Upper Thompson Sanitation District
Special Meeting of the Board of Directors
District Administrative Conference Room
Pursuant to C.R.S., §32-1-903, notice is hereby given to the members of the Upper Thompson Sanitation District Board of Directors and to the general public that the Board will hold a special meeting, which is open to the public, at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Upper Thompson Sanitation District Administrative Office, 2196 Mall Road, Estes Park, CO, 80517. Individuals who wish to address the Board via public participation may do so “in-person,” via telephone, or virtually through online participation, facilitated by the Microsoft Teams platform. Members of the public wishing to join the meeting via online or telephone participation, please email a request for the meeting link or telephone number to Ms. Gina Moore, Secretary to the Board, at gina@utsd.org by 2:00 p.m. on March 12, 2025.
Agenda
- Call to Order.
- Roll Call, Absences Excused.
- Pledge of Allegiance.
- Next Meeting Date: Regular Board Meeting, Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
- Agenda: Correction and Approval.
- Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest.
- Public Forum: An opportunity for presentation by the public to provide information to the Board of Directors on any non-agenda item. Note: The Board cannot take any action on non-agenda items but may direct staff to include the item on a future agenda.
Public Comment on Agenda Items: Public comments will be heard by the Board at the conclusion of the presentation of the agenda item. Persons addressing the Board shall first be recognized by the District Manager or Board Chairman and may speak only one time per agenda item. Speakers shall state their name and address for the official minutes, address comments to the Board as a Body, and shall be allotted three (3) minutes for public comment. All public commentary must be made at the podium or offered virtually via Zoom Chat. - Executive Session: §24-6-402(4)(e), C.R.S., Determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiation, developing strategy for negotiations, and instructing negotiators regarding the status, financing, and schedule of the Water Reclamation Facility and Lift Station Improvements Project.
- Adjournment.
Upper Thompson Sanitation District (District) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and length, protective hairstyles), color, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, creed, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status in employment or in any program or activity conducted by the District. The District will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities. If any person has a disability and requires a reasonable accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact District Manager, Ms. Suzanne Jurgens, three days before the event via email at suzanne@utsd.org, or telephone at 970-586-4544, or dial 711 to connect with Relay Colorado.
Record of Proceedings
Minutes Of A Special Meeting Of The Board of Directors Of
Upper Thompson Sanitation District
Held: March 12, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., at the
District Office, 2196 Mall Road, Estes Park, Colorado
Call to Order
A special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Upper Thompson Sanitation District, Estes Park, Colorado, was called to order at 4:01 p.m. and held as shown above and in accordance with the applicable statutes of the State of Colorado with the following Directors present and acting:
Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Attendance
Board of Directors:
Christopher Eshelman, Chairman
Susan Doylen, Vice-Chairman/Secretary
Kent Bosch, Assistant Treasurer/Secretary (joined via web conference call}
Michael Morton, Assistant Treasurer/Secretary
Staff:
Suzanne Jurgens, District Manager
Matt Allen, Operations Manager
Gina Moore, Financial Officer
Henry Newhouse, Plant Superintendent
Nathanael Romig, Collection Superintendent
Trevor Byron, Plant Operator
Sandra Mourning, Water Quality Laboratory Manager (joined via web conference call)
Invited Guests:
Chris Bieker, Former District Manager
Steve Ravel, P.E., Water/Wastewater Project Manager, Merrick & Company
Next Meeting Date
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on March 18, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
Approval of Agenda
The Board considered the Agenda.
It was moved by Ms. Doylen seconded by Mr. Morton to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is a topic of discussion at every Board meeting to address potential conflicts of interest that may arise as new agenda items are introduced. District Directors who have disclosed potential conflicts of interest can vote as issues arise.
Public Forum
Mr. Eshelman opened the meeting for public comment.
Mr. Eshelman explained the Public Forum is an opportunity for presentation by the public to provide information to the Board of Directors on any non-agenda item. He further explained the Board cannot take action on non-agenda items but may direct staff to include the item on a future agenda.
Regarding public comment on Agenda Items, Mr. Eshelman provided the following statement:
Public comments will be heard by the Board at the conclusion of the presentation of the agenda item. Persons addressing the Board shall first be recognized by the District Manager or Board Chairman and may speak only one time per agenda item. Speakers shall stand at the podium, state their name and address for the official minutes, address comments to the Board as a Body, and shall be allotted three (3) minutes for public comment.
No members of the public joined the meeting.
Executive Session
At 4:06 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Doylen and seconded by Mr. Morton to go into Executive Session pursuant to §24-6-402(4)(e}, C.R.S. Determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiation, developing strategy for negotiations, and instructing negotiators regarding the status, financing, and schedule of the Water Reclamation Facility and Lift Station Improvements Project. Motion carried unanimously.
The Executive Session was attended by Directors Eshelman, Doylen, Bosch, and Morton; and Ms. Jurgens, Mr. Allen, Ms. Moore, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Romig, Mr. Byron, Ms. Mourning, Mr. Bieker, and Mr. Ravel.
The Board did not engage in substantial discussion of any matter not enumerated in §24-6-402(4)(e) C.R.S., nor did it adopt any proposed legislative policy, position, resolution, rule, regulation, or formal action.
The Executive Session was adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
Return to Regular Session
At 6:51 p.m., the Board returned to regular session.
The Board directed District staff to include a regular session discussion on the agenda for the March 18, 2025, Regular Board Meeting pertaining to the bid results for the Water Reclamation Facility Project. The Board also directed District staff to include an Executive Session on the March 18, 2025, Regular Board Meeting agenda to further discuss the status, financing, and schedule of the Water Reclamation Facility and Lift Station Improvements Project (Project).
Additionally, the Board requested Ms. Jurgens contact representatives from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority (CWRPDA) for guidance on Project loan deferments or forfeiture if the Water Reclamation Facility Project is paused.
Adjournment
Having no further business, at 6:56 p.m. it was moved by Ms. Doylen and seconded by Mr. Morton to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Susan L. Doylen, Vice-Chairman/Secretary
Christopher L. Eshelman, Chairman
April 15, 2025