By Brendan Henry
The Surveyor

All trustees except for Sean Murphy were present for the first board meeting of the year on Jan. 9. Topics discussed included utility assistance, Berthoud’s American Legion, adoption of the town’s mill levy, Berthoud’s new signage proposals and town code regarding oil and gas operations.
The board opened up the meeting with public comment, where one resident expressed concerns over the raised water bill after reviewing the town’s budget. Town Administrator Chris Kirk explained that the surplus of the budget from water revenues is saved up for large projects that will come in the future to accommodate Berthoud’s growth. The resident was still concerned about larger families that would have to pay more monthly and said she would keep up with the town’s expenses.

After approving the consent agenda for the night, the board moved on to discuss the House of Neighborly Service’s utility assistance program. The program will continue this year to help those in need of financial assistance to cover utility bills. Last year, the House of Neighborly Service spent around $43,000 and is seeing a 225% increase in program usage from 2019.

Following the utility assistance program presentation, Craig Patriquin, a combat veteran and licensed clinical social worker with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) spoke of Berthoud’s American Legion post receiving a $32,000 grant from the VA that works as a sort of refund – that being that the American Legion or VFW would have to pay out of pocket to assist veterans in need, and then the VA would reimburse the full amount later. Patrick says that Berthoud’s American Legion cannot front the cost, and is asking the town for assistance to pay some of the expenses. There is currently $13,000 worth of expenditures that the American Legion can use immediately.

“There is no downside I can perceive,” Mayor Pro Tem Mike Grace said about the town helping with the grant. Grace’s sentiment was reflected by the rest of the board, and a motion was passed to allow the town administrator to negotiate a contract with the American Legion to match the grant cost of $32,000. When the American Legion receives the VA reimbursement, the American Legion will keep the funds and have a total of $64,000 to help local veterans.

Mayor Will Karspeck signed off on the town’s mill levy, which will levy a tax of 6.072 mills on each dollar of the total assessed valuation of all taxable property within Berthoud for the year 2024 after seeing no speakers during the public hearing. The board unanimously agreed to the signing.

Deputy Town Administrator Jeremy Olinger provided another update involving feedback on Berthoud’s entryway signs. From the feedback, people appear to want the sign to be simple with a mountain theme and Olinger presented a sign that has a retro appearance, where the word “Berthoud” pops out in the foreground in a yellow font with a farm and mountains sitting in the background. The two new signs are more casual than the current signage posted at the town’s entryways.

Michael Foot, an attorney contracted by the town to develop amended language for Chapter 30 of the town’s municipal code regarding oil and gas regulations presented his progress to the board. Foot has divided the process into three tranches: location, health and safety, and procedure and enforcement, with his current draft combining all three. The language constructed by Foot gives the town board authority to approve or deny proposed oil and gas facilities or operations based on protections of public health, safety, welfare, environment and wildlife.

The board moved into official reports, where Trustee Karl Ayers spoke about Berthoud Local asking for funds toward outdoor classrooms and quality of life improvements in Pioneer Park.

Trustee Ayers inquired about adding shade structures to the bike park, and Kirk says that there is money in the budget specifically to add trees to the north side of the children’s area of the park.