City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, let's stand for the pledge. Miss Curtis, roll call, please. Mayor Sasha, here. Council member Morford here. Council member Erdi here. Council member John Caper here.

Council member Garcia here. Council member Voyette here. Council member Parks here. All right. Next on the agenda is public comment. Audience participation for items not on the agenda. [clears throat] Public comments are limited to three minutes per speaker. Speaker must sign in on the sheet next to the podium and address the council from the podium. The council will not take action at this meeting in response to public comment. Do we have anybody that's going to talk?

Hi, good evening uh mayor and city council. My name is Karen Benter and I'm president of Fort Morgan Humane Society. I'm here tonight to speak on the sudden cancellation of our contract to use the police department shelter building for our nonprofit program that has saved over 13,000 dogs and camps over the years. We have had a positive partnership with the city of Fort Morgan over that time. While the contract does not allow the police department to tell us how to run our program, we've always respected our partnership with them and made any changes when requested. In fact, we asked the police department if any of their employees would serve on our board and two volunteered to do that. The previous mayor, Kevin Lindell, helped us actually raise donations during fundraiser events. He was very supportive of our work. We don't know what changed, why it changed, or why we were not notified of any issues that you might have had. I think it's also important to point out the police department had responsibilities to our nonprofit also. They are responsible for any building repair over $500. We've told them several times that we've had faulty HVAC system, but no repairs were made. In addition, the police are responsible for any vet bills when they bring in an injured animal to our shelter. There were many times we paid a very expensive vet bill on their behalf. So, here we go. Is this what you would like your employees to do every day? Clean up dog poop and diarrhea. Throw up. Clean kitty litter. Care for sick animals. Vaccinations acrew many vet bills. Buy food. Specialized diets. Feeding for dogs and cats twice a day. Cleaning dishes. Washing blankets. Transporting animals to be spayed and neutered. Transporting to front range shelters. Neonatal care. Senior animals. Constant kennel cleaning and disinfection. Kennel cough. Feline infections. Budget. Supervising personnel. Facility maintenance. Website. Social media. utilities, med medication dispensing, volunteer oversight, working with adopters, and much paperwork. However, will your employees bring home

newborn kittens and feed them every three hours because their mom cat died or code enforcement only picked up the kittens and not the mom? Our employees do that. And then there's the cost. The city will now be paying a higher wage with benefits costing hundreds of thousands of dollars for your new government program. I doubt you will see good-hearted residents dropping off free dog or cat food because the shelter is now governmentowned. One more thing, your vote to cancel this contract was an executive session. That means it was done in secret. The voters do not know what happened. We ask that you hold a transparent vote on city council so all Fort Morgan can see who supports taking our contract away. This is required under Colorado Sunshine Act. In closing, you'll be charging Fort Morgan taxpayer hundreds of dollars, thousands of dollars for this new program, and your police department will be picking up dog poop every single day, including Christmas and Thanksgiving. Just want to ask, is this what you want? Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else?

Holly, you got three minutes. Thank you.

Okay. My name is Holly. I'm Davis and I'm from the shelter as well. I wanted to read to you about Faith. Faith is all she has left. She's a dog that was brought into the shelter. How come I was abandoned out in the field to fend for myself? Am I really that undeserving of happiness and love? I promise to be a good girl if you would just give me the chance to prove it to you. I am a senior girl who finds herself in a loud and busy shelter. They are very nice to me here, but I am lonely. I am very sad to see my cellmates come and go and people just keep walking by me. Why? Please tell me why. I love people and I love to be around my doggy friends. I was told I have very soulful eyes and a beautiful face. When I go to sleep on the concrete floor at night, I have a dream. A dream of walking around nice green yard with my new m mommy and daddy. And I have a big smile on my face because I am happy and I'm loved. I dream of living in a house with my mommy and daddy. And they hug me and pet me and I lick their hands because I am so grateful and happy. And at night I sleep on my own soft doggy bed right next to their bed and I smile as I fall asleep. I am happily happy and finally home. But then I wake up in my concrete cell at the shelter. I realize this was just a dream and I am very sad. Tell me, can't dreams come true? Will you make my dream come true? My name is Faith because that is all I have to hold on to. I will love you unconditionally if you just give me the chance to prove it to you. Faith was adopted after several people responded to this post and this is what they sent. One of one of the letters we receable

wherever she goes. She usually enjoys the yard. The house is cool and quiet so that she likes naps. His her appetite is fantastic. She's being good at water. She's had no trouble using the bathroom outside. He absolutely loves her new bed and knows exactly what it is and that it was her bed. We should have gotten two. He almost head tomorrow for a second for a second bed. We all have excellent natural food nearby. We just want want the best for her. We are so grateful to you for bringing her this amaz bringing us this amazing soul into our lives. We will keep you posted. Please keep steady in your prayers.

