Boulder County News
Published by the Boulder County Commissioners
Past Issues
May 1997
Trails Planned for Harney-Lastoka Open Space
The Boulder County Commissioners have unanimously approved recommendations by a
citizen advisory committee to create hiking trails accompanied by historical signs on the
Harney-Lastoka Open Space between Lafayette and Louisville. The plan previously was
approved by the two communities' city councils, along with the county's Historic
Preservation and Parks and Open Space Advisory Committees.
Improvements to the site would begin with a cleanup effort, and agricultural activity would
continue for as long as possible. Trails would be built to link the site to existing trails in
Lafayette and Louisville, and existing structures would be preserved wherever possible. The
signs along the trails would explain the history of the site, including both agricultural and
mining activities. For more information, contact the Parks and Open Space Department at
441-3950.
County Purchases Conservation Easements on Two Properties
The Boulder County Commissioners voted April 15 to purchase conservation easements on
two properties near Longmont to preserve lands of agricultural importance.
The Yoakum property consists of more than 700 acres at the southeast corner of North
95th Street and Yellowstone Road. The agreement removes 44 development rights from the
property, ensures water rights for agriculture and preserves waterfowl habitat near Terry
Lake. The Lamy property consists of 37 acres north of State Highway 66 and one mile west
of North 75th Street. The agreement restricts future development to one single-family
residence and allows continued agricultural use of the property. It also extends the open
space corridor along the highway. For more information on these purchases, contact the
Parks and Open Space Department at 441-3950.
Commissioners Approve Weed Management Plan
The commissioners voted April 8 to approve an integrated weed management program for
county open space properties. The plan calls for a variety of methods of weed management:
mowing, burning, hand-pulling, spraying herbicide, carefully scheduled intensive grazing
and introducing insects that interfere with seed production. The treatment for each weed-infested area is specific to the type of weed, density and size of infestation, wildlife and
wetlands considerations and other factors.
Herbicide application was approved for small sections along Betasso Road, Sunshine
Canyon and Gold Hill/Dixon Road, as well as about 50 acres of Hall Open Space. Aerial
spraying was approved for 250 acres of Table Mountain and would take place pending
approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce, which owns the site. Public notice will
be posted prior to herbicide applications, and the county will use the most effective, least
toxic herbicide available, at the lowest effective application rate. For more information,
contact the Parks and Open Space Department at 441-3950.
Jail Expansion Plan Presented
Boulder County architects presented a draft plan to the commissioners April 15 to expand
the jail by 45,000 square feet and house up to 300 additional inmates. Overcrowding at the
jail has resulted in a backlog of criminals, many of them convicted of drunken driving
offenses, waiting to enter the jail's daytime work-release program. Funding for expansion
of the jail would have to come through a voter referendum in November.
The commissioners referred the expansion plan to the county's Jail Use Committee, which
was appointed by the commissioners last summer to examine ways to ease crowding at the
jail. Because most of the crowding problem is caused by the 40 to 50 jail prisoners who are
waiting to move into the state prison system, the county also is considering a lawsuit that
would force the state prisons to remove their prisoners from the jail. For more information,
contact Community Corrections, 441-3690.
Assessor's Office Provides New Service
Callers seeking general information from the Boulder County Assessor's Office now have
access to that information around the clock. The Interactive Voice Response system
provides information about Boulder County properties when the address or property tax
identification number is entered on a touch-tone telephone keypad. The system provides
such information as the name of the property owner, the actual and assessed value of the
property, the year the structure was built, its square footage and other property
characteristics. The Assessor's Office typically receives 7,000 to 10,000 requests for such
information each month. To access the IVR system, call 441-3530.
Recycling and Composting Authority Awards Nine Education Grants
The Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority granted $42,102 on April 30 to
nine projects that will educate Boulder County residents about recycling and composting
efforts. The projects receiving the grants and the award amounts are as follows:
Construction and Demolition Waste Reduction Program ($6,000) -- The Boulder
Energy Conservation Center, in conjunction with the University of Colorado, will sort
waste at several construction sites within the county to determine the quantity and type
of waste generated. The project also will analyze potential markets for recycled
construction waste and develop and distribute a guide for area construction firms to
encourage them to sort and recycle materials at job sites. Master Composter Training ($1,556) -- The Boulder Energy Conservation Center will
expand public service hours provided by master composters throughout the county.Waste Wise: An Environmental Conference for 7th to 12th Graders ($3,996) -- Eco-Cycle will organize a conference for about 450 students from the Boulder and St. Vrain
Valley School Districts to address solid waste management, local recycling programs
and environmental topics associated with resource consumption. An environmental
careers expo also will take place.Biff and Suzette Take Precycling to the Movies ($5,300) -- Eco-Cycle's waste reduction
advocates, Biff and Suzette, will be featured in a series of slides to be shown before movies at
local theaters during November and December.Litterless Lunch Project ($1,500) --
Eco-Cycle will purchase and distribute 600 reusable cloth
lunch bags for students during a project aimed at educating youngsters about the amount of
material discarded from a typical lunch.Classroom Mini-Grant Program ($3,000) --
The Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools
submitted this proposal to provide teachers in the school district with five small grants to develop
projects related to waste reduction and recycling.Educational Effort for Children of Ward ($3,500) --
The Mountain Community Resource
Center will conduct a six-month educational program in Ward focused on recycling in the home,
a town wide cleanup effort and a composting project.Purchase of Additional Collection Vehicle ($8,000) --
Nederland Youth Services, which
involves youth in recycling efforts, will double its service area through the purchase of a second
collection vehicle. The program's education efforts and the amount of materials collected will
be increased, and mountain youth will have opportunities for employment.Leave it on the Lawn ($9,250) --
Through Western Disposal Service, the Authority will offer
rebate coupons throughout the county for mulching lawnmower retrofits, and several hardware
stores will offer rebates on the purchase of new mulching mowers. In addition, education efforts
regarding mulching and composting will be aimed at homeowners.
