City Council - Regular Meeting

Let's call this meeting to order. Stand for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America to the stands nation.

Roll call. Miss Curtis. Mayor Sasha here. Council member Morford here. Council member Erdial Ellis here. Council member Caper. Hi. Yes. Great. Council member Garcia here. Council member Boyette here. Council member Parks here.

All right. Next on the agenda is public comment. Audience participation for items not on the agenda. Public comments are limited to three minutes per speaker. Speakers must sign in on the sheet next [clears throat] to the podium and address council from that podium. The council will not take action at this meeting in response to any public comment. Anybody here to talk? All right, seeing none, uh let's move on to next one. Approval of the um resolution on the minutes for February 17th. Miss Curtis, the minutes are in your packet as presented. All entertain a resolution.

Here, I'll make a resolution to approve the February 17th council meeting minutes. Second. I got a resolution from Caper and a second by Pioneer Dallas um vote. That resolution carries unanimously.

All right. Next on the agenda is recognition of business of the month, Miss Engle. Good evening. Coffee is a connector and can build an enduring network of friends and neighbors throughout the community. In many locations, it is viewed as the coveted third place, a social environment distinct from home and work where people regularly gather, connect, relax, and build community. Tonight, it is my honor and privilege to announce that Barnwood Roasting Company 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. For nearly a year, visitors from all walks of life have come together in the bustling roastery located at 219 Main Street to enjoy a cup of coffee brewed from beans that are sourced from around the globe and freshly roasted inhouse. The employee team of seven will gladly serve it cold, as a pourover, hot, or even with delicious baked goods on the side. Customers can also purchase bags of coffee to enjoy the ba beverage at home. Owners Jen and Dr. Matt Wood started their business as a hobby. The self-proclaimed coffee concier or connoisseurs, sorry, started roasting their own beans at home and quickly discovered that they not only enjoyed the roasting process, but also the taste

that the freshness contributed. Friends and family agreed and encouraged them to branch into farmers markets. This early success led them to invest in their current storefront low operation in downtown Fort Morgan, where the welcoming and comfortable environment allows the couple to continue to build personal relationships with many of their patrons. As Jen noted, we really want to make a space that promotes community connection. We want people to have a place to relax and unwind, but also come in to study, have meetings, or build connections. Not only does Barnwood Roasting develop individual connections through these meetups or through hosting unique parties and gatherings, but they also recognize the value of businessto business relationships and have collaborated with other local businesses such as Cukaro Brewing, Shirley Small Gatherings and Fine Gifts and Books on Maine for events, coffee tastings and food pairings. They realize the importance of how positive impacts, including local partnerships with other businesses and entrepreneurs, can strengthen the economy and promote common ground for which coffee can be a catalyst. Philanthropy is often core to a coffee shop's culture, and Barnwood Roasting has supported our local community via space and product donations, sponsorships, and volunteer work. Fundraisers for Evans Early Childhood Center, St. Jude auction, FFA, 4, and local school sports programs have benefited from our business of the month's generosity. Barnwood Roasting is a Fort Morgan Chamber of Commerce member, and they also regularly participate in Case's third Thursday art walk, showing the artwork of some of our community's youngest budding artists. Through their

dedicated efforts, the coffee house and roaster has captured the attention of both locals and visitors with such positive five-star reviews as this one from Shamar Muhammad. Barnwood Roasting Company is truly a hidden gem. Their coffee is on another level thanks to their in-house roasting expert who clearly knows the craft inside and out. Every cup is smooth, rich, and full of flavor. Honestly, this could be the best coffee shop that I have visited, and the fact that it's right here in Fort Morgan makes it even more special. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for grabbing a cup to go or sitting down to savor the experience. You can tell that the team here takes real pride in what they do, from their beans to their brew. If you're a coffee lover, Barnwood Roasting Company is a must visit. Hands down some of the best coffee in Colorado. Or this comment from Seth Shaloo. I'm only passing through the area, but I saw this was a new coffee shop and I had to check it out. Wow, really exceeded my expectations. The beans are roasted inhouse, and the owner really knows her coffee. The iced vanilla latte was perfect, not too sweet, not too harsh on the espresso, and not too milky. I had to try the cold brew flight while I while while I was here and it was so smooth. Light, medium, and dark roast. Nothing left that bitter cold brew aftertaste. Really well done. They're punching above their weight in coffee quality. The service is excellent, too, and the bathrooms are pristine. I guess I should mention the Wi-Fi is excellent, too. Please join me in congratulating and thanking our March business of the month selection, Barnwood Roasting Company, for their outstanding efforts and contributions this business provides in

order to make Fort Morgan a great place to live, work, and enjoy. [applause] And both Dr. Matt and Jen are here. I don't know if you want to say a few words. Not me. [laughter] [laughter]

Well, I just wanted to say thank you so much for acknowledging our business. Being a newer business, we um [cough] you know, want to make ourselves known as a place that really values our community. We moved here four years ago and we fell in love with this community almost instantly. And so we really wanted to provide a place for everyone here and for this community and to build this community. So thank you very much. Thank you.

