4 Fort Lupton Press
November 10, 2021
Survey says: ‘Keep employees’ BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Council made two decisions during its Nov. 2 meeting that aim to keep employees on the city payroll. One was to increase the city’s insurance costs to employees and dependents by $86,000. The vote was unanimous. The city will cover 87 percent of an employee’s costs and 55 percent of their dependents. This year, the percentages were 85 and 50, respectively.
The city’s insurance carrier is Humana, which offered a package for 2022 that costs 9.5 percent more than this year. Councilman Chris Ceretto asked if there had been more complaints about city insurance coverage than in other years. Human Resource Director Laura Howe said most of what she heard was anecdotal “regardless of carrier.” “Quite frankly, health insurance is terrible,” she told council. “It’s tough as an employer to offer kind a re-
ally awful product sponsored by your employer to your employees.” She also said the options were limited. “We had a lot of carriers who declined to offer quotes,” she said. “The one that did, the benefits were worse. We didn’t have a lot of good options this year.” “Was that because of our large exposure to claims?” asked Mayor Zo Stieber. “The feedback we got from our broker, who handles this for us, was that we’ve really
had a tough couple of claims years,” Howe said. The other decision was to approve a $2,600 survey of employees who aren’t on the police department. The contracted firm, the Employers Council, surveyed the police force earlier. No such survey took place in the city last year. Howe expects to deliver results to council sometime in January. More money matters In other business, council approved a nearly $1.9 million contract with Burns
and McDonnell for a new lift station and pipeline project. The work is part of statemandated repairs to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The vote was 5-2. Councilman Tommy Holton and mayor pro tem Shannon Rhoda cast the dissenting votes. The money comes from the city’s utility fund. “Ouch,” Stieber said after Fort Lupton Public Works Director Roy Vestal announced the price tag. “It’s a painful amount, but it’s only the start.”
Council Oks Cottonwood Greens final plat BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Fort Lupton City Council approved the final plat and final planned development plan for the Cottonwood Greens subdivision on Nov. 2. Each vote was 6-1, and Mayor Pro Tem Shannon Rhoda cast the dissenting vote both times. The area is near Ninth Street and Weld County Road 31. Planner Alyssa Knutson told councilors the development would consist of 137 homes spread across 16 acres. The first three sections of the development are underway, following the council’s approval earlier this year.
The applicant’s representative, Kristen Turner, said access to the homes would come from the rear of the property and that porches would face the streetscape. Two trails and a community park are part of the design as well. “They are rear-loading homes,” Turner said. “It gives a nice feel to the community. Most will be built along a greenbelt.” No one from the public testified, and there was no council debate. Rhoda has objected to townhome developments before. One of her main issues is the lack of chances for citizens to own the land as well as the structure. She’s also on record in opposition to residential
metro districts which, Turner said, this would become. HVAC work Council approved a $286,000 contract with Innovative Mechanical Solutions for a new HVAC unit for the recreation center. “It’s getting to the point where we need to get it replaced,” Fort Lupton Parks and Recreation Director Monty Schuman told councilors. “If it’s broke and has to be fixed, we have to fix it,” Mayor Zo Stieber said. The delivery time is 20 weeks. Schuman said the unit comes with a standard one-year warranty.
New contract Planner Todd Hodges’ firm, Todd Hodges Design, has a two-year extension of his contract with the city. Hodges’ first contract with the city was in 2010. The new deal expires in 2023. The contract calls for compensation of $125 per hour for him and $80 per hour for associate planners. The business is responsible for all facets of planning for the city, including the administration of the city’s planning and building department. After some light-hearted comments about trading Hodges back to Weld County, the council approved the deal unanimously.
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City sets marijuana application fees BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The process to get Fort Lupton’s marijuana businesses up and running took another step forward on Nov. 2. Council approved a fee structure for the applicants who will contend for four permitted businesses in town. The charges range from $200 for a change of license to $1,500 for a change of business manager and a change of location to $3,000 for renewal of a license and an annual operating fee. Background investigations cost $200, and the cost for zoning verification, a duplicate license or a change in trade name costs $100. G Staff notes said the administrative fees are “necessary due to staff f time in review of applications and F enforcement actions.” o “They are adequate,” City Clerk Mari Pena told the board. “It’s undert a a resolution, so it’ll come back to o you.” f The fee structure takes effect Thursday, Nov. 12. t O a SEE COUNCIL, P5
