LOCAL

Neighbor bothered but city can charge fines for uncleared snow

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton resident Dan Frazer is disappointed that some of his neighbors are failing to do their part, keeping their sidewalks clear after a snow event.

“ ere are bad pennies in every neighborhood. When driving around in your vehicle and a vast majority of people, within 24 hours, have attempted to clear their sidewalks for the general public,” Frazer said. “But in most cases, there is an exception to the rule. I think it’s wrong.”

Frazer said a lot of people like him use the residential sidewalks to walk for medical reasons, for therapy or just to get outdoors for a walk.

“I just wanted to bring light to the situation, for people to understand what their obligations are and to do the right thing so that people like myself can do what we like to do safely,” Frazer said.

It’s more than just being neighborly, according to Fort Lupton: It’s the law.

According to the City of Fort Lupton code enforcement laws, Chapter 1 Article IV Section 1-72 and Chapter 1 Article IV Section 1-73, the homeowner or renter is responsible to clear the sidewalk of snow that is adjoined within 24 hours following a snowfall event of sleet and freezing rain. Dirt or debris accumulating or obstructing sidewalks or parcels of land should also be removed within 24 hours.

“ e rst o ense for not clearing your sidewalk is $30. If there is a second o ense, it’s up to the judge’s discretion,” said Heather Salinas, Fort Lupton Police Administrative Services Manager. e city administrator may extend removal time requirements on a case-by-case basis with valid hardship or other circumstances, she said.

Salinas said Fort Lupton has a large population of elderly or people with disability that could use the help to clear their sidewalks.

“We would like to nd a group of volunteers to help the elderly and disabled to clear the walks. We don’t want to give out citations, and we don’t always know someone’s situation. We are here to help and educate,” Salinas said.

Frazer said he’s not trying to get people in trouble and want them to do their part.

“A lot of people walk for many different reasons, and they should have the right not to have an unencumbered pathway based on our history and laws, “ Frazer said. e city is looking for a group that is interested in volunteering to shovel o snow for the elderly and disabled, or if you are someone that needs help, call Salinas at 720-4666156.

Fort Lupton council OKs increased liquor fee

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton City Council took care of a lot of house-cleaning items during its rst meeting of the year Jan. 3.

Among them was an ordinance that set a $50 fee for liquor stores, brew pubs, lodging, entertainment venues and other places that serve beer and wine. It’s the rst such increase in almost 12 years. City Clerk Mari Pena said she’d review the fee later this year.

Council also approved an expansion of a three-mile area boundary for purposes of city land use and infrastructure needs. e plan, which takes in areas within three miles of the city limits, identi es issues for consideration before annexations without proposing annexations. e area encompasses more than 166 square miles.

Sta notes said the plan increased by three-quarters of a square mile last year, thanks to the addition of the so-called Hagler Annexation. Council also approved a special-use permit public right of way dedication for Weld County Road 22, related to the Hagler property.

Council also OK’d a 19th interim agreement with the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and a payment to the district of almost $1.2 million from the water sales tax fund. e agreements are between 12 cities and three water districts to build and design a 40,00-acre-foot water system of two reservoirs, a distribution system and relocation north of U.S. Highway 287 in Fort Collins.

Sta notes said the city has been part of the NISP project since 2004. e city’s participation level is 2,050 acre feet, or about 5 percent. Including this year’s payment, the city’s contributions are more than $7 million. In 2017 and 2018, the city sold 950 shares of NISP for a sum of $678,000.

In addition, the council approved a 36-month deal at $2,300 per month with Comcast to improve the internet speeds for City Hall, the police department and the recreation center.

Council also approved Amaze Health as the employee bene t for full-time workers in the city, e ective Jan. 1. e city spent more than $4,600 for Amaze’s services during the last four months of 2022.

Council also appointed Al Mowrer to the city’s historic preservation board. His three-year term ends in January 2026. e vote on these matters were unanimous. e items were part of the agenda for matters that council previously discussed and, often, don’t require extra debate.

