It was about as routine as a routine meeting could get when the Yuma City Council gathered last week in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Mayor Ron Swehla, Mayor Pro-tem Marc Shay, and council members Marylu Smith-Dischner, Tim McClung, Daniel Ebersole and Dan Baucke were in attendance. Terri Frame was absent.
A public hearing was held in regards of a home occupation request at 120 S. Fir St. City Manager Scott Moore explained that Osman Escobar was wanting to install windshields and other such work at the residence, and that he had filed all proper paperwork. There was no pubic comment, and the council unanimously approved the application.
Rich Birnie of The Orphanage had his annual art gallery permit before the council. It was approved unanimously.
There was a resolution before the council regarding the Colorado Regional Opioid Intergovernmental Agreement. The city has to be part of the regional council to proceed with disbursement of funds. The council approved the resolution on a 6-0 vote.
The skid steer purchase came before the council. Moore explained a combined $100,000 had been budgeted in various departments in 2022 for the purchase. The city had received five bids.
The lowest was from Case IH for $67,828, but delivery would be the first quarter of 2023. The other four bids had delivery time during late spring/early summer of 2022. 21st Century Equipment’s bid was $74,462, Wagner CAT’s was $76,079.37, Bobcat of the Rockies’ was $80,084, and Taylor Implement’s was $89,900.
Moore said all the bids met all the specifications, including the current attachments connecting with the new skid steer. After some discussion, the council approved the 21st Century Equipment Bid.
The council approved acceptance of anonymous donations of $1,000 to the animal shelter, and $500 to the library
A State of Colorado Growing Readers Together Grant for the Yuma Public Library was accepted by unanimous vote. It is a $5,000 grant that will be used to enhance early literacy services.
A scholarship program for police cadets was approved. Police Chief Jerry Thompson explained the Rural & Small Agency Scholarship covers tuition and books to attend the police academy. The cost is around $13,000, and the Yuma Police Department would have from July 2022 to June 2023 to use it. Thompson said it might help attract a new officer to the department.
The council approved spending more than $18,000 to repair the street sweeper, which is need of new bearings and housing. It also will cost about $1,500 to transport it to and back from Denver. Moore said the city first looked into getting it repaired locally.
A load of airplane fuel for the fuel farm at Yuma Municipal Airport, not to exceed $21,000, was approved.
Moore informed the council that the second trash truck still is being repaired. He said the city does have a back-up plan to rent a trash truck if needed.
Shay reported that at the Library Board meeting it was reported that book check-outs is going at a healthy clip.
Swehla said he learned from the Street Committee meeting that the price of asphalt keeps going up. He said pothole and crack seal work will be coming up later in the year, and the Street Department is doing what it can with the funds available. There will not be any chip seal work done this year.
