Voting information for the Nov. 5 election Oct.

15 First day mail-in ballots may be sent to voters, except for Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act voters. First day replacement ballots may be made available at the county clerks ofce. (No sooner than 22 days before a nonpartisan election.) Oct. 29 Last day to apply

for a mail & mail-in ballot if the elector wishes to receive their ballot by mail. Nov. 1 Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot for the Coordinated Election if picked up at the designated election ofcials ofce. (Close of business the Friday before the election.) Nov. 5 Coordinated Election (Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Call for artists

Read aloud to children

To highlight the importance of reading aloud to children, Thompson School District will celebrate Read Aloud Day on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Community members are invited to read to classes in elementary schools. The time commitment is approximately 30 minutes. Various schools and time slots are available. Register online at www.thompsonschools.org or contact Chris Ingold, 613-5072 by Oct. 18 to sign up.

Area artists may submit entries to the library that can be wall-mounted and must correspond with the theme: the power of stories. A contest will be held on the evening of Nov. 8 to coincide with the librarys event: Histor[y]ie Manifesti, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The evening celebrates the librarys newly remodeled space with entertainment, demonstrations, refreshments and story-telling. Wall size: 2.5 by 6; the library is accepting either single or multiple entries to fit the space. Entries must be to the library by Nov. 2, 2013.

In towns where there is a strong sense of community, there is no more important institution than the local paper. ... Warren Buffett
Thursday, October 10, 2013 Berthoud, Colorado Covering all the angles in the Garden Spot ... where good things grow www.berthoudsurveyor.com

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor is on Facebook Follow us on twitter at twitter.com/Survey Volume 10, Number 41

Left to right: Deanne Mulvihill, Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce director, and Barbara Worbs, Oktoberfest committee member, ofcially opened the Oktoberfest celebration with a resounding Prost. The Chalet Dancers, an international performance troupe from Castle Rock, Colo., performed for the crowd of over 1,000. Francis Liedle leads folks in a dance. The Dick Zavodney Band entertained for several hours. 40 children participated in the pretzel eating contest.
Photos by John Gardner and Becky Justice-Hemmann

P&Z approves Haworth 4-3

By Rudy Hemmann The Surveyor A standing room only crowd greeted the members of Berthouds planning commission as the commissioners seated themselves at a special meeting Monday evening. Approximately 75 people, most of them county residents from west of town, lled the town council chambers to overowing to the point that a reported group of 30 to 35 citizens was forced to witness the proceedings from outside the front doors of town hall. The item on the commission agenda which generated so much interest was the petition for annexation of the Haworth property by Karen Sorenson who is representing her family and the estate of Maurice E. Red Haworth in the matter. Before the festivities got underway Chairman Chris Thorne welcomed two new members to the commission. Christine Celentano and William Gilmore were appointed by the town board to serve on the planning commission in September, and both were present for the meeting. The Haworth property consists of approximately 83.65 acres (approximately 89.20 acres with rights-of-way included) situated at the northwest corner of the intersection of Larimer County Road (LCR) 19 and LCR 8 (Mountain Avenue extended). During a lengthy staff report Town Planner Tim Katers outlined the specics of the requests by the applicant(s), which included a comprehensive plan amendment to designate a preferred land use for the tract, annexation of the property, zoning and a request for a minor subdivision into three lots. A comprehensive plan amendment is required because the property was outside both the town limits and the towns Growth Management Area (GMA) and, as a result, no preferred land use was designated for the property in the 2007 comprehensive plan. However, the planning commission took action on May 30 and the town board concurred on June 11 of this year to include the Haworth property in the GMA. Inclusion in the towns GMA must

