January 2025 Larimer County Report Highlights

Johnstown Town Council | January 6, 2035

• The Council designated the town’s website as the official place to post public notices. If circumstances do not allow for electronic posting, official notices will be posted at the town hall.
• The council authorized a $50.7 million grant from the Johnstown General funds to the Johnstown Water Utility Enterprise.
• There were no Town Manager, Town Attorney, or Council reports, and no new business was discussed.

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Windsor Town Board Meeting | January 13, 2025

• Mayor Cline proclaimed January as Acts of Connection Month, emphasizing the importance of social connection in Windsor.
• Mayor Pro-Tem Ron Steinbach said because of a quarter-percent tax implemented in 2018, Larimer County's behavioral health initiatives have generated over $14 million in local community grants and served 6,000 people at the Longview Campus. This benefits residents of Windsor.
• The Board unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2024-1713, imposing a temporary moratorium on natural medicine facilities that supervise psychedelic mushroom use. Windsor joins communities that are skeptical of this type business.
• The Kodak Open Space Master Plan at 257 & Poudre Trail Drive was unanimously approved by the Board. It is 145 acres.
• Windsor Recreation Center reported 37,000 more users in 2024 compared to 2023.

Observer: Shannon Murphy

Wellington Board of Trustees | January 14, 2025

• The board designated the posting place for public notices as the Town's website. If the website is not available, the front door of Town Hall will be used as the designated posting place.
• The board went into Executive Session to discuss items regarding the North Poudre Irrigation Company, specifically positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategy for negotiations, and/or instructing negotiators and for the purpose of receiving legal advice. The Executive session proceedings will be electronically recorded and the record will be preserved for 90 days through April 14, 2025.

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Health District of Northern Larimer County Board of Directors Meeting | January 23, 2025

Public comments pointed to conflicting reactions to recent direction taken by the board of directors since hiring the current Executive Director, Lianne Jollon.

• One of the health district’s doctors expressed in a letter to the board his support for the 2025 strategic plan and a new generation of changes. A member of the Larimer County Board of Directors for the North Colorado Health Alliance wrote that he is excited to support the board. His letter stated that change can lead to resistance, but the strategic plan addresses the challenges and is a thoughtful roadmap.
• Averil Strand, Director of Community Health Services - Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, attended in person and offered her concerns in a letter to the board. She said she was representing a group of 11 past members and citizens who felt they had been berated and retaliated against. She said there were claims made by previous staff regarding financial mismanagement and defensiveness from some in the finance department. Strand said 29 employees have recently resigned and another 8 employees are scheduled for reassignment. She said she thinks there is a toxic work environment in the finance department, the IT staff have resigned, and nurses have been laid off.
• Lee Thielen, former Interim Director of the Health District (prior to the hiring of the current Executive Director Jollon), offered her concerns in a letter that suggested future steps for course direction:

1. Appoint a qualified neutral third party to conduct a 360-degree review
2. Perform an intensive review of financial reforms
3. Place a hold on all major changes currently under consideration until the review is complete
4. Create, share, and implement a detailed plan for gathering meaningful input from staff, public, community partners, and clients

• After Thielen spoke, several others online and in-person continued to praise the board and directors for the work they do in the community and for the Health District. A current staff member said regardless of policy, he thinks Board President Gutilla is a good captain who has a good crew. He said, “Let it play out instead of going with whims against her.”
• Tom Linnell, a previous board member, told a story about smelling smoke and having a fire in the building when he was on the board. He said at first, no one believed him until eventually the fire department was called and they said get out immediately: there’s a fire! Tom said the point to his story is that this smells like smoke and should be checked out. He said, “Bring in a third party. Is there a problem? Let’s find out.”

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Red Feather Lakes Planning Advisory Committee | January 23, 2025

• Red Feather Lakes (RFL) will be included in Phase II of the Larimer County Wildfire Defense Project and county staff encouraged the community to apply for $10,000 from the $9.7 million recently awarded to Larimer County by the state government, which received $28 million for wildfire mitigation from the federal government
• On advice of Larimer County Planning Dept., the RFL Planning Advisory Committee agreed to meet quarterly instead of monthly.
• Ryan Zigray was elected as the 2025 Committee Chair. The outgoing Chair, Janice Weixelman, is being deployed with the military until October 2025.
• The 2025 notice of public meetings will be posted at www.larimer.gov. If exigent or emergency circumstances prevent the use of the website, public notice will be physically posted at the bulletin boards located at the north and south entrances of the Larimer County Administrative Services building, 200 West Oak St. in Fort Collins, Co.

Observer: Nanci Wendland

Windsor Town Board Meeting | January 27, 2025

• The Town Board unanimously approved the acquisition of 300 acres of open space valued at $20.9M, to be funded through a combination of open space sales tax and loans from the town’s Park and Trail Fund Balance and Water Fund Balance.
• Town Clerk Karen Frowley announced that Windsor voters should receive ballots and voter information booklets by the end of the week. Windsor’s election takes place on April 2. Frawley recommended community members reach her if they do not receive their ballots by the end of the first week in February.

Observer: Shannon Murphy

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