Agricultural Open Space Parcels Receive Approval

In recent months the Commissioners have approved a number of open space acquisitions that will preserve prime agricultural land in Eastern Boulder County. Some highlights follow.

Anglund Property - This 140-acre irrigated farmland property is designated as Significant Agricultural Land of National Importance and is just southeast of the Ish Reservoir east of U.S. 287 and north of Yellowstone Road. The County will pay $625,000 for a conservation easement over the property and a 50% interest in the water rights, based on the value of eight transferable development rights.

Peschel Property – This 132-acre property is irrigated farmland about a half-mile south of State Highway 119 on the east side of East County Line Road in Weld County. It includes a half-mile stretch of the St. Vrain River corridor. Boulder County and the City of Longmont will purchase the property jointly for a total of $3,630,000. The County will not use open space sales tax funds to purchase the property. In recent months, the City of Longmont has purchased approximately 800 acres surrounding the Peschel Property, preserving approximately 1 ½ miles of the St. Vrain River corridor.

Beachem/Roberts and Burtness Properties - Together, these properties total 120 acres of irrigated agricultural land east of North 95^th Street between Arapahoe and Isabelle Roads. These properties had prime development potential and border more than 150 acres of City of Boulder Open Space east of North 95^th. The combined purchase price for the properties is $2,300,000 and includes water rights.

Washam Property – This 80-acre parcel of agricultural dryland on the top of Gunbarrel Hill is a joint purchase with the City of Boulder, with the County and City splitting the $1,495,000 purchase price. The property could have been developed as two premium 40-acre building sites. It is part of the White Rocks/Gunbarrel Hill Environmental Conservation Area.

Lopez Conservation Easement – This approximately 85 acres of irrigated agricultural land is east of North 49^th Street and south of St. Vrain Road. The property is home to foxes, coyotes, badger, deer, elk, waterfowl, raptors and migratory birds. The total cost of the conservation easement is $400,000 and includes water rights. Boulder County and the City of Boulder will split the cost evenly.

Barrett II Property – This 65-acre irrigated farmland property near the northeast corner of State Highway 66 and U.S. 287 is designated as Significant Agricultural Land of National Importance and Open Corridor. The total purchase price of $930,000 includes water rights.

Lutz Property – This 60-acre property of irrigated farmland is on the west side of East County Line Road about a quarter of a mile north of State Highway 52. It is designated as Significant Agricultural Land of State and National Importance and is adjacent to the Hamouz Open Space. The property also includes a wetland with ducks, raptors and herons. The total purchase price of $1,002,600 includes water rights.

2002 Boulder County Budget $208 Million

The 2002 Boulder County Budget is $208,170,414, including $10 million in grants, and breaks down into the following funds:

General Fund: $85,560,173

Road Fund: $10,931,441

Social Services Fund: $19,329,918

Emergency Rescue Services Fund: $2,629,689

Grants Fund: $10,000,000

Worthy Cause Fund: $3,516,800

Retirement Fund: $7,579,653

Conservation Trust Fund: $991,203

Internal Service Fund: $10,602,430

Open Space Bonds CIF I Fund: $35,135,599

Open Space Bonds CIF II Fund: $6,394,864

Capital Expenditures Fund: $8,628,713

Capital Improvement Trust Fund: $133,655

TOTAL: $208,170,414

The 2001 County mill levy is 17.621 and is expected to generate approximately $78,183,325 in property taxes for the 2002 County budget. For more information, call Budget Officer Margaret Parish at 303-441-3499.

Work Begins for Major Justice Center Expansion

Work has begun on the County’s Justice Center expansion, which will include a 40,000 square-foot addition for the courts and a 43,000 square-foot underground parking garage. The $11.7 million dollar project is expected to be completed by December 2003.

The existing main entrance to the Justice Center will be closed shortly and a new, temporary entrance will be used on the east side of the building near the City of Boulder Municipal Court offices. During construction, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible parking spaces and media parking were moved east across 6^th Street to the existing public parking lot.

The Justice Center is located near the former site of manufacturing milling and smelting operations from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some soil contamination was discovered during site excavation in February. The County contracted with Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers of Boulder to analyze the soil and provide ongoing monitoring, including installing air monitors. The area that contains the contaminated soil is fenced off and no further work will be done in that area until the County hires a contractor trained and certified to excavate and dispose of the soil. Walsh Environmental stressed that the public, Justice Center employees, and workers at the construction site have little to no potential for exposure to contaminants. For more information about the Justice Center project, call County Architect Wayne Kuhn at 303-441-3187.

County Transportation Produces Helpful Flood Protection Handbook

The Transportation Department recently developed a helpful flood protection handbook that focuses on saving lives and property in the event of a major flood. The handbook is intended to raise awareness of local flood dangers and to promote individual responsibility for flood safety. It contains details about how individuals can prepare a flood response plan, flood-proof a home or business, and what to do in the event of a flood.

Major floodplains in the County include St. Vrain Creek, Left Hand Creek and Dry Creek in the northwest part of the County and Boulder Creek, South Boulder Creek, Rock Creek and Coal Creek in the southwest and southeast parts of the County.

