The Town of Nucla's regular meeting on July 9 had a full agenda. During the public comment, Aimee Tooker expressed disappointment for the town’s livestream policy. She said not archiving the recorded meetings detracts from transparency. She’d like to see that improved for increased civic engagement.
Mayor Paula Brown said a meeting was taken off the internet due to some personal issues being discussed at the beginning of the recording. She the conversation was inappropriate for the public to hear. Later, in the agenda, the town voted to keep the archives online for 90 days.
Tooker, on behalf of the Colorado Cooperative Company, said ditch board members have some concerns over the ditch bank and access at the reservoir. Later in the agenda, the board agreed to attend the next CCC meeting in August.
Trustees then agreed to spend the $5,000 Source Water Protection Plan grant money in some way related to Mustang Water. That could be for signage or fencing.
Also related to water, Town Manager Melissa Lampshire said she’s been drafting the first of a new ordinance, a per day/per room water fee, which is different than the town’s existing multiplier fee. That ordinance will be published in the Forum, but it’s also available at Nucla Town Hall for review.
The July 24 water-sewer meeting has been moved, since officials cannot travel to Nucla for it. That meeting is moved to July 31 at 6 p.m. Vertical Bridge, the company establishing a new 5G cell tower in Nucla, is set to come to town Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. to speak with the public. And, Mustang Water will hold a joint meeting with the Nucla Town Board July 28 at Nucla Community Center at 6 p.m. to discuss contract changes.
Trustees in the meeting agreed to approve the pay request from Williams Construction in the amount of $404,350.29, which was for the Main Street upgrades.
On the agenda was also discussion of the town annexing 11 acres on W. 5th Ave. It’s not surrounded by town properties, and Lampshire said that would have to go to the ballot in the 2026 April election. Citizens will be able to comment.
There’s another issue with streets and property corners, on Ash and Birch. The issue affects the Painter and Brown residences. Essentially, it looks like properties must lose 20 feet on one side of their homes, and then gain ground on another. The discussion was tabled, due to the complexity of it. Trustees need time for more review.
After some in Shawn Lee asked the board for speed bumps, trustees decided they’ll implement rubber speed bumps on 11th Ave. In this way, the bumps are not permanent, and residents there can give feedback. Over the years, trustees said it’s been a process with people either complaining about needing speed bumps, or wanting to do away with them altogether.
John Reed told the board, on behalf of Tabeguache Trail Riders, the gymkhana season had to be cancelled due to sick horses. At least six families had horses coughing and ill with mucous and more. The vet tests were expensive and slow. The club’s arena fees will be applied for next year as a result of the cancellations. Reed later told the Forum over the weekend the illness was confirmed as equine flu.
In the biggest news that evening, Mayor Brown said she found out T-Mobile aims to establish another two cell towers in the West End. She said the towers are 5G, with one to be placed in Naturita and one in Nucla. The towers are separate from what Vertical Bridge has been planning on Nucla’s town property on the hill.
Trustee Tim Pierce has provided a draft of the fishing permit for the reservoir to trustees. That will be discussed at the Aug. 12 ditch board meeting.
And, trustees are still discussing checking out the waterline that runs to the towns of Nucla and Naturita from Mustang Water. The town has been working with the state’s Department of Local Affairs on submitting a request for emergency funding. The pipe needs investigated to see its condition. The town has at least two estimates now for the scope, and they’re obtaining a third. The cost for the look into the pipe could be as much as $200,000. Pierce said it’s important to know the condition of the pipe, and funding does exist.
“We can submit a letter to DOLA with estimates,” he said.
Animal license notices went out to residents in Nucla this last week. The housing committee will meet again in August to discuss conditional use permits and more. And, the town did have to tear out some Main Street driveways last week that were not truly ADA compliant. Those were to be replaced at the beginning of this week.
Lampshire continues to look for grants for town improvements.
