Johnstown Town Council 2/21/24

For more information (including members in attendance) see the full notes document here.*

View the meeting agenda and packet.

Key Points

Mayor Mellon presented the Roosevelt High School Cheer Team with a plague for winning the 2023 State Championship. Pictures were taken and the Mayor said, “It is fun to celebrate the youth of the community.”

Two residents thanked the council for their support, money, and continued involvement with the downtown business community.

Resolution 2024-09: “Authorizing Property Tax Rebate to Residential Property Owners” was revisited. At the Feb. 5^th council meeting, members discussed issuing a residential property tax rebate to homeowners twice this year, but no decisions were made, and no vote was taken. Mayor Mellon and the council members wanted more information about cost.

At tonight’s meeting, Council member Morris asked how much each resident would receive as a rebate. Town Manager LeCerf said he could not give an exact number. The rebates are based on property values and values can be very different for individual homeowners. LeCerf said the cost for the town to issue the rebates would be approximately $19K. Council members agreed that the town’s rebate, in addition to the Senate bill reducing rates and property tax increases, was the right thing to do. Homeowners have had increases in utility rates, gas, food and now property taxes. Mayor Mellon said, “This is the people’s money. The town should only take what it needs.”

Resolution 2024-09 was unanimously approved 5-0.

The council intends to finalize a boundary agreement between the towns of Milliken and Johnstown. Several years ago, the Mayor of Milliken and the previous Mayor of Johnstown made an informal agreement that Weld County Rd 19, which runs north to south, on the south side of Highway 60, would be the boundary between the 2 towns. A new wastewater treatment plant is completed and is close to the boundary with Milliken. Mayor Mellon and the town council decided it was time to formalize boundaries with Milliken. The boundary agreement will have the following stipulations:

1. This will be a 20-year agreement.
2. There will be 20’ of green space marking the boundary.
3. The wastewater treatment plant will be annexed to Johnstown (Milliken expressed no interest in the operations of the plant).
4. All land east of Weld County Rd. 19 is 1^st right to Milliken.
5. All land west of Weld County Rd. 19 is 1^st right to Johnstown.

Milliken plans to take a final vote on the agreement at their Feb. 28 meeting.

There was a public hearing for Resolution 2024-07 “Accepting the Findings of Fact and Conclusions for the Larson Annexation”, and Ordinance 2024-241 “Approving the Annexation of Unincorporated Lands located in Weld County, approximately 96 acres, known as the Larson Annexation.”

Larry Buckendorf, Developer of the Larson Annexation, said it is early in the process. This request is for annexation only: no zoning or plats have been determined for consideration.

Both the Resolution and Ordinance were unanimously approved 5-0.

At 8:10 p.m. the meeting adjourned for executive session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

“18. An executive session to discuss the purchase of real property pursuant to C.R.S. Section 24-6- 402(4)(a) – Sandra Drive Drainage Improvements.”

Next Meeting:

March 4, 2024 @ 7:00 p.m. 450 S. Parish Ave., Johnstown, CO 80534, or online Town of Johnstown Facebook.

Question:

Who will maintain the 20’ greenspace between Milliken and Johnstown?

*Citizen Observers further the commitment of the League of Women Voters to its principle of Citizens Right to Know, however, we are not acting as journalists. Omissions and errors are possible. It is assumed that users of this information are responsible for their own fact-checking. This could include contacting a government clerk, conversing with an elected official or staff, and/or asking us to speak to the Observer who attended.