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May 1st, 2023                                                                    News You Can Use

Road Closure: Town of Silt Working on 9th Street

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Town will need to close 9th Street between Grand Avenue and Home Avenue to work on water lines.  The Town is hoping to have the road back open by Tuesday the 2nd.  Thank you for your patience!

Silt’s Congressional Delegation Supports Water Treatment Plant; Town Receives Grant

The Town of Silt recently learned that all three of the Town’s congressional delegation referred its requests for water treatment plant funding to their respective appropriations committee, the second of many steps involved in the Congressionally Directed Spending process, more commonly known as “earmarks.”  Senator John Hickenlooper’s office notified the Town that the request for  a $2.1 M earmark had been selected for additional review, while Senator Michael Bennet moved along a $3.3 M request and Representative Lauren Boebert referred a $27.9 M request to the committee. While announcements concerning these awards are to be made mid-summer, they are contingent on the Congress agreeing to a new budget for 2024.  It is unlikely the Town would get all three awards and even one of them would be difficult given the popularity of the program.  On another note, the Town received word from the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District that they had awarded the Town of Silt $450,000 to be used to construct a new water treatment plant.  That money is guaranteed, so long as Silt builds the improvements it is now planning.

Town Receives Highway Safety Grant for On Ramp

Town of Silt Public Works Director Trey Fonner received word this week that his application for a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant had been approved.  The grant for $1,066,000, was awarded to improve the Eastbound on ramp at Exit 97, Silt.  Design work could start very soon, but construction won’t happen until 2026.

Many Silt residents have expressed concerns about this on ramp over the years as being too short to get up to speed to enter traffic and continually poor state due to standing water and freeze/thaw conditions.  Fonner convinced the State to take a look and they agreed that it might be eligible for funding from the State’s HSIP fund.  Fonner submitted a formal application last year and after the State’s review process was awarded the grant.

The award is based on safety concerns, crash history and a cost/benefit analysis.  It is a Federal award of 90%, matched by the State at 10%.  The Town will have no financial obligation. 

EV Charging Station Operators Buy Silt Land

The Silt Board of Trustees on Monday approved on second reading an ordinance approving the sale of Town-owned property at 1555 River Frontage Road, adjacent to the Silt Holiday Inn Express, for the building of an alternative fueling station.  Silt Energy Development, a subsidiary of Astera, a California-based company, tendered a full- price offer for $299,000 for the lot in order to build a fueling station with electric vehicle charging stations, hydrogen fuel and natural gas pumps, a dog-walking area, a coffee shop and “clean restrooms”.  The Board first met the buyers at their meeting on March 27.  After the Board directed staff to negotiate a sales contract, staff returned with a contract that will hopefully compel the buyer to develop the property into a sales tax generating business as soon as possible. Town Attorney Jim New drafted an Option Agreement as a condition of the Real Estate Contract and Closing on the sale of the Property.  The buyer states in the Contract that they will commence construction within 180 days of Closing. To enforce that post-Closing requirement, the Option Agreement states that if no building permit is issued and water and sewer taps paid after 180 days of Closing, the Town, at its option and in its sole discretion, can repurchase the Property for the same Purchase Price. That Option remains in effect for 2 years after Closing. In the meantime, Astera said it intends to immediately pursue its due diligence activities and build as soon as possible.

Town of Silt Board of Trustee Vacancy

The Silt Board of Trustees is looking for a resident to serve out a Trustee term until November 2025.  The board meets the 2^nd and 4^th Mondays of each month, and additional committee work could be expected. 

Qualifications:

• Minimum 18 years of age;
• Town of Silt resident for no less than 12 months;
• Registered voter; and
• All other requirements as stated in the Silt Municipal Code and Home Rule Charter

If interested in being part of a decision-making board for the Town of Silt, please complete an application and return it to the Town Clerk, PO Box 70, Silt, CO., 81652 or deliver to 231 N. 7^th Street, or email to:  sheila@townofsilt.org.  Applications can be picked up at Town Hall, downloaded from the Town of Silt website at:  townofsilt.org or by calling the Town of Silt at 876-2353 ext. 102.  Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. May 17, 2023. 

May 1st Deadline for Xcel Energy Bill Assistance 

Xcel Energy wants to remind customers that payment assistance programs are available that may be able to help with your energy bills, and the deadline to apply is coming soon. Thousands of families and households have benefitted from home energy assistance programs throughout the winter, and now is a good time to see if you’re eligible. In Colorado the deadline to apply for energy assistance is May 1, so be sure to learn more and apply soon.

State programs can offer assistance paying utility bills and the cost for repair or replacement of a home’s primary heating system. To learn more, visit xcelenergy.com/EnergyAssistance or call Xcel Energy at 800-895-4999.

To explore more options, you can visit xcelenergy.com/WaysToSave to find ways to save energy and money, have more stable bills, learn about payment assistance and more. Tips for saving money and energy can be found at xcelenergy.com/Tips, and you can also find information on incentives and rebates that customers can use to make their homes and businesses more efficient.

Mobile Vaccine Bus at Library May 3rd

Irrigation Season Begins May 1st!

DMV2Go Returns on May 17th

eBike There Garfield County Discount e-Bikes Available