What does it mean when fewer Coloradans can a ord to buy a home?

Join Colorado Community Media’s newsroom as we explore the likely crisis in housing a ordability. Our four-week series appears Jan. 19 in your local paper and on www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

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BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After Weld County cuts in 2022, victims of violent crime in Fort Lupton and Lochbuie now have resources with the Brighton O ce for Victims Assistance.

An o cer called to the scene of a crime, accident, or a victim’s house can quickly request support from a victim’s advocate within 24 hours, seven days a week, according to a new release.

“We are excited to have BOVA. It will bene t our community and citizens in many ways,” said Tracey McCoy, Police Chief of Lochbuie Police Department.

McCoy said they used to have a victims advocate assistance unit with the Weld County Sheri ’s Department, but it had sta ng issues to cover a large area of Weld County.

“ ey decided they would not assist the communities through the Weld County Sheri ’s Department. ey were going to provide those services through its own sheri ’s department,” Chief McCoy said.

Since McCoy’s department is on the border with Brighton and already works with the Brighton police department on other things, he got into contact with Kim Messina, Victim Services Manager for the Brighton O ce for Victims Assistance, or BOVA.

“We worked out an intergovernmental agreement; BOVA is topnotch, one of the best victim units in the state,” Chief McCoy said.

BOVA o ers a program where police departments can use volunteer victim advocates specialists if it’s not in the department’s budget to hire a full-time advocate.

“We can’t budget for a full-time advocate, so we would rely on the BOVA volunteer to provide for Lochbuie, “ McCoy said.

In the late 1980s, the victim’s services developed as separate units with the Brighton Police Department and Commerce City Police Department. According to o cials, the cities of Brighton and Commerce City joined forces in 2014 to create a single victims’ service unit to expand its services. e police departments are now partnering with the City of Fort Lupton as well as Lochbuie to expand BOVA services in Weld County for victims. BOVA is sta ed with highly trained victims’ advocates to help victims of trauma. In addition, BOVA provides follow-up and referral services for victims and families to seek counseling.

Fort Lupton representatives could not be reached for comment.

BOVA will provide volunteer Victims’ Advocates Specialist that will be on-scene of the emergency with victims and witnesses experiencing violent crime or sudden death. According to o cials, the advocates provide quick crisis mediation for the victims and families while guiding them through the justice system, agency referral, emergency shelter, and other victim resources.

For more information about becoming a BOVA Volunteer Victim Advocate, visit www.brightonco. gov/348/Become-a-Volunteer.

“ is is a great opportunity for anyone looking for a way to give back to the community and provide an invaluable service to those in need,” Messina said.

Fort Lupton OKs utility permit for wastewater plant

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e city of Fort Lupton and the Colorado Department of Transportation agreed to a right-of-way permit for pipelines that will take wastewater from the existing facility to the Metro Northern Plant along U.S. Highway 85.

City council approved its part of the agreement during its rst meeting of the year Jan. 3. e city’s wastewater consultant, Burns & McDonnell, provided the required documents and has permission from CDOT to construct. e permit also includes a provision that the city will be responsible for relocating the line if future highway projects warrant.

Public works Director Roy Vestal said impacts to tra c should be minimal.

“Everything should be o to the side of the road,” Vestal told council. “Maybe a shoulder will be closed at most.”

Project inspection falls to a third party. Sta notes said the risk of work taking place in the near future -- 20 to 40 years out – is low. ere is no nancial consideration.

New street sweeper

Council also approved a $348,000 purchase of a new street sweeper from Elgin Road Wizard. is year’s budget contained $350,000 for this purpose. e new sweeper has 20,000 in miles and about 4,000 of operating hours.

“We’ve been having issues with it (the old sweeper) the past three months,” Vestal told council. “ is one is the most similar to the equipment we have, only it’s more modern.”

Council’s vote was unanimous.

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