The Nederland Board of Trustees finalized the employee agreement with Miranda Fisher as Town Administrator during a regular, virtual meeting on August 17, 2021, at 7 p.m. The Board also approved Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) Fire department funding, an NDDA investment policy, and a grit removal grant.

Town Administrator Employee Agreement

During the consent agenda, the Board approved an employment agreement beginning September 4, 2021, between the Town and Miranda Fisher. The Town has chosen to employ Fisher as Town Administrator for the Town of Nederland, Colorado.

Fisher accepted employment as Town Administrator, with remuneration of $75,000, effective September 4, 2021, which shall be payable in installments at the same times as other employees, according to the agreement.

Trustees asked if the agreement included many changes from the one with Town Administrator Karen Gerrity, who has resigned effective September 3, 2021. The Board was told they had some very minor changes, but it’s a very standard contract.

NDDA Fire Department funding

Kate Masingale, Executive Director of the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA), and Fire Marshal Rik Henrikson introduced a resolution for the continued funding of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the NDDA and the Nederland Fire Protection District. The District had requested that the NDDA continue to support their budgetary needs in 2022.

Henrikson provided the NDDA board with figures showing the Fire Department’s determination of the funding amount at $22,897. The Fire District’s mill levy, which is certified before December 15 of each year, was 14.914 mills.

The Fire Department requested that funds continue to be paid once annually. The NDDA unanimously recommended the Trustees approve the resolution at their meeting on July 14, 2021. The Trustees approved the request.

NDDA Investment Policy

At a previous meeting, the Board of Trustees had requested that the NDDA Board include language in their investment policies that states that they will not knowingly make investments in oil, gas, and military vendors, according to the memo. “The protocol for investments was also requested to be addressed.”

The NDDA has proposed that the NDDA Treasurer will bring all investments to the Board for a full vote. Currently, the only investment that the NDDA has made is $250,000 in a Certificate of Deposit at Sunflower Bank.

The NDDA unanimously recommended the Trustees support the proposed language and revisions to the investment policy at their meeting on July 14, 2021. Trustee Lindsey Danforth said she didn’t understand how the Certificate of Deposit at Sunflower Bank happened before they agreed regarding foreign investments.

“This never can happen again,” she said, and she requested more information about this.

Trustees said they wish the money could be spent. The NDDA has more than $700,000 in funds, but these pay for ongoing projects. The Trustees would like to see the NDDA research future investments and make decisions based on full knowledge. The Board approved the investment policy as amended.

Grit Removal Grant

Staff requested approval to apply for Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) grant funding to support grit removal equipment installation at the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF). Public Works Manager Chris Pelletier said the staff has discussed the need for grit removal with the Trustees on multiple occasions.

Nederland’s facility lacks equipment to remove grit from the treatment process, which has an impact on mechanical operations at the facility. Grit removal is necessary to avoid excess wear and tear on the facility’s pumps and to improve operational efficiencies.

In September 2020, Staff requested that the Board consider reallocating funds for this effort. Staff presented a phased approach to constructing a facility that would allow for an incremental approach to adding grit removal to the facility. “Staff suggested a phased approach as an economical way to slowly achieve fulfilling this need within budgeted funds over multiple fiscal years.”

Staff met with DOLA representatives, who asked why the Town is not using American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds, since sewer infrastructure is an eligible expense under that funding source. Staff presented to the Board an option of using ARP funds for grit removal at the July 20, 2021, meeting. At that time, however, the Board was not interested.

Staff recommended that the Board reconsider the decision and allocate some funds from ARP as a match for possible DOLA funds. Staff recommended providing a higher than recommended match to show a greater commitment on the Town’s part: a 30 percent match.

“Based on conversations with DOLA’s representatives, a higher match would increase the likelihood of getting funded,” according to the memo. “Using ARP funds as part of that match will show the Town’s desire to utilize all available funding while showing fiscal restraint of the Town’s sewer reserve funds.”

Staff recommended applying for funds from DOLA to fund 30 percent of the cost of this equipment, thereby maximizing the Town’s dollars and reducing the overall cost to the town by 30 percent. For the remaining 70 percent, Staff recommended allocating some American Rescue Plan funds as a grant match.

Town recommended utilizing $80,000 from ARP, $100,000 from next year’s operating budget, and $100,000 from sewer reserves for a total of $280,000 or 70 percent. The Town would request $120,000 from DOLA, or 30 percent.

Staff will apply for DOLA Tier 1 funding (which grants up to $200,000) which is less stringent and provides a greater likelihood for funding. The Board agreed to apply for the grant first and approved Town staff to determine how much of the match funds would come from ARP, $80,000 or $100,000, this year.

The next Nederland Board of Trustees meeting will be virtual on September 7, 2021. For more information, go to https://nederlandco.civicweb.net/ Portal/ MeetingInformation. aspx?Org=Cal&Id=391