All right, sir. You brought us some paper. You missed the public comment. Would you like to address us? You got about You have three minutes. You need to sign in at the podium for us, please. Okay, thank [cough and clears throat] Jesse Heis. I'm from Ward One. And I wanted to cover a couple things that you guys will probably be losing out on if we go and lose the nonprofit organization at the Fort Morgan Humane Society. There's a $133,000 gap that you guys wouldn't that come out of taxpayers pockets. Do you guys and that just [clears throat] the salary alone for uh code enforcement officer or roughly around $64,000 that's the entire payroll for the entire Fort Morgan Humane Society already like annually I don't see how this could be financially like sorry I'm not the best speaker. So, the cancellation of the contract, you guys will lose a 2:1 leverage that aren't saving $60,000. You're losing a m uh maximum of 1,960 1,93,000 193,000. Sorry. And

that extra money usually goes to the community and to put towards helping animals. Uh we spent over 6,000 $16,000 in spade and neuter alone. And the humane society spent also uh $12,000 on basic medical costs. The coverage exceeds or expenses for animals that come in hurt or ill. Do you guys plan on helping these animals? Thank you very much.

All righty. Next on the agenda is presentation possible action on the electric department engineering service for Mr. P.

Yeah. As John comes up to the podium, I just wanted to touch on this in as kind of a general concept manner. Um, several of you on council have not been through the discussion we're about to have. Uh, the city of Fort Morgan employs numerous what we refer to as on call um contractors for various things. Um, this one tonight is for the services that John's department needs um [clears throat] from engineers on a regular basis. We have several on call engineers that do work. The electric department uses on call engineers uh water, wastewater. And so typically what we've done in the past is this is a qualification process. This isn't necessarily a true bid where there are numbers on anything for council to review. Uh staff is looking at this from a qualification standpoint. uh we have some years right now we have a lot of engineering work that seems to be attached to large projects and I get that but in most years when we have on call services we're trying to meet the needs of the department when they have minor things that are going on our procurement policy has a aggregate delineator that's attached to it and so there are years where the engineers may just do a couple thousand dollars worth of work on one project and a couple thousand dollars worth of work on another project and maybe $20,000 worth of work. Next thing you know, in aggregate, they've gone over the $50,000 limit that we have to bring to council. So, what we're trying to do is make it, you know, easier for the department to utilize services when they just need them when things come up. We had one year, I remember when our our um pressure reduction valves blew up on us and we had to bring our engineers in real quick to figure out what was going on. Um, and because we had on call engineers, we could just go to them and say, "Hey, we need you to come out here and start analyzing this problem, figure

out what it takes to get the city of Fort Morgan back up and running." And so there's things that we do to um facilitate the needs of our, you know, departments. And so um you'll see I think next meeting we have on call concrete contracting. And so we do that one where we try to get somebody pre-qualified and that way we can just use them throughout the year to do concrete work. um that that one will have more numbers associated with it. But when we talk engineers, engineers until we have specific projects for them to bid on, we do it strictly on qualifications. They do submit their hourly rates to us, but we don't typically bring those to council because depending on if they put their senior engineer on the project fully or their junior engineers with, you know, the interns, those hourly rates are hard to compile into a given number for a project. So, so you'll see some of these we're coming back around. We try to do these on a three-year contract to where every 3 years the department is making a determination and usually doing what John just did is going out to a bid process and or an RFQ process and um we go take them through and everything. So, so that's a typical thing that we have and you'll see more of those because we're coming up on the three years with several of them and so you'll see more of those coming back in front of council probably this year um in particular. So, um what we're looking at tonight is John's on call engineers and so I'd be happy to answer any questions once he gets done with his presentation, but I think just wanted to kind of summarize that. I had a question on that ahead of the meeting and so I just wanted to hit on that so you guys understood why we do this. So,

okay. Thank you. Thank you.

