Grand Lake Board of Directors Withdrew from Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance plan Monday, just like Granby did last month. The board also approved three questions on ballot which could legalize the sale of marijuana in the city and implement a 15% tax on the product.

Administrators withdrew from state insurance scheme for similar reasons to those that the board of directors of Granby cited last month. The program allows cities to join and pay half the premium for their employees, who pay the other half.

Opting out as a city, however, allows individual employees to sign up and pay the same amount in their bonuses. The withdrawal meant the city could spend less money on the program while allowing city employees to participate.

“It’s kind of crazy because by opting out, the employee can still sign up,” Treasurer Keike Wilson said. “They have to be responsible for their share of the bonus unless the board decides they want to activate it. But if we don’t opt ​​out, then every employee has to contribute and the board has to contribute for every employee.”

Wilson presented the resolution to council and said the city notified employees of the pullout plan on July 27. She said the program hasn’t been fully developed yet, and if the council wants to enroll in it later, they can.

To weed or not to weed?

For several months, the board has been discussing putting a question on the November ballot to legalize the sale of marijuana in Grand Lake. After discussing the details of the questions at the last meeting, city staff presented three questions to administrators on Monday. Questions would legalize marijuana dispensaries and create taxes on recreational and medical marijuana

At Monday’s meeting, administrators expressed concerns about issues resembling raising taxes and scaring voters, taxing medical marijuana the same as recreational and limiting the location of dispensaries.

City manager John Crone said city prosecutors recommended placing limits on the location of the dispensary not as far as the ballot goes, but in rules and regulations that council will consider later. Crone said the lawyers also suggested using ballot question language regarding taxes and that medical and recreational marijuana could be taxed at the same rate.

The rules and regulations will contain other factors that the council previously discussed, such as limitations on the number of permits allowed in the city.

Other business:

• In their workshops, the trustees received a summer day camp update from Elaine Menardi of Colorado AreoLab, discussed the city’s local employee residency program with Director of Community Development Kim White and heard an update from the Grand County Tourism Board from its Chairman Ron Ellis.
• The board excused the absences of directors Mike Arntson and Michael Sobon
• In his manager’s report, Crone talked about new sand on the beach, upcoming events including an arts and crafts festival and Buffalo Daysthe Rocky Mountain Repertory Theater soon to end its summer season, town boat auction, town hires an administrative assistant and a permit technicianpay-as-you-throw thickness trash bags, the public works effort to clear trees and increase visibility at the entrance to town, a potential replacement for the main entrance marquee sign, a loan application from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority , a large bear that has been seen around town , and the council retreat next week.
• During public comment, Brook Mark of Grand Lake asked council to consider making the town more bike and pedestrian friendly with cycle lanes and roundabouts.
• Kenda Fuller and David Wise asked if the board would consider creating more oversight for blasting or using explosives to smash rocks, after a company set off explosives without notifying the nearby city of their home. Crone said the city and fire department filed a complaint with the state about the explosion. Resident David Raffaelli suggested contacting the Colorado Division of Petroleum and Public Safety.
• The Board approved August 8 accounts payable.
• Corinne Lively provided an update on Grand Lake Cemetery’s finances to the Board.
• The directors approved a resolution updated rules and regulations of the city cemetery, including the requirement for a specific type of burial container, a ban on burials during the winter between October 15 and May 31, a ban on all lighting and new rules regarding plants allowed in the cemetery.
• Council approved a resolution recognizing the rights of nature with some tweaks recommended by City Attorney Scotty Krob. Living Water Alliance first presented the resolution to council at its June 28 meeting.
• Directors voted for modify the city code relating to derogatory uses and structures to allow less expansion such structures.
• Crone explained city staff’s plan to clear the right-of-way for all of Heckendorf property, except for a one-inch strip adjacent to another property, which would ensure the Heckendorf family receive the right-of-way. passing. The board will vote on the matter at a future meeting.
• The administrators discussed the possibility of building a dog park in Grand Lake.
• Mayor Steve Kudron spoke about the dwindling labor pool at the end of the summer season, the importance of affordable housing, next year’s budget, infrastructure needs and illegal blasting in its update.