Mosquito Control District Services Begin
Boulder County's Mosquito Control District services are under way for 1997. The district,
established in 1995 in response to citizen requests, includes much of the property in unincorporated
eastern Boulder County outside city limits. The approximate boundaries of the district are Highway
36 on the west, Highway 66 on the north, the county line on the east, and South Boulder Road on
the south.
Since 1995, Boulder County has contracted with Colorado Mosquito Control (CMC), a Broomfield
private company, to provide services for the district. CMC will maintain a 24-hour hotline so that
residents may call to request service, information and exclusions from spraying. The number is
466-4515. The county requires CMC to follow integrated pest management procedures, which keep
chemical use to a minimum. CMC focuses on locating and treating mosquito larva production sites,
minimizing the need to spray adult mosquitoes. This summer, adult populations will be monitored,
and spraying will occur only when overnight traps record at least 100 adult female mosquitos. For
more information, call CMC at 466-4515.
Upcoming Items of Note
Consortium of Cities Meeting 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 7 at the West Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe
Road, Boulder. For more information, call Intergovernmental Relations Director Dickey Lee
Hullinghorst, 441-3500.
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 12 in the Commissioners'
Conference Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call the
Land Use Department, 441-3930, or the Parks and Open Space Department, 441-3950.
Regional Transportation Task Force Meeting 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 14 in the Commissioners'
Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call
Intergovernmental Relations Director Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, 441-3500.
North Foothills Open Space Advisory Committee Meeting 5 p.m., Monday, May 19 in the
Commissioners' Conference Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more
information, call the Parks and Open Space Department, 441-3950.
Human Services Coordinating Council Annual Retreat 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 21 at the East
Boulder Senior Center, Longmont. For more information, call Special Projects Coordinator Barbara
Kendall, 441-3840.
Planning Commission Meeting 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 21 in the Commissioners' Hearing
Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. The meeting reconvenes at 7 p.m. after
a dinner break. For more information, call the Land Use Department, 441-3930.
Boulder County Day in Niwot Tuesday, May 27, with a public meeting at 8 p.m. at Niwot
Elementary School, 8778 Morton Road, Niwot. For more information, call Policy Analyst Carolyn
Dulchinos, 441-4567.
April Contracts and Bid Awards
Parks and Open Space Department Contract
With Interstate Irrigation Inc. for irrigation pipelines ($25,800).
1997 Non-Profit Agency Contracts:
With OUR Child Center ($23,705).
With Hospice of Boulder County ($7,499).
With Boulder County Legal Services ($28,665).
With People's Clinic ($185,410).With Clinica Campesina ($94,650).With El Comité de Longmont ($25,000).With Boulder County Partners ($8,290).
Community Corrections Division Contract:
With Bob Cushman and Mark Cunniff for system analysis and data review for the Jail Use
Committee ($10,000).
Road Maintenance Division Bid Awards:
For tree services to Hayes Tree Service ($6,120).
For two sander/plow trucks to Volvo Trucks and Fruehauf Trailer Corporation ($212,474).
For a broce broom to MacDonald Equipment Company ($24,555).
Parks and Open Space Department Bid Awards:
For the Clark Farm re-roofing project to D&D Roofing ($7,585).
For fencing of the James property to Jack Wiley ($1,767.60).
For power mowers to Colorado Outdoor Equipment ($3,588.99).
For a precast basement vault to Amcor Precast ($4,425).For mowing services to custom Services of Colorado ($24.50/swath mile).For copier equipment to Office Solutions, Inc., ($15,766).
Transportation Department Bid Awards:
For Coal Creek Trail segment 8 rehabilitation to Miners, Inc., ($24,234).
For the North 95th Street/Lookout Road traffic signal project to W.L. Contractors ($75,044.20).
Social Services Department Bid Award:
For custom file folders to BRC/Harris Inc. ($14,300).
Clerk and Recorder's Office Bid Award:
For a microfilm/microfiche scanner to Datafilms ($14,495).
Information Services Division Bid Award:
For bay network equipment to Data Transit International ($12,682).
Boulder County News is published monthly by the Board of County Commissioners. The purpose
of the newsletter is to provide information concerning Boulder County government to Boulder
County municipalities. Whenever possible, contact names and phone numbers are included.
Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306
Phone: (303)441-3500, Fax: 441-4525
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