LID funds proposals and disbursements

The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee approved two funding proposals from the Niwot Business Association (NBA) at its Dec. 5 meeting.

Chuck Klueber presented a request for funding to clean up the area along Niwot Road where Eddie Running Wolf's iconic tree carvings have been removed for restoration. The application requested $862 toward the total cost of $1,062, based on a bid from Niwot arborist company We Love Trees. The NBA and the Niwot Cultural Arts Association each agreed to contribute $100 toward the cost of removal.

Klueber explained that the carvings had been rotting from the inside as the willow tree roots continued to absorb water from the ground into the trunk. He explained that carpenter ants had burrowed into the trunk, hollowing it out. "One stump was intended to be a Native American woman with her baby," Klueber explained. "We were able to push it over by hand."

Eagle Catcher and Cheyenne Holy Man were removed in late November for restoration by Dustin Wolf, son of Eddie Running Wolf. "We moved them over to Jeff Wolcott's barn," Klueber said. Wolcott has assisted in the restoration work on Spear Lodge Man, the original tree carving being restored by Dustin Wolf, which is nearing completion.

The funding request was unanimously approved.

The second funding request was presented by Angela Hudgins, Niwot town administrator, for the cost of a new 100 amp panel board with new breakers for the street lamps in the 2nd Avenue business district. The proposal included the cost of a new photo cell and time clock for the lights, as well as the installation of 32 LED lights.

Hudgins explained that the total cost of the project was $10,083, but $3,885 would come from the previously approved annual lighting maintenance funding. She also noted that ballasts would be upgraded to work with LED lights.

Rosewood Electrical, based in Niwot, has been contracted to do the work, beginning Jan. 6, 2024. The NBA proposed to fund $100 of the cost, with the balance of $6,200 requested from the LID. After discussion, the request was unanimously approved.

The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) reported the results of the 2023 Rock & Rails summer concert series, describing it as another successful season, with net proceeds of $40,262, which is divided between the NCAA and the NBA, co-sponsors of the event. Tip jar proceeds benefited 24 non-profit organizations associated with Niwot, generating a total of $27,864, or an average of $1,990 per concert over 14 events. With an additional $3,680 in tips collected by the Niwot High School girls volleyball team for the bike valet services they provide, the total benefit to the community was $71,806. The LID provided $10,000 of funding for the concert series.

LID Treasurer Mary Coonce reported that $207,259 had been collected in sales tax revenues through September, a decrease of 3.9% over the same period in 2022. Remote sales tax collections accounted for most of the decrease, down 31% from a year ago. But September collections were up in 2023, with $29,164 collected compared with $27,532 for September 2022.

So far in 2023, the LID has made reimbursements of approved funding requests in the amount of $193,620. The LID entered 2023 with a reserve of $394,067.

NBA president Eric Bergeson, a member of the LID Advisory Committee, reported positive results from the meeting held Nov. 6 with leadership of most of the non-profit organizations in Niwot, at which a first draft of a Niwot Master Plan was presented. "We got good feedback," Bergeson said. "Generally people are pleased. We are focused on expanding our community engagement. We will be working with the Niwot Community Association, and also NBA members and the lower downtown residential area, as well as the Niwot Community Connection people over the next two or three months."

Bergeson also reported that a zoom meeting was held with Boulder County Public Works representatives concerning redevelopment of the north side of Cottonwood Square shopping center, with sidewalk and drainage improvements planned. The project has been delayed by the retirement of the County's chief contact. "The county has had a lot of trouble hiring people," Bergeson noted.

Mark Ruzzin, Boulder County liaison to the LID, noted that the terms of three members of the advisory committee will be ending in February, 2024. Resident members Heidi Storz and Lisa Rivard, as well as business representative Cornelia Sawle will each end their current terms, but are eligible to apply for reappointment. The application deadline is Jan. 24, 2024.