Kirk C. Watkins, Jamestown. The Jamestown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on Monday, December 14, 2020. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tara Schoedinger. The current agenda was approved by the board, and the minutes from the November 2, 2020 meeting were approved. 

The 2021 operating budget for the town was proposed and board members were able to discuss line items. Approval of the budget is tabled until Monday, December 21, awaiting final accounting totals. 

Board Action Items

Discussion and approval of solutions to issues regarding the tennis courts.

A group asked to speak to the board about some proactive approaches to keeping people with wheeled equipment off the court.

Nancy Loving proposed researching a grant to fund an asphalt park area for the children in town to play on, which could redirect wheeled traffic away from the courts and cut down on maintenance costs. The group cited a past survey taken from the school in which children requested a “flat spot” to play. They also acknowledged cases of vandalism and general wear and tear being the root of the problem. 

The group proposed a bike park based on successful designs from other towns. They showed sample photos from other locations and suggested accessing recreation grants similar to ones that have been sourced for past projects.

It was asked whether the regular resurfacing schedule was still being followed. The Parks department said that their budget is not sufficient. Loving said that the damage needed to be addressed appropriately, but that the surface was still okay for play.

Schoedinger said that the town assets should be used for their intended purposes, and a fundraiser may be necessary to pay for a paved surface. Loving recommended an email be sent to residents asking people to be aware of the damage being done. 

Approval of Covid-19 educational community messages.

Ken Lenarcic said there were four proposed educational messages to convey and that the messages would be released starting in December. In February, Lenarcic anticipates a shift to vaccine strategies which could replace the education priorities. He said that the CDC had evolved their policies on quarantining and mask wearing but the state of Colorado had yet to adopt their policies to reflect the changes. A recommendation was made posting links to free Covid-19 testing be sent out in email blasts to residents. Lenarcic said the information was available on the town website. The resolution passed. 

Lenarcic recommended a video introduction for future board meetings which would introduce the current Boulder Public Health Department, BPHD, measures being taken. The board agreed.

BPHD reported no surge resulting from Thanksgiving traffic, which could affect reopening businesses in North Boulder, potentially beginning in 2021.

Approval of Resolution 12-24, 2020; A Resolution to Certify the Mill Levy. 

The town needs the Mill Levy for operations. The resolution passed.

Approval of Resolution 12-25, 2020; A Resolution to Adopt the 2021 Budget.

Motion to table resolution due to inconsistencies in budget numbers. Motion passed.

Resolution 12-26, 2020; A Resolution Establishing a pay increase for the Water Plant Operator.

Resolution 12-27, 2020; A Resolution Establishing a pay adjustment for the Assistant Water Plant Operator. 

Roger Loving, water committee chairman, addressed the proposed pay increases for the operator and assistant operator. It includes increasing the salaries, reducing hours and changing vacation schedules. The increase would not raise water rates for the town. 

The pay increase for the water plant operator equaled twelve percent over five years and is a cost of living pay increase. The water plant budget would cover the increase. Concerns were raised about having enough qualified personnel to operate the water plant. Loving said there were plans to train and license a third person and add qualified people over the next two years. The BOT said internal protocols needed to be brought up to date, and they want to create standards and procedures that could be followed and passed on to certified technicians.

Discussion and Approval of Jamestown Good Neighbor Guidelines. 

At the October board meeting, the Board approved LUHAC to draft Good Neighbor Guidelines for Short Term Rentals (STR).  The purpose of the Guidelines is to advise STR owners, property managers and guests the importance and benefits of being a good neighbor. 

These will include safe disposal of ashes from fire and wood burning stoves and observing posted guidelines for park spaces. The board approved to adapt Good Neighbor Guidelines.

Board Committee Reports

Land Use and Housing Advisory Committee (LUHAC): For ordinances containing criminal penalties relating to land use violations, Mayor Schoedinger strongly recommended an in-depth review of all land use statutes regarding Jamestown and updating or eliminating duplicates and outdated ones. The first step will be to consult with the town attorney, and to work towards eradicating inappropriate criminal penalties. 

Water Operations and Water Committee: There will be a water board meeting on Friday, December 18. The committee wants to investigate applying for grants involved in ozone research. Schoedinger asked that the grant paperwork be reviewed by the BOT. The paperwork involving the water plant operator’s roles and responsibilities is updated and has been posted.

Jamestown Volunteer Fire & EMS: Michael Box reported there were new recruits for the fire department. The paperwork is complete and are awaiting reimbursements from the recent fire response. The fire department has been invited to train in Hygiene with larger groups. 

Julie Constantine reported on EMS. She and Angie Busby completed the EMT refresher course, to be licensed in Colorado. Inventory has been completed and are moving towards ordering replacements.

Streets & Bridges: The 16th Street project has been mostly shut down for the winter. Delineators effectiveness has been mixed with some vandalism reported. Setting up cameras to catch vandal(s) was proposed. Town participation requested due to increased damage reports. 

Garden Committee: Potential grant to research. 

Lefthand Watershed Center: Seth Strickland represented Jamestown at the watershed meeting. 

Ken Lenarcic will be attending meetings as well.

The meeting was adjourned. The next Jamestown Board of Trustees meeting will be on January 4, 2020, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

(Originally published in the December 24, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)