So, our original uh contract for three years is up in like June. So, that's why we went out get this process started. So, anyway, we have the bid. Um I'll read through this then uh I'll answer any questions I can. Okay. Um on call engineering service for electric department and transmission system. Electric budget for this year. Uh engineering consulting is 90,000. The city for Morgan light and power department maintains a distribution system approximately 25 square miles. Within the service area, there are 7 and a half miles of transmission lines, five substations, and 90 miles of the 125 distribution lines. There are,970 distribution transformers um on the system and 6,300 meters are served. So basically 6,300 locations. Sometimes there's two, but anyway, just gonna give you guys an idea. Um, let's see. Over the past several years, department has utilized the on call engineering firm to provide comprehensive engineering design and related consulting services for projects. Potential upcoming project projects requiring service include SCADA upgrades, substation upgrades, distribution line rebuilds, coordination of the transmission distribution system, design and relay coordination between substation control panels upgrades um and two substations, potential transformer upgrades as per the department's master plan. Due to the complex nature of the project is necessary to contact an outside engineering company that has the required expertise to design such projects for the requirements of the city procurement policy. Staff issued a request of proposals for an on call engineered surface on January 14th, 2026. Proposals were received from five different companies. They were got too many papers.

EDM International. Um they are a big company owns a lot of companies and they own a company called CDE cross discipline engineering um cross canyon engineering uh city light and power stmbing and Davy resource group. Three companies were selected for interviews EDM International Crossy Engineering and City Light and Power. After the interviews, the consensus was to select city light and power to perform the on call engineering service. Not are they only not are they very qualified to perform the services, but the staff is also already familiar with our wholesale power members and similar policies. They work with some mean members that we have. Um staff is requesting council approve for the mayor to sign the service agreement with city light and power for electrical engineering services. Okay, go ahead and ask away.

Any questions? Is this the same company that the last three years in? No. No. Nope. Um, they are on staff yet to do the XL sub. We are still planning on doing that with them. Any new projects? We'd like to maybe move forward with somebody else, get a different insight. Um, just uh just we think we'd fit. So I take a cross Canyon seeing the membles in the future here in the future request is existing company. Uh say again is cross canyon the existing Cross canyon is the existing company. We have it until June. Okay. Yep. We're we'll get sub done hopefully is kind of the plan is. Thank you.

Any other questions? All right. entertain a resolution. Offer a resolution um on the electric department engineering services for city light and power for the electric engineering services. Second. Have a resolution by uh Jeff Morford, a second by Bill Garcia. Roll call, please. That resolution carries unanimously. Right. Might as well hang up there. Yeah. All right. Presentation. Uh, possible action. Electric department XL substation expansion. Mr. Bane.

This is for the construction bid. Um, 2026 approval capital budget XL substation expansion. Uh, 3,700,000. Um, this is for the 2026 construction of the XL sub expansion to include grading, installing material and equipment. An advertisement for bid was placed in the city website on January 7th, 2026. The bid opening was held February 10th, 2026 with nine companies submitting bids. The bid tabulation sheet from Crossy Engineering broke down the bids with the recommendations. Please see attachments. Colorado Power Line, Inc. Castle Rock submitted the lowest overall bid price for the construction of the substation. [clears throat] Staff is requesting council approve the accepted bids from Colorado Power Line or CPI for the construction of the XL substation expansion in the amount not to exceed 1,245,44.76. Um the bid tabulation is breaks it down. You can see that it's kind of a mess there. Um, it's crazy how guys bid out something with the same exact thing and they would hire one of these other guys to take over if they got the bid. So, that's kind of what uh we found out here. So, uh, everybody here has reached out to see where they placed at. So, after this meeting, I'll submit this back to whoever bid on it and so they're aware of it. But, we recommend Carl Power.

Do we have a I'm sorry. That's fine. Do you have a completion timeline for any of this? Because you mentioned earlier your expiration of uh Cross Canyon expires July. You'd probably like to have this done in in the engineering result by then, but I don't see any kind of a timeline here. It probably won't be done by then. It'll be done, we're hoping by November. Um, we got as we go through this, I got some polls that are going to show up in November. So that's for the transmission line, tubular steel. I think our hope is Cross Canyon will be done with everything they need to have done as we get the last of there's still one more open bid on this. Am I correct, John?

Yes. And they'll be done with their portion of it and then if we need oversight of construction, then we'll use the new company. Thank you. Okay. Entertain a resolution. Your honor, I'll go make Resolution to approve Colorado Power Lines for the construction of the substation not to exceed 1,245 404.76. Second. Okay. Got a resolution by John

John Caper [laughter] and a second by Bill Garcia. Roll call. That resolution carries unanimously. Right. Next one. Uh, presentation possible action on electric department XL substation expansion. Mr. B,

can I before John, before you say anything, I did want to clarify because I did have this question earlier today. Um, we refer to this as the XL substation because it used to be XL Beef. Um, that was the name of the company that ran the beef packing plant for years. And so our substation is now labeled with federal compliance reasons as the XL substation. So we can't just go in and start calling it the Cargill substation, but it's literally just the substation that sits next to Cargill. Um it has no affiliation or no connection with XL Energy. So we are not in the middle of doing power deals with XL Energy on anything. So that's just the reference to the company that used to run the beef factory

plant. Yeah. Okay. Could be confusing to some people. Yes. Uhhuh.

