The City of Yuma is eliminating allowing comments on its social media posts.
The decision came during last week’s Yuma City Council regular meeting. Mayor Tim McClung, Mayor Pro-tem Jerome Benish and council members Terri Frame, Marc Shay, Zach Diaz and Vanessa Dischner were in attendance. Dan Baucke was absent.
The agenda item was about discussion and possible action regarding Facebook comments. However, it was noted the city has a presence on other social media.
Interim City Manager Karma Wells asked for direction on if the council wanted comments eliminated from social media posts. City Attorney Kathryn Sellars explained it had to be one or the other, not handpicked for certain posts, if the city wants the posts to be informational only.
The motion was made that posts by the city on all social media platforms are informational only and to remove all comments. It passed on a 6-0 vote.
Hail damage dispute
The city is in the process of entering an agreement with a third party to help it collect more on insurance claims from last year’s hail storm.
Wells explained to the council that the estimate from Soderburg Roofing to replace roofs on the city buildings to be $2 million. However, the adjustors for the insurance company, CIRSA, have put it at $700,000.
When asked why there is such a discrepancy, Wells said that insurance is saying that much of the hail damage is cosmetic and does not need replaced, while Soderburg says the roofs do need replaced.
Wells said there is a company called Adjustors International can try to close that $1.3 million gap for 10 percent of what is realized. In fact, it would be 10 percent on the full $2 million.
After much discussion, the council agreed to move forward with Adjustors International, but must improve the city’s situation or not receive anything.
Splash pad
City employee Angela Cordell updated the council on a splash pad at City Park. She said the city has a company that will be installing a splash pad on the grass east of the swimming pool, which is out of commission. Work will begin on it later this year, with it being ready by 2026. Cordell said it could open in April and stay in operation into October depending on the weather.
Acceptance of the project will be an action item at the council’s next meeting.
Solar project
Raphael Martinez with Sandhills Energy provided the council with an update on the solar energy project on vacant land at the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. He thanked the city and council for its collaboration and patience.
“It’s been longer than we expected,” Martinez said, “…but we’re on the precipice of construction.”
A tentative timeline is all the modules will be installed by the end of June, after which the system will go through a 72-hour test to verify it is operational. It is expected to go online in September. Martinez said there will be on-site safety training with the Yuma Volunteer Fire Department and the city’s Electric Department.
Total capacity will be 2.3 megawatts, with the city receiving 18 percent of that output for its electric system.
When asked, Martinez said there had been a 90-day freeze on funding, but Sandhills recently received word it will be released. He said all products are American made.
More meeting
• The council held an executive session regarding legal issues associated with the safety of city employees and access to city facilities, as well as discussing negotiations regarding a potential annexation.
• The council, Police Chief Jerry Thompson and Sellars held a discussion on J-turns on city streets. U-turns are a ticketed offense, but there is nothing in the codes for ticking for J-turns.
• An agreement to allow sidewalk seating at La Terraza on S. Main, like in front of Red Willow on Main/Tumbleweed Taps, was unanimously approved.
• The Indian Hills liquor license renewal was approved.
• The second reading of an ordinance changing vendor permits from 30 days to one year, matching the change to food truck permits, was approved, as was the second reading of an ordinance exempting the city from open burning restrictions in the municipal code.
• A construction contract with Concrete Specialties for a railroad bore for $213,740 was approved. Amending the agreement with Prairie Winds Veterinary Clinic for operating the animal shelter was approved, taking into account dogs might be transported locations besides the metro Denver area.
• A SIPA grant application for up to $10,000 for such things as cyber security and digital records storage, was approved by the council.
City Manager
The search for a new city manager in Yuma is beginning to come into focus.
The Yuma City Council was updated on the search during last week’s regular meeting.
Last Friday, April 18, was the deadline for applications. The consultant firm KRW will review the candidates, and will have a tiered list of finalists by the end of this week.
The council then will address the list in more detail at its May 6 meeting.