January 14, 2025 Minutes

Town of Deer Trail 
Board of Trustees 
Meeting Minutes 
Tuesday, January 14, 2025@ 7:00 p.m. 

Call to Order

The Board of Trustees of the Town of Deer Trail met in a regular session on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at Town Hall, 555 Second Ave Deer Trail, Colorado. Mayor Behrens called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Roll Call

Mayor: Judd Behrens
Trustees Present: Mary Arnold, Sandy Bell, Ashley Buss, Robert Rhodes, Brandon Rowley, Dara Sanders

Staff Present: Debbie Cowell Town Administrator, Kimberly Sullivan, Town Clerk

Approval of the Agenda

Mayor Behrens asked for a motion to approve the agenda switching 7a & 7c, moving 7b to be included with 9a and adding 7e, South Metro Enterprise Zone-Arapahoe County. Trustee Buss moved; Trustee Arnold seconded the motion to approve. The voting went as follows. 
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Sanders, Behrens 
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Mayor Behrens declared the agenda approved. 

4. Approval of the Minutes

Mayor Behrens asked for a motion to approve December I 0, 2024, as they stand. December 19, 2024, with a correction to 5d, and December 30, 2024, with a correction to the first date in the minutes. Trustee Buss moved to approve the minutes after the corrections. Trustee Sanders seconded the motion. The voting went as follows. 

Yes: Arnold, Bell. Rhodes, Rowley, Sanders, Behrens 
No: None
Abstain: Buss
Absent: None
The mayor declared the motion carried.

6. Approval of the Bills

Trustee Rhodes moved the bills to be approved, and Trustee Rowley seconded the motion. Voting went as follows. 

Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss. Rhodes, Rowley. Sanders. Behrens 
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
The mayor declared the bills approved. 

7. Discussion

1. Lincoln Health - Linda Messner attended in person.
2. Sewer Project Update moved to their presentation in 9a.
3. Trustees lead on various projects
   1. Office Support - Trustee Sanders will take lead with Trustee Rhodes as backup
   2. Sewer Project - Mayor Behrens will take lead with rrustee Buss as backup
   3. Easement Access - Trustee Rhodes will take lead
   4. Other Projects - Leak Forgiveness Policy - Trustee Buss will take lead with Trustee Sanders as backup
4. Quarterly Report from CPS
5. South Metro Enterprise Zone - Presented by Robert Rhodes

8. Old Business

8a. 2025 Budget Corrections

Trustee Buss moved the vote to approve the 2025 budget changes. Trustee Sanders seconded the motion. Voting went as follows. 

Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Sanders, Behrens 
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None

The mayor declared the motion passed. 

8b. Billing Issues

i. Customers with high bills due to repaired leaks

Trustee Sanders moved to charge the two accounts with the previous rates with no payment plan. Trustee Rowley seconded the motion. Voting went as follows. 

Yes: Bell. Buss, Rowley, Sanders, Behrens 
No: Arnold
Abstain: Rhodes
Absent: None

The mayor declared the motion passed. 

ii. Customers identified that had never been billed for services received

Trustee Buss moved to bill any customer identified as never being billed at the rate of service for the time for which services were received in addition to the $50.00 activation fee. The town will offer payment arrangements for balances over $250.00, for 12 months, and charge no late fees based on this balance. Trustee Arnold seconded the motion. Voting went as follows. 

Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Sanders, Behrens 
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None

The mayor declared the motion passed. 

9. New Business

a. Element Engineering Updated PER

Trustee Buss moved to accept the prepared PER for submission and authorize an investigation of high BOD testing results by Ramey. Trustee Arnold seconded the motion. Voting went as follows. 

Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Sanders, Behrens 
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None

The mayor declared the motion passed.

b. Planning Committee Drainage Study Request

Trustee Rhodes moved to table the request for a drainage study made by the Planning Committee. Trustee Sanders seconded the motion to table. Voting went as follows. 

Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Sanders, Behrens 
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None

The mayor declared the motion passed.  

c. Deer Trail School Yearbook Ad

Trustee Buss moved to approve a$ I 00.00 ad using the same format as previous years. Trustee Arnold seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.

Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens 
No: Sanders
Abstain: None
Absent: None

The mayor declared the motion passed.

Public Comment

a. Phil Steel

In regards to the perceived threat of eminent domain in 2015, the town caused title damage to his property. He feels there is no transparency with the town. He had 180 days from the time of the threat to serve papers or lose all rights. So the papers were served. 

• Reiterated he has trust issues with the town, and he has zero tolerance for such things.
• Apologized to Robert Rhodes.

Mayor Behrens Adjourned the meeting at 9:12 p.m.

11. Adjournment

Mayor Behrens adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m.

Judd Behrens, Mayor

Kimberly T. Sullivan, Town Clerk