All right. So this is the material. Um before I read all this, I kind of want to break it down. Um on the uh vendor product tabulation, that spreadsheet there, um we colorcoordinated it so you can basically look at the products they bid. At first we had all this stuff they were bidding different numbers but the product that we bid that bolts on the steel has to match that. So on the gray column is the product we need. On the next line items that you see highlighted are the products that they bid and that was the lowest price. So we broke them out different vendors. That's why we broke it out that way because not all vendors bid out the same product. um we can't change the steel spacing for bolt patterns. If we do, we're hiring an engineer to redo all that. We don't want to do that. So, so we want to compare apples to apples who bid the right products. So, that's the bid tabulation sheet. The other uh tabulation sheet we have are what the vendors bid and that's exact how we received them. So, you can see what they did. Um there's no coloring on that. It's just the total price of stuff. And then the vendor one, the vendor recommendation is what we're asking for tonight. And what that is is the four vendors that did, we picked the lowest price of what was bid. So we went through every one of them, got the lowest price, went to that vendor, highlighted it. After the highlighted everything down to the end, basically came up with the total. That's what we're asking for tonight. So, I'll read through this and then I can ask her any questions. Okay. Okay. [clears throat] Excel sub expansion material bid. Um, this is for the 2026 substation material and the XL substation expansion to

include all material installed in and around the substation. An advertisement bid was placed in the city website on January 20th, 2026 with all the product numbers listed. The bid opening was held on February 16th uh 2026 with the four companies submitting bids. Staff broke down the bid tabulations and confirmed the same part numbers were used in that line item. The bid tabulation sheet broke down all bids with their recommendations of different vendors C attached. Staff picked the lowest overall bid prices for the substation material. Staff is requesting council approve and accept the following bid prices from Westco Distribution Inc. for $417,23468. Dutton Lions Company for $76,66528. Border States Electric for $41,161 and Western United for $174,5575 for finishing or for furnishing the substation material like the vendor recommendation tab show for the XL substation expansion. The totaling of the amount of $79,6181. Um, by us doing that, we saw about a $40,000 savings instead of just picking one vendor and making it easy on us. We pick and choose to to help it out. So cool.

I know there there's a lot of information there. I try to smash it all together. And I don't know, color coordination. Hopefully you can see that what we're what we're bidding on. So that's what we're recommending. And you did this because you needed to match the exact uh the part number that was bid. You have to spec out by the engineer to bolt on to the steel that that's going to go up in the air. Right. Yep. That's why you had to go through all this. Some some vendors uh didn't could carry that vendor. So, they pick a different vendor. Right. Right. And then we try to figure out what the bolt pattern was, try to do all that and it ended up being a mess. So, then like, all right, we'll just compare what who bid what on the right part number. And that's that was the easiest thing to go through.

That's why you had to go through four different vendors. And yeah, I see. Yeah. Thank you. Very well explained. Any more questions? Entertain a resolution. Offer a resolution accept the bid of the four companies and the amounts that are detailed in the memo presented before us totaling $79,6181. Second. Lauren. All right. I have a resolution by Jeff Morford and a second by Lauren Boyette. Roll call, please. That resolution carries unanimously. [cough]

Alrighty. All right. Next one on the agenda is a possible action on electric department XL substation tubular steel bit. Mr. Bean.

All right. This is uh tubular steel. Um this are our steel poles. So these are the big poles that uh 115 line or transmission line will attach to. Um, they're engineered for the weight of the wire, all that, and a tap that's going to pull over across the road. Then it hits an A-frame, basically, two more poles. Um, then it goes down to the switch into the sub and all that. So, there's four poles, I believe, total on this. Um, I'll read through this and you can ask me questions on that. Then, uh, this is for the 2026 substation. Tubular steel for the XL sub expansion included all tubular steel poles around the substation. An advertisement for bid was placed on the city website on January 16, 2026. Bid openings held on february 12th, 2026 and the nine companies submitting bids. The bid tabulation sheet from Cross Canyon Engineering broke down all bids with recommendations see attachment. New core steels and structure submitted the lowest overall bid price for the 2 ler steel for the substation. Staff is requesting council to approve the accepted bid price from New Core Towers and Structures, Inc. for furnishing the tubular steel for the XL substation expansion in the amount not to exceed $79,773.85. And uh the lead time on this one is where it comes into November. So by if you look at the the spreadsheet, it's the lowest one, but it's also the longest lead time. So the sub can get built. We're going to put the cages in. They show up in June. They'll get buried. Then the steel will get set on top of it when they show up in this fall. That's the plan right now. It should fit in the timeline.

