Friday, January 9, 2009

December Town Board Minutes

December 11, 2008

The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of La Jara was called to order by Mayor Austin Valdez at 7:05 pm. The roll was called. Present: Paula Medina, Patrick Montoya, Henry Schimpf, Larry Zaragoza and Mayor Austin Valdez. Absent: Earl Haslett. Also present: Maintenance Supervisor Keith Martinez, Chief of Police Richard Pena, Town Clerk Priscilla Schimpf, Building Inspector Joseph Trottner, Town Attorney Ray Valdez and Town Manager Bill Yohey. Guests: Jill Lucero, Lorrie Crawford, Frank Martinez, Louis Gallegos Jr., Ruby Nissley, Lois Weldon, Jack Hoogendoorn, Tiffanie Polkowske, Larry Sisneros and Connie & Norman Richardson. Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Guests: Jill Lucero – School/Town Project. She introduced herself and briefly introduced the project she is working on. She also presented a power point presentation of the project. The project will be to produce a new park and walking path at the school so that there will be a safer environment for the kids. She mentioned a few things that are going to be done: 1) Fence around the school grounds, 2) Pave parking area & provide pickup area for children, 3) Install new playground equipment, 4) Install new playground surfaces, and 5) Install a walking path. Estimate of the project is at $500,000. She was here to ask for the Town’s support. For the Goco grant she is requesting a $5,000 donation, use of the Town Maintenance Workers, and a letter of support. Bill will be the coordinator to work with the school as far as setting up an agreement between them and the Town. Ms. Lucero left at 7:35 pm.

Lorrie Crawford – Retired Senior Volunteer Program. She passed around a brochure of the program. She described the program and explained that it is through the Mental Health. The program is to encourage seniors to volunteer their time to their communities. The funding is sponsored by the Senior Corps. The volunteer gets a stipend for mileage. They also provide limited liability insurance for the volunteer (extra medical coverage). The program also gives seniors the opportunity to get out and meet with others. Ms. Crawford left at 7:40 pm.

Frank Martinez – Boys and s Club. He was here to inform the Town that they are closing down their services here in La Jara. He asked for the Board’s input on the situation. He explained that they have been struggling down here for awhile. They were serving over 200 kids here in La Jara. Mr. Martinez left at 7:45 pm.

Louis Gallegos Jr. – Water Tap. He was here to ask the Board’s permission to get town water on his property on 164 County Road W.5. The Board discussed. It was decided to go ahead and do but to wait until the spring time. A motion to the above was made by Patrick and a second by Paula. Motion Carried. Mr. Gallegos left at 7:50 pm.

Reports:

Town Manager: Bill stated that Kathy Worthington from Xcel Energy is going to work on the problem of the power outages that La Jara experiences. At the commissioners meeting the PILT money was discussed and it has increased for 2009 but they are giving it to the school districts. Bill also mentioned that he got a hold of Todd Anderson from CIA Leavitt to start the updating of the policy & procedures. It will begin in January 2009. Bill will meet with Deb Downs Friday, December 12th. The report was accepted upon a motion by Patrick and a second by Larry. Motion Carried.

Police: Richard stated that the State updated their fine schedule in the Traffic Code. He reviewed the new fine schedule with the Board and asked if they would like to adopt the new state fines for the town. It was suggested for Richard to make a table to show the comparison so that each person can vote on each fine increase. He will present it at the next meeting. Richard presented a bid in the amount of $1,550.00 for making a partition at his office – the bid did not include any electrical. He mentioned to the board that we prepaid for another SUV from Jefferson County and we are now guaranteed to receive one. He also already ordered the lights for it. Richard informed the board that Dan hit a bull on Hwy 15 and destroyed his pickup. He asked for the board’s permission to let Dan use the SUV until he purchases a new vehicle. The board discussed the issue. The Board decided against it. The police report was accepted upon a motion by Paula and a second by Larry. Motion Carried.

Maintenance: Keith reported that there were four dumpsters with the roll-off. He mentioned that he purchased a muffler for the new snow plow. He apologized for coming out so late the other morning with the snow. The problem of the tree branches sticking out and hitting the snow plow windshield when plowing came up. It was said to trim the ones that are dangerous. Keith stated that new concrete for the handicapped parking at the Video store would be best to do in the spring instead of now in the winter. Henry suggested sending out a letter to merchants regarding shoveling the snow out to the street instead of the edge of the curbs. It gets really icy when the snow melts. Keith let the board know he is taking vacation December 22nd through December 31st; he will be back the 1st of January 2009. The maintenance report was accepted upon a motion by Larry and a second by Patrick. Motion Carried.

Trustees:
Paula – Had nothing to report.
Patrick – Asked Ray if the confirming letter went out to Rios. Ray stated that he did mail certified & return receipt. He explained what was in the letter. It was suggested to get Connie Edgar involved because it is a safety issue, Bill will do.
Henry – Had nothing to report.
Larry – Had nothing to report.
Austin – Had nothing to report.

Other Business:

Resolution 2008-3: Board reviewed the resolution to adopt the 2009 Budget.A resolution summarizing expenditures and revenues for each fund, and adopting a budget for the Town of La Jara, Colorado, for the calendar year beginning on the 1st day of January 2009 and ending on the last day of December 2009.
A motion to pass Resolution 2008-3 was made by Paula and seconded by Larry.A roll call vote: Paula, yes; Patrick, yes; Henry, yes; Larry, yes and Austin, yes. Motion Carried.

Resolution 2008-4: Board reviewed the resolution to establish the mill levy for 2009.A resolution levying general property taxes for the year 2009, to help defray the costs of government for the Town of La Jara, Colorado for the 2009 Budget year.
A motion to pass Resolution 2008-4 was made by Patrick and seconded by Paula. A roll call vote: Paula, yes; Patrick, yes; Henry, yes; Larry, yes and Austin, yes. Motion Carried.

Resolution 2008-5: Board reviewed the resolution to appropriate the money from the funds for the Budget. A resolution appropriating sums of money to the various funds and spending agencies, for the Town of La Jara, Colorado for the 2009 Budget year. A motion to pass Resolution 2008-5 was made by Henry and seconded by Larry.A roll call vote: Paula, yes; Patrick, yes; Henry, yes; Larry, yes and Austin, yes. Motion Carried.

Appointment of a new Board of Trustee – Applications were turned in by James Alaire, Tiffanie Polkowske, Maryann Gallegos and Annette Chavez. Board reviewed all the applications and had discussion. A motion to appoint Tiffanie Polkowske as the new Board of Trustee was made by Patrick and a second by Paula. A roll call vote was taken: Paula, yes; Patrick, yes; Henry, yes; Larry, yes and Austin, yes. Motion Carried. Bill will call Tiffanie to come into the office tomorrow December 12th to get sworn in by Ray.

Water Rate Discussion – Bill will contact Cassandra from Martinez and Associates to invite her to a work session in January to discuss numbers for the water rate increase in order to comply with the Colorado Water Resource and Development. He explained that we have to see what the depreciation has been on the water rates in order to figure out the new rates.

Bill also mentioned that Eric from CWRPD called and asked for us to close out the Sewer Project loan which there is only around $9,700 left in there. We will continue to pay on the loan until paid off. Board said to close out and put the full amount into the Sewer Project Account.

Austin mentioned that Anna Mondragon from Grapes & Grains Liquor on Main filled out a Report of Changes and brought into the clerk’s office today Thursday, December 11th. She wants to expand her inventory storage. The Board discussed it and decided that it would not be feasible to do what she wants to do. The application was denied. Priscilla will call her to notify her of the decision.

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