Thank you Mr. Davidson. Anybody else? Hi, I'm Mary Pickkins and I am employed at the Fort Morgan Humane Society. I love and care for the animals. Since being there, I have made many transports of newborn kittens that would have died without the special services of Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue. I have made many trips to transport dogs and cats to shelters where they would have be adopted quicker. It's bittersweet. You see, you get attached to the animals. It takes a strong heart to let them go. One day, a scruffy old white dog was brought in. A lost dog. We named her Sandy. She was covered in stickers and matted terribly. We seen her fight for her will to live. We cleaned her up. She had congestive heart failure. But her will to live went on at my home. I took Sandy in. We thought she would pass in a month. She lasted two and a half years. This is what true love will do for the animals in need. Why would you trust their lives with just anyone? No money in the world would make me a

better person than when I am caring for animals. But let's agree it's a special person to handle the loss, the caring, the crying of the cats and dogs, the smell, the poop. Let's just remember we all want to keep it humane. Thank you. If you haven't signed in, you need to sign in here.

Yeah. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Jesse Heis. Um, I work at the forum Humane Society and we do a lot for the animals down there and we appreciate everything we do down there and we appreciate you stand by our work. We look forward every day to seeing the animals and taking care of them and making sure they find homes. We don't like when the officers bring in animals that are hurt and then we have to call the vet or call the officer back to take the animals to the vet. It's just doesn't seem right. And I don't think that that should be in you guys um general sense of caring for the animals because I don't think doctors really do unless they have to actually see them every day, take care of them every day and try make sure that they're taking care of food and water and everything. We try our hardest and do really good work on what we do. We look forward to everything we do down there at the shelter and we don't understand why you guys are trying to take this away from us. We really just care a lot for the animals and would like to continue Thank you, sir.

If you haven't signed it, you need to sign. Good evening. My name is Chelsea Vic and I'm here for the Fort Morgan Humane Society as well. I've been a loyal employee for four years. Um, and I'm here to speak for my staff and the animals. Um, I wasn't shocked to hear the news of the takeover, which leaves my co-workers and co-workers and work family jobless essentially. Nonetheless, my biggest concern is what will become of the animals. I care we care for them deeply. I mean, I we put our blood, sweat, and tears into this job. Um, excuse me. every single holiday. Rain, snow, shine, we're there. Um, sorry. No matter the day of the week, 247, you're around attention and we do nothing but that. We are there always. [snorts] And this is not just a job to me. This is my livelihood, my passion, helping the animals in our town. The animals that are supposedly unadoptable, the forgotten, the left behind, the scared, the injured, the sick, the alone, the abandoned that people have just discarded like yesterday's trash. We give them a second chance. This chance at life, a chance at happiness, a chance at a forever family that they may have not ever seen in their entire lives, someone to love them forever.

We are their voice. We are their protection. And I stand here today for all of the animals we have helped in the last 18 years and the ones we are in caring for now. And I ask why. Why now? And will it remain inhumane or will it become a pound? And I just ask please consider recking the I don't know re going over the contract. Please reconsider. That's all I ask. Thank you. [snorts] Thank you. Is there anybody else? Okay. If you haven't signed in, ma'am, I need you to sign in up there. Thank you.

Um, I, my name is Lori Heis. I've worked at the shelter for the last 12 years. I, um, take care of vet appointments and transfers and make sure everybody gets fixed and all that they need, rabies, whatever, and care for the sick ones. Um, I haven't lately because I'm older now and it it's exhausting, but I fostered hundreds of cats, most of them that were sick or didn't have their mothers. Um, we go in and we clean up these animals every day. It's not fun. But um and I I understand you guys came through one day when when we were in the middle of our cleaning, which is hardly fair to judge us by. I mean, uh the place has not looked that like that at all once we're open. But, you know, animals are messy, but everything's cleaned up before we're open to the public. And so, that's something the people of the town don't see. It is a I mean, we it's a small shelter and we have space problems sometimes, but we always make room for the ones that are brought to us and we try to give them love and make sure that they feel that they're loved. I don't know why you guys were doing this to us, but I really wish you would reconsider, but he is help these animals. Every one of them that comes through our our door generally needs help. They're abandoned. They're sick, injured, they don't have anybody to take care of them. And um we do that and we love doing that. Thank you.

Anybody else?

Okay. Hello. For those of you who may not know me, um, my name is Wubble. Well, this started early on. Okay. I started my eight years at Fort M study when I was 12 years old as a volunteer. Um, later working as a kennel cleaner [snorts] for the cats at 16 and a feral cat acclimator. A cat acclimator is in its simplest terms holding a cat often kittens who are known to scratch, hiss, bite, or actively seek out people and hold them in as well as [snorts] talking and petting them. Uh, this gives the kittens a more positive sense of people and increases their chances of going to a home rather than continuing to harm people. I cannot tell you. In my eyes, there are many there aren't many things that come close to the honor of holding a feral kitten and hearing its first birth. To know they trust you, sometimes even before they do, and that you are the person to change their viewpoint is hard to put into words. This act is often looked over so much that that clinics won't take girl cats [snorts] and I help one instructor at BA Institute of Veterinary Technology where he currently takes classes who loves feral cats. I think many other members of Fort Morgan study may talk about dogs. So, I'll focus on my dumb nickname as [snorts] the feral cat whisperer. Throughout my eight years with the Fort Morgan Society, I've come across many feral cats and kittens and their hardship. Right now we have a cat named Firefly whose people passed and that was