Are you guys doing all the work on this? Uh we are helping. Helping. Yes, I would say that. All right. Yeah, we're trying to do as much as we can. Okay. Yes. Sure. All right. Anybody questions? Yeah, John. Uh on all these other bids, it includes there's line items on all the other bids, including anchor anchor bolts. Yes, that is included on that. They just didn't list it. We we actually called them to confirm it, but they are included. Yes. And they show up in June. Yep. Okay. Yep. All good. Okay. Any more questions?

Entertain a resolution. Your honor, I'll go make a resolution for New Court Tower Structures um acceptance of that bid for the tubular steel for the XL substation expansion not to exceed $79,77385. Second resolution by Caper, a second by Garcia. All in favor? That resolution carries unanimously. Last one, Mr. Bane. best possible action on electric department XL substation steel bid.

All right, this is the steel that all the material we just talked about are going to get bolt to. If you look at the pictures in the back back of the page of the breakdown, um it shows our breaker bays, all that. Um basically it's the framing of the the substation inside of it. So this is for the 2026 substation steel for the XL substation expansion to include the all steel framework inside the substation. An advertisement for bid was placed on the city website on January 20th, 2026. Bid opening was held on February 11th, 2026 with three companies submitting bids. The bid tabulation sheet from Cross County Engineering broke down all bids with the recommendations C attached. Um, Pinnacle Steel of Henderson, Colorado submitted the lowest overall unit bid price for the steel of substation. Staff requesting council to approve to accept the bid price from Pinnacle Steel for furnishing this steel of the XL substation expansion steel bid in the amount not to exceed $102,217. Questions?

Any questions for John? All right. Seeing anything, I entertain a resolution. Your honor, I offer a resolution to Pinnacle to pay Pinnacle Steel of Henderson, Colorado uh for um this is steel, right? Uh substation steel uh not to exceed $12,217 and no cents. Second. All right. I have a resolution by [clears throat] Garcia, another one by Morford. Uh roll call. That resolution carries unanimously. All righty, we're done. All right.

Thank you, sir.

Thanks, John. [clears throat] All righty. Like we're up for second reading. Uh, next on the agenda is public hearing on ordinance number 1332, ordinance amending chapter 20 site improvement standards to pro uh, prohibit nonfunctional turf and artificial turf on optical properties. This is a public hearing. Please keep public comments the issue before city council. Each speaker is asked to limit the comments to three minutes unless the speaker represents a group of citizens in which the additional time may be allowed. Please respect these limitations. I reserve the right to limit public comment that is inappropriate under these guidelines or otherwise improper. I also reserve the right to limit testimony or questioning that is repetitive, communive, or argumentative or not pertinent to the issues and to set a limit on the duration of testimony. If you if I determine that it is necessary it to be necessary in light of the number of persons who may have signed up to testify. First is the issue legal notice, Miss Curtis, as it has been hearing properly noticed.

Yes, your honor. It was posted on February 18th. All right. Next is the presentation of the ordinance, Mr. Nation.

Yes. Uh good evening. Uh we talked about this uh two weeks ago. Uh this is a ordinance that'll allow our chapter 20 to come in compliance with some changes at the state level and so uh nothing has changed from my presentation two weeks ago but I can answer any questions. Okay. Uh next we'll hear public comment. Is there anyone here who wishes to speak on this issue? Seeing none. Uh, if there is not anyone else in the public who wishes to speak on this issue, I'll ask the city clerk if any oral or written comments were submitted to the clerk's office prior to this hearing. There were no comments.

All right, we will now proceed to council discussion. Are there any questions from council or any discussion of the council? Seeing none. Oh. Oh, okay. Okay. If there is no further discussion for council, I'll entertain a motion to close or continue this public hearing. Motion to close. I got a motion to close, a second. Um, all in favor? I. Any oppose? Like that, don't you? We've been working. [laughter]

You're doing great. All right. Um, oh, council action. Miss, I'm missing that. Yeah, I miss here. Yes. Thank you, mayor. Yep. Um, thank you, mayor and council. You conducted a a proper legislative hearing upon the second reading of ordinance 1332. A proper action would be resolution um via resolution to approve this ordinance. [clears throat] All right, let me jump over to the other page then. Yeah, the top of the second page of the agenda. Yeah, great.

All right, council action. Okay, I see here. All right, entertain a resolution. Yeah, I'd like to make a resolution accepting the ordinance 1332 amending chapter 20 land use code to prohibit nonfunctional and artificial turf on a A couple properties and published by title only. Second. I got a resolution by parks, a second by a year Dallas. All in favor? No. A roll call, please. I'm sorry. That resolution carries unanimously. The big one.

