by Joseph Lekarczyk
In the interest of full disclosure, let it be known that the author of this article is married to the Mayor.Call me jaded, or just call me a cynic, but how timely that the Lyons Board of Trustees passed an ordinance calling for an across the board $8 reduction on residents’ water bills a mere two months before an election. I’m just saying . . . Mayor Julie Van Domelen insists, however, that this item has been on her radar screen, and her to-do list since she ran for re-election nearly two years ago. She maintains that it was the lag time in getting the results of the water rate study back, all the time and energy spent on medical marijuana, the negotiations of the Intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Boulder County, and the efforts to come up with zoning parameters for the Commercial Eastern Corridor (CEC), henceforth to be known as the Gateway Corridor, that has been slowing down the efforts of the Board. I suppose when looked at through that prism, maybe we could give the BOT and the Mayor’s timing the benefit of the doubt.
Considering the light agenda, the fact that no one spoke during audience business, or nearly anyone (just former Mayor Nick Angelo) in the two public hearings, and that everyone was seemingly in complete agreement on nearly every item (all agenda items were passed unanimously). It’s kind of a head scratcher that the meeting didn’t end earlier than 9:30 p.m.
Lyons Substation Supervisor Sgt. Kevin Parker welcomed the Mayor back from “the dark continent” and suggested if the need for a personal bodyguard on a future trip were to arise, he would gladly consider the assignment. The Mayor thanked him, then noted that she had received information from Apple Valley residents that “green marijuana leaves have been spotted floating down the St. Vrain River.” She inquired if Parker was looking into it. Parker said that this was the first he had heard of it, but that he would indeed look into it. He then added (with tongue firmly imbedded in cheek) that this appeared to be a “self-regulating problem” in that the evidence would no doubt quickly arrive in Longmont, and thus be under the jurisdiction of the Longmont Police Department and Drug Task Force.
Two ordinances were passed, one termed “house keeping” by Town Clerk Deb Anthony, having to do with the dedication of allocated water rights (from the Whipp annexation) between the Town of Lyons and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and the other the aforementioned $8 reduction in water rates for all Lyons residents. Surprisingly, the latter required quite a bit of discussion because the Trustees didn’t feel right about having out-of-town water users get $12 (because of a 1.5 multiplier of the base rate) off their bill. This led to a convoluted procedural discussion between the Board and Staff, before it was agreed to give everyone an across the board rate cut.
The consent agenda, consisting originally of the January 17 BOT minutes, the January accounts payable, and a resolution to authorize a professional service agreement with Human Movement Management to publicize, manage, and get sponsors for the Lyons Outdoor Games was approved, after Trustee Ed Bruder had the minutes and the resolution pulled for further (and later) discussion. Eventually, the resolution was approved after a short discussion, and the minutes were approved when the rest of the Board didn’t share Bruder’s view that the “tone” of the minutes didn’t accurately portray the BOT’s view of the PCDC/EDC’s joint recommendation for the CEC, I mean the Gateway Corridor.
Four resolutions were passed during general business. The first authorized the certification of a Creative district to be named “One Square Mile.” The second, after a long and complicated discussion, approved an agreement between the State of Colorado Department of Transportation and the Town of Lyons for the design and engineering of the Main Street Streetscape Project. The third had to do with an Intergovernmental agreement between the Town of Lyons and Boulder County for the design and engineering of the McConnell/Stone Canyon intersection. And the fourth was a resolution authorizing McLaughlin Water to conduct a flood plain study for the Lyons wastewater treatment plant property.
Then it was on to Trustee and Staff reports. Nothing earth shattering here: an update from Trustee LaVern Johnson about repairs on the museum, Mayor Pro Tem Kirk Udovich advised his fellow Trustees what he had been up to during the Mayor’s absence, and that he himself would be out of town for the next meeting. A few upcoming commission meetings were brought up by the various liaisons, and a report from Bruder on a recent successful Golden Gang fundraiser held in Denver. Town Clerk Deb Anthony advised the Board on the upcoming election, and the date (Monday, February 13, see article in this edition) that packets and petitions would be available for those wishing to throw their hats into the ring. The meeting was then adjourned.
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