed with the work of Frank Smith
and Drew Scheltinga.
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Discussion followed on a possible performance audit of the road and
bridge department. John Martin felt the department was entitled to
more time to implement and prove their programs and suggested review-
ing this at a later date. Mr. White and Mr. Oliver also agreed
remarking that reorganization takes time. Nancy Clark suggested
composing a list of things that need to be investigated and then
developing guidelines. Bob White expressed concern over the gravel
on the Davis farm.
NEWSPAPER REPORT: Nancy Clark felt the Council needed to evaluate its public
image. A report was then read by the secretary of newspapers the
Council receives, those who are sent news releases and those who
print them. Only a few papers print the news releases. The Council
County Council Minute" Page 3
' March 16, 1977
was concerned that the public does not yet understand the role of
the Council in county government. Mrs. Clark will approach the
Weld County Press Association on this matter and discussion will
continue at the next meeting.
OFFICE CLOSED: The office will be closed Thursday, March 17, 1977.
COMMUNICATIONS: Nancy Clark reported on a news letter from the communications
department. She stated that the county PBX has three new telephone
lines to Ft. Lupton, Ft. Collins and Loveland to replace the WATTS
lines. The Council will plan a tour of this department.
OFFICE RELOCATING: Nancy Clark reported that United Way may need more time
to move out of the Court House thus delaying the Council's move to
late April.
DUNBAR CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The Council was concerned that the commissioners
had gone against the opinion of the Council and the ruling of the
state, that being that Mr. Dunbar was in a conflict of interest. The
Council felt that if the State of Colorado regards it as a conflict
of interest, then the same should apply to county government.
Council members agreed that the main issue is not the fact that Mr.
Dunbar is receiving county funds, but that the Council's decision
was ignored and another ruling obtained. Section 16.9 (3) of the
Charter considered the Council's judgement and decision as final and
a matter of public record.
Floyd Oliver made a motion to direct a letter to the commissioners
in regard to their resolution on the Dunbar case and point out that
there are misleading facts stated in the resolution and contrary to
the Council's investigation. Motion failed.
Council members agreed to meet with their attorney at a work session
the following week.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Bonnie Hickman APPROVED
Council Secretary
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