The Town of Nucla voted to help West End Family Link with some financial trouble the nonprofit has found itself in. Representatives of Family Link said they’ve discovered some grants were not handled in a timely manner. Now, the nonprofit has lost at least $130,000 in funding over two years, and possibly as much as $260,000 over four.
Barbara Edwards said it’s unfortunate and happened a few months ago, before a new executive director was hired. The Town of Nucla has only $2,000 in stores for nonprofit funds, but agreed to donate it. Family Link also has a donation page on its website.
Later, Nucla Town Trustees also planned to have a public meeting for water and sewer projects July 24 at 6 p.m. at the Nucla Community Center. The meetings are important to the grant funding process the town is going through.
The latest on the proposed tower
Some tension at the meeting ensued over the cell tower agenda item. Mimi Johnson, citizen of Paradox and with kids in the Nucla school, opposes the new Nucla cell tower to be placed at the top of town. She asked for Trustee Penni Philbrick to recuse herself during the tower discussion. Johnson is concerned about collusion and doesn’t like that Philbrick and the mayor are related. Even though there was no vote, Johnson thinks it’s unethical for both women to participate in the discussion. However, the board didn’t agree with recusing anyone, and wanted both women to be part of the discussion.
Johnson told trustees their cell tower contract is essentially “null,” and she with other citizens is prepared to fight the issue in court. She’s ready to file an injunction and hire an attorney, and said she’s spoken to school officials who will join the lawsuit.
“They will join one that is brought to the table,” Johnson told the board.
The mayor said the cell tower company Vertical Bridge did respond to town requests for a meeting. They’ll have a phone call, made public, so town officials can ask questions on buying out of the contract, or changing the location. The meeting won’t have public comment, but the board will ask questions to the tower company, and the public can send their questions to the board now. Trustees agreed to make public the meeting time and date.
Johnson on June 12 sent documentation to the Forum that indicates there was no meeting or announcement of the cell tower’s newest location at the top of town. She said town not getting the public input or announcing the site makes for legal trouble.
She’s got a GoFundMe account to raise money for litigation. She said the funds will be used for a temporary restraining order of town funds being used on the cell tower project. Additionally, funds will pay for attorney fees.
Johnson told the Forum June 15 she wants the board to speak to the town attorney and get clarity, so trustees understand the legal situation they’re in.
“I’m ready to take it as far as it needs to go,” she said.
Town makes park purchases, gears up for fishing
In another town news, the board will purchase new picnic tables for the pavilion in Nucla Town Park; they’ll order eight six-foot tables at a cost of $6,615.60.
They also reviewed the town’s annual audit, and no questions were asked. Though, the mayor said trustees could ask any questions later.
The board is still reviewing possible changes to the conditional use permit for housing. An upcoming meeting on that subject is in the works.
The fishing permit is still being discussed, and the mayor asked for clarity, so that restrictions don’t have to be added after people begin fishing. The cost of the permit will take into consideration the port-a-potty cost-share. The permit might be something like $10 to fish for a week, and permits will be limited.
The town is looking for funding to support the waterline that runs water to both Nucla and Naturita. Patrick Rondinelli, of the state’s Department of Local Affairs, suggested Nucla requesting the full amount, $108,000, an estimate Tim Pierce has for assessing that line and what needs done.
