Town Administrator April 27, 2020

Grants Awarded to Erie
Town staff routinely seeks alternative funding from various entities in the form of grants and in-kind contribution to offset project costs. Staff is pleased to share the following grant awards, totaling $1.9 million to the Town, so far in 2020.

Erie Community Park
Last year, the Parks & Recreation Department applied for a 2020 Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation funding grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to help complete Erie Community Park. At the March 10, 2020 meeting, the Board of Trustees adopted the Erie Community Park Final Phase Master Plan. Shortly after, staff learned the GOCO Board awarded the full grant request of $350,000.

Subsequently, staff also submitted a tier II grant application for the same park project through the Department of Local Affairs’ (DOLA) Energy Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF). Funds for this program are derived from State taxes on oil, gas, carbon dioxide, coal, and metals extracted in Colorado. The EIAF funding committee awarded the Erie Community Park $750,000.

Hydro Turbine Project
Public Works also applied for an EIAF grant for the hydro turbine project at the Lynn R. Morgan Water Treatment Facility (WTF) under a new $12 million program intended to spark efforts in reaching Colorado’s 100% renewable energy goal by the year 2040. DOLA awarded this project the full grant request of $766,704. Staff is working with the contractor to add the installation of the turbine to the existing WTF expansion; from 9.9 to 16.7 millions of gallons per day.

Boneyard Dog Park
Earlier this year, the Colorado Tree Coalition awarded the Parks Division a $6,000 grant, funded by Xcel Energy. The funds will be used to enhance the Boneyard Dog Park by adding approximately 20 shade trees; a frequent request of visitors.

Erie Health Orders

As of Monday, April 27, and unless the Board adopts a more restrictive measure, Governor Polis’ “Safer at Home Order” will apply on the Weld County side of Erie, and the slightly more restrictive Boulder County Public Health “Stay at Home Order” will apply on the Boulder County side of Erie. View the news release here.

Small Business Relief Grants

The Town’s Grant Review Committee, composed of representatives from the Erie Chamber of Commerce, the Erie Economic Development Council, and Town staff, recommended 8 businesses receive a total of $60,000 in the third round of Small Business Emergency Relief grants from the Town. The Town has granted a total of $285,000 to 41 different businesses, leaving $15,000 for the next disbursement. The Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program received 67 applications thus far. For more information visit this webpage.

New Board Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for April 28, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend virtually. At this meeting the newly elected Trustees and Mayor will be sworn-in. Information on how to participate in the meeting can be found on the meeting agenda.

Emergency Notifications

The Erie Police Department initiates emergency notifications through Boulder County Communications for the entire Town of Erie. Whether you live in Weld or Boulder counties, residents should opt-in to emergency notifications through Boulder County’s Everbridge system. Weld County officials may send notifications through their CodeRed system, but these are not from the Erie Police Department, and may not cover issues happening in Erie. The Erie PD recommends you create a profile for both counties if you reside on the Weld County side of Erie. Remember, Erie Police will use the Boulder County system for mass emergency notifications. Get started here.

Community Center

The Erie Community Center may be closed, but staff are continuing to offer several virtual programs including fitness classes, sports programming, nutrition consulting and more! Check out the website for a full list of offerings. As Parks and Recreation staff prepare to reopen facilities, programs, and services, please give us your input by completing this short survey!

Cover Your Face

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. So, protect yourself, be courteous and protect others, and mask up; it’s an easy way for you to fight the coronavirus!