August 2025 Citizen Observer Corps Report Highlights

The full reports by Citizen Observers are available on Substack. Go here to learn more about this project. If you’d consider being a volunteer Observer, please message us. For more news about local governments, tune into Larimer County Snapshot News.

Windsor Town Board Meeting | July 28, 2025

Observer: Shannon Murphy

• Mixed Results on April Financial Report
  • Dean Moyer, Director of Finance, presented the April 2025 Financial Report, highlighting year-to-year differences. Compared to 2024, the town is behind in use tax collections but ahead in sales tax by $500,000 and property tax (amount undisclosed). However, cash outflows have exceeded expectations due to the Open Space Fund purchase in March 2025.
• Design Standards Approved for Central Business Zone District
  • Kimberly Lambrecht, Long Range Planner, presented the Second Reading of Ordinance No. 2025-1722. This ordinance updates the Central Business Zone District regulations, including new land use application procedures, design standards, and sign regulations that implement recommendations from the Windsor Downtown Master Plan. The board unanimously approved the ordinance.
• Positive Response to Hunting in Open Spaces
  • Town staff member Eric Lucas noted that the board approved a partnership in April to allow turkey hunting in designated open space areas. He shared a letter from a young resident who harvested his first turkey and thanked the board for supporting access to this sport.

Wellington Planning Commission | August 4, 2025

Observer: Nanci Wendland

• State Mandate for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Discussed
  • Planning Director Cody Bird recommended the board strive to meet the state’s minimum requirements for compliance. The minimum standards are:

1. All electric vehicle (EV) charging projects must be approved administratively.
2. Denials/conditions can only exist for the purpose of reasonably protecting public health or safety.
3. All reviews must be predicated on conditions established on a publicly accessible checklist.
4. All reviews must be predicated on conditions established on a publicly accessible checklist.
   • Bird said Land Use Codes will need to be updated for C-1, C-3, LI and I districts. These codes are for commercial and light industrial land use and don’t include the downtown Main Street C-2 code. Bird said the downtown area would fall under accessory use, which includes both private residential and commercial requests. If a homeowner or business wanted to provide an EV charging station on their private property, they would apply for approval as an accessory use.
   • Commissioner Sherman Stringer asked if the town has the capacity to accommodate EV chargers on the electrical grid. Bird said he will reach out to Poudre REA and Xcel Energy for confirmation of Wellington’s electric capacity.

• Actions Recommended to Comply with State Prop 123 Affordable Housing
  • Planning Director Cody Bird recommended the town commit to Proposition 123 to increase affordable housing in Wellington and pursue the Fast-Track option. Bird said he believes all of this is feasible and his team is ready to begin applying for grants and updating Land Use codes and policies. Final approval is needed by the town Board of Trustees.

Thompson School Board Special Meeting and Study Session | August 6, 2025

Observer: Lisa Love Blankenship

• $99M Bond Approved for November Ballot
  • The bond will not create a tax rate increase, but instead will be a continuation of an earlier bond set to expire. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Todd Piccone gave an overview of the proposed distribution of the $99M, which includes $35M for critical needs, $10M for safety and security, and $54M for future planning. More details are available at https://www.tsdbond.org/about/2025.
  • Board member Nancy Rumfelt noted that voter trust was a significant issue in the failure of a 2024 bond initiative, and asked whether the proposed 2025 ballot language is detailed enough in listing specific intended uses of the money, as well as whether the language is in compliance with Colorado’s Tax Payers Bill of Rights (TABOR). Board Vice-President Stu Boyd compared the proposed 2025 ballot language with the ballot issues from 2024 and 2018, and felt that the language was consistent.
  • The resolution passed 6 to 1, with Rumfelt voting no.

Thompson School District Board of Education Regular Meeting | August 20, 2025

Observer: Lisa Love Blankenship

• Two Legal Cases Discussed in Executive Session
  • Before the regular meeting, the board met in executive session to receive legal advice from the TSD attorney about proposed settlements in two cases, Johnson v. Thompson School District R2-J, United States District Court Colorado, Case No. 1:24-CV-01627, and Roane v. Thompson School District, Larimer County District Court, Case No. 2025CV030576.
  • Board president Barb Kruse announced that the board made no decisions and did not take any votes during the executive session. She did not give further details about the cases at this time, but since approval of the settlements appeared on the consent agenda for the regular meeting, documents about the Johnson case are available in the agenda packet. The Johnson case concerns accessibility in the Loveland High School auditorium. Part of the settlement includes remediation actions to be taken in the auditorium.
  • There were no materials provided for the Roane v. Thompson case, but it also was approved in the consent agenda.

Windsor Town Board Regular Meeting | August 25, 2025

Observer: Shannon Murphy

• Future NISP Participation Discussed in Executive Session
  • The board adjourned into executive session to discuss negotiation strategy regarding the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), a major water infrastructure initiative in Northern Colorado. Recent reports indicate the project is facing rising costs and the withdrawal of the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District.

Wellington Board of Trustees Regular Meeting | August 26, 2025

Observer: Nanci Wendland

• Strategic Plan Completions Noted
  • Deputy Town Administrator Kelly Houghteling updated the board on the year-to-date accomplishments from the Strategic Plan.

1. Completion of the water treatment plant and the water reclamation facility.
2. Completion of the housing needs assessment allowing the planning department to proceed with affordable housing options.
3. The town completed a fishing dock at the Wellville Ponds that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
4. The town completed several mini-grant projects:
   1. 2 murals
   2. Materials for the “shop local” campaign
   3. Addition of an outdoor xylophone at Centennial Park
   4. Launched a new podcast called Around the Well to potentially improve communications with residents.

Timnath Town Council Meeting | August 26, 2025

Observer: Linda Burrous

• Resident Claims Wells Drained By Subdivision Construction
  • During Public Comment, self-described life-long resident Carl Elliot spoke on what he describes as dramatically reduced water levels in his and his neighbors' adjudicated wells because of disruption from construction of Timnath Lakes Subdivision. Elliot said that the developer has offered to reimburse landowners for needed irrigation water and to drill new wells. He said the developer told him they are only able to drill down to bedrock and there is no water above that line. Elliott said that this has been going on for 2 years and he now has over 55 endangered trees. He claimed that adjudicated wells – his well was registered with the State in the 1920s -- have top legal priority over all other users.
• Police Captain’s Position ApprovedFor more information about becoming a citizen journalist with the Colorado Observer Corps, visit citizenobserversco.co
  • The board unanimously approved a resolution to add a captain’s position to the Timnath Police Department (TPD). Chief of Police, Laurie Scott, told the board that while TPD has not had anyone in this position, other local police departments with a similar size and/or number of call outs, such as Estes Park and Johnstown, do. Scott explained that the position of captain would better serve the chain of command, enhance supervision, provide a professional #2 position to the chief, and provide additional mentorship and leadership for the department while enhancing promotion opportunities.