why she brought the children. [snorts] She is going to be a barn cat because she cannot attach to other person. Um, another cat is my own cat who was a feral kitten. and she was a bad feral kitten. But she's 8 years old now. And if I hadn't have adopted her, I know she would have been aggressive and euthanized because she was aggressive. [snorts] I just ask that the contract be reinstated. I know that there [snorts] was a lot of debate over it. It's a big topic, but um I [snorts] really I do love animals. Obviously, I'm going to be a vet tech, so I just I don't want to lose what I've been there for eight years. [snorts] And that is all. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Tyler Callahan. Um, I started at the Fort Morgan Humane Society maybe seven months ago and I've always held a very special place in my heart for animals, especially the ones that are very needy, the ones that don't have trust, the ones that have been neglected, beaten, left behind. Every single dog that has been adopted out under my supervision, I have approximately about 30 photos of those animals. And this isn't a job for me. It's my livelihood. Things that help me go to sleep at night are knowing that these dogs are safe and taken care of and clean fast and efficient. I sit there and if there's dogs that come in and you could tell that they you could tell by looking in their eyes, they don't trust anybody. Most people are scared to get bit by dogs. I I gladly gain their trust relatively quickly. I like to let them know that they're safe, that they have a place, and I love walking them out that door when they do find their people. Um, I'm so sorry. Uh, this has been really, really, really heavy news for me and obviously the rest of my team since we found out our contract is not going to be reinstated. Um, but I just wanted to say that I'm not very good at talking, but me and these animals and a lot of us and these animals, we connect almost instantly. We see the fear in their eyes and we understand where they've came from, even if we have no idea. We understand that they need hope and we're there to give them that hope. And you know, these animals, I don't really know how to say this, but animals have saved me from a lot of things. They understand loyalty to the farthest extent. Animals, if you gain enough

trust, they're willing to do anything for you. And I've seen that not just with my own eyes, but all around the world. Um, animals are just a great thing. They help all of us get around. Knowing that I can wake up any day and go help out with the Humane Society is an honor. Knowing that these animals when when they go in terrified for their life and they turn around, they look at me and I see their eyes brighten up. It helps me sleep at night. Um, I just ask I beg you guys that you please reinstate us with the Humane Society. I understand it would still be a shelter, but we have our own personal connections with these animals. I don't want these animals to have to reset their trust to get with another organization and other people because there's a couple dogs in there that I've bonded to that instantly come out when they see me. When they see the public, they hide. And that's not because they're vicious or they're scared of people. They just don't know who they can and can't trust. And thank you guys for having me up here. Just know it's an honor. Thank you. My name is Robert Bowling. I'm not really an associate or a worker at the Humane Society. I've been digging my daughter there since she was younger. I do know that they spoke a lot about the animals. I'd like to just say there are a lot of programs that they've outreached to as a humane society with the prison with the schools to have

students that have an issue reading come and read to the animals. I do know that a few of the animals were taken to the to the prison worked with there and several of them that were there met the bar to be service animals for veterans, law enforcement, people with PSD, other ailments that might not have had the chance had they just been euthanized because it's a dog nobody wanted. On a personal note, I know that three of the dogs that my family has adopted, not only myself at my home, but my son who came up from Kansas to get an animal would have been euthanized, not worthy of being loved, cared for. When we adopt animals, they're a member of our family. That's how they all feel about every one of them comes through that shelter. And it's bittersweet for them. They grow attachments. They care for these animals for months sometimes before they find a home. And to take it away, I don't I don't think it's fair to them or the animals both. Too many times people look at animals and pets is property. It's my dog. I own it. It's not welcomed into the home as a family member. I think that would get lost in corporate politics and what's best for business. Sometimes what's best for business is giving something a chance. Sometimes the slim chance is better than any my my dog that I got. Her name was Penny. She was the best dog I've had. I don't want another dog right now. She's irreplaceable. Took a lot of work. I had to work very hard to get her to trust people and to be comfortable in my home. And it took months. She was the best dog for one of my daughters who was attacked by another dog that wasn't even from the shelter. She protected her. watched over her until she healed.

Ask you guys to reconsider and know that the good that they do, not only for the animals, but also the community and the outreach they do. Anybody else that hasn't spoken?

