At Nucla’s second regular monthly meeting in May, which was rather short but quite dense, trustees discussed the intergovernmental agreements and the West End Vision Plan. Trustee Aimee Tooker told fellow trustees she’s uploaded material she thinks will help with updating land use code. She said she’s been reviewing policies specifically in Garfield County, and she said there are ways for the town and county to partner.
Mayor Paula Brown updated trustees on the Rimrocker Trail signage and reroute work. Brown said she thanks Nucla Town Hall. Town Manager-Clerk Jessica Davis helped her locate the original route down Nucla’s Main Street. Brown said she took that information to the Nucla-Naturita Chamber of Commerce to have a conversation, but she felt the discussion got off topic. Brown isn’t sure the chamber supports the town’s wish to see the Rimrocker Trail go down Main Street. Brown would like to scan the maps and send them to Montrose County, specifically Erika Story, who is working on the Rimrocker Trail signage and reroute. Brown said the county may simply approve the work, or offer advice on next steps.
Brown added that various apps have different versions of the Rimrocker Trail. She’s been talking with representatives of CDOT and also Bo Andrews from the county. She said she would be talking to businesses at a Main Street business meeting on June 2.
Trustees discussed there’s a Land Use and Development Code workshop on June 24 at 4:30 p.m. with RPI.
And, in the resolution portion of the meeting, the board approved Resolution 2026-007, establishing expedited review policies for affordable housing projects. Brown explained the funding could potentially go to partner with Naturita. The Town of Naturita already passed its version of the resolution. Brown has plans to reach out to the state’s Department of Local Affairs to discuss funding opportunities.
Tooker asked if any trustees had researched housing cooperatives. She said the work is “really cool” and different types of members can come together to own part of a housing development; corporations could buy in. She said establishing a cooperative may be faster than working with the state, and perhaps Nucla get more out of it with less oversight.
Pierce told the board Mustang Water Authority (MWA) is working on its Project Needs Assessment for the main waterline from MWA to 2900 Rd. He said the assessment is about replacement, rehabilitation, refurbishment — whatever the best plan of action might be after engineers complete the assessment.
Pierce said now is the time to get in on the $300 million available with Colorado’s revolving loan fund. He said the Project Needs Assessment covers the bases of environmental studies and finance plans. Basically, the assessment is the starting point to the state’s revolving loan fund application.
“Now is the time to do it,” Pierce said.
He added MWA would hold the loan, but the towns of Nucla and Naturita would be collaborators. Pierce said the plan could add in the tie-in from the Midway Tank to DD Road. He asked Naturita’s board what they’d add to a comprehensive plan, as far as projects go in the future. They said a bypass of the tank, in case the tank had issues. Pierce suggested a system for watering Naturita Town Park with untreated water, rather than potable. Naturita also said they have three town loops to finish for improving water quality too.
The Project Needs Assessment will cost $18,000, but Pierce said $10,000 will come back from the state for engineering. Essentially, $8,000 will be the cost, and he reminded Nucla trustees that Nucla pays 60% of MWA costs, and Naturita 40%. He wanted verbal approval from Nucla trustees to move forward, and the board agreed to do so.
In other town news, Davis said the town is working on hiring a library director in Nucla and reviewing the town’s clean-up day data and details for the future.
At the end of the meeting, the board went into executive session for “personnel” matters.
