RESIDENT / OCCUPANT PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID LYONS, CO PERMIT No 2053 $.50
Redstone Review stands behind the United States Constitution VOLUME 26, NUMBER 4
LYONS, COLOR ADO
MAY 16 / JUNE 12, 2025
B •R •I •E •F •S LFPD’s Brief title ballot issue to raise the mill levy–passes LYONS text
LYONS – “Just a quick note regarding the election held May 6, 2025. I want to take a moment to say thank you to the community for taking part in the democratic process, and to those who advocated on the district’s behalf and supported our efforts. It was a tight vote, and made for a very long 17 hour day of counting, but we are encouraged by the outcome. Regardless of the vote count, the board, our firefighters and staff, and I want to say thank you and we will continue to be good stewards of the district’s budget and deliver the highest level of service that we are able to provide,” Chief Rob Stumph, Lyons Fire Protection District, said. Unofficial results from the election: Dave Roth re-elected to Board with 445 votes Chris Cope re-elected to the Board with 441 votes Keith Spencer re-elected to the Board with 501 votes Ballot Question A passed 56.3 percent to 43.7 percent (mil levy increase) Ballot Question B failed 42 percent to 58 percent (exemption from HB101 growth cap) Creating an Art District in Lyons
LYONS –Town of Lyons Arts and Cultural Coordinator Kristen Bruckner, with Claudia Paterno, representing the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission, and Chrystal DeCoster representing the future Lyons Creative District, recently attended the 12th annual Creative Industries Summit in Grand Junction. The summit is a critical space for advocacy and collective vision for the future of the arts in Colorado. The creative sector generates more than $2.6 billion in economic activity and its impact is recognized across our state. The summit provides an opportunity for thought leaders and change makers to share ideas and inspiration. The Lyons Creative District has recently submitted its final application to be considered an official Creative District as designated by the state Office of EcoContinue Briefs on Page 3
issuu.com/sdcmc Like us on Facebook I •N •D •E •X LYONS MAYOR’S CORNER OPTIONS CONTRAST LOOKING UP INSIGHT GRADUATES SHOWCASE TALK OF THE TOWN CENTER CHOICES WHAT’S COOKIN’
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Spring in full bloom. Double flowering crabapple (Malus species) brightening the path through Bohn Park. CATHY RIVERS
Town Board proposes “adjusting” electric rates, plans to discusses water allocation with Longmont, and other issues By Susan de Castro Gierach Redstone Review Editor LYONS – The Lyons Town Board had a long and packed agenda for the first Monday of the month meeting. During Audience Business when the audience speaks about various issues, former Town Board Trustee Lana Cinnamon left somewhat abruptly saying to the board that she would see them in court after a discussion over some property issue. The board pushed ahead with their agenda. The board went straight into the next three ordinances, which was a first reading for each. Ordinance 1189 was to amend the municipal code for the purpose of adjusting/raising electric rates for the electric utility service in Lyons. The ordinance was approved by all on first reading. Any adjustments the board decides to make are to be done at the second reading and public hearing. Lyons has a longstanding relationship with its wholesale power provider in Nebraska, Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, MEAN. MEAN has been Lyons’ power provider since long before wind power, or any other alternative means of power, was even offered. According to Engineering, Utilities and Building Director, Aaron Caplan, MEAN increased its rates by 9.8 percent starting April 1, 2025. The 2025 budget did account for some increase in wholesale electric rates. In preparation for this, the Lyons Utility and Engineering Board (UEB) had been reviewing the town’s electric rate structure. The UEB proposed a new rate structure that increases the cost per kWh (kilowatt hour) of electricity used but also reduces the base rate for most customers. The new rate structure will more fairly distribute the cost of electricity for the
town. This rate increase is estimated to bring an additional $75,000 in revenue to the electric enterprise fund, a 4.7 percent increase. The UEB also found no justification for lower non-residential rates. Lyons wholesale energy rates are not reduced with higher usage. The second ordinance, 1190, was also approved by all the trustees on first reading. This ordinance updated a wide range of general and minor offenses that needed clarification and more attention. Some of the issues included: business licenses, solicitation, unlawful posting of door hangers, parking regulations, moving containers on Town Rights of Way, drugs, weapons and a myriad of other things. The third ordinance, 1191, again was passed by all trustees on first reading. This ordinance was to implement a ballot question for the increase of the local sales tax rate by .5 percent for a new local sales tax rate of 4 percent for the total sales tax rate. The ballot measure passed on April 2, 2024 and the town board staff asked the board to create this ordinance to amend the Lyons Municipal Code. The proceeds from the .5 percent increase in sales tax will be directed to town infrastructure projects. The board went on to approve unanimously Resolution 2025-32, to approve an appeal brought to the town administrator and the Planning and Community Development Commission, to approve an application for 317 Evans St. to be processed as a minor Planned Unit Development (PUD). The 317 Evans PUD-R was originally approved by the town on January 9, 2023. This PUD permitted the construction of nine dwelling units, consisting of one duplex, one triplex, and one fourplex. The duplex received certificates of occupancy and is complete. During the construction of the fourplex, a significant encroachment into the rear setback and incorrect grading
on the site were discovered following substantial construction work. The applicant, Colorado Lookout Lyons, LLC, requested approval of a Minor PUD Amendment to allow revisions to the rear setback to allow the construction of the building to remain. Then in Resolution 2025-33, the town board approved a second amendment to the development agreement between the Town of Lyons and Colorado Lookout Lyons for the 317 Evans St. location to accommodate the PUD agreement. Moving right along the board approved Resolution 2025-34 a conditional use permit for 315 and 319 5th Ave. for the Lyons Community Farm Project Shed. The property is a Deed Restricted Buyout Property (DRBOP) owned by the Town of Lyons. These buyout properties are flood-damaged properties where the town scraped off the remains of damaged buildings and transformed the lots into little mini parks or gardens. They are all in the flood zone so they have deed restrictions as to how the property can be used. The applicant, Lyons Community Farm Project, submitted an encroachment application for a shed to be located in the alley behind 315 and 319 5th Avenue. These properties are both in the DRBOP program, which enables the Town of Lyons to lease the land to residents and other entities for uses approved in the program. The program has strict requirements to adhere to flood restrictions, and so a shed would not be allowed to be located on the properties themselves but can be considered to be located in the Town Right of Way. Encroachments in the Town of Lyons are either considered Minor or Major Encroachments. As established in Town of Lyons, Resolution 2020-131, Minor Improvements will only Continue Town Board on Page 2