Town of Deer Trail
Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
June 11, 2024
1. Call to Order
The Board of Trustees of the Town of Deer Trail met in a regular session on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Town Hall, 555 Second Ave Deer Trail, Colorado. Mayor Behrens called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Mayor:
Judd Behrens
Trustees Present:
Mary Arnold
Sandy Bell
Ashley Buss
Robert Rhodes
Brandon Rowley
Trustees Absent:
Summer Ramirez
Staff Present:
Kimberly Sullivan – Town Clerk
Debbie Cowell - Town Admin
3. Approval of the Agenda
Mayor Behrens asked for a motion to have the agenda approved with the following changes: 7a date changed to Tuesday, June 18, 2024; removing 7c; adding 9f. crushed asphalt for maintenance. Trustee Rhodes moved; Trustee Arnold seconded the motion to approve. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
4. Approval of the Minutes-May 14, 2024
Mayor Behrens asked for a motion to have the May 14, 2024, minutes approved. Trustee Rhodes moved; Trustee Buss seconded the motion to approve. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
5. Reports
6. Approval of the Bills-June 2024
Trustee Buss moved the bills to be approved. Trustee Rhodes seconded the motion to approve. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
7. Discussion
A. DOLA Work Session June 17, 2024
DOLA has changed the date of our work session to Tuesday, June 18, 2024. We will start at 8am & the meeting will be live via Zoom. Mayor Behrens asked all questions from the public be held to the end of the session.
B. Lincoln Health
Linda with Lincoln Health joined the meeting towards the end & presented under Public Comment.
8. Old Business
A. Estimated cost for street lighting to be provided by the Town at the cemetery.
Trustee Buss made the motion to approve the estimate from CORE to spend up to $2,500 for the streetlight at the cemetery. Trustee Rhodes seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
B. Follow up on CIRSA claim for damage due to power surge.
Trustee Buss made a motion to remove this item from the agenda as we are waiting for CIRSA’s response. Trustee Arnold seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
9. New Business
A. Ramey Environmental Compliance Inc
Trustee Buss made a motion to remove this item from the agenda. A four (4) month extension request has been filed asking for additional time due to new board members being seated and for time to send out the RFPs, all enough time for the consultants to respond to the RFP, the town to review the submittals, schedule interviews and negotiate a contract. Ramey is in the process of preparing the RFP to be published. Trustee Arnold seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
B. James Johnson Memorial Park design.
Trustee Buss made a motion to wait for Creative Pathways to provide an estimate of cost using drone photos Trustee Rhodes will provide of the park. This is needed prior to sending out RFPs for the irrigation system that will be needed. Trustee Arnold seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
C. PCT Inc Retail Liquor License Renewal Application
Trustee Buss made a motion to approve PCT Inc.’s Retail Liquor License Renewal Application. Trustee Rowley seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
D. Community Committee Events
Upcoming Community Committee Events include the Father’s Day craft on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Town Hall; a School Supply Drive scheduled for July; Painting in the Park for eighteen & over in August; & the drive-in movies that will start in August. Trustee Arnold made a motion to approve the upcoming events. Trustee Rowley seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
E. Community Committee Budget
Trustee Rhodes requested the $2,000 start-up funds from the Town be allocated to the Community Committee through the end of 2024. Trustee Buss made a motion to approve Trustee Rhodes’ request on behalf of the Community Committee. Trustee Arnold seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
F. Crushed Asphalt for the Maintenance Department
Trustee Rhodes made a motion to approve up to $4,500 in crushed asphalt to be delivered to the maintenance department. The expected cost is $650.00 per belly dump to be delivered by Cowell Trucking. Trustee Rowley seconded the motion. Voting went as follows.
Yes: Arnold, Bell, Buss, Rhodes, Rowley, Behrens
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramirez
The mayor declared the motion carried.
10. Public Comment
A. Lincoln Health
Linda Messer came to speak on behalf of Lincoln Health. A grant they proposed to the USDA in January 2023 was approved & Deer Trail, Agate, & Byers school districts will receive devices to promote Telehealth.
B. Gary Lavoie
Sent an email to the Town (Exhibit A) requesting the Trustees answer “Yes? or no? is the sales and use tax be used to pay for the upcoming sewer project.” He requested a copy of his email be given to each board member. Trustee Rhodes answered this question in his discussion of the DOLA meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th. His answer was “the tax revenue can be used to pay off the loan and 10% of the town’s revenue can be used to help maintain the sewer system.” Trustee Rhodes’ reply, (Exhibit B) is attached to this set of meeting notes.
C. Dashelle Guertin
Asked via Zoom chat “when 5th Ave would be graded so the washboard isn’t so harsh on our vehicles.” Town Administrator Debbie Cowell advised her all roads are on rotation through the Maintenance department and will be addressed in that rotation.
D. Schabrea Anderson
• Asked via Zoom chat “Is the outdoor siren in working order? And how often is it supposed to be tested?” Town Administrator Debbie Cowell advised it is manually operated & also monitored by the fire department who has access to activate the siren. Town Hall will schedule a test of the system and post it on social media as well as the normal physical posting areas. There is no regulation on how often it is supposed to be tested.
• Made the statement via Zoom chat “the property around the townhomes is getting out of hand.” In terms of the weeds & the Town taking responsibility to maintain their property. Town Administrator Debbie Cowell advised that the areas the Town is responsible for are on rotation for mowing & spraying weeds & all have been addressed at least once since the beginning of the season. Ms. Anderson questioned what happened to the stakes that had once been out, marking property lines. Mayor Behrens advised those had been placed on at least three occasions & they seem to keep disappearing. The town will have the Maintenance department put them out, again. Ms. Anderson requested to meet with the Maintenance department when this is done at her townhome & was advised that there will be no set schedule as to when this will take place however if she sees the Maintenance department while they are doing this, she is welcome to ask them questions regarding the town’s property.
E. Katie Miller
Asked via Zoom chat “Where is the park?” Town Clerk Kimberly Sullivan advised she would confirm the location & let her know. An email was sent to the resident on 6/12/24 James F. Johnson Jr. Memorial Park is in the beginning stages and located at 4th & Vine.
F. Phil Steel
• Asked who were the companies that had submitted bids for the new sewer system. Mayor Behrens advised him it had been a while back & that information would have to be researched. He reiterated the RFP has not been released yet.
• Made the statement that the Town is too trusting when it comes to inspections of projects & that the Town needs to put a better inspection process in place.
11. Adjournment
Mayor Behrens adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.