Yes, sir. Thank you. All right, I remain back there silent, but after today, I just had to get them say something. Okay, I'm not affiliated with any of these people. I'm not going to give you some SAB story, but all I want to know is I've heard their side of the story. I want to hear I want to see printed somewhere your side of the story. Why are you doing this? I had my two best friends with me for years. I lost them both. It broke my heart. It destroyed me. I found another dog at their shelter that I've had now for nine months. She's got a happy life now because they took care of her. They pointed me the way to her. I got her now. Okay. They're they are they doing a bad job? What are they doing wrong that you think you can walk in and do a better job? Do you need his Gustapo police force, which I've encountered, to go in and run it? They care about the animals. Are you going to show the same caring that they do? That's what I want to know. I understand their side. I've been there. I go get the dog license. I had got my girl, my current dog from them. I know what they're doing. They're on a shoestring budget. They don't have everything they need, but they get the job done with what they got. But you want to go in

with no explanation and say, "Oh, well, we're going to going to kick you out and we're going to take over." Point out what you're going to do to the public. How are you going to make this a better operation than what they're doing? Otherwise, let them do their damn job. That's all I have to say. It just angers me and it angers a lot of other people that have been posting out. Pay attention to people. You wanted to get into these offices. Pay attention what's going on out there. Don't just go in and say, "Well, this is something we can make a buck and we don't have to treat the animals like they are because they're just animals. These people care." Can you show the same caring that they do? If not, then let them keep their damn deal. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Anybody else? You've only been just three minutes per speaker. I'm sorry, dear. Um, anybody else public speak on any other issues? All righty. I guess we'll move on to the next uh agenda item. Uh approval by resolution of the minutes of January 20th, 2026 city council. Miss Curtis.

Thank you, Mayor. The minutes are in your packet as presented. Have a resolution. Your honor, I make a resolution to approve the minutes of the January 20th 26 city council regular meeting. Second. had a resolution by Mr. Parks, second by Brian. All in favor or a vote, please. That resolution carries unanimously.

All righty. Recognition of business of the month, Miss Schneider. Good evening. Health is your greatest wealth. It seems cliche, but this ancient proverb actually serves as a reminder that health is the foundation of happiness, productivity, and enjoyment of life. Our February business of the month candidate helps our residents regain vitality, move without pain, and access a holistic approach to improving their health. Tonight, it is my honor and privilege to announce that Proactive Medicine has been selected as this month's business of the month recipient for its valuable contributions to our community. Each month, this distinction is given to a Fort Morgan business that excels in such areas as pride in their business, top-notch customer service, operational growth, active involvement in area organizations and programs, and community contributions that assist in creating a better quality of life. 14 years ago, business owner and founder Dr. Leif Stevens made the move to Fort Morgan from Denver after receiving encouragement from several individuals from Fort Morgan who commuted to the front range to receive his services. He grew up in Big Timber, Montana, a town about the size of Wiggins. So, a smaller, more rural city wasn't a concern. In fact, it allowed for more patient interactions, deeper community partnerships, and a higher supportive atmosphere than what might be available in a larger community. Proactive medicine started as a single co chiropractic service in a smaller

building on Plat Avenue and less than two decades later, it grew into an integrated multi-disciplinary clinic led by MA medical partner and provider Dr. Ben Stevenson, MD. Its patient population expanded as well, and now the clinic serves a broad regional population for not only chiropractic and muscular skeletal care, but for regenerative therapies, hormone optimization, weight loss and metabolic health programs, IV therapy and recovery treatment, as well as aesthetic services such as Botox, micro needling, and laser hair removal. The business prides itself on not just being in the business of adjusting spines, but in the business of restoring lives and helping people reach their full potential holistically and in a welcoming environment without the need to travel to larger cities for access. Last year, another milestone was achieved when they purchased and a much larger building located at 220 East Beaver Avenue that will allow them to continue to grow their patient first practice for routine visits and more specialized care that centers on prevention and recovery. Currently, the business employs seven local team members with plans to grow as demand increases. Due to proactive medicine focus on outcomes and relationships, patients contribute testimonials to the locallyowned and operated business, such as this one from Carly Nichols. Dr. Ben is phenomenal and literally the best at treating you like you are part of the family like you are a part of your healthc care journey. Sorry. Proactive has the best atmosphere and great family vibes. I drive almost an hour because they are

literally the best in the area and worth the travel. Stacy Claudefelder adds, "The entire staff at Proactive Medicine and Medical Spa is always so kind, welcoming, and helpful. They provide thorough medical and spa care and treatments and really care for you like family. More than 500 positive Google recommendations coupled with an additional 55 five-star ratings on Facebook have resulted in a nearly perfect 4.9 star review. Many of them speak f speak speak towards the welcoming atmosphere, the quick service and the amazing pain relief through non-surgical means that proactive medicine brings to the patient experience especially in a world in a frustrated world of fragmented care, few options and increasing health care regulations and rising costs. As Dr. Le commented, "I believe rural life is full of the hardest working people and we want to make sure that health care is available and working as hard for them as they do for us. In addition to supportive care, Proactive Medicine contributes to the community in other ways such as through monetary sponsorships of local events and service discounts for community members. In fact, the business was quite generous and donated a large gift certificate for last year's Thursday Night Live event. They are also members of the Fort Morgan Chamber of Commerce and work specifically with the schools in the area to offer sports physicals, treatments for student athletes, coaches, and staff. Please join me in congratulating and thanking our February business of the month selection, Proactive Medicine, for their outstanding efforts and contributions this business provides in order to make

Fort Morgan a great place to live, work, and enjoy. And Dr. Leif is here tonight. I don't know if you want to say a couple of words.

