Boulder County News
Published by the Boulder County Commissioners
Past Issues
September 1996
Public Process Begins for Siting Recycling Processing Center
On August 28th the Boulder County Recycling and Composting Authority announced
four possible sites for a new recycling processing center to serve the county's
recycling needs for the next 20 years. With the announcement, the Authority
begins an extensive public process to select a final site and choose a vendor
to build and operate the center.
The Authority hopes to have the center open in late 1997 or early 1998,
depending on how quickly an acceptable site is selected. The Recycling and
Composting Authority is an entity formed through an intergovernmental agreement
between Boulder County, Boulder, Broomfield, Erie, Jamestown, Lafayette,
Longmont, Louisville, Nederland and Superior. This unprecedented cooperation
is considered to be the Authority's greatest strength.
Of the ten potential sites landowners initially submitted to the Authority for
consideration, the list was shortened to five through the veto power provided
to cities in the intergovernmental agreement. The list was shortened to four
in response to concerns the Town of Erie had about one of the sites.
The four possible sites include:
* 10.2-acre Rogers Road property in Longmont offered by Catamount Properties
* 10.6-acre Eco-Cycle property at North 63rd east of Boulder
* 7.8-acre Boulder County property adjacent to the County Jail, 3200 Airport
Road, Boulder
* 12.5-acre Western Disposal property at 6032 Butte Mill Road, Boulder
Public participation is a crucial element of the final site and vendor
selection and there will be many opportunities for public involvement. Since
early summer a Citizen Advisory Group has met to provide input on the criteria
for site and vendor selection. Citizens are encouraged to attend public open
houses and formal public comment meetings scheduled for September and October.
The first open house is Wednesday, September 11, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at
Columbine Elementary School in Longmont and the second one is Tuesday,
September 17, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Nevin Platt Middle School east of
Boulder.
The open houses will be a time for people to informally ask questions about the
recycling processing center. In addition, there will be information available
such as a question and answer brochure designed by local design firm,
Malowany-Chiocchi, Inc., who provided some pro bono design services to the
Authority. The formal comment meetings will be announced when the scheduled is
finalized.
While County citizens are long-time supporters of recycling, the current
recycling and composting rate diverted from landfills is less than 20 percent.
The Recycling and Composting Authority has begun an ambitious waste reduction
and recycling program with a goal of 50 percent waste diversion. The recycling
processing center will be funded through a seven-year county sales and use tax
approved by voters in 1994. The amount of the tax is up to 0.10 percent (1/10
of one cent) and will generate approximately $23.5 million before it sunsets at
the end of 2001.
Many variables will affect the total cost of the facility, especially land
purchase and development costs, and the final design. The Authority's
technical consultants estimate the maximum cost will be approximately $11
million.
The facility will prepare materials collected through curbside and drop-off
recycling programs for shipment to recycling mills locally and across the
country. Materials processed include paper (office paper, junk mail,
magazines, newspaper, cereal boxes, and cardboard) glass, aluminum and steel
cans, and plastics. Other materials may also be added. Another key component
of the plan is to provide a year-round composting for yard trimmings like
leaves, grass and limbs.
The plan also calls for a countywide education program to encourage residents
to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost. This education program will complement
rather than replace existing recycling education currently provided at the
local level. For more information, call the Authority's Interim Executive
Director Hilary Collins at 651-8998.
No Contamination Found in Water Near Knapweed Spray Area
Results from an independent lab indicated no contamination from Tordon sprayed
in May on approximately 800 acres of open space near Superior to control a
serious knapweed infestation. Hauser Labs tested water collected on four
occasions from Coal Creek, Rock Creek, Community Ditch, and Superior Reservoir.
Samples were collected before the spraying, the day after the spraying, a week
after the spraying, sample two months after the spraying. The water bodies
tested for Tordon were all part of an agreed upon buffer to the spray site.
The County helicopter sprayed the open space with Tordon as part of an
integrated weed management program that uses spraying as a last resort. Other
control techniques include hand pulling, mowing, select insects, controlled
burns, and reclaiming disturbed areas. For more information, call Weed
Management Coordinator Cindy Owsley at 678-6110.
Ag Land North of Longmont to be Purchased as Open Space
In August the Commissioners approved purchasing the 152-acre Barrett property
for open space. It is approximately one mile north of Longmont at the
southeast corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 287 and Vermillion Road
and is just southeast of the 373-acre Darby Open Space. All of the property is
classified as nationally significant agricultural land and is used primarily
for crop production. Acquiring the land as open space preserves another large,
working farm in an area where development pressure is considerable. The
property also preserves a scenic corridor on this stretch of U.S. 287. The
City of Longmont was consulted about the purchase and approved it in a 6:1
vote. For more information, call Parks and Open Space Director Carolyn
Holmberg at 441-3950.
Upcoming Items of Note
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meets Monday, September 9th, at
6:30 p.m. in the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the third floor of the County
Courthouse. For more information, call Land Use at 441-3930 or Park and Open
Space at 441-3950.
Boulder County Day in Lyons Tuesday, September 10th. For more
information, call Policy Analyst Carolyn Dulchinos at 441-3500.
Human Services Coordinating Council Meets Monday, September
16th, at 8:30 a.m. with the location to be announced. For more information,
call Carolyn Dulchinos at 441-3500.
Planning Commission Meets Wednesday, September 18th, at 1:30
p.m. in the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder
County Courthouse, takes a dinner break and reconvenes at 7:00 p.m. For more
information, call the Land Use Department at 441-3930.
Recycling and Composting Authority Meets Wednesday, September
25th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Louisville City Council Chambers, 749 Main Street.
For more information, call the Authority's Interim Executive Director Hilary
Collins at 651-8998.
Non-Profit Budget Hearings Begin Thursday, September 5th at 2:00
p.m. in the Commissioners' Hearing Room. For more information, call Budget
Analyst Steve Russo at 441-441-3498.
Hall Ranch Dedication Monday, September 30th, at 10:00 a.m. with
the details to be announced. For more information, call Parks and Open Space
Director Carolyn Holmberg at 441-3950.
August Contracts and Bid Awards
Transportation Department Contract:
With Western Mobile/Boulder for 95th Street shoulder widening ($214,775);
With Brannan Sand & Gravel for Valley Lane LID asphalt paving ($150,503)
1996 Economic Development Program Contract:
With the Tourism and Recreation Partnership ($15,562)
Sheriff's Department Contract:
With fLEARN, Inc. for a jail inmate computer lab ($18,000)
Land Use Department Contract:
With Laidlaw Environmental Services for the Household Hazardous Waste Program
($22,000)
Architects Division Contract:
With Arc City, Inc. for courthouse lawn steel railing (County share $7,300)
Boulder County News is published monthly by the Board of County Commissioners.
The purpose of the newsletter is to provide information concerning Boulder
County government to Boulder County municipalities. When possible, contact
names and phone numbers are included. Please direct comments and suggestions
to the editor, Margaret McKinney, Public Information Officer, at 441-3399/3500,
or E-mail:mmmco@co.boulder.co.us
Board of County Commissioners
P.O. Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306
Phone: (303)441-3500; Fax: 441-4525
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