Okay. All right. Next on the agenda is public hearing on ordinance 1333, ordinance amending chapter 10 of the Fort Morgan Municipal Code concerning the use and possession of Great Tom. Great Tom. Graham products to individuals under the age of 20. This hearing, this is a public hearing. Same rules apply. First is the issue of legal notice. Miss Curtis, has the hearing been properly noticed? Yes, it was posted on February 18th. Next is presentation of the ordinance. Mr. Sharp or Chief Sharp?

Thank you, your honor. Um, or either one is the appropriate pronunciation there. Um, this ordinance, as you know, last year the state of Colorado made it illegal for businesses to sell credom to anyone under the age of 21 and limits where they can actually um list it for sale. It has to be behind a counter and so forth. But what it didn't do is is address the people that are using it or buying it or possessing it that are under the age of 21. So much like our uh tobacco ordinance that we currently have, this would just fill that gap. Um, is commonly used in some areas as a it's a energy supplement, but it's overused and they overindulge and it becomes more of a amphetamine type effect. So, what this would do is allow, for example, a kid at school that has at school, allow them to be able to be cited into municipal court, address that um so that hopefully we can prevent this from hitting our youth as opposed to just the people selling it. Um, so it it kind of clears that gap to say they can't sell it, but also it would be illegal to possess it or pass it to other kids at school or whatever. Okay. Next, we'll hear any public comments. Is there anybody here wishes to speak on this issue? Seeing none. Um, if there's none anyone else in the public who wishes to speak on this item, I'll ask the city clerk if any or any oral or written comments were submitted to the clerk's office prior to this hearing.

There were no comments received. We will now proceed to council discussion. Are there any questions from council or any discussion of the council? One go. I was just wondering when and if this passes, how is the notice or the communication going to get to the businesses to ID? So they they already know that because the state law already requires that as of January of 2025. I see

this would just clear up the other side of that saying if this person b if a person is in possession, they would also be in violation. So the businesses are already well aware they can't sell. And just because I have no idea what this is. How do you identify it? Like is it smoked? Is it eaten, drunk? Yes. It's an herb. Um, so it could come in tab with former. It's been a tea or pretty much any of those that could be consumed. Thank you.

Yeah, I did I did a little research on this and uh so called the chief right away. Well, not right away, but anyway, to explain uh uh a little bit more about it and um and uh he enlightened me, so I want to give you credit for that. Thank you. Thank you. And I should also say that this can be purchased on the internet. So, despite Colorado's law saying a store can't sell it to somebody under the age of 21, somebody could purchase it on the internet. That's not illegal to be shipped here. So, um at this point, that would solve that problem. This is this is mainly for possession, correct? Correct. Under the age of 21. Under and under under the age of 21. Excuse me. [clears throat]

Okay. If there's no further discussion by council, I'll entertain a motion to close or continue public hearing. Motion to close. Second. We have a motion to close [clears throat] by um Parks, second by Morford. All in favor? I. Any oppose? All right. Council action. Miss Williams. Thank you, mayor. Um, similar to a few minutes ago, um, this is another proper public hearing. Upon the second reading of ordinance 1333, and a proper action would be via resolution to approve the ordinance. Entertain a resolution.

Your honor, I'd like to make a resolution accepting ordinance number 1333 amending the Fort Morgan Municipal Code concerning the use and possession of products and authorized to publish by title only. Second. I got a resolution by Parks and a second by Garcia. All in favor make roll call, please. That resolution carries unanimously. All right, one more.

All right. Uh, next on the agenda is public hearing on ordinance 1334 amending appropriate monies for the fund of the city of Fort Morgan. Um, the same rules apply. Keep for this public hearing. First issues of legal notice. Miss Curtis, has this hearing been properly noticed? Yes, it was posted on February 18th. Next to the presentation of the ordinance by Miss Edson.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. So, when we did the original 2026 budget, there's a few things that have come up and changed after we've done the budget. So, we're just looking to make to um amend those appropriations. The first one's in the uh general fund. We went out to bid for our air airport FBO operations. Uh and we found out that we were getting quite the deal before. So, our original budget um was only $36,000 and due to the increased cost of the new FBO um the amended budget is $160,000. So, that amends that the general fund the original budget was $18,885. We're amending it by $160 or $160,000, sorry. [laughter] Um so for the general fund it'll be $18,968,563 and then in the capital fund we the vote was approved for the penny for a pool or the 1% sales tax for the swimming pool. So we will be getting increased revenues for that and then therefore we'll also have some expenditures that are involved with now right now it'll be the engine engineering costs for the swimming pool. So, um, we're amending the budget for the wreck aquatics facility. The original budget was $1 million and we're amending it to $3,450,000. Um, so, and that'll just those are offsetting the new revenues with the expenditures. And then also in the capital fund, we are needing a roof replacement at the new public works building. So, that you guys Matt presented that a few months back. So, that's an $1 million for the amendment for that. So, the uh capital fund was originally budgeted at 9,601,635 and we're amending it by 3,450,000 for a total of 13,051635.

