Community Plow update 8:30 Wednesday 12/3

Access road was plowed early today, to support the bus runs. The plow contactor will start to work their way across the mountain, plowing all roads. The PID Board and contactor will touch base before the afternoon commute to revisit plowing needs. Please continue to email plowing concerns to stormmountainpid@gmail.com. As this is the first plow of the season, we are bound to have a few oversights. Driveways that look like roads, roads that look like driveways Please exercise care, roads may still be slick, and plows my be traveling against normal traffic flow, please aways give the plow right of way.

Holidays and Winter Weather Travel

 Community, 

It's that time of year,  holidays are just around the corner,  along with accumulation of snow and ice on our roads. 

We would like to ask the community to revalidate their preparedness and share preparedness recommendations with friends and family that may be traveling to the Mountain. 

1. Check the forecast before you travel, be aware of the conditions you might experience
2. Plan your travel accordingly with weather 
1. 4WD/AWD
2. Snow rated tires 
3. CHAINS
4. Coat, hat, gloves, boots, flashlight, blanket, shovel
5. Avoid travel if your not prepared and/or Access road is reported as blocked
   
3. Share preparedness recommendations with visitors to the Mountain
4. We encourage the community to report road conditions to the PID so that we can dispatch the Plow/Sand team when needed. 
5. Be aware and patient 
1. There will be times were the access road is blocked, happens every year, please plan for delays, assist where you safely can, help do your part by being prepared
2. Dispatch of plows may take multiple hours once the need for plow/sand is identified  - The plow company can not self dispatch, it must be requested by authorized agent. 
6. PID Contact Methods 
   
   Storm Mountain PID #55
   Email: stormmountainpid@gmail.com
   Website: https://stormmountainpid.blogspot.com/
   
   Voicemail: 970-429-5350
   Facebook and GroupsIO are NOT formally monitored, but the data shared may be useful to the wider community (Not all community members have access to these resources and moderation is outside the control of the County or PID)

Hello Storm Mountain,

Road work will continue around the mountain through September and October. Foster Dirt will be working on the Access Road and applying mag chloride this Tuesday and possibly into Wednesday. Expect delays and plan extra travel time to get around the road crew as they work.  Your patience and cautious driving is appreciated. 

Thank you,
Storm Mountain PID #55
Email: stormmountainpid@gmail.com
Website: https://stormmountainpid.blogspot.com/
Voicemail: 970-429-5350

Summer Road Work Update

Community,

Foster Dirt, our road contractor, will be back on the mountain for the next 6 weeks to complete this season's summer road maintenance.  Please keep an eye out for their crews and exercise caution when driving through work zones. 

Foster Dirt will be working on the access road, bringing in material to complete improvements to the road surface.  This will include ditching, rock clean up, shouldering, grading and application of mag chloride.  They will do their best to avoid impacts to school drop off and pick up, but you might run into occasional delays. 

Foster Dirt will continue grading and ditching in both lower and upper filings. They will perform culvert clean up and repairs, and strategic placement of new base and mag chloride to help retain a better road surface during the winter months. 

We are also planning to have Foster dirt spend one to two days on tree trimming. Their focus will be trees that are encroaching into the travel lanes, impeding travel, or damaging vehicles and equipment. Please email the PID if you have areas you would like them to look at: StormMoutainPID@Gmail.com

Other items of note:

We are aware of recurring rock-fall on the access road, the County is looking into the issue. This is complicated by the fact that this portion of the road is owned by the Forest Service and some of the trouble areas are outside of the easements.  Please drive with care and watch for rocks on the road.

Finally, please avoid parking on the bridge at Storm Mountain Drive and CR43 especially during bus drop off and pick up, this has historically created access and safety issues. 

Thank you,
Storm Mountain PID #55
Email: stormmountainpid@gmail.com
Website: https://stormmountainpid.blogspot.com/
Voicemail: 970-429-5350

 

2025 PID Annual Owner Meeting

Date & Time: June 21, 2025, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Fire Station #9, 100 Palisade Mountain Dr
Audio Recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16a8cD3ptVbgeGeT3l7JlyjUGb1eHrWs0/view?usp=drive_link

Board Members

James Toland, Chairperson
David Hoffman, Treasurer
Connie Garrett, Secretary
Ed Ostransky

The meeting was called to order and commenced by suspending Robert’s Rules.  New board members, David Hoffman and Ed Ostranksy, were introduced.  Andy Hitch, the prior chairperson, resigned from the board in April