Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Berthoud Board of Trustees took the form of a housekeeping session in that there were town committee seats that needed to be filled and presentations that needed to be listened to. Before the meeting got underway, Mayor William Karspeck made a brief statement regarding the contract between the town and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO). He stated that judging from the phone calls and emails he had received over the last two to three weeks there seemed to be much misinformation concerning the agreement with LCSO. He made it plain that the agreement between Berthoud and LCSO would remain as it is, and that no one on the town board was trying to bring about a change.

He also made it plain that there was no move to bring in a third party to further investigate the protests of last summer. Karspeck stated he would encourage anyone to listen to the meeting on the town website and come away with a different conclusion.

A highlight of the meeting was the revelation that a property owned by members of the Waggener family requested the Town of Berthoud approve a resolution regarding placing the property in a conservation easement. The property in question consists of 480 acres and is located south of Highway 56 between Weld County Road (WCR) 3 and WCR 5. The trustees were thrilled at the prospect at being named conservators of the property. It was noted that “very senior water rights” would follow the property.

The co-trustees of the Michael Waggener Trust, Jane Vielehr and Cindy Kindsfater (Great Western Bank) along with Carmen Farmer from Colorado Open Lands presented a proposal to the town regarding the conservation easement. The trust beneficiary is requesting all three-quarter sections be placed in a conservation easement. This farm has been in the Waggener family for over 100 years and the beneficiary would like it to stay a working farm. The Town of Berthoud is named as remainder beneficiary until the trust terminates in September of 2028 and there will be a petition for approval filed with the Larimer County District Court in which the Town of Berthoud will receive notice. The Town of Berthoud Board of Trustees is in full support of the pursuit of the conservation easement for the Waggener Farm and passed Resolution No. 13 unanimously.

A motion to fill the existing vacancies on the Tree Committee by appointing Josef Nesvara III for a term of two years, expiring Sept. 30, 2023 and Marie Baker for a term of three years, expiring Sept. 30, 2024.

In a 7-0 roll call vote the motion carried.

Youth Advisory Commission Appointments:

Mayor Pro Tem Dower moved to fill the existing vacancies on the Youth Advisory Commission by appointing the following Zoe Shoo, Daniel Hatton, Maddox Peterson, Hallie Cook and Kenyan Clarkson to the Youth Advisory Commission for a term of two years. Also, assignments to the PORT Committee would be Zoe Schoo and assignment to the Tree Committee would be Kenyan Clarkson. In a 7-0 roll call vote the motion carried.

The trustees approved an Intergovernmental Agreement which included Johnstown, Milliken and Mead regarding a broadband feasibility study.

The trustees heard a presentation by members of EPS (Economic Planning Service) concerning a study on the best use of the old town hall located at Third Street and Massachusetts Avenue.

There was agreement from the trustees that the answers that EPS was looking for regarding a direction to take since the information being presented by the group had only just been made available to the board. The trustees stated they would like to be given a chance to review the information and then meet at a study session to finalize their response.

There was a brief discussion concerning open seats on the Tree Committee.

A motion to fill the existing vacancies by appointing Josef Nesvara III for a term

of two years, expiring 09/ 30/2023 and Marie Baker for a term of three years, expiring 09/30/2024, was made, seconded and unanimously approved.

The following individuals were named to the committees noted: Daniel Hatton, Maddox Peterson, Hallie Cook and Kenyan Clarkson to the Youth Advisory Commission for a term of two years.  In addition, assignments to the PORT Committee would be Zoe Schoo, and assignment to the Tree Committee would be Kenyan Clarkson. Motions regarding the appointments were made, seconded and passed unanimously.