Ideas fly in advisory committee

November 4, 2009

By JoAn Bjarko

The Wellington

 

A volunteer advisory committee is pursuing several ideas to upgrade efforts in Wellington (Colorado) to work with business owners and developers.

The ad hoc committee held its first meeting Oct. 21. The group meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Its next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18 at 8:30 a.m. in the Leeper Center. The public is invited to participate with ideas and comments.

Communication and better planning were two themes of the discussion among the five-member committee and audience of three. For example, committee member Bill Schneider said, the town staff should have addressed the issues of sidewalks and public safety when a poultry processing business wanted to build a new plant on the north side of Wellington, not far from two schools.

“A fundamental problem was not addressed — the safety of students going to and from school,” he said.

Wellington should not put off making public safety improvements until more businesses move to town, he said.

Doug Andersen, co-owner of Ace Hardware, said the town suffers from a lack of foresight. He cited the disparities in what the town requires of developers. Some have to build public improvements such as sidewalks outside of their developments while others don’t, he said.

“There should be some continuity, standardization of who’s responsible for what,” Andersen said. “Nobody’s thinking past tomorrow.”

Developer Mark Goldstein, also a committee member, suggested the town establish a new impact fee to build up a fund for necessary public improvements such as sidewalks. He noted, however, that Wellington also has the challenge of competing with Windsor, Severance and Timnath for development dollars.

Committee members concurred that town government and the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce could do more to coordinate economic development efforts. Town staff should immediately direct inquiries about bringing new businesses to Wellington to a chamber board member, rather than making visitors wait to get their questions answered by town staff, they agreed. Schneider noted that the chamber has compiled significant information that would be useful to new business ventures.

Perhaps the town administrator needs a planning assistant dedicated to providing prompt answers to business and development questions, Goldstein suggested.

“We’re missing the boat on a lot of opportunities,” Andersen said.

To better communicate with Wellington residents, town staff should include more information in utility bills and upgrade its web site, committee members suggested. Staff members also need to make more timely responses to e-mails and phone calls, they said.

Town board member Mishie Daknis responded that citizens have to take some responsibility to attend town board meetings or read the minutes on the web site, www.townofwellington.com.

Jack Brinkhoff and Travis Stevens are leading the discussion group on behalf of the town board. Wellington residents may e-mail their concerns or ideas to BrinkhJD@co.larimer.co.us or StevenTM@co.larimer.co.us.