So in grand total uh our budget was originally 105,075791 and the amended budget will be 108,685791. Are there any questions on that? Okay. Anybody? All right. Next uh we'll hear any public comment. Is there anyone here wishes to speak on this issue? There's no one else uh in the public who wishes to speak on this issue. I'll ask the city clerk if any oral or written comments were submitted to the clerk's office prior to this hearing. There were none.

We'll now proceed to council discussion. Are there any questions from council or any discussion of the council? See none. If there is no further discussion of by the council, I entertain a motion to close or continue the public hearing. Motion to close. Motion to close by Park, second by your Dallas. All in favor? I oppose. [clears throat] Okay. Council action. Thank you, mayor. Um, you guys are on a roll. You're connecting another proper public hearing. Second reading of ordinance 1334, and your proper action would be via resolution to approve the ordinance.

Entertain a resolution. Your honor, I'd like to make a resolution on ordinance 1334 amending the appropriation of monies for the funds of the city of Fort Morgan for 2026 and authorized to publish by title only. Second resolution by Park, second by Garcia. All in favor, I'm sorry. Roll call. That resolution carries unanimously. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, K. All right. Next one on the agenda is presentation possible action on approval of the 2027 budget calendar. Mr. Nation.

Okay. Well, you know, we're just getting bored with 2026, so let's start talking about 2027. So, um, we're we always this time of the year bring a budget calendar to you guys for approval. It allows us as staff to now start setting our deadlines with our departments and everything. And so, so tonight you have in front of you um that budget calendar pretty [clears throat] much identical to last year's. Um we did remove the one extra meeting that's in September that we've not used the last several years. And so I just took that out of the budget calendar and adjust everything accordingly. Uh the one thing that I have been talking with the mayor about is our normally we have discussions about what day we're going to do a budget retreat. Um this year we're going to do something a little different with you. We're just going to handle um a planning session at the end of a normal council meeting. So if you'll notice on there um we will hit April 21st uh we'll have a regular council meeting. And then we'll adjourn that council meeting and we'll just have a work session in here to discuss some of those long-term planning issues that we have going on. By then I should have all the department's input on the five-year capital plan complete and so we can bring that to you and use that kind of as a guide of where we're going to begin those discussions. And so we'll try to make that a lot quicker discussion um this year. Then everything else is pretty straightforward. we're doing, you know, starting with our utility funds, discussing the revenues and expenditures, and then we get into the general fund to finish out um as we get closer to October. So, any questions on that?

All right, entertain a resolution. Off our resolution to approve the 2027 budget calendar as presented. Second. Uh resolution by Morford, second by Parks. Um roll call, please. That resolution carries unanimously. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Presentation of the city manager annual report. I guess that's you.

That's me again. So, um, since it's so comfortable up here with the temperature, um, I've been asked to just go ahead and start reading on page one [clears throat] and [laughter] we'll get through this hopefully quickly. Um, no, I won't do that to you. Uh, you have in front of you a paper copy of the annual report. Uh, you've also been emailed a link to um a PDF version. So, if you want to go through it on your computer, you will have that at your disposal. Uh, I can't take credit for all the work that was in here. I think people don't realize how much effort it takes to run a city, especially a city of our size. Um, I have a lot of great people that work here and I can't say enough for the work they do. this report just, you know, captures part of what they do annually for the citizens of Fort Morgan. And so there's a lot of good information in here. Uh some of the departments um are more detailed than others, but every department has participated in this. And you can see some of the things that have taken place in 2025 and what they were able to accomplish. We have years where some of the departments don't do a lot of big capital projects, but they are still doing a just ton of maintenance work and things like that. You can see those type of numbers. Uh the wreck departments are good about keeping track of the number of people that we have going through our facilities and the number of rounds we're, you know, have going on out at the golf course and everything. And so there's some comparisons in there with previous years. And so, um, just a lot of good information in here, but it does a good job of capturing just everything that, um, takes place behind the scenes at the city of Fort Morgan. And I can't say enough for the employees here and and the effort they put in to accomplish these things. So, uh, I would be happy to answer any general questions, but if not, I'm not going to go any further into it.

Thank you. All right. Uh, reports from staff, Mr. Nation.

