Dear Editor,

I am stating my opinion as both a resident of Nederland and as the Mayor of Nederland.

It’s budget season for the Town of Nederland. We are making some important investments to bring stability. We are working to balance costs and revenue and considering new streams of revenue. We need your input.

Thanks to Nederland’s Town Administrator and Town Treasurer for working hard crunching numbers and striving to balance the budget. Thanks to Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Sergeant Asa Merriam, Nederland’s new Sergeant. He shared many great insights in our Budget Work Session on November 7. Sergeant Merriam took the time to tell us how he intends to lead our BCSO Team to deliver community policing to Nederland.

Thanks to all the Trustees. Though we do not agree on everything (as we are a representative government), all six of us really love the Nederland community, and each of us is motivated to do what we believe to be the best for Nederland.

Back to revenue: one potential stream of revenue that has been introduced by the BOT and Town staff is speed cameras, about which the BOT is presently split 3-3. I encouraged all the Trustees to communicate with residents of our community to explain their individual views and logic on the matter, and to listen. So, we need to hear from you!

Here’s what we know. The vendor estimates $360,000 annual gross ticket revenue from two permanent cameras plus one mobile camera trailer. That annual expense for these three cameras is $240,000. The difference ($360,000-$240,000) is what the vendor estimates as a net annual revenue of $120,000. Each issued ticket comes with a $40 fine, with no points incurred on one’s license. Regarding unpaid tickets, per Colorado law, these $40 speed camera tickets cannot be sent to collections unless the registered owner is personally served the notice of violation (by a deputy).

How many daily tickets would need to be issued to achieve what the vendor estimates? $360,000 annual gross ticket revenue ÷ 365 days/year = ~$1000/day. ~$1000/day ÷ $40/ticket = ~25 tickets/ day. 25 tickets EVERY DAY ALL YEAR. That would be 25 PAID tickets every day all year.

I believe that we should instead leverage the greater BCSO deputy presence. Per majority feedback from our community, last spring we contracted with BCSO at Option B, about $140,000 greater than Option C ($851,000 versus $711,000), PLUS a percentage of the additional $58,000 incidental costs (let’s estimate ~$10,000).

We are already contracted for Option B with BCSO, so in 2024 Nederland will be paying that extra ~$150,000 for the fulltime daytime deputy coverage. I believe that extra deputy cost should be leveraged primarily for improving our community safety (including traffic safety), with the secondary benefit of some revenue. A speeding ticket issued by a BCSO deputy in Nederland costs $165 per ticket with points on one’s license and is subject to collections.

Regarding whether speed cameras reduce speeding versus real deputies, I question whether $40 tickets with no points would actually deter speeding versus $165 tickets with points. In our meeting, it was stated by Sergeant Merriam and by the speed camera vendor that these cameras do assist in reducing speeding.

I have spoken with several Big Springs residents about the speed and noise from vehicles speeding between the dam and East Street. It is about 0.9 mile between the dam and the point where a Nederland speed camera would detect a speeding car. Almost a mile for folks to still drive too fast. By the time a speeder has reached Nederland Town limits, they have already passed most of Big Springs.

The best way to reduce speeding in this (unincorporated Boulder County jurisdiction) stretch of Highway 119 is to coordinate better with BCSO to have deputies out by or towards the dam.

What about the desire of Nederland and BCSO to deliver Community Policing? I have concerns with the potential perception that our newly contracted BCSO law enforcement will be equated with, or worse, blamed for speed cameras. Do we want to be a speed trap town?

I understand and agree with the need to reduce speeding, and separately with the need to increase revenue. I believe it is just too much for our community to adopt all of these at once: BCSO, paid parking, and speed cameras.

What do you think? Nederland residents and all greater Nederland community members, we need to hear from you!

November 21, 2023: Budget Discussion Item at a BOT Regular Meeting. Attend in-person or virtually.

November 28, 2023: Public Hearing for Budget at a BOT Special Meeting. Attend in-person or virtually.

December 5, 2023: Budget Action Item at a BOT Regular Meeting to approve a final 2024 budget.

If needed, December 12, 2023: Budget Action Item at a BOT Special Meeting to approve a final 2024 budget by the December 15, 2023, deadline.

What do you think? Nederland residents and all greater Nederland community members, we need to hear from you!

November 21, 2023: Budget Discussion Item at a BOT Regular Meeting. Attend inperson or virtually.

November 28, 2023: Public Hearing for Budget at a BOT Special Meeting. Attend in-person or virtually.

December 5, 2023: Budget Action Item at a BOT Regular Meeting to approve a final 2024 budget.

If needed, December 12, 2023: Budget Action Item at a BOT Special Meeting to approve a final 2024 budget by the December 15, 2023, deadline.

Contact Town of Nederland, please go to: https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/ contact

Town Hall phone: (303) 258-3266

Mail a letter: Town of Nederland, PO Box 396, Nederland, CO 80466

Drop a note or make a comment directly: Town Hall, M-F, 9am-5pm, 45 W 1st St, Nederland, CO

Email the BOT: bot@nederlandco.org

Thank you,

Billy Giblin

Nederland