At Tuesday night’s meeting, during unscheduled Public Comment, Dan Cokley, principal engineer for the town’s engineering firm, SGM, gave the trustees an update. Cokley told them they had an inspector to help out with the Granby Ranch roads, they are also in the process of redoing River Run Ranch and Rodeo concepts and will be getting started on public works soon.

When asked about the Granby Ranch roads that had failures, he told the trustees that they had never accepted the roads. He could not say whether the construction was substandard or if soil tests had been improperly conducted. He told them that when the road work begins “this time, Matrix (Design Group) will be out there full-time” to ensure successful results.

Alan Clubb, with CDOT next spoke to the trustees. Clubb told them he was the permit coordinator for outdoor advertising west of the Eisenhower Tunnel. In a visit to the town late last year, he had discussed an issue with the sign at the (Lions Head) Coffee Shop that extended over the right of way. “We can’t have signs hanging over the right of way.”

“I drove around today and there were no major issues”, said Clubb. “There are a couple of things: a sign in back of a truck parked on the street in front of a business is not permitted, and, the coffee shop is an immediate issue”. He told them that there are hard fast state laws that apply to outdoor business signage. Visibility, placement and permanence are all factors to be considered, preferably during planning. Clubb told them non-permanent signs, like sandwich boards, are illegal, and, signs for businesses that are no longer there should also be removed

Mayor Chavoustie asked Clubb, “What is your definition of right of way?”. Clubb referred him to the county assessor’s maps, but generally, it’s behind the sidewalk.

Granby Ranch Road Update

Vice President of Development, Lance Badger, gave the trustees an update on the roads in filings 3, 6, 8 and 10. He told them there are major road improvements required due to failure, general maintenance and patching. The roads have been engineered and designed and a contract has been awarded to Concrete Express, but the notice to proceed has not yet been given.

“It’s hard at this point”, said Badger. “On March 28, I met with the contractor to discuss the budget, but, regardless of timing, the snowpack requires an adjustment to schedule.” He told the trustees they have a site inspection set for Monday, April 15, and representatives from the town of Granby, Matrix, Concrete Express and Water & Sanitation will do a walkthrough to inspect the snowpack, determine which roads will dry quicker and set priority for this year.

Badger told them the Headwaters Metropolitan District Board is meeting on Friday, April 12 and plans to issue a notice to proceed on receipt of funding. They have not received funding from the developer yet. The developer is still working on alternative funding that is not necessarily hinged to the sale of Granby Ranch. He told the trustees he hoped to have more information at the next update he plans to give at the April 23rd meeting.

Mayor Chavoustie asked, “How did this happen? Was it a failure of standards, inspectors, or contractors?”.

Badger replied that there was no ‘smoking gun’ cause, that there were a lot of factors. Deep utilities (20’ deep) will have settlement, water flowing downhill creating voids under the asphalt and the roads have settled over the years. He told them they have gone back in several times to repair the roads using different methodologies. They ripped up asphalt, took it down 30”, put down structural fabric and added new base. “That road has held up well, with no undulations. The geotextile acts as a bridge, with high tensile strain. It is the recommended fix on roads that have settlement.”

Trustee Raible stated, “On behalf of Granby Ranch residents, I have to ask why these roads failed, and, the surety bonds aren’t adequate. What does ‘upon receipt of funding’ mean? How long should the town wait? We’ve been waiting for years”.

Badger replied, “I am still moving forward with the intent to do as much as possible this summer. I am constantly asking the developer when and how it will come in. Transaction timing, funding, I have no specifics. I hope to have more information any day now. I don’t have an answer. I am aware you’ve asked the developer and I fully support that”.

Attorney Krob asked, “In terms of failure, I am wondering, does this supportive fabric need to be incorporated into the road standards?”.

“I think, when you have deep utilities and road drainage, you should have them put the fabric in. But on roads in areas down in the meadow, it is not needed”, said Badger. “I would rely on what your engineering team comes up with. We have design standards, but not for engineering.”

Attorney Krob asked about the two default letters the town had sent on the funding deficiency of over $1 million. “Any idea when that timing will happen?’, asked Attorney Krob.

Badger stated, “I am tired of speculating. I have the confidence it will happen”. He felt that, after the inspection and discussion with the contractor, he would know more. He told the trustees he would have more information on funding when he returned in two weeks. “I get it. Those roads should’ve been fixed. We have a good plan. If everything comes together the way it’s supposed to, we can get this done.”

Town Development Updates

Town Manager Aaron Blair provided an update on development. He told the trustees he had been contacted on an individual senior housing property adjacent to City Market on 10 acres. He said they had reached an agreement with the state land board and it was looking more promising.

Downtown, Mountain Family Center has started on their remodel project. On Pearl Dragon’s remodel, Blair said, “Their building is destroyed, but it’s a good mess”. He added that 2 Pine Supply, an outdoor retailer, and Granby Garage are also coming along very well. Blair added that he’d had good conversations with prospective businesses, primarily restaurants, recently.

Town Policy Discussion

Manager Blair told the trustees there were two 2 policy items he needed to discuss with them. The first was reaffirming the 5 day a week coverage in all departments. He told them it had been communicated to all departments. He asked if they were okay with 10 hour days, as long as there was adequate coverage. “It helps with staff retention”, said Blair.  The trustees agreed that 4-10 hour shifts per week should continue.

The second policy item was pertaining to the town’s policy on town vehicles being taken home. The legacy ‘unwritten policy’ of previous administration has allowed some members of town staff and departments to take their vehicles home each evening, driving to and from home to the work site.

“Can I have your feedback?”, asked Blair.

Trustee Becky Johnson started off the discussion, saying, “I have done research on this. We are the only town that allows employees to take town vehicles home. We are paying for gas, tires and wear and tear. We should not be paying it – we are not charging it as a benefit and it is costing us a lot of money. Just because it has been, doesn’t mean it has to be”, said trustee Johnson.

Trustee Cathy Tindle said, “At the county, we have to put beginning and ending mileage when we take a car out. I agree”.

Trustee Josh Hardy added, “It hasn’t gone unnoticed. People have told me they are tired of driving by and seeing a town vehicle in a driveway. Just because it was given by a prior administration does not mean we cannot take it away”.

“It’s a company car and is part of a comp package. If a company car is not part of the benefits, it shouldn’t be allowed”, said Trustee Raible.

The trustees agreed to allow manager Blair and finance director Sharon Spurlin to work on a draft policy. “We’ll bring something back”, manager Blair assured the trustees.

To learn more, visit: townofgranby.com.