The Buena Vista Board of Trustees (BOT) handled several housecleaning items at their Tuesday, December 12 meeting to finish out 2023. The Board approved the 2024 budget and fee schedule, updated building codes, and approved several agreements for work across town.
The BOT unanimously agreed to cancel their meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 26. Regular meetings will resume in 2024.
BV Trustees Approve 2024 Budget and Fee Schedule
After a long series of public hearings, the 2024 Town Budget for Buena Vista was approved with little fanfare.
The BOT unanimously approved a series of three resolutions to adopt the 2024 fee schedule, approve the 2024 budget as drafted and presented in the packet, and to appropriate money to funds as outlined in the accepted budget.
Colorado SB23B-001 (residential property tax relief) passed, so the Mill Levy Certification for 2024 is delayed until January 9.
Projected ending account balances for 2024 from the December 12 BV Board of Trustees meeting packet.
The budget and draft fee scheduled approved by the Board are available in the December 12 meeting packet, which is accessible online here.
Trustees Approve Updated Building Codes to be Effective March 1, 2024
The trustees unanimously approved the updated building codes to be effective on March 1, 2024 to coincide with Chaffee County’s adoption of the codes.
The ordinance repeals and reenacts Articles II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, XII, XIII, XV, XVI, XVIII, and XIX of the Buena Vista Municipal Code to adopt the 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2020 National Electric Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Plumbing Code, 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 International Fire Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Existing Building Code, 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, and 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. It also amends Chapter 18 of the Buena Vista Municipal Code by adding Article XVIII to adopt the 2023 Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code.
The full ordinance was published in the Chaffee County Times and is available in the meeting packet beginning on page 168. The update brings Buena Vista up to required standards and matches codes with the county, as well as the Colorado-mandated building code standards.
Other Business
The BOT took care of a number of other housekeeping items to finish out the year. They awarded a contract to Star Playgrounds for the playground equipment in Billy Cordova Memorial Park. Parks and Recreation Director Shane Basford explained the Star proposal was selected because of their experience with community building.
Basford said he hopes the community build for the Billy Cordova Playground will occur in late August 2024, though the date is subject to change depending on construction schedules.
The Board also approved a professional services agreement with Dibble & Associates Consulting Engineers Inc. to continue working with the airport for the next five years. Airport Manager Jack Wyles advocated for the continued agreement, saying they work well with Dibble and the company covers many of the airport’s needs.
The trustees approved a notice of award to Swiftwater Solutions, LLC for engineering services and an update of a water conservation plan. The trustees noted that they were being forward-looking with this approval and paired it with instruction for staff to publish a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Town’s comprehensive plan.
Lastly, the Board unanimously approved the cancellation of the BOT meeting scheduled for December 26.
Eagle Scout Presentation
A sketch of Reau Heinitz’s Eagle Scout Project from his presentation to the Buena Vista Board of Trustees.
The Board heard a presentation from Eagle Scout Reau Heinitz. Heinitz is currently working on a project to honor veterans at Mount Olivet Cemetery (257 S. Rodeo Road). It will be an American flag made of 1/4″ steel featuring dog tags for all the veterans buried in the cemetery.
The tags will bear the names of veterans and their plot numbers. The tags will be on the red stripes of the flag because the red represents the blood of fallen veterans explained Heinitz. There will be extra space to add more veterans should more be buried at the cemetery.
Part of the project includes a sign explaining the symbolism of coins left on headstones. Heinitz explained:
- A penny means a fellow veteran visited.
- A nickel means the visitor was in boot camp with them.
- A dime means they were in the same unit or platoon.
- A quarter means the visitor was there when the veteran passed.
Heinitz is aiming to complete the project before March, 2024. He said there are more than 300 veterans buried in the cemetery.
Consent Agenda and Staff Reports
The consent agenda was approved unanimously including resolutions authorizing participation in 3M and Dupont PFAS Public Water System settlements, approving a utility easement with Collegiate Commons, the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, and the State of Colorado for service to Carbonate Street, and approving the subordination agreement with Collegiate Peaks Bank and Carbonate Street Apartments LLC for the project.
Staff reports were delivered by Police Chief Dean Morgan, Planning Director Joel Benson, and Public Works Director Shawn Williams. The reports were kept brief.
Morgan did comment on a concerning rise in DUI’s, saying new officer Cody Tyler caught a DUI on his second day. Morgan also confirmed that the BVPD is fully staffed for the first time in a while.
Benson said they were still looking for two alternate members for the Planning and Zoning Commission and have only received one application as of the December 12 meeting.
Williams happily reported the potential discovery of a “pretty sizable” water leak. He detailed briefly how leak detection and repair works and explained they would be digging to repair the leak the following day.
At the end of the meeting, the Board adjourned to executive session to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, strategy for negotiations, or to instruct negotiators concerning the Topside annexation.
The recordings of the December 12 meeting and all other BV BOT meetings are available on the Town’s YouTube channel here.
Recent Comments