Rudi Barbee appeared before town trustees to defend golfing in Nucla Town Park, something he said he and his friends are doing safely, only chipping and sometimes using plastic whiffle balls. Barbee told trustees his group isn’t harming anyone or anything on the property. They hit balls for 15 to 20 minutes when nobody is in the park. Barbee said he questioned activities like long darts, croquet and frisbee, as those sports likely cause more damage than what his group is doing.
Mayor Paula Brown said the board would take that into consideration. Trustees discussed the Nucla School, since the field isn’t being used for football, and citizens pay taxes for that facility. The crowd discussed Phil Bunker always golfed there, replaced his own divots, and it was fine.
Trustee Joseph Hittinger told fellow board members he’d like to see Nucla obtain some of the Office of Just Transition (OJT) funding for water and sewer infrastructure. Trustee Tim Pierce said that funding had to be tied to economic development. Hittinger said the tie exists, since main street businesses need the utilities for operation. Town Manager Melissa Lampshire added the main line, the waterline that Nucla and Naturita share, is definitely tied to economic development, supporting both communities.
Citizen Aimee Tooker appeared before the board and explained the work she’s doing on coordination agreements, getting the legal process established between municipalities and local land management agencies. She also asked trustees to make the work with the state’s Department of Local Affairs more transparent, and she’d like to give input. As a Main Street business owner, the process affects her personally.
Hittinger told trustees it’s time to settle the cell tower issue. He said 18 people showed up to the Vertical Bridge meeting, nobody had extra questions at the end of the meeting and it’s time to either put it at the town site, brush dump or get out of the contract altogether. He said the town has spent $13,000 for legal fees already, with attorney discussions and CORA documents. He said the town board can’t bankrupt Nucla over the issue.
“How are we moving forward?” he asked fellow trustees.
The mayor said she was concerned about delays too and agreed it was time for resolution on the cell tower. Lampshire said she’d talk to Vertical Bridge. Trustees know it costs $60,000 to move the cell tower site, but they want to know costs of contract termination. Hittinger said it should be done by the next meeting.
Trustees did more work with ordinances. A second reading of the water fee schedule was completed, and the ordinance adopted. Rates have to increase, so the town can apply for grants. Water users will now pay another $14 for water and sewer. Dormant taps go from $9 to $35.
A second reading of the conditional use permit for RV living was tabled, because of insurance and fines. Now property owners’ need to demonstrate that. That ordinance will be read at the September meeting.
Next, ordinance 2025-004, amending a previous ordinance, regarding raw water and commodity rates was approved. Lampshire told the Forum last week in a separate interview that’s to make sure owners of short-term rentals aren’t being over-charged. Trustees agreed the old ordinance was unfair; still, anyone who goes over their allotted 5,000 gallons will be charged for excess usage.
Ordinance 2025-005 had a first reading, regarding the 20-foot easement affecting the Brown and Painter residences. Lampshire said that has to repealed; then landowners can discuss and decide what they want. The mayor will recuse herself from the voting, as it directly impacts her. The ordinance will be re-read in September and adopted.
