Town Board Meetings – March 2021
THESE ARE BRIEF NOTES FROM MEETINGS AND DOES NOT COVER THE ENTIRE AGENDA.
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Board of Trustees, Town of Lyons
TOWN OF LYONS BOARD met on Monday, March 1, 2021, 7 p.m. on Zoom
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LaVern Johnson thanked the board and Town Trustee Greg Lowell for the Annual report he put together on all phases of the Town, dedicating the First Annual report to LaVern Johnson longtime past trustee, longtime member of the Parks & Recreation Commission-1948; the museum, square dancing, campaigns, and etc. (This report can be found under Town of Lyons web site, 2020 Annual report)
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1. The Lyons Den hearing was continued until after the State liquor license hearing concludes.
2. Water rights dedication — In 2019, it appeared the Town didn’t have enough water shares to cover remaining lots, so an ordinance was passed to require shares for any new connection. After records with Longmont were corrected, it appears the Town has enough shares for remaining “old Town” lots. The ordinance was repealed. Shares will still be required for newly-annexed property, subdivided property, and areas where existing contracts require shares to be put up.
3. Business license fees were cut to $25 from $50 for 2021 to help local businesses deal with ongoing Covid issues. Business license requirements and procedures will be discussed at a March workshop.
4. Summit development agreement was approved in January). Summit said it would fence off the eroded riverside section.
5. Future requests for Lake McIntosh share use was adopted.
6. A temporary construction easement at 123 Park Street was passed;
7. Consideration of allowing lockers by Amazon Co. in town so packages would be safe until picked up by folks who live out-of-town
8; Discussion was held over the Rules for Planet Bluegrass, who said they would no longer meet with the subcommittee appointed to settle various points of discussion. such as amount of Lodging tax paid by the campers, the fees charted for parking in Lyons parks, as well as Planet’s property; the Sales tax due the town on various items by Planet as well as the vendors, etc. The two entities were told to meet and settle the points of discussion.
9. A resolution was passed expressing support for improved Hike and Bike Features
10. It was reported that the 9 140″ long girders for the Second Avenue Bridge were in place and work was progressing. with Rocksol Consulting Group for Construction and Interwest Consulting Group for Consulting Services for Professional Civil Engineering, and all is going well.;
11. The town has joined the State for winter tourism, and has applied for grants from Go-Colorado, for outdoor recreation. Brianna Hoyt is in charge
12. The town is has new job openings – full time Maintenance, Finance Director Accounts Payable and seasonal jobs in the parks. Learn more and apply today! Visit https://www.townoflyons.com/Jobs.aspx Full-tome and Seasonal
13. Jill Johnson, Lyons Finance Directory, is quitting to go to Casper, Wyoming. We will miss her.
The Board then went into executive session to discuss the Honeywell Legal issues and negotiations and regarding litigation between Paul Frysig dba Western Stone and the Town of Lyons.
PENDING PROJECTS: Redoing the NE corner of 4th and Main includes more businesses on the first floor iand adding 7 rental units on the 2nd floor.
The Town has applied for a grant for the 36\66 Corridor Trail
UPCOMING: Check fire hydrants as to water pressure; the water problems at Ed Bruder’s home; kids Hike & Bike Trail; Dr Cog funding, Student on Town Board, form a Cemex committee Check trail by Cemetery, Honeywell Legal action, Historic Preservation Committee to meet with Planning Commission.
THE TOWN OF LYONS IS suing Honeywell for discrepancies in upgrading their wastewater plant, They were contracted for $5.86 million in 2010; and paid more with the flood damage, but the plant was costing the town more energy usage than it did before the upgrades. due to a higher level of oxygen demand from breaking down organic matter in water. Lyons is seeking damages for the plant’s construction, operating and financing costs along with other damaged determined at the trial. The town is seeking a jury trial.
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The LYONS TOWN BOARD was on Zoom Monday, March 15th
with the following:
1. The Lyons Den hearing was continued until after the State liquor license hearing concludes.
2. Water rights dedication — In 2019, it appeared the Town didn’t have enough water shares to cover remaining lots, so an ordinance was passed to require shares for any new connection. After records with Longmont were corrected, now it appears the Town has enough shares for remaining “old Town” lots. The ordinance was repealed. Shares will still be required for newly-annexed property, subdivided property, and areas where existing contracts require shares to be put up.
3. Business license fees were cut to $25 from $50 for 2021 to help local businesses deal with ongoing Covid issues. A business license is required from all salesmen who bring wares into town and sold to various businesses, along with the business needing a business license to be open.
4. Summit development agreement was approved in January and will begin soon.
5. Spraying Weeds will be controlled..there will be no spray on parks or playgrounds, but some spray along the streets where the weeds are in hard soil; with announcement when spraying; Volunteers of all ages will be needed to pull weeds around Lyons streets are needed..contact Dave Cosgrove this spring. 303 823 8250
6. Liquor Licenses were passed for the A-Lodge with outside seating east of the Aspen Lodge, open to the public, and a License to Eric Kean-for Main Street Brewing Company, who will have brewing, packaging, and sales, in the Old Fork building.
7. Consideration of allowing lockers by Amazon in town so packages would be safe until picked up by folks who live out-of-town
8; There was no report on any discussion held with Planet Bluegrass. They were instructed to meet with the town’s subcommittee and come up with solutions for the Planet’s renewal-such as a license; if by the campers, the fees charted for parking in Lyons parks, as well as Planet’s property; the Sales tax due the town on various items sold by Planet as well as the vendors, etc. The two entities were told to meet and settle the points of discussion.