Yeah. [laughter] Um my mom moved to the to this area a few years ago to be a superintendent of schools out east I think was Otis. Um what didn't take long for her ask and she asked what do people see in this place? [laughter] She was seeing giant spiders and and dust storms and all these things. you know, we're from Montana, so it's not like we haven't been around some rough weather, but um I told her, I said, "The people will make you reconsider it." I think it's been a pretty cool place literally from the getgo for me. And when you compare it to, you know, TV shows like Yellowstone and stuff, what you don't see in scenery, the people make that been awesome to be a part of that. All righty. Next on the agenda is a possible action by motion on the appointment of u three members to the airport advisory board. In your packet today you'll see Lance Kaufman, Nick Urker, and Reed DeLi. Reed is seeking a second term even though he is off in January 26, but that allows him to come back. So, u we're asking to put these uh three in in motion. Um I have a motion.

Move to appoint the members to the airport advisory board as presented. Second. All in favor? I.

All right. Next one is presentation of possible action by resolution on parks department PTO driven turf sweeper. Mr. Rico. Good evening, mayor and council members. Um, I'm here before you tonight seeking approval for a PTO driven turf sweeper for the parks department. Um, funds were appropriated through the capital improvement budget for this purchase. um give you a little feedback or history, sorry, on on the turf sweeper. Um park staff utilizes a turf sweeper to pick up excess grass clippings, leaves, small twigs, stuff like that um from all of our irrigated t in the park throughout the park system. Um it the impact for the overall health of the grounds as well as the aesthetics. uh once we pick up all the debris, it's a lot cleaner. So, uh people enjoy that aspect of it. Um our current uh unit right now is a 2002 model, so 24 years old. Makes it very very difficult to find parts for it when it breaks down. Um, an advertisement was made u via the city web page on January 2nd and it was also it closed on January 23rd. Uh we received three bids. One of them did not meet the minimum uh bid specs. Uh the second one was over budget and the the one we are requesting for or requesting approval is for the L Johnson unit. Um they came back with a

2026 Harper back unit. Uh meets all of our specs and the price for that is 62,240.72. Uh we did have 75,000 budgeted for this unit. So we are saving almost 13,000 on this purchase if we are allowed to purchase this. Any questions? I do. Uh when when would you get it? Uh they said 60 days out after this goes through if it goes through. So okay, any other question? Was this the Was this the only the unit comes complete? So you don't have to put any other um

supplements to it. It it's pulled behind a tractor basically. Everything's complete. But you're not going to add any anything else to Everything is complete. Yeah. So y anything else? Entertain a resolution. Your honor, I'll make a resolution to approve the bid from LL Johnson distributing company for a 2026 Harper Verse in the amount of $62,240.72.

The resolution by Parks, another one by Brian. Roll call, please. That resolution carries unanimously. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Next one here is a presentation of possible action on first reading of ordinance to amend the municipal code concerning pet animal license and request the set for public hearing for February 17th. Chief Char.

Thank you, your honor. For for those of you who've been here for a while and and remember the shelter when the city ran the shelter prior, we've always had an animal licensing requirement. um that went away at some point when the Humane Society took over and we didn't do that until 2019. Um some of you were on council in 2019 when the uh Humane Society approached city council to add that back in there. They were looking at doing that uh for funding to help them with the funding. So they so we did add that in 2019. However, the ordinance itself is written so that the animal or so that the humane society receives 75% of the funds and the city would get 25% for the capital improvements of the building. So, all this ordinance does is keeps the funds. Doesn't change anything except um as the city moves forward with taking the shelter back over, it would provide all of the funds to go to us rather than 75% going to the humane society.

Okay, any questions? Entertain a resolution. Hunter, I offer resolution on first reading an ordinance to amend the municipal code concerning animal licenses and request to set public hearing for February 17th. Second. All right. I have a resolution from Lauren Boyette and another from Jim Parks. Roll call. That resolution carries unanimously. All right. Thank you. Next one. A possible action resolution amending the 2026 schedule fees. Chief Sharp.

Okay. Again, in reference to the animal shelter, um the city has routinely, as do does the main site or anybody else except or require fees for housing an animal or um surreners, adoption fees, all of those things that that come with the animal shelter. Currently, we don't have a schedule of fees for adoptions because all of that is handled through the humane society. So, as we take over the animal shelter, we would need to have some fee schedule adopted. Essentially, what what we have put in there, um, is it would be a $100 for any dog that is intact, $50 for a dog that is spayed or neutered. Um, and then we would be in 2009, there was a law that requires us to give money back to somebody if they do have an intact animal and they get it spayed or neutered. Obviously, we want to incentivize people to do that. So, we have that built in. That's why the the money is different. Um, also for cats, there would be a $35 fee for adoption with $25 back for um, spayed and neutered animals. What we are proposing is more procedural, but in speaking with our finance um, people, giving money back is difficult and people don't accept the money, then it goes to the Great Colorado Payback and creates a problem on that end. So, what we're proposing is we're going to create a voucher. We've already talked to some of our people that we would create a voucher that would be good for 90 days to give those people when they adopt an animal, they would pay the $100 or $35. They would be given a voucher to then get it taken care of. If it is spayed or neutered, we would get the bill and we would pay for it through the vet directly. So, um, if they choose not to get it spayed or neutered, then of course we would keep that that full fee. So, that is how we're looking at doing that to to be compliant yet also lower the costs. And and then the other fees that you see in there are a $50 fee if the dog is brought into the to for

impound and then $15 per day if that dog is left there. I think that's all the fees that unless you have any questions. Any questions? I do. This is off topic, but uh looking at your fees, certified VIN inspections, you guys up to date on that because it's $54 now. I am not sure. We may need to change that. All righty. Quick question on the back on the annual fees is how's um how's that compared to what it has been?

