Mayor Pro Tem Erica Sparhawk presided over the Board of Trustees regular meeting on March 25. Colin Laird, Chris Hassig and Ross Kribbs were also in attendance, achieving a quorum for some business during Spring Break week.

The meeting began with two proclamations: the first recognizing March as American Red Cross Month, uplifting emergency response volunteers, and the second celebrating April as National Donate Life Month, spreading awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation. 

The quickly-approved consent agenda included meeting minutes, liquor and marijuana license renewals, special event permit approvals, accounts payable, a memorandum of understanding with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority for sharing the cost for WE-cycle services (with each entity paying 50% in 2025, or $84,066) and an intergovernmental agreement to continue membership with the Intermountain Transportation Planning Region. 

During general public comments, Matt Gworek, chair of the Bike, Pedestrian & Trails Commission (BPTC), commented on plans to have an acceleration lane coming from a new development east of Carbondale Marketplace extend to the roundabout. The design he remembered receiving approval merged before the roundabout. “It seems to me like a bad idea,” he said, “encouraging cars to go faster into the roundabout.” He thought there should be more pushback from trustees on this traffic configuration. Andy Zack, another member of BPTC, affirmed Gworek’s sentiment.

Next, Dave Johnson, the owner of Crystal Fly Shop, spoke to the accumulation of garbage beneath the Veterans Memorial Bridge into Carbondale. For decades, this has been a common place for homeless encampments with a mix of jurisdictional authorities enabling inaction. According to Johnson, a couple of elderly men were assaulted by squatters at the boat ramp and the latest group has left more trash including spray cans, soiled underwear, empty bottles and a large sofa. “Rivers are not only our livelihood, but are also something most of us consider to be sacred,” Johnson said. Handing Town Manager Lauren Gister a box of trash bags, and his card to Sparhawk, Johnson invited the trustees to join him in picking up trash pollution on a weekday evening or Saturday.

Denise Moss, a resident of Rock Court, said, “I’m so, so tired of complaining about the speeding on Hendrick Drive.” Nonetheless, “I have literally witnessed people drag racing on that street.” She suggested the addition of a bike lane could slow traffic.

Lastly, a resident of River Valley Ranch commented on code updates, naming a house under construction at 769 Perry Ridge he perceives to be anomalous in height and even hazardous based on the soil composition and excavation at the site. “I am really impressed with how you conduct these meetings,” he added.

Trustee comments were minimal, relating to the various boards and commissions and changing leadership. Sparhawk commented on a celebration acknowledging Margaret Donnelly, outgoing Recreation Center and programming manager, who is moving to New Zealand with her husband. Gister mentioned that the Parks and Rec staff is interviewing “several very promising candidates” for the position. 

Action items
Only two action items graced the agenda. The first involved a sewer main pipe beneath 2nd Street showing signs of significant degradation. This segment, dating back to the early ‘70s, is ranked by the wastewater operators as having the highest priority need for replacement, a memo noted. Excavation Services Inc. submitted the only bid on the project for $1,192,325, exceeding the expected budget by 50%. The Wastewater Fund was projected to carry a $4.9 million reserve at the end of 2025, allowing some cushion. Excavation Service Inc. also has a strong track record with the Town of Carbondale, managing several recent projects including the Nettle Creek Hydroelectric Project and the Wastewater Plant Digester Building Structural Project. The unanimously approved project will have significant impacts on traffic and is scheduled to take place this summer, while schools are not in session.

Integrated weed management
The final item of the night was approval of this year’s integrated weed management plan, which typically takes place in February. Parks and Rec Director Eric Brendlinger provided a lengthy memo detailing techniques that prioritize natural methods and leave chemicals as a last result. Brendlinger noted that the Riverfront Park parcel will be interesting to watch as deliberate planting of native species has taken place in conjunction with strategic fencing and irrigation. He also mentioned they’ll be experimenting with a new fertilizer this year called Nutrafix. 

The 2025 plan was unanimously approved for which Brendlinger expressed relief, admitting, “We are implementing some of this as we speak.”