REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 8, 2022
MINUTES
The First Regular Meeting of the Dinosaur Town Council was brought to order at 6:00 p.m. Those present were Mayor Richard A. Blakley, Trustees Darcie Rocque, Devonna Wilczek, David Heinrich, Charles Winkler, Robert Essex, LeRoy Trujillo.
Trustee Essex made a motion, seconded by Trustee Winker to accept the accounts payable as presented. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0 Motion carried.
Trustee Essex made a motion, seconded by Trustee Rocque to accept the minutes from February 8 and 22 as presented. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0 Motion carried.
Mr. Steve LaBonde went over the manhole project. He said that they started on School Street, and went to Ceratosaurus. He said that they got a lot done in a week and a half. He said that they issued the letter of completion on February 24th. He said that Taylor’s Excavating was paid $59,687.36 and the Town is holding $3141.52 he said that the amount due to date is $62,828.80. And that original contract was for $57,500, and the overage was $5,128. The reason for that overage was that the patches were bigger than they thought. He said that they would like to do the close out the contract with Taylor’s Excavating.
Mr. LaBonde mention that the new valve for the wastewater plant is in and they are ready to go. He said that once well 2 is lower, and they can get it pumped out to get it done. He said that it might not be until mid-summer to get this done. He said that they got a couple of solar panels for the inlet flow head monitoring. He said that an additional panel was ordered, and installed.
He wanted to remind the Town again about the infrastructure funding. There is 11.7 billion to be spent nation wide over the next five years. He said that they are trying to funnel it down through the state revolving fund. He said that we just need to be on the eligibility list. He said that it was suppose to be out in February but it might not be until April. He said that they sent out an out reach survey that is due on Friday. He said that it is important that if gets filled out and sent in.
Mr. Brian Zimmer said that he owns the property at 200 Brachtosaurus. He said that they are remodeling the house and staying in the RV and garage. He said that the power and water is on. Trustee Essex asked if he has a building permit. He said that he has not yet. Mayor Blakley said that he needs to work with the State Electrical for the electricity.
Mayor Blakley said that they are asking for a variance to stay there and work on their house like Mr. Bird. Mr. Lujan said what are they going to do with all the others that come in and ask the same question, where is the council going to stand on that. Trustee Heinrich said that they will deal with the people on individual bases. It was asked how much time are they going to give the people. Mayor Blakley said that they gave the last one that came in six months and it would be reviewed every six months. He said that there is a campground. Mr. Laurance Elarton said that they need to remember that both of those that have came in are hooked to water and sewer. Trustee Wilczek asked so everyone that comes in are they going to say they can stay in their RV.
Mr. Dale Long said that is why he is here; he wants some explanation on Ordinance 96 that he had put in their packets.
Mr. Elarton said that these people are working on properties that has been eye sores to the community. He said that they should be delt with on a case-by-case bases. He said that they own the property they are not swatters.
Mr. Long said that he is asking where it ends. Mr. Elarton said that it is a variance. Mr. Elarton said that if there is progress. If they are getting water and electricity in. Mr. Zimmer asked what is the objection for him to stay in his camper, while working on his home. He said that there are a lot of people living in campers here. Mr. Lujan said that it opens up a can of worms, because it has been abused for so long.
Mrs. Nichole Becker said that it cost to live in the camp park. She said that is money they can use on flooring and windows. She said that she knows that it is Mr. Long business, but it is kind of a conflict of interest for him to be here to have people kicked out by the council to put money in his pocket. Mr. Long said that is not what he asked, he wants to know where it ends. He said that there are no guide lines on this, it is up in the air.
Mr. Elarton said that the guidance comes from the Council it is their approval they done the variance on Mr. Bird. They told him that they wanted to see substantial progress. And they will look into it in six months, and see how it is going. He said that it is hard to address this with the others when no one has a copy of the rules and regulations. He said that it will sone be public knowledge. And they are working on the code codification now. Mr. Long asked if someone buys property in town can they live there if they are going to build a house. Mr. Elarton said that is an issue that the council will have to figure out. Mr. Zimmer said that he is asking for a variance. Mr. Elarton said that they are not against the variance, but they are worried about the swatters that may come in and want to live in trailers, and we do not want that. He said that some of them are grandfathered in because they are zoned a trailer court. Mr. Lujan said that that they need to decide what to do with those living in the trailers, he said that they need to pay for their utilities or they need to be gone. Mr. Elarton said that once they have the code codification, they can start enforcing it. Trustee Essex made a motion, seconded by Trustee Trujillo to give Mr. Brian Zimmer a variance for six months to remodel his house. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Trustee Essex said that he thinks we should let unlimited businesses in town for the marijuana. Trustee Heinrich asked where is all the money going to come from. Trustee Essex said that he thinks if someone wants to put something in, they are the ones that are chancing it. He said that it would bring in taxable property. He said that there are people that want to put in for it and they are shot down if they don’t get the lottery and they are out half of there money. Mr. Lujan said that there are three pot shops to many, he said that there are people that have built their foundations here and want to live here. Mayor Blakley said that it stands as it is.
Mayor Blakley said Mr. Dale Long is next. Mr. Long said he is done.
