At the Nucla Town Board Meeting of Trustees on Jan. 14, Mimi Johnson appeared before the board in public comment and said she wants to place on the spring election ballot whether or not citizens want an independent audit of the 5G cell tower process.
She told trustees clarity was needed, public trust had been eroded, and there is a lack of transparency.
She said the change of the cell tower site and lack of documentation raise important questions about public records. In a 50-year lease that affects public lands and the school district, she said a higher level of transparency is needed. Johnson added she doesn’t blame anyone, but said the public needs to see confidence restored.
The mayor, Paula Brown, asked for a written copy of the letter Johnson read.
Next, John Reed, of the VFW, told trustees he checked on insurance for the proposed static display, some retired piece of military equipment to be hosted in Nucla. Reed said the VFW’s insurance will cover the liability and he only needs an OK from town to proceed. The board will vote at the next meeting.
Afterward, Rudi Barbee, told trustees he went before the board nine months ago expressing intention to make the mobile home park free of hard drugs, like methamphetamine and fentanyl. He said the mission has been accomplished, since the last user of hard drugs moved to Tennessee.
“And we have screening methods to make sure there are no more hard drugs,” Barbee said.
The mayor thanked him.
In other town news, the board approved to abandon a water tap at 585 W. 7th.
And, the board renewed its $50 membership with the Nucla-Naturita Area Chamber of Commerce, and approved a $500 donation for the Scenic Byway.
Trustees next approved that Tim Pierce, mayor pro tem, would attend the Jan. 17 CCC Ditch meeting to vote proxy for the Town of Nucla. They also approved the three-way agreement with state’s Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), the Town of Nucla and Region 10 for a $10,000 grant received for Nucla Community Center upgrades.
The board then approved a replat in the Johnson Addition, Lot 4, Block 2.
For clarity, the mayor explained some ordinances had not been numbered correctly, and those were made right through resolutions. New ordinances were also approved, including that the town would use the newspaper for official notices; the fee, fine and rate schedule; and that Town Clerk-Manager Jessica Davis would appoint election judges for the town’s municipal election held on April 7.
For that election, Davis reminded the Forum election packets are due to Nucla Town Hall by 5 p.m. on Jan. 26.
She also said there are important things to note.
“One mayor position equals one voter signature,” she said. “A resident cannot sign for more than one supported mayor petition/position. You vote for one mayor on the ballot, so you can only sign one petition in support.”
On the contrary, she said for the four trustees petitions, one voter can sign up to four petitions in support. Since there are four trustee seats, that equals four voter petition signatures.
“Voters will vote for up to four trustees on the ballot, so you can sign four petitions,” she said.
Signatures on petitions will be verified, and nominees will be given until Feb. 2 to amend a petition, if needed. The day after petitions are turned in, nominee names will be put into a lot and drawn — literally the town will draw names out of a hat randomly — to decide the order of candidates on the ballot.
Davis hopes people are ready to go vote.
“If voters want to sign petitions and/or vote in the 2026 mail ballot election, their residential address on their voter registration must be within Town of Nucla limits,” she said. “It is fast and easy to check, change, update online. There’s more information on our website under ‘2026 Election Information.’”
In other town news, the West End Housing Committee meets again Feb. 11, after some hiatus. And, the town is still looking for a code enforcement and animal control officer. Finally, Patrick Rondinelli, of DOLA, is coming to Nucla for board training in the next few weeks.