precede annexation, and a preferred land use designation may also then be made. Katers stated the applicants were requesting AG: Agriculture zoning on the entire parcel. The AG zoning would allow one residential unit per acre provided municipal water and sewer services were used, and one unit per 2.29 acres where municipal services are not used. He pointed out both water and sewer services were readily available to the property. In his staff report Katers states While property in Larimer County immediately adjacent to the Haworth property remains in larger lot and agricultural uses, a designation matching those county levels of approval (for example 1 unit per 5, 10, or 35 acres) is generally inappropriate for lands within a municipality. Much of the land in Larimer County west of this application has already been subdivided into smaller acreage parcels and if the proposed Low Density Residential designation is not consistent with immediately adjacent property, it is generally consistent with other large lot properties in Larimer County to the west of Berthoud. He further states: The proposed zoning of the property strikes a balance between the larger acreages that remain in agriculture west of U.S. 287 and the needs of the Berthoud community to develop in a manner that supports community facilities, commercial growth, and a scally-balanced community. Katers explained the minor subdivision would allow three lots, one of 5.02 acres, one of 10.01 acres and one of 66.65 acres to be carved out. These lots are intended to be divided between members of the family. (The totals given anticipate additional property given up for additional width of rights-of-way.) Following the report by Katers a representative for the applicants was asked to speak. Sorenson took the podium in order to state the position of the family and correct some of the false information disseminated regarding their attempt to annex to the town. All we are asking for is annexation. We are not proposing a subdivision, said Sorenson, The mailings sent out contained erroneous information. Our property does not already qualify for a subdivision and is not currently zoned for up to 37 homes through the county When a mailing goes out to 4,800 people (addresses), two times, it is like a political advertisement the written word can be a powerful tool and, when presented

Look whos in the news!

Kurt Hucal Kiah Leonard Nate Ryken Cody Braesch Sharon Gingrich

Classied ................................... 9 Crossword .................................. 7 Health & Fitness ........................ 6 Legal notices .............................. 9 Opinion ...................................... 4 Sports ........................................ 8 Then & Now ............................... 5 Weather ..................................... 2

as a scare tactic, wrongful information can override fact Annexation is what our family has wanted since 2004. When town staff indicated that as an option we decided to pursue it. Approximately 20 people took the podium during the public comment portion of the meeting to speak against the annexation proposal. The concerns voiced by the speakers covered the full spectrum from density issues and smart growth, the towns ability to provide basic services, road congestion, the comprehensive plan itself, overcrowding of schools and nesting eagles. No one spoke for the annexation. Following public comment the commissioners discussed the issues. Commissioner Brewer challenged Katers assessments that 60 to 70 homes constructed on the tract would not cause a signicant impact on town services, facilities and road congestion. She was somewhat surprised when informed by him that an impact study regarding a subdivision on the property had not been completed. Brewer continued her tack with questions for Katers regarding zoning in town versus zoning in the county and the report by him there was no additional cost to the town for policing in the area. I cant wrap my brain around the notion that there is absolutely no economic impact of this annexation, said Brewer. Following discussion by the commissioners four motions were made in turn. The rst was a recommendation that the town board approve an amendment to the comprehensive plan to designate a preferred land use of low density residential along with the ndings of fact in support of the motion. The motion was seconded and passed on a 4 2 vote with Thorne and Brewer casting the no votes and Celentano abstaining. Another motion followed recommending the town board approve the annexation of the Haworth property. The motion was seconded and passed on a 4 3 vote with Thorne, Brewer and Celentano casting the no votes. A third motion was made recommending the town board approve the zoning of the Haworth property as AG: Agriculture. The motion was seconded and passed on a 4 3 vote with Thorne, Brewer and Celentano casting the no votes. The fourth motion approved Resolution 2 13 which allows the minor subdivision. The motion was seconded and passed on a 4 3 vote with Thorne, Brewer and Celentano casting the no votes. The commissioners next considered the annexation and zoning of a 9.32 acre property located at the southwest corner of First Street and Highway 287. The owner/applicant, Steve Hazlett, is requesting the property be annexed and zoned to C2: General Commercial for his business venture, ProSwing Park During public comment a neighbor immediately to the east of the property complained of the dust that will be stirred up due to a gravel driveway, noise and light pollution, the parking layout and the hours of operation during the summer. A representative of the applicant stated they wished to be good neighbors and were willing to work to mitigate negative impacts to the neighboring property. There was little discussion by the P&Z cont. on page 2

