OPINION

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 really 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 benefi ts 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 fi rm, 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 fi nal plat

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton City Council approved the fi nal plat and fi nal 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 fi rst 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 testifi ed, 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 fi xed, we have to fi x 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’ fi rm, Todd Hodges Design, has a two-year extension of his contract with the city. Hodges’ fi rst 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.

On Veterans Day, we salute the American veterans and activeduty military whose courage and dedication have protected our freedom and our way of life for generations. We recognize their service and their sacri ce, their sel essness and bravery, their hard word and their faith. Please join us in celebrating the men and women of our military, past and present, this Veterans Day. Proudly y your ag, thank a veteran and show your support for those who continue to serve today.

Honoring all who have served and who are serving.

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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 verifi cation, a duplicate license or a change in trade name costs $100.

Staff notes said the administrative fees are “necessary due to staff time in review of applications and enforcement actions.”

“They are adequate,” City Clerk Mari Pena told the board. “It’s under a resolution, so it’ll come back to you.”

The fee structure takes effect Thursday, Nov. 12.

If the winter snow is back, the city of Fort Lupton snowplows are ready to move snow, according to Public Works offi cials.

According to the city of Fort Lupton snow plow guidelines, within three business days, the city of Fort Lupton is responsible for sanding and removing snow along Denver Avenue and South Denver Avenue. Police Departments, Fire Departments, City Hall, and Re-8 school districts are the priority for ice controls and snow removal. When it’s a life-threatening emergency, during a snow event a request can be made to have the road cleared.

When its snowfall is under four inches, the city removes and sands busy traveled intersections and railroad crossings fi rst. For snowfall over six inches and after the fi rst and secondary streets have been plowed, crews will concentrate on clearing the remaining streets throughout the city with one pass for safe access.

The level of service of its secondary snow and ice maintenance is established by policy and is approved by the City Council. The Colorado Department of Transportation is responsible for sand and plowing the main highways through the city, State Highway 85 and a portion of State Highway 52.

Gravel Roads

The snow removal process for gravel or unpaved roads calls for one pass for safe access, however, ice controls such as salt are not applied on gravel roads. If it’s an emergency and the gravel road has ice buildup on hills or intersections that become dangerous, City motor graders will scrape the road. If it all fails then an abrasive material would be applied on a gravel road as a last resort and it also depends on crew and equipment availability. This condition is not a high priority over paved roads, according to offi cials.

Snow will not be removed from alleys, if it’s removed it will be the last priority or for emergencies. Private driveways snow removal may be pushed into the entrance of a driveway. The city is not responsible for removing snow pushed into an entrance of driveways. City residents cannot push snow back onto the roadway or shoulders.

Once crews clear two-lane travel on both paved and gravel roads then the shoulders and intersections are next to be cleared. If the winter conditions worsen with reduced visibility, snowdrifts, and an increase in snow accumulation the operations will be halted temporarily.

The crews work from 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. removing snow Monday through Friday. Once the crew clears four major snow routes then they are assigned routes. Outside normal operation hours depending on a storm-by-storm basis the crews may be authorized to work on weekends or holidays to remove snow.

The city takes caution to avoid damage to property or abandon vehicles when removing snow or ice from secondary roadways which is a priority. The city assumes no liability if damage occurred unless it’s operator negligence that was established.

Vehicles that are stuck on a traveled portion of a roadway will not be removed but the owner will be notifi ed if the vehicle needs to be removed. Or if equipment cannot get around a stuck vehicle it may be moved far enough so the snowplow can pass. The city assumes no liability unless it was negligence that was established by the equipment driver.

Stranded motorists will be offered a ride to a nearby place of shelter. Lastly, no parking on snow-covered public streets on either side with a vehicle extending into the roadway or when snow accumulation has covered street markings- it will be ticketed.

If a vehicle displays handicapped license plates or a placard it is allowed to remain parked without a violation of a snow emergency. City residents are required to remove any snow, ice, sleet, dirt obstruction within 24 hours that is adjoined to the lot, property, or land within the city. If any person violates the provision a summons or abatement is issued, according to offi cials.

In an event of an emergency due to loss of life, serious injury, illness which requires the physician’s immediate attention, or loss of property a request during or after a snowstorm requests can be made by a physician, police, sheriff’s offi ce, or fi re department for snow clearing. Emergency request from an individual is required to be verifi able and confi rmed to be honored.

For special requests contact the City Administrator offi ce at 303-8576694 during business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside these hours contact the City of Fort Lupton Police department at 911 or 303-857-4011. If emergency assistance is needed the Fire and Police Departments have a list of persons to call outside normal working hours.

COUNCIL

Good for you

Council also took time to hear from Fort Lupton Police Chief John Fryar, who took time to talk about one of his offi cers, Garrett Hackett. Hackett is a recent recipient of Mari Pena told the board. “It’s under the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers’ award as the top DUI enforcement offi cer in 2020 among rural law enforcement agencies. “We’ve had 104 DUI incidents this year, and 30 of those were from Offi cer Hackett,” Fryar said. “He also assisted on several of the other cases, and he’s a recognized drug enforcement expert.”

Opioid settlement

Council also approved a plan to direct state opioid settlement funds to a yet-to-be-formed regional Weld County committee over the next 18 years.

The state has access to $200 million. City Attorney Andy Ausmus told the council earlier this month it made more sense to take between $10,000 and $12,000 and apply it to the committee. The city would have a vote on the committee, and Ausmus said most other cities were taking this same approach.

Was your roof damaged this hail season?

If you want to file an insurance claim, the fall months are the best time to do so. This will allow you to get any repairs done before the winter season.

HAIL & STORM DAMAGE REPAIRS & REPLACEMENTS INSURANCE CLAIMS ROOF FINANCING OPTIONS