Town Commissioners — 2020-11-05

This is the record of a virtual special meeting of the Queenstown Commissioners on November 5, 2020 to discuss a water improvement project and a proposed development by Barry Waterman. Attendees included President Tom Willis, Commissioners Bryon Callahan and Al Hardee, Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan, Town Engineer Robert Rauch, Town Manager Amy Moore, developer Barry Waterman and his attorney Joe Stevens. Mr. Waterman reported the Planning Commission is ready to move forward with his Master Development Plan; the process will require design guidelines, a Planning Commission public hearing and recommendation, followed by a Town Commissioners public hearing, and the project will be built in phases with commercial pads first. Key issues discussed were Waterman’s potential funding contribution toward a new water tower and infrastructure, the town’s wastewater capacity, and obstacles such as the cost of extending water/sewer lines and possible legal challenges; Bob Rauch noted the new tower is needed for existing and future needs but may not support Wheatland’s in some scenarios. Commissioners expressed concern about USDA funding timelines; Rauch, Ryan, Peter Johnston and Joe Stevens were tasked to prepare procedural and construction timelines to present to USDA, and Town Manager Moore was asked to have the Finance Committee determine the value of cell tower leases for report at the November 18, 2020 meeting. The meeting adjourned at 11:41 a.m.