REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 22, 2022
MINUTES
Mayor Blakley brought the Second Regular Meeting of the Dinosaur Town Council to order at 6:00 p.m. Those present were Mayor Richard A. Blakley, Trustees Devonna Wilczek, Charles Winkler, Robert Essex.
Mayor Blakley said that they have a renewal for Christie’s Liquor License renewal. Trustee Essex made a motion, seconded by Trustee Wilczek to accept the renewal for Christie’s Liquor License. Ayes: 4. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Mayor Blakley said that the SRF, Colorado Resource and Power Development Authority contacted us and said that we were not up to par on the reserve fund for the sewer lagoon funds. He said that our sewer rates are running a little bit behind. He said by the end of 20 years the loans would be paid off and there would be a substantial amount money to run the department. He said that they require a reserve fund that did not get put in place, that was over looked. He said that we need to put in $4,910 that will give us three months of operation and maintenance of the system. He said that we could put some money in every once and a while to build it up.
Mr. Laurance Elarton said that we need to overcome the deficit on the balance sheet first. Mayor Blakley said that this is what raised the red flag. Mr. Elarton said that the enterprise fund for the sewer fund started with an $82,000 deficit. He said that is what keyed the state to send this notice. He said that we just need to add under $5000.
He said that the Town got NEU Funds, at total of $83,000, one check for $41,750 and $41,250 for this year. He said that this was put in the bank, but not accounted for. He said that we need to find out where that $82,000 is. He said that we need to be in compliance with the budget procedures. He said that right now everything rolls into the general fund. But the general fund money can only be sales tax, use tax and personal property tax. He said that you have general funds and enterprise funds.
He said that he has Mr. Jim Evans working on finance now. He said that we have a new Caselle program which had utility and accounts payable and now we have accounts receivable and payroll. So, on that end what you see is we get each fund separated we can find where the money goes. He said that he would guess that $82,000 was match money which we had a 20% match on the EIF fund and SRF Funds. He said they we are sure that it is in there. He said that the auditor will check for revenues and expenditures. He said that they do not go line item by line item. He said that with Caselle we have accounts receivable, accounts payable and at a push of a button they can have what they need. He said that they need to follow the guidelines for the accounting. He said that there will need to be accounting and training done.
Trustee Winkler asked are they going to just pay the $4900 off or spread it out. Mr. Elarton said that he has ninety days to tell them how we are going to fix the issue. He said that the NEU Grant is not in the budget. He said that they were going to use it for finding the valves. He said that it will have to be in the budget to be able to spend it. He said that we will have to do a budget amendment to get this fixed.
Mayor Blakey said that he is looking at new grants for sidewalks. He said that it would be for $150,000. He said that Stegosaurus will be a big one with curb and gutter. He said that when the big grants come open that is when they will try to do Stegosaurus.
Trustee Wilczek said that they need to start working on a 5-year plan. She said that we need to plan this year for next year. Mayor Blakley said before we did not have the money. He said that he got the flower grant in, and they did receive it.
Mrs. Julie Elarton said that the LMD has grants that need to be in by the end of the month.
Mayor Blakley said that they are meeting with Rangely over natural gas tomorrow at lunch time. Thursday they will meet with the EDA Rep out of Denver. Trustee Essex asked if they are moving in that direction with Rangely. Mayor Blakley said not yet.
Mr. Larry Hubert said that he has been on the Moffat County Tourism Board. He said that the monument is having a hard time staffing at the monument. He said that he is doing a workshop in Craig called the NW Colorado development. He said that he would like to get support trying to get the gas line in town.
Mrs. Nichole Becker said that they will be doing a two-part article with EMS on why the County is not funding, and what is happing. She said that it is a good piece.
Trustee Essex made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:30 pm. All were in favor.
TOWN OF DINOSAUR
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Richard A. Blakley, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tamara Long, Town Clerk