So, I haven't compared to what they are currently doing. I've heard There's different rates from my understanding and again I haven't called them to find out but my understanding there's different rates depending on the age of the dog. Puppies cost more different things. I know this would be considerably cheaper than what you're seeing now and considerably cheaper even than what we see in most other shelters. Um our goal with police department is to try to get these animals returned or adopted out not in the shelter. So we're not looking at this being a revenue generator. Hopefully it's at least

helping offset some of the costs. We don't anticipate it paying for all of the costs. I want to make that clear. Um, but we do think it will offset some of the costs and and same with the licensing. I should have mentioned that. Um, that's the big goal for us is having that licensing and being able to find an animal rather than taking them to the shelter and having to charge those fees and and keep them at the shelter. The licensing would give us the opportunity to figure out who it is, return it home directly to the owner, so we're not bringing them in the shelter to begin with. So, all that kind of ties together. Um, but I don't know exactly what other fees are. I do know they are considerably lower than most places. Thank you. All right. Any other further discussion?

Well, uh let let me ask the chief uh on my like my cat. I can't put a collar on they'll choke, you know. So, we we had a little chip put in and and we currently do that now and we would continue that. If there's a chip, we would have a chip reader and we would and everything. So that's how you would return that animal. Yes. Contact. Thank you. Any other questions? Entertain a resolution. Yeah. I'd like to make a resolution amending the 2026 schedule of fees for the police department. Second.

Got a resolution by Councilman Parks and a second by Bill Garcia. Bill Garcia. Roll call.

That resolution carries unanimously. All righty. Next on the agenda is um public hearing. Next on the agenda, public hearing for ordinance 1329, ordinance repealing and reacting to section 106 10-6-240 for Morgan Municipal Code concerning fireworks and establish an updated regulation for the sale, possession, and use of permissionable fireworks within the city. This is a public hearing. Please keep public comments to the issue before city council. Each speaker is asked to limit their comments to three minutes unless the speaker represents a group of citizen in which uh evident additional time may be allotted. Please respect these limitations. I reserve the right to limit public comment that is uh inappropriate under these guidelines or otherwise improper. I also reserve the right to limit testimony or questioning that is repetitive, communive, argumentative, or not pertinent to the issues and set limits on the duration of testimony if I determine it to be necessary in light of the number of persons who have signed up to testify. Miss, is it all been uh first reading issue? Miss Curtis, has hearing been properly noticed? There we go. Yes, mayor. On January 21st,

uh, next is the rep the presentation of the ordinance by Mr. Brent Nation.

Okay. Thank you. Uh, we talked about this on first reading. Um, I do want to point out that during first reading, there was um the comment about possession of the fireworks. Uh, if you look through your copy that you have, you'll see in red where that was stricken and the verbiage was changed. And so, so the attorneys were able to address that concern. And other than that, everything else in this ordinance is just exactly as though it was on first reading. I'd be happy to answer any questions. Any questions? All right. Next, we'll hear any public comments. Is there anybody here who wishes to speak on this issue? Seeing none. If uh there is not else our public wishes to speak on the issue, I will ask the city clerk if any oral written comments were submitted to the clerk's office prior to the hearing.

There were none. All right. We will now proceed with council discussion. Is there any questions from council or discussion of the council? If there is not, we're going to move on. I'll re entertain a motion to close or continue the public hearing. Motion to close. Second. All right, we got a motion to close and second. Just yay. Yay. Right. All in favor? Yay. Yay. Council action. Mr. Wilson. Mayor and council. You've heard presentation of the uh legislation. Proper action is by a resolution approving ordinance 1329. May

I hear a resolution? Your honor, I'll make a resolution amending the Fort Morgan Municipal Code addressing and regulating fireworks and authorization to publish by title only. This is ordinance 1329. Second. I have a resolution by Jim Parks, second by Bill Garcia. Um, Roco, that resolution carries unanimously. All righty. Now, do I have to read the the verbage all again or is there a second? You can say that this is another public hearing of the same comments. All right. Another public hearing. Everything else uh

still. Yes. Uh legal notice, Miss Curtis. It was properly noticed on January 21st. Presentation of the ordinance. Mr. Sharp.

