REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 12, 2021
Mayor Blakley brought the First Regular Meeting of the Dinosaur Town Council to order at 6:00 p.m.
Those present were Mayor Richard A. Blakley, Trustees Darcie Rocque, Devonna Wilczek, Charles Winkler, Robert Essex, LeRoy Trujillo, Marshal/Town Administrator Laurance Elarton and Town Clerk Tamara Long. Absent was Trustee David Heinrich.
Trustee Wilczek made a motion, seconded by Trustee Rocque to accept the accounts payable of $77,859.51 as presented. Ayes: 6. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Trustee Wilczek made a motion, seconded by Trustee Winkler to accept the minutes from September 14, 2021 as presented. Ayes: 6. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Mr. Steve LaBonde was here for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements. He said that he had talked about change orders on September 14. The funding agencies are wanting board approval for the change orders.
Mr. LaBonde went over Change Order No. Two (2). Placement of compacted fill material along the top of the south embankment for Lagoon Cell #2 and along the top of the southeast and southwest corners of the Lagoon Cell #1 embankment. Compacted fill material was excavated and hauled from the Town’s borrow area south of Lagoon Cell #2, and placed and compacted on a Time and Material basis. Trustee Winkler made a motion, seconded by Trustee to accept the change order No. Two (2) as presented. Ayes: 6. Nays: 0 Motion carried.
Change Order No. Three (3) Manhole invert channel was repaired to provide better flow characteristics through the damaged invert. Manhole ring and covers needed to be raised to provide access into the bypass sewer line to Lagoon Cell #2 after the finished road base along the top of the embankment had been placed. The road base material had covered the existing manhole ring and cover. Trustee Rocque made a motion, seconded by Trustee Essex to accept Change order No. Three (3) as presented. Ayes: 6. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Change Order No. Four (4) Rock rip-rap that had been removed from the north and south interior slopes of both Lagoon Cell #1 and Lagoon Cell #2 was stockpiled inside the treatment plant perimeter fence. The stockpiled rip-rap was removed and re-stockpiled outside the treatment plant fence on property owned by the Town north of Lagoon Cell #1. The rock rip-rap was removed on a Time & Material basis. Trustee Rocque made a motion, seconded by Trustee Wilczek to accept Change order No. Four (4) As presented. Ayes: 6. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Mr. LaBonde went over Change Order No. Five (5). To replace existing battery for Headworks Structure Solar Powered Electrical System with new “Full Diver” Deep Cycle 12-volt battery to replace existing battery that had reached its “useful service life” and could no longer “hold a charge” for extended periods of cloudy weather. New battery was installed in existing insulated weather-proof battery box on a Time & Material basis. Trustee Essex said that was a high price for a battery. Mr. LaBonde said that he would check on the price of the battery. Trustee Wilczek made a motion, seconded by Trustee Rocque to accept Change Order No. Five (5) as presented. Ayes: 5. Nays: 1 (Essex) Motion carried.
Mr. LaBonde said that they have a Payment Request No. Five (5) from Anson Excavating & Pipe Inc, for $27,788.83. Trustee Rocque made a motion, seconded by Trustee Wilczek to accept Payment Request No. Five (5) for Anson Excavating & Pipe Inc. for $27,788.83. Ayes: 6. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Mr. LaBonde said that in September the town purchased and installed a seconded Solar Bee aerator.
The cost for it was $29678.90. Mayor Blakley said that the one solar bee the spring was weak and not pushing stuff down. Mr. LaBonde said that an invoice was dated for September 30.
Mr. LaBonde said that from the last meeting Ms. Karla Distel said that there was $60,000 on the Community Block Grant, and $80,000 on the SRF Loan. He said at the last meeting they had talked about the three sections to cure the pipes in the trouble spots. He mentioned that when they started working on the lines, there were severe roots in them, so they will be back on Friday to finish up. He said that the cost to fix these lines will be $81,475 to $110,000. He mentioned that the manholes are pretty bad. Mr. Elarton said that they were here working on the lines for over twelve hours, he has okayed to pay another $2400 to get those lines done. Mr. LaBonde suggested in doing the manholes first then do the pipes. Trustee Essex asked how many manholes. Mayor Blakley said the four right now. Mr. Elarton said that they took pictures of 25-30 manholes and over half of those the steps are rusted out or gone. He said that if we could get a vac truck in, they could do yearly maintenance. He said that the manholes need to be done so that the mains can be fixed. Mr. LaBonde asked if they wanted him to get prices on the four manholes that they are working on. He mentioned that the Block Grant will end on December 31.
Mayor Blakley said that we have an application from Tu Impossible Mi Casa Tu Casa Restaurant Liquor License. Trustee Essex made a motion, seconded by Trustee Trujillo to approve the liquor license for Tu Impossible Mi Casa Tu Casa. Ayes: 6. Nays: 0. Motion carried.
Proposed Budget was put in the Councils box the next day, budget workshops can be set up at later dates.
Mr. Elarton said that there has been a settlement on the Opioids. He said that the State is getting around $600,000,000. He said that the City of Craig will be getting around 8% Dinosaur would get about .1057 of the money. He said that they are wanting 90% approval from the State and the majority is going to the Department of Health. He said that he would get the paperwork for the Council.
Mayor Blakley said that the Mayor from Trinidad asked how we felt about the State raising the Marijuana Tax to 20%. He said that it was going to hurt them. He said that New Mexico just okayed to sell marijuana. He was wondering if the town would support them if they did a resolution. He was going to talk to a few more towns. Mr. Tex Bird said that if the taxes go up the people we have coming here, may start going to Nevada. He said that when they come here, they are at least supporting the other businesses, here in town.
Trustee Trujillo asked when are they going to start on the street. Mr. Elarton said that he thought a couple weeks ago, but they are tied up on the hospital. He said that they could do a cold mix. Trustee Winkler said that has a shorter life span.
Trustee Winkler asked if the equipment is ready for winter. Mayor Blakley said that the valve cover gasket is not fixed on the dump truck. Trustee Winkler said that there is going to be an issue with the rocks that are close to the streets. It was mentioned that if they are too close to the road when the plow goes by, they may end up in the ditch.
Trustee Trujillo asked about the Natural Gas. Mayor Blakley said that they have a meeting with DOLA on the 19th and 1:00.
Trustee Essex made a motion to adjourn at 7:17 all were in favor.
TOWN OF DINOSAUR
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Richard A. Blakley, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tamara Long, Town Clerk