First vote finalizing S-curve project gets Sterling City Council approval

The Sterling City Council is wrapping up the paperwork on the Sterling S-curve, with first approval of an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Colorado over some of the streets impacted by the project Tuesday night.

The council, with Mayor Brenda Desormeaux absent, voted 6-0 in favor of an ordinance that donates a portion of S. Division Avenue to the state and sets conditions on the devolution of some former state highways within city limits.

The devolved streets include the section of Main Street from Division to N. Third Street, which was formerly part of Highway 14; Third and Fourth Streets between Chestnut and Division, which were part of Highway 6; and Fourth Street from Chestnut north to Broadway, as well as Broadway to just east of Sidney Avenue, which were part of Highway 138. The state's Transportation Commission voted to abandon those sections of the highways in September 2021, and the city council had voted as early as June of 2021 to formalize the devolution, then followed up in December to accept the devolved property.

This agreement also includes the donation of S. Division Ave from Main Street south to Fourth Street, making it a state highway.

The ordinance will come back before the council for a final vote following a public hearing at their next meeting on March 8.

The council will also take final action on a resubdivision application that got preliminary approval at Tuesday's meeting. The application from ALS Investments seeks to divide two lots along Franklin Street into four. The lots, listed as 315 and 319 Franklin, currently extend from Franklin to MacGregor; the resubdivision would put two lots on Franklin and two on MacGregor. The council voted to approve the application with the condition recommended by the Sterling Planning Commission, that the one new lot that does not meet city code would have to be brought into compliance within 18 months.

Mayor Pro Tem Luke Janes presented recommendations from the mayor for appointments to the city's Public Works Board, Planning Commission and Citizens Advisory Board. Appointments for Philip Pollock to the Public Works Board, Thur Nelson to the Planning Commission and Jane DeSanti to the Citizens Advisory Board were approved.

The council also approved a fitness passport service agreement with OptumHealth Care Solutions, which will allow those enrolled in eligible OptumHealth Medicare Advantage Plans to use the Sterling Recreation Center, with the plan reimbursing the city for admission.

In other business, the council:

* Accepted a bid from Simon for the city's 2022 Surface Treatment Project in the amount of $875,336; it was the only bid on the project.

* Set City Manager Kevin Blankenship as the official representative to all County Health Pool membership meetings, and designated four correspondents — Finance Director Deb Forbes, Human Resources Director Bob Brown, HR Generalist Kayle Friend and Payroll Specialist Amanda Meurer — for the city's medical insurance provider.

The council followed their regular meeting with an executive session to get attorney advice regarding the wastewater treatment plant project.