Loveland police investigating Berthoud police chief

By John Gardner The Surveyor Investigators with the Loveland Police Department executed a search warrant for Berthoud Police Chief Glenn Johnsons ofce on Thursday, Oct. 3. Loveland Police Department Public Information Ofcer Sgt. Justin Chase conrmed the execution of the search warrant but couldnt comment further on the investigation saying only that it is an active investigation. Chase wouldnt comment on the scope of the investigation or why investiga-

tors searched Johnsons ofce. The search warrant has been sealed by a district court judge, according to the Larimer County Court Clerks ofce. Chief Johnson gave no comment and wouldnt discuss the search warrant when contacted by the Surveyor. As well, Berthoud Town administrator Mike Hart and Berthoud Mayor David Gregg had no comment. The 8th Judicial District Attorneys ofce also wouldnt comment on inquiries regarding the investigation as of Wednesday.

Firefighters mourn one of their own

By John Gardner The Surveyor American author G.K. Chesterton once said, The real great man is the man that makes every man feel great. Ron Bateman spoke clearly and concisely as he gave the eulogy at the funeral of fellow reghter and good friend Joeseph Belanger. Joseph Belanger Bateman, Milliken Fire Protection District re chief, spoke of a time when Belanger and his family were dealing with the death of

Belangers mother, Jaquline, in April 2012. Bateman went to Belangers parents house in Fort Collins to deliver lasagna. Joe greeted him at the door with a hug. He hugged me like it was his job, Bateman told the congregation of family, friends and a great number of reghters from Loveland, Milliken, Evans, Johnstown, Platteville, and Berthoud where Belanger

BELANGER cont. on page 3

By Rudy Hemmann The Surveyor

Flood damages near $900,000

The Berthoud Board of Trustees held a regular business meeting Tuesday evening during which they heard a report of the outcome of the 2012 audit. According to an information sheet provided, town staff solicited proposals for a new auditing rm and, after interviewing several audit rms, chose Swanhorst & Company LLC to carry out town audits going forward. The 2012 audit was begun in late spring. In doing their initial review they uncovered several problems with the 2011 audit which needed to be cleaned up. The extra work associated with reviewing the 2011 audit, together with the 2012 audit, created a much longer, more labor-intensive auditing process. Again, according to the information sheet, it became apparent the auditors would not be able to nish their work before the statutory deadline of July 31, 2013. On July 23 the town board approved a 60-day extension for completion of the audit. Wendy Swanhorst of Swanhorst & Company presented the trustees with a draft copy of the 2013 audit. She and Town Administrator Mike Hart were both pleased with the audit results. No major deciencies were found in the towns nancial methods or record keeping. The trustees also heard another 2014 budget presentation by town accountant Faith Smith. The sections of the proposed

budget scrutinized this week were streets, the drainage fund, parks, the park development fee fund, the park dedication fee fund, the conservation trust fund, the Larimer County Open Space, fund and the road impact fee fund. Larimer County Commissioner Tom Donnelly requested the trustees approve a resolution in support of a ballot issue which would allow the county commissioners to use their discretion in spending approximately $8 million that currently remains in a fund used to construct a new courthouse and justice center. The commissioners are seeking voter approval to use those funds to build a new facility in Loveland which would house the county ofces now housed in an ofce building located at Sixth Street and Cleveland Avenue. It has been determined that this ofce building is inadequate, and Donnelly estimated the $8 million would fund up to 80 percent of a new building. Donnelly also updated the town board on ood cleanup and road repair efforts being undertaken by the county. Berthoud Town Engineer Stephanie Brothers stated the ood repairs at the wastewater treatment facility, which were assumed to be relatively light, are approaching $300,000 due to damage to a large electrical panel. She also reported that repairs to the bridge on Weld County Road (WCR) 44 are estimated at $72,000, while the repairs to WCR 1 are estimated to be $400,000 to $500,000. There is no town board meeting scheduled for next week.