The flood handbook was produced cooperatively with funding from Boulder County, the City of Boulder, and the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District. The County mailed the 48-page handbook to 5,200 property owners who live within the County floodplain. The County also worked with local municipalities to distribute the handbook at city and town halls and libraries. To obtain a copy of the flood handbook, call Transportation Engineer Pamela Hanson at 303-441-3900. The handbook is also available online at the County’s website: www.co.boulder.co.us.

County Volunteer Information Now on the Internet

Detailed information about volunteer opportunities in Boulder County government is now available on the Internet by visiting the County home page at www.co.boulder.co.us. and linking to volunteer programs. The volunteer page will be updated monthly with current information, photos and news. There are literally hundreds of ways for volunteers to get involved in a wide variety of interesting County programs with the web page featuring ways for volunteers to make a difference. For more information, call Volunteer Initiatives Coordinator Diane Knudsen at 303-441-4889.

Consortium of Cities The next meeting is Wednesday, June 5^th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information about this meeting and the April 9^th meeting, call Intergovernmental Relations Director Dickey Lee Hullinghorst at 303-441-3500.

Boulder County Days Thursday, May 30^th, in Lyons. One is also being scheduled for Erie in May with the date to be finalized. For more information, call Constituent Services Liaison Marianne Reichert at 303-441-1688.

Human Services Coordinating Council Meets Wednesday, April 17^th, at 12:00 noon and Wednesday, May 15^th, at 12:00 noon in the County’s Administrative Services Training Room in the East Wing of the County Courthouse. For more information, call County Commissioner Jana Mendez, Chair of both the Board and the HSCC, at 303-441-3500.

Planning Commission Meets Wednesday, April 17^th, and Wednesday, May 15^th, at 1:30 p.m., takes a dinner break and then reconvenes if needed at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room. For more information, contact the Land Use Department at 303-441-3930.

Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee Meets Thursday, April 25^th, and Thursday, May 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room. Call Parks and Open Space at 303-441-3950 for more information.

Genetically Modified Organisms Technical Advisory Committee meets Tuesday, May 14^th, at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Scheduling Office at 9595 Nelson Road in Longmont. For more information, call Jane Uitti, an Analyst in the Commissioners’ Office, at 303-441-3500.

Boulder County Clean Air Consortium Meets Tuesday, May 14^th, at 7:30 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call Acting Environmental Health Manager Jeff Zayach at 303-441-1182.

County Closures County Offices will be closed Monday, May 27^th, in observance of Memorial Day.

Recent Contract and Bid Awards

With Valley Excavating for Sundquist Building Addition Site Utilities ($62,840)

With the Town of Lyons for Economic Development Program ($11,400)

With National Research Center, Inc. for Public Opinion Survey ($19,535)

With the Pacific Institute for Employee Training Services ($93,000)

With Corporate Psychological Services for Employee Services ($83,500 estimated)

With Oracle Corporation for Renewal of the Oracle Software Support and Maintenance Contract ($154,580)

With Siemens Business Services for Implementation of Microsoft Windows 2000 ($20,000)

With Dental Aid ($86,431)

With Community Food Share ($56,000)

With Retired and Senior Volunteer Program ($44,670)

With St. Vrain Community Council ($4,100)

With Special Transit ($183,357)

With Longmont Emergency Unit ($34,625)

With Rocky Mountain Rescue Group ($19,152)

With Condit Exhibits for the Stroh/Dickens Barn Exhibit Project Design ($30,600)

With Kitzman Construction for the Keyes House Foundation Rehabilitation Project ($77,351)

With YWCA of Boulder County for Life Skills Training ($48,880)

With C&K of Fountain for the Airport Road Irrigation Structure Replacement Project ($88,109)

With C&K of Fountain for the Minor Structures Replacement Project ($55,207)

With Fleet Solutions for the Lease of Seven 15-passenger Vans for Eight Weeks in the Summer ($24,920)

For Sundquist Building Addition:

To Valley Excavating for Site Utilities ($62,840)

To Top Notch Masonry for Masonry ($60,000)

To CEI West Roofing Company for Roofing ($83,369)

To Stucco Rite for Stucco ($19,435)

To RG Insulation Company for Insulation ($3,158)

To Colorado Doorways for Interior Doors and Windows ($18,285)

To Longview Glass for Exterior Doors/Windows/Storefront ($53,999)

For Site Utility Relocations at the Justice Center:

To Ozark Mechanical for Storm Sewer Relocation Work in Basement ($16,327)

To Nixcavating for Site Utility Relocation of Storm and Sanitary Sewer Line, including Two Manholes ($16,514)

To Ozark Mechanical for Installation of New Underground Sanitary Sewers in Proposed Garage and Tie-in of Existing Lines ($27,294)

For Carpet Replacement:

To Colorado Carpet Center for Carpet Replacement ($17,460)

To SBC Data Comm. for Cisco Equipment ($82,166 for used certified equipment)

To Kubat Equipment & Service Company for Architectural and Engineering Firms/Fuel Storage Tank Monitoring Systems ($40,333)

To Honnen Equipment Company for All-Wheel-Drive Backhoe ($153,630 for two backhoes)

Boulder County News is published by the Board of County Commissioners every other month. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide information concerning Boulder County Government to Boulder County municipalities and others interested in County information. Whenever possible, contact names and phone numbers are included. Please direct comments and suggestions to the editor, Margaret McKinney, Public Information Officer, at 303-441-3399, or E-mail: mmckinney@co.boulder.co.us.

Board of County Commissioners