February 2025 Larimer County Report Highlights

Johnstown Town Council | February 3, 2035

• Business of the Month Announced
  • Bonefish Grill was announced as February Business of the Month. Bonefish Grill has 70 employees, was started in 2007, and donates to many local non-profit organizations.
• Library Snow Removal A Problem
  • Mayor ProTem Chad Young said he received a call from the Johnstown Library about snow removal. The library spokesperson said the snow is no longer being cleared before opening at 9 a.m. The current vendor is not showing up until closer to noon. Staff are concerned about the liability if a patron should slip and fall. Town Manager Matt LeCerf said resources have become strained by the town’s growth, however he said he will investigate other possible resources for the library’s snow removal.

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Wellington Board of Trustees | February 11, 2025

• Improvements to Highway 1 Discussed
  • Roadway improvements to intersections of Hwy 1 with County Rds. 9 and 62E have been redesigned. The final draft still needs approval.
• Affordable Housing Needs and Recommendations Heard
  • Matrix Design Group completed its Housing Needs and Affordability Assessment for Wellington, including recommendations and strategies for the town.

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Johnstown Town Council Meeting | February 19, 2025

• Public Commenter Upset Regarding Cemetery Clean Up
  • A resident said he saw the cemetery crew cleaning up and throwing items left on or near grave sites into the trash. This resident’s wife is buried at Johnstown Cemetery. He said he was very upset. He said he was able to pull his personal items out of the trash, but wondered how many families were losing their personal items that have meaning to families. He wants the cemetery to do a better job notifying families of cleaning days so they can temporarily remove their items. Town Manager Matt LeCerf said the cemetery committee sets policies and modifications, but he will ask them to come up with better policies to notify the families.
• Preliminary plat for Waggoner Farms Denied
  • A motion to rezone and approve a preliminary plat for the Waggoner Farms subdivision died for lack of a second motion by council members.
• Redesign of Highway 60 and Colorado Boulevard Receives More Funding
  • An increase of $298K was approved for a contract to redesign the Hwy 60/Colorado Blvd. intersection.
• Discussion Grows Heated Regarding Development
  • Larry Buckendorf with Johnstown North Investments LLC asked the council for a concept review and feedback on the Larson project zoning. Buckendorf’s group has made several design changes including:
    • Changing the location of the 6,300 sq ft lots.
    • Increasing the number of multi-family units.
    • Changing the perimeter buffer from 20 feet to 50 feet.
  • Buckendorf said he’s hosted several neighborhood meetings. He said the meetings have been well attended by surrounding residents, and the revisions above are the results of feedback from the residents. He said there’s been approximately 20 responses.
  • Council member Dee Anne Menzies asked that Buckendorf send notices to everyone in the neighboring subdivision of about 489 residents. Buckendorf said that’s an unreasonable request and based on the town land code, he must only include residents within 800 feet of the project.
  • Council member Dianne Morris said that two years ago the original plan included lots 15,000 – 30,000 sq ft on the north side. She said this would be “in like and kind” to the subdivision to the north. Buckendorf said he didn’t recall making such a statement, and that larger lots no longer fit this property. His plan is to transition the area from the larger lots to 4 different types of housing, including smaller single-family residential lots of 6300 sq ft.
  • Morris and Buckendorf continued the debate, which grew heated. Mayor Michael Duncan used the gavel to call the meeting to order, asking Buckendorf to lower the temperature and be respectful.
  • Mayor Duncan ended the concept review and immediately adjourned the meeting at 8:48 p.m.

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Windsor Town Board Meeting | February 24, 2025

• Severance After Prom Gifted $1500
  • The Town Board heard a presentation from the Severance High School After Prom Committee. The committee is seeking funds to create an after prom lock-in event at the Main Event in Windsor. The event will include bowling, laser tag, arcade games and food, according to a letter sent by the committee to the board. The total cost of the event is $14,000. The committee requested $1,500 from the Windsor Town Board, and is asking for the same amount from the Town of Severance. The committee is fundraising, as well, so that the cost to students will be minimal. The board unanimously approved the $1,500 request.
• Land for 700 New Housing Units Rezoned
  • The Board unanimously approved the Second Reading to rezone a 173-acre property near Windsor Lake, paving the way for over 700 new housing units in the Overland 368 development.
• Mayor Discusses Community Involvement
  • Mayor Julie Cline said the Valentine’s Day Coffee with the Mayor was a successful event. She mentioned she is judging Windsor Charter Academy student presentations on how to keep gardens pest-free.
• Executive Session Declared
  • At 7:30 p.m., the Board moved to an Executive Session to cover confidential discussions on water lease contracts, open space acquisition, and economic development incentives, focusing on negotiation strategies and property transactions as per Colorado law.

Observer: Shannon Murphy

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Health District Board of Directors Election on May 6, 2025

From LWV Larimer County newsletter

The Health District of Northern Larimer County is a special tax district created by voters in 1960 to serve community health needs. Today, the Health District provides dental care, behavioral health, and assistance with health insurance enrollment and literacy. The district also collaborates at the systems level with community partners to improve the health of our community.

The district boundaries span the northern two-thirds of Larimer County, including Fort Collins, Laporte, Timnath, Wellington, Livermore, and Red Feather Lakes. The Health District is primarily supported by local property tax dollars and is governed by its publicly elected, five-member Board of Directors.

Three Board members will be elected on May 6th.

If you would like to use a mail-in ballot in this election, you will need to request an absentee ballot. They are not sent to all voters as in a regular election. Ballots can be requested by either:

• Calling the District at 970-224-5209 and providing yoru name, address, and year of birth;

OR

• Visiting the Health District website to download an application. Applications can be returned through the mail, email, or in person. You will find the application and instructions for completing it here.

The deadline to request a ballot is Tuesday, April 29, by 5:00 PM.

Absentee ballots will be mailed out on April 14. Completed ballots need to be returned by May 6 at 7:00 PM.

The election will be covered on VOTE411 and the Voter Services Team is working on organizing a Candidate Forum.

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The full reports by Citizen Observers for the League of Women Voters of Larimer County are available on this 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.