9. A resolution was passed expressing support for improved Hike and Bike Features
10. It was reported that the planks are being put on the floor of the bridge. Work is progressing along with Rocksol Consulting Group for Construction and Interwest Consulting Group for Consulting Services for Professional Civil Engineering;
11. The town has joined the State for winter tourism, and has been contacted about their Go-Co grant for the 2nd avenue parking, restrooms, work in Bohn Park, and more camping in the LaVern Johnson Park;
12 A long, and worthy conversation was held on accepting grants for the St. Vrain Corridor Regional Trail, going east of McConnell Drive, on past the eastern corridor and meet the Longmont’s Greenway Trail on Highway 36, which the board passed to accept. Matching funds of 12% and 13% are required. Mayor Angelo challenged the staff to find more funds instead of using the funds now budgeted for in-town road work.
13. – Mayor Nick Angelo, appointed student Charlie Gau on the Cemex committee/Sustainable Futures Commission.
UPCOMING PENDING PROJECTS: Redoing the NE corner of 4th and Main includes more businesses on the first floor and adding 7 rental units on the 2nd floor. Check fire hydrants as to water pressure; the water problems at Ed Bruder’s home; kids Hike & Bike Trail; Dr Cog funding, Student on Town Board, form a Cemex committee, check trail by Cemetery, Honeywell Legal action, Historic Preservation Committee to meet with Planning Commission.
Work on SOUTH ST. VRAIN ROAD #7 will begin in April, and will be open early morning and late evening, with emergencies allowed. Road repairs and stream restoration will be along a 14 -mile stretch of State Highway 7 between the Town of Lyons and State Highway 72. The hearing gave proposed uses that may have great impacts on services, neighborhoods, or the environment than those allowed by right under the Boulder County Land Use Code. Call 303 441 3930 for more information. or email your inquiries or complaints to planner@bouldercounty.org. Please reference the docket number: LU-21-0001: Colorado Department of Transportation Highway 7 (lower Canyon Project)
Parks & Recreation Commission Meetings
LYONS PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION meeting – Monday, March 9th at 6pm
last Monday, Topics were: Open Space Trail Requests; 2. How to use the Martin property without great impact to County Road 69E; 3. What to do about the Apple Valley plots that now belong to the County-Does Lyons want them? 4. Lyons-Hall Ranch Connection with improvements on the Highway 5. Park Operations; 6-Park Projects; Community Events; Noxious week Plan- three plots will be sprayed (where the soil is hard and weeds plentiful);
Reports were given on: a. The completion of Bohn Park Phase 2 will be ready for ballgames b. Lyons Valley River Park plant replacement in the spring, a fence and wetland work is needed with railing and stream bank stabilization.; c. The 2nd Avenue Bridge is progressing with the bed being installed. 2nd Avenue is closed until May; with the use of the trail along the river available. The 4th Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Design is upcoming (The bridge will be paid for thru FEMA and Safe Schools grant with work on the design)
The Town has applied for a grant for the St. Vrain Trail east of town. The town leases the land at the back to: of Blue Mountain Stone, 2. Spirit Hounds, and 3. Clark’s Hardware the trail has to go thru, as well as over 3 or 4 ditches-they have to come to an agreement with the Ditch companies as well as the Northern Colorado Water District.
**Two grants for this Trail are pending and will be an advantage to all..the businesses on the Eastern corridor; bikers, and hikers to get off the highway and to safety; and will meet with St. Vrain Greenway Trail coming west from Longmont.; They discussed a grant head at Hwy 36, & Foothills Highway, if they can get permission for the trail to Boulder.
Pending projects: The area South of the St. Vrain River; A trail connection along the South Ledge Ditch and up to the “L”, Secondary Sports Court; Night Sky Compliance; Pedestrian Connectivity, Budget & long-term maintenance review, Water Rescue Stations (in 2021 budget to be along the river in case of emergency); PRC volunteering-to clean up after Holidays, summer and during summer.
The next meeting April 5th at 6:00pm.
2021 Budget Adopted
The Board of Trustees adopted the 2021 fiscal year budget upon the second reading at the November 16, 2020 BOT meeting. The Board approved the 2021 Town of Lyons Annual Budget after two public meetings and multiple review sessions.
Please note, these Minutes are taken by LaVern Johnson, who is our Town Hall reporter, and she has to do them by using the internet, and the sound is not always perfect, so there may be some minor errors. If you need to be sure of the facts, you can view the VIDEO of the Town meetings. She would prefer someone else do them, so don’t think you would be stepping on her toes if you would like to give it a try………thank you, Editor Spring 3/21
The Lyons Recorder is looking for a citizen or reporter who would like to attend board meetings, or view the meetings on tape afterwards, and/or read the Minutes and write a bi-monthly column on what is taking place. == The reporter can list the topics for the night, and highlight the biggest items of the night… writing the key facts given and the conclusion. (It can contain quotes from trustees or audience members, if you are a good note taker). There are a lot of options. ==This is an exciting opportunity to become more familiar with your Town’s governing, as well as improve your writing skills. == Contact our Editor at: LyonsRecorder.editor@gmail.com
A town meeting is a form of direct democracy in which most or all of the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government.
