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Kirtland council allocates SLFRF funds to sewer project, approves forcemain and street-light plan
Summary
The Kirtland Town Council on Nov. 12 unanimously allocated the town’s remaining SLFRF funds to a sewer-line project, approved a Forcemain 3 agreement and a $93,226 lighting project, and designated Town Hall as a Toys for Tots drop site. The council also discussed training and human-resources changes and flagged a pending $950,000 grant for sewer extension.
The Kirtland Town Council on Nov. 12 unanimously voted to allocate the town’s remaining SLFRF funding to a sewer-line project and approved related contracts and infrastructure work, Mayor Alex Uhl said.
Mayor Alex Uhl reopened discussion of how to use the town’s remaining SLFRF funds and recommended directing the balance to sewer infrastructure to prevent recurring line breaks and support an extension to the booster station. “I recommended allocating some of the SLFRF funds towards the sewage line project,” Mayor Uhl said. Clerk Jonathan LaMone told the council SLFRF funds must be obligated by the end of the year and spent by Dec. 31, 2025 and that expenditures will be reported in the required online system.
Why it matters: The council described the SLFRF allocation as a hedge against deferred maintenance and uncertain grant outcomes. Engineer Dan Flack told the council the town currently has $700,000 available and a pending grant request of about $950,000 to cover an extension to the booster station; he said the timing and likelihood of that award remain uncertain. The council approved a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert, seconded by Councilor Banks, to apply the full SLFRF balance to the sewer-line project; the voice vote was unanimous.
The council also approved a Forcemain 3 Agreement to replace a section of force main, a contract Engineer Dan Flack described with required inspections and state reporting. Councilor Banks moved to approve the Forcemain 3 Agreement and Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Engineer Flack reported two recent line breaks, a pump replacement and ongoing repairs as context for the contract.
Other actions: The council voted to move forward with a street-lighting project that Engineer Flack presented — including survey, designs and permitting — at a stated total cost of $93,226.00. Clerk Jonathan LaMone asked whether Town Hall could serve as a collection point for the Toys for Tots holiday drive run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves; the council approved Town Hall as a drop site.
Budget and operating concerns: CPA Geren Tea highlighted the October financial report and flagged a $29,373.44 past-due payment to San Juan County that was paid this fiscal year; he advised monitoring the item and said a budget resolution would be required if adjustments are needed. Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert raised whether the town should waive sewer tap fees to encourage additional connections that could reduce chemical-treatment costs; Engineer Flack said the tap fee predates incorporation and noted chemical treatment costs run about $30,000 per load with no storage for extra volume.
Process and next steps: The council agreed to schedule in-town training with consultant Randall Van Vleck, with the town attorney coordinating dates in January 2025. The human-resources policy was discussed — including a proposed change to vacation accrual and a recommendation to align first-responder residency requirements with San Juan County’s 40-mile/one-hour rule — but Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert requested additional time to review the draft and the item was tabled to a future meeting.
Votes at a glance: • Approval of Nov. 12, 2024 agenda — mover: Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert; second: Councilor Banks; outcome: approved by unanimous voice vote. • Consent agenda and Oct. 2024 financial report — approved (motion: Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert; second: Councilor Banks). • Allocation of remaining SLFRF funds to sewage-line project — mover: Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert; second: Councilor Banks; outcome: approved unanimously. • Approval of Forcemain 3 Agreement — mover: Councilor Banks; second: Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert; outcome: approved unanimously. • Approval to proceed with $93,226 lighting project — mover: Councilor Banks; second: Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert; outcome: approved unanimously. • Town Hall designated as Toys for Tots drop site — mover: Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert; second: Councilor Banks; outcome: approved unanimously.
The council adjourned at approximately 6:02 p.m. The Forcemain 3 work will proceed under the approved agreement and the town will monitor the pending $950,000 grant for possible additional funding of the booster-station extension.
