Berthoud Weekly Surveyor | Covering all the angles in the Garden Spot

Cowdin, Hindman, Laak, Karspeck and Dunkelberger elected to town board

April 06, 2016 | Election 2016

Voters approve mill levy continuance and lodging tax

By John Gardner
The Surveyor

Berthoud voters selected trustees and a new mayor on Tuesday. Candidates elected to the Berthoud Board of Trustees include: Jeff Hindman, Brian Laak, William Karspeck and Kelly Dunkelberger. The four elected trustees replace outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Jan Dowker, Trustees Paul Alaback and Suzie White and interim Trustee Dick Shepard.

According to Deputy Town Clerk Tamiko Brewster, the town received 1,022 ballots in this election. Hindman received the highest amount of votes with 586, while Brian Laak received the second most with 494; William Karspeck received the third most with 493 and Kelly Dunkelberger received 479. Dunkelberger, being the trustee elected with the fewest votes, will fill the remaining two years of Michael Henning’s term. Henning was elected to the board in 2014 but stepped down in November 2015. Shepard was appointed to fill the position until the election.

Mayor elect Pete Cowdin, who was the only candidate running for mayor, replaces outgoing Mayor David Gregg who is stepping down after 12 years on the board.

Along with selecting new trustees, voters approved a mill levy continuance by a count of 655 to 348. The current mill levy set at 3 mills on taxable properties within town limits was passed by voters in 2006 and was set to expire at the end of the year. The revenues through the mill levy will continue to pay for law enforcement services, provided by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, among other services.

Voters also approved a 3 percent lodging tax 646 to 352 on short-term rentals, such as hotel rooms, with the revenues going into the town’s general fund. Revenues collected through this tax will pay for things such as street improvements, traffic, water, wastewater, utilities, economic development and tourism. The lodging tax will take effect Jan. 1, 2017.

The newly elected mayor and trustees will be sworn in during a ceremony at the board’s April 12 meeting. The town trustees may also decide to select a new mayor pro tem at the meeting as well.

 

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