At the Town of Nucla’s second regularly scheduled monthly meeting on May 27, Olivia Bobbitt spoke in the public comment portion. Bobbit, president of West End Dark Sky Association (WEDSA), told the board WEDSA received funding for new dark sky signage. Mayor pro tem Tim Pierce asked about what kind of signage. Bobbitt said the greater organization changed its name from the International Dark Sky Association to Dark Sky International. The funding supports the name change and allows for bigger size signage. HnH Sign will support the sign upgrades.
Trustees discussed that on May 21 Town Clerk Jessica Davis swore in new trustee Jason Richardson. Next, trustees accepted Ailene Smith's resignation as town trustee. They discussed letters of intent for filling her vacancy, the advertising for it, and the board will appoint a new trustee by the next meeting, June 8.
The Montrose Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the service plan for the proposed West End Health Service District on June 10, though there is a workforce housing meeting that same day. Mayor Paula Brown would like a letter of support from the town for the health service district.
Trustee Aimee Tooker expressed concerned about the number of mills the district will ask for. Pierce said he heard the high number exists because they’ll build the new hospital all at once, not stretch it out over time. Tooker asked what Basin Clinic would receive from Montrose County’s public safety tax; she’s worried the West End Health Service District won’t pass in the election, if the mills are too high.
Pierce said he felt the East End is trying to cut Basin Clinic and the West End out of the county’s public safety tax altogether. Brown said it would be good to invite the Basin Clinic’s board to the town’s June 8 meeting to discuss the details of the mill levy and more.
On the agenda was a motion to either approve or deny the vacation of the the Miner’s Crossing subdivision plat, owned by Versailles Holdings II, LLC. Pierce asked if Versailles Holdings, namely Joseph Hittinger, wanted to vacate the plat or subdivision. Brown said she believed he was “putting it back to where it was” and “the last time (she) talked to him it wasn’t penciling out.”
Trustees wondered what he might be doing with the property, developing it or selling it, and they discussed there were discrepancies with the original plat. Trustees discussed the idea that taxes might be high on the existing lots. The issue was tabled until the next meeting.
Next, trustees discussed a joint meeting on June 9 at 6 p.m. with West End Public Schools at Nucla Community Center.
They also approved a motion to add the 50 AMP outlet at Nucla Community Center to the southeast corner. Trustees have discussed the work at the last few meetings, and they’ve looked at bids. The outlet will support the VFW mobile hospital unit and other purposes on site.
Trustees discussed the work on the Drought Water Resolution. The mayor has been working on comparing Nucla’s draft with Naturita’s and Mustang Water Authority’s. She’s got a plan to run the documents through AI to compare, contrast and streamline them. She said the work could be finished quickly, and the town’s Drought Water Resolution could be approved at Nucla’s June 8 meeting. Brown, whose position is unpaid as mayor, along with all trustees, admitted she’s been working hard at her day job. She added she hadn’t had time to work on the other policies that were up for discussion, including social media and technology, and also the forthcoming Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