Thank you, your honor. Um this is not material. changed at all since the last reading. Uh it's in summary, this would change the model the model traffic code to allow us to work a couple issues including parking of vehicles that are overweight, parking on an weight restricted street, as well as allow us to write vehicles in a municipal court that have expired tags, whether they be driving on the road, which the state just started to allow, or whether they be parked on a public street. All right. Any questions? Uh the next will be has there anyone wishes to speak on this issue? Public comments. There is none. Uh I will ask the city clerk if any royal oral or written comments were submitted to the office prior to this hearing.

There were none of those. There were none of those. I like it. Uh, we will now proceed to council discussion. Are there any questions from council or discussion of council? I have a question. Go ahead, sir. Did I hear you right saying that the state's allowing them to drive with expired tags? No. Um, this would allow us to write into municipal court what we could previously only write into county court, state court. It can now come into municipal court as the law. So, we would write that into our own court instead. What is an officer going to use to determine weight violation? Are you able to pull that up off a registration?

I think what we're primarily talking about are the semis that we've seen parked on on the side streets. Um, but yes, we would be able to pull that off. But I also know of um semi-tractors that are being parked in residential areas. Correct. Parked in driveway. The driveway would be a different situation, but it got there somehow. But yes, so how do you how do you enforce that? The only way it can be enforced would be seeing them drive on the on the street. So, we're back to that same problem. Yep. If they're parked in a driveway, and I know where you're talking about. Now, does registration show a weight of that vehicle so that you have that for factual? It will show the gross vehicle weight on the registration. Okay. Any other questions?

All right. I will entertain a motion to close or continue this public hearing. Motion to close. Motion from A second from Mayor Dallas. All in favor? I I All right. Mr. Wilson, mayor and council, you've heard presentation of this ordinance. Proper action is by a resolution on ordinance 13:30. I'll entertain a resolution. Your honor, I'd like to make a resolution on ordinance 13:30 amending the previously adopted 2024 model traffic code addressing truck parking unregistered vehicles and expired tags and authorized to publish by title only. Second.

I have a resolution by Councilman Parks, a second by Councilman Garcia. Roll call, please. That resolution carries unanimously. Right. Next on the agenda is discussion of possible action on resolution on reimbursement of paving expenses at Quail Doom Golf Course. Mr. Nation.

Okay. Thank you. Um, when we worked out uh the property lines up the golf course and everything, we got back our full use of the parking lot up there and we shifted um the driveways around and all that stuff and so we know exactly what we have up there. One of the things we also did was we entered into joint use agreements on the paved surfaces up there. Smirks smirks needs our entrance what you know driveway in order to get into their business. We also are using their employee parking lot um to put um parking when we have overflow. So anytime after 8 and 5 on Monday through Friday, the golf course can use that as overflow parking. And so part of those agreements, we talked about approximate usage and things and if there was ever the need to repave those, we would team together on that. Um last year, um Nick Urker came to me late in the season and said that their their parking lot now that they're fully in that building was in desperate need of repair. We looked at it, it was very obvious you could see gravel and dirt through all the potholes in it and everything. I told him that we were done with our paving projects, you know, and didn't know if he'd be able to get somebody to look at it. He did. Um I had JW go up there and verify square footages. We verified his unit cost since we basically let Smirks do the, you know, the bidding on this project and felt that everything was very reasonable and so we gave him the green light to go ahead and get that done. Uh, so they repaved that that joint use parking lot that they use as employee parking, but there was also some repair work that had been done to a water line in the main driveway that the repair job hadn't held very well. So, we went ahead and had that done all at the same time. So, so what you have in front of you tonight is a request for reimbursement of the payment of those two areas. Uh,

in my memo, you will see in the parking areas, it's a 37 or a 3070 split on that. So, we're responsible for 30% of that total cost. The drive area, we're responsible for 75% of that cost. And so, uh, we got both of those areas completely repaved and everything. They did a good job on that up there. And so, uh, Smirks is requesting a repayment for, um, our portion of it, and that's the $50,87310. So, happy to answer any questions. Which budget this coming out of the golf budget or the

this will come out of the streets just paving portion of the budget. So, any other questions? All right. All right. Turn a resolution. I offer a resolution for reimbursement of the paving expense to smirks totaling 50,873 and10 cents. Second. All right. I have a resolution by Councilman De and a second by Jim Parks. All in favor? Roll call, please. That resolution carries unanimously. Thank you.

You bet. Uh reports by official and staff. All right. Okay. I'll just leave my microphone on. Uh yeah, let's I'll go over at the next meeting. We're definitely getting into the the bid time of the year. So, a lot of these are bids coming up at our next meeting. Uh one of the first things we do want to talk with council at the February 17th meeting is we're going to bring to you where we think we are with options for funding the the major improvements out the wastewater treatment plant. Uh, we also are going to bring the first resolution amending the 2026 budget. Um, I think we mentioned before that because we added the tax for the pool and the expenses for the pool and some other things we shuffled around, we're probably going to end up doing two budget amendments this year. So, we want to go ahead and get one in front of you right now that tackles the major items. Um, in the management agenda, we had listed um the construction manager, general contractor for the aquatic center. That'll be pushed off. I think uh we put that on the agenda, but the consultant said we wouldn't be ready to make that decision until March. So, that one you'll see slide back to March, but we are getting close to needing council authorization to pick the general contractor that'll work with the design team out at the or on the aquatics facility. And then we have numerous bids. We'll have a fairway mower for the golf course. Uh we've got new 60-in rear discharge riding mowers for the cemetery. We have um the XL substation construction for the electric department. Then we also have um the electric department is had to go back out for engineering services. We have a three-year contract on that. So, they're going back out on that. Um and then we're going to have a public hearing on a special use permit. And this is one of those that I hope doesn't confuse everybody, but this is for the the doggy