Okay. Hey, why are my microphones on? So, um we'll just hit on um next the next meeting which is on March 17th. Uh you guys can have fun. I will be out of town this meeting. So, Mr. Underwood will be sitting in this chair as his first official council meeting. So, take it easy on him. Um but trying to keep the agenda fairly light for him. But uh we will be bringing the uh bids for the construction manager, general contractor for the aquatics facility. We actually finished up the last of the interviews with the companies today and we'll be making a final recommendation later this week. Uh also doing bids for on call concrete services. We have um an amendment to do the schedule of fees. This is some additional changes that we need um based upon the animal [clears throat] shelter. and then Lauren will present his annual report and we may be adding it looks like an executive session to this meeting um to talk about a potential land purchase. So just to let you know it's not on your pending agenda items but as of today that's something that I will probably ask to have added to that meeting. So with that I will say I've said enough because you're going to have to listen to me here once we go in the other room. So

Chief Sharp,

thank you. Um, if you ever want to know how when our longest meetings are, it's usually during my evaluation. Brent makes sure we have the long agenda. And so, my report is going to be long tonight because I want to make sure that Brent gets that same treatment. Um, now I just have a couple things, a little update on the on the shelter as we continue to move forward and let you know that last week I did meet with uh Karen and Holly from the animal shelter to discuss among other things that transition date. uh that transition date was originally going to be AP or uh March 25th is kind of the day of that 60 days, but we we discussed this and they thought it would be beneficial for them to go through the 30th, which makes sense for us. So on the Monday the 30th, we will take over that shelter. Uh we will be closed on the 30th because we're going to bring in a company. We're going to move all the dogs and cats out. We've already made arrangements with some of our partners to to take those for us for up to a couple days if we need to, but we plan on getting them out that day and bringing them right back in that same afternoon or evening and then opening the following day after we have some cleaning stuff done in there. Um, so that will be taking place then. Also, part of that meeting, and I discussed this with Brent a little bit, is they have a lot of items that of course will no longer be necessary to them, but will be to us. So, we're working on trying to figure out what we need and we will purchase those items from them um that would save us some money in the long term, but also allow them a little bit of money to give to their their employees and stuff that have worked for them and been loyal to them for a while. So, um that's coming as well. And then I think that's it. That transition will happen the 30th now.

Any questions about that, Lauren? Um apologize my voice, but since um Mr. Heist came in and gave us this piece of paper. I imagine maybe some of this information is going out in the community and people might be questioning some of the costs. If you have a chance to look, I mean, this makes a whole lot of assumptions as I look at it, but you have a chance maybe to kind of look through it and and uh be able to refute or at least to um to give us a better idea of some of the numbers that they're throwing out in here.

I I certainly can do that. And also, I've met with Casey. We're going to be meeting tomorrow, our public information officer. Um, we'll start putting stuff out soon on the animal shelter and that transition and we'll put a lot of those details out as to, you know, the fees and the grants and all those things that we will also be getting so that we can help try to tell what what is happening on the city site. Any more questions? All right. Bids, meetings, announcements. Miss Curtis,

thank you. Your uh senior center advisory board meeting is March 9th at 100 p.m. And then the airport advisory board meeting is March 11th at 12:00 p.m. There's a library advisory board meeting at 4:30 on March 16th. And then our next meeting is March 17th at 6 PM. And you're all going to wear green. We also have some bids. Um, the Fort Morgan Fire Station 2 roof replacement project is open until March 20th at closes at 3 p.m. Then there is another XL substation expansion control building bid. Um, it closes March 10th at 3 PM. The railroad and Sherman traffic signal bid closes March 16th at 3 PM. Water underground infrastructure projects closes March 18th at 3 p.m. Then there is a bid for some pipe gate valve fittings and fire hydrants also closes March 18th at 3 p.m.

All righty. Next um on the agenda going to two executive sessions. First one for determining positions related to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategies, negotiations, and instruction negotiators pursuant to CRS 24642 4E and conferences with the attorney for local public body for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions pursuant to CRS 246 402. 2 4B and for the following additional details are provided for identification per related to the city participation in the northern irrigated supply project and congress yeah contractal agreements. The next one is uh executive session for discussion of personnel matter under CRS uh 246 4024F not and not involving huh

oh he's coughing no not for involving any specific employee who have requested discussion of matter in open session any member of this body or any elected official the appointment of the person to fill the office of this body or of an elected official or personnel policies that do not require the discussion of matter personnel to particular employees and not the following additional details are provided for the identification purpose of the evaluation of the city manager Brent Nation. Do I have We got to go like gay or nay, right? I need a

motion to go. Motion to go. Okay. A motion to go to executive session stated by the mayor. Yes. For the reason stated by the mayor. Yes. Second. Okay. Any all in favor? Anybody don't