Mayor Blakley asked Mr. Xavier Cross to explain to the council his concerns. Mr. Cross said that he is being billed for 16,000 gallons of water a month and asked if he could pay for only the gallons that he is using. Mayor Blakley said that he is being charged for three residential meters right now, on one meter. He usually does not go over 3-4 thousand gallons a month. Mayor Blakley said that he is asking for one commercial rate and usage. Mayor Blakley said that they will table this and do some research on it and see what they can do.
Mayor Blakley said that they are having a Public Hearing for the Code Codification. An Ordinance adopting by reference and enacting a municipal code for the town of Dinosaur, Colorado; providing for the repeal of certain ordinances not included therein; providing for the adoption of secondary codes by reference; providing a penalty for the violation thereof; providing for the manner of amending such code; and providing when such code and this ordinance shall become effective. Be it ordained by the Board of Trustees of the Town of Dinosaur, Colorado. Mayor Blakley asked if there are any comments. He said that it will all be posted on the webpage. Trustee Lujan asked if this is what they have been working on are updating the ordinances. Mr. Elarton said that they are getting them all legal and up to date. And open to the public, and to allow the public to see what they are and to get to them easier.
Public Hearing closed at 7:00 p.m.
Trustee Essex made a motion, seconded by Trustee Winkler to accept the code codification Ordinance. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Mayor Blakley said that they are looking into purchasing a lot between Town Hall and the Fire Department. He said that the former administration had tried to purchase it before. Mayor Blakey said that it is for $4000. Mr. Elarton said that it would give us more room to put up a shop or more room to drive in. Mrs. Julie Elarton said that it was $4000 last time they had talked about it.
Trustee Heinrich made a motion, seconded by Trustee Trujillo to purchase the lot. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Mayor Blakley said that he was wanting to put in for a grant with AGNC for flowers. He said that it would be a 50% match. Mrs. Elarton said that Vernal has some pots that they are willing to sell. She said that she does not know what they will costs, but she will find out the price if they want them to. Mr. Jim Evans said that the pots are $60 for the large, $45 medium and $30 for the small. Mrs. Elarton said that the Fire Department can water them it they need to. Trustee Trujillo made a motion, seconded by Trustee Heinrich to put in for the grant for flowers and pots. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Mr. Lujan said that he has been to towns where they put all of the businesses on a sign as they are coming into town. Trustee Heinrich said that the town sign coming into town is terrible. Mr. Elarton said that the people that made our signs have gone out of business. The new sign place in Craig has given a new look and freshen them up some. He said that the signs are 4’x8’ sheets.
Mr. Elarton said that they have an EIF Grant from DoLA for natural gas. He said that it is for $750,000 he said that they are working on a federal loan. He said that they need to put in for the grant. He said that Ms. Karla Distel has already got some of it done. He said that we just need the approval to hold that money. Trustee Heinrich made a motion, seconded by Trustee Trujillo to hold that money for the Natural Gas. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Mr. Elarton said that the Fire Department has a new council. They are Wendy Berry, Julie Elarton, Ken Davis, Collen Zufelt and Nicole Becker. He mentioned that Nicole is on the Hospital EMS Board. He said that they are going to send a few people to the BLS classes. That will give them the basic life support and to take instructor classes. So that the ambulance can work here. He said that they will be changing some items. Mr. Ken Davis will be the personnel and training captain. He said that there are a few changes going on over there. Trustee Wilczek asked if they are going to have to change the fire department since they are doing EMS training. Mrs. Becker said that they would have to incorporate EMS under the fire department. Like you see department that have fire and rescue, or like Meeker fire and rescue. she said that she has talked to Troy about this he is fine with it but not great with EMS stuff. He is looking for someone to step up and do this, so we can have access to emergency medical care here, while waiting to see what the County is going to do. She said that they have an ambulance here but it needs to be stocked. Trustee Essex asked if they have considered raising the mill levies to increase the revenue, he said that when he was the treasurer the barely had enough money to make it. Mrs. Becker said that they do not want to raise any taxes if they don’t have to. She said that it is going to be a lot of volunteer hours. She said that they are looking to see if Craig and Junction can donate some supplies.
She said that they are wanting some of them to get the training and then go to the instructor training so that they will be able to train the others.
Mr. Long said that he seen that Moffat County had been donated $1500 in COVID test that they were giving out for free at the libraries. He asked if any of those tests were sent down to our library. He said that the town put money into the libraries so that we could keep ours, but we have not seen anything come from that. Mayor Blakley asked Ms. Melody Villard if she knew anything about this. She said that she could not answer it tonight but she can find out and get them some information. She mentioned there were a few other places that they can be picked up in Craig, and thought the library could share with us. Mr. Evans said that you can also get them from the federal government and they come through the post office. Ms. Melody Villard said that Dinosaur should be on the list so when things are being handed out Dinosaur would be part of that. Mayor Blakley said that they were suppose to extend the hours, but they have not seen that.
Mrs. Melody Villard said that they are working on the coal transition stuff Tri Sate has entered into part of their PUC where they have to provide some facilitation for creating some priority on what taking the coal out of the area will do. She said that she will report more on this later that they just had their first meeting on this. She mentioned that 318 will be getting some paving, if they don’t the funding away from that.
Trustee Heinrich made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 p.m. all were in favor.
TOWN OF DINOSAUR
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Richard A. Blakley, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tamara Long, Town Clerk