In the Region

In the Region

MEAD AND WELD COUNTY HEAD TO COURT OVER SANITATION DISTRICT(S)
Weld County property owners want to form their own sanitation district, the East Interstate Sanitation District, while Mead officials want to form their own and force the property owners to annex to Mead, pay high fees and get services form the municipality. Mead officials also fear that if the property owners form a district in the county future residents will come to Mead for other types of services without being part of the Town, putting a financial burden on Mead and its taxpayers. The two proposed sanitation districts overlap substantially east of I-25. Last March Mead filed suit against the Weld County Commissioners alleging they did not follow proper procedures when they approved plans for the East I-25 district. Weld County District Court must approve the formation of a district and the North Front Range Water Quality Planning Association must approve district boundaries. Weld County District Court Judge Jonathan Hays will hear the case on February 15.

WELD COMMISSIONERS APPROVE SPECIAL DISTRICT REGULATIONS
On January 16, after listening to a plea from Greeley City Council member Pam Shaddock to slow down and listen to the concerns of municipal governments, the Weld County Commissioners approved an ordinance regulating special and metropolitan taxing districts. The new legislation requires the county to review the service plan for a proposed district. The applicant must prove that the services will be “adequate, economical and in compliance with the county’s master plan.” By state statute the sales contract for a home purchased within such a district is required to include the following clause in capital letters: "SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO GENERAL OBLIGATION INDEBTEDNESS THAT IS PAID BY REVENUES PRODUCED FROM ANNUAL TAX LEVIES ON THE TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN SUCH DISTRICTS. PROPERTY OWNERS IN SUCH DISTRICTS MAY BE PLACED AT RISK FOR INCREASED MILL LEVIES AND EXCESSIVE TAX BURDENS TO SUPPORT THE SERVICING OF SUCH DEBT WHERE CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE RESULTING IN THE INABILITY OF SUCH A DISTRICT TO DISCHARGE SUCH INDEBTEDNESS WITHOUT SUCH AN INCREASE IN MILL LEVIES. PURCHASERS SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE DEBT FINANCING REQUIREMENTS OF THE AUTHORIZED GENERAL OBLIGATION INDEBTEDNESS OF SUCH DISTRICTS, EXISTING MILL LEVIES OF SUCH DISTRICT SERVICING SUCH INDEBTEDNESS, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INCREASE IN SUCH MILL LEVIES." County Attorney Bruce Barker will recommend that all plats include a notice about the tax district as an additional means of educating buyers. In unrelated, but coincidental action on January 17, the Weld Planning Commission tabled consideration of a rezoning for a 5,000 home development, St. Vrain Lakes subdivision. The subdivision is the largest ever to be proposed in Weld County and is located adjacent to Del Camino, south of Colo. 66 and west of Colorado Blvd. The rezoning hearing will be rescheduled.