With the recent touchdown of tornadoes in nearby communities across the Front Range, Berthoud resident and business owner Scott Banzhaf asked officials at the Tuesday, June 9 Board of Trustees meeting to consider using the existing, but unused, sirens be returned to active use.

Noting an earlier investigation into developing an emergency warning system, Trustee Jeff Hindman said it was found to be too expensive to develop but added the Town does have access to an emergency telephone notification system, similar to reverse-911.

Town staff were directed to look into using the existing sirens.

Staff Pursuing Grants for Phase III
Town staff are also pursuing a grant totaling more than $700,000 from Surface Transportation Project-Metro funds to help offset the costs of Phase III of the Mountain Avenue construction project.

Another grant for just under $125,000 is also in the works. The grant would go towards increasing ridership in the Berthoud Area Transportation Services (BATS) program.    

BATS Resolutions Approved
Eric Boyd, Director of the BATS program presented three resolutions to the board for approval; the first authorized use of property at the old waste water treatment plant to be used for a new BATS facility, the second authorized an amendment to a new vehicle contract and the third authorized a contract with the Colorado Department of Transportation for the new BATS facility, which had to be approved before a Request for Proposal could go out.

2008 Audit Approved
Financial statements and an independent audit the Town’s 2008 financial statements, along with a report to the Board of Trustees, prepared by certified public accountants Sample & Bailey of Fort Collins was approved unanimously by the board.

Sub-Committee to Draft Job Posting
With current Town Administrator Jim White expected to be leaving sometime in August, the trustees plan to begin working on finding a replacement as quickly as possible. Trustees Glen Buckingham and Jeff Hindman, along with Mayor Pro Tem David Gregg and Mayor Tom Patterson will meet this week to draft a job description.

Trustee Michael Patrick noted that, because of the differences of opinion that surfaced around the discussion to renew White’s contract earlier in the year, he wanted to ensure there was buy-in from all of the board members before a description is posted.