daycare that wants to use the old vet clinic. So, what you guys passed before was just made it acceptable to have these type of facilities in our city limits because of the zoning at that current facility. Now, they have to come in and request a special use in front of council. They've been to planning commission, gone through that hoop, and now they're be coming in front of you to make sure that that special use is okay. So, uh, that'll be on the 17th and then we'll also start moving the public hearing forward for the changes that just went through on first reading tonight. So, um, I think that's all I got for you tonight. Any other questions on the next meeting, Chief Sharp?

Um, I just wanted to update you a little bit with all of the things that are happening with the animal shelter. I know we talked about this, there's a lot of work going on and our staff has been working hard to get this done in a short time, but a lot of things that I wanted to kind of update and with a lack of information comes a lot of misinformation. People try to fill in the blanks with the unknowns. I want to try to clarify some of those things and let you know what we are doing in the future to clarify that further. But um we are looking at creating the animal shelter. It will be completely separate from code enforcement. So I don't want people to think our officers or our code enforcement officers will be running the shelter. It's different. Um we the way we've set it up is where I will be overseeing the shelter itself. Deputy Chief Brown will still be overseeing code enforcement. There will be different staff in each one so that we don't run into some of those those issues with code enforcement trying to do two jobs. Um so that will be one thing just to clarify that. Uh we've already began creating the policies and procedures for things like the general operations, intake, adoption, baro outbreaks, what we do in those situations, after hours procedures when other agencies or our own are bringing in animals, bite holds, all of those different things that come with it. Um it is going to be a no kill shelter by principle. That means you would be ideally to run no kill you'd want 10% or less. um of those animals euthanized. So obviously you would have to euthanize those that are gravely sick or injured or incapable of ever being socialized. We would have to take care of those. Um that would be the goal. I did go back and look to see how attainable that is or where we were. In 2008 I had about six months worth of data and we were at 4% rate and in 2007 with about 1100 infigs we were at a 7% rate. So what we were doing even 18 years ago was well within those confines. So um that happens through partnerships which we've already began developing with other

agencies that will do some of those transfers for us. We have other agencies here in in Fort Morgan that are doing similar things or in Log Lane that we can work with them and try to develop those partnerships. So we might be transferring, they might be transferring for us, figure out how we can work with them. We've already started with those partnerships. I have more meetings with them tomorrow. Um, and then we've already been contacted by a lot of people wanting to volunteer, wanting to donate, figuring out the donations. So, we're we're setting up lists and getting all that together. So, we have a lot of people willing to do that. Of course, we're always willing to accept more people to volunteer. We're always willing to take more donations that we clearly know that is the future and we don't want to use all taxpayers funding for that. Um, so we'd like to continue to operate under those other principles. Um, we have opened our part-time code enforcement the vacancy that will be left there and we already applied for the license for state licensing to get packed the license that should be here in two to three weeks and just so you know we are licensing that under the name Whoops and Whiskers will be the name of the shelter Whoops and Whiskers Animal Shelter City Fort Morgan. So um we came up with the name for that and then just so everybody knows next Wednesday I'll be holding a chat with the chief. It's February 11th at 6:30 at the police department for this very topic. So we can talk about more details of what we're trying to accomplish, answer some of the questions that are maybe outstanding that people have and everybody's welcome at 6:30. I think that's all I have.

What time was it? 6 6:30 a.m. All right. Um bid meeting announcements. Miss Curtis,

thank you. Uh, there was a lot of bids I'm going to read off to you. We have the on call concrete installation services bid which closes February 27th at 3 p.m. There is the XL substation expansion expansion construction bid closes February 10th at 3 p.m. Oh, I'm sorry. There's the construction manager, general contractor for the aquatic center addition that closes February 6th at 3 p.m. Then there is also another electric department, XL substation materials bid, which closes February 16th at 400 pm. XL substation expansion substation steel bid February 11th at 300 PM. Then there's the tubular steel bid for the XL sub substation. It's a hard work for me today. Closes at 3 p.m. February 12th. And then there is the bid for the 60inch rear discharge riding mowers for the cemetery which closes February 6 at 3 p.m. There is the planning commission meeting here at city hall 4:30 February 9th. February 11th there's the airport advisory board meeting at 12 p.m. and we are closed President's Day. All the city offices are closed. And then our next city council meeting is February 17th at 6 PM here at city hall.

Awesome. And if you haven't gotten back to me about CML or the MCC Gayla, please let me know if you have this regard. Absolutely. Thank you for that. Anybody from the back? We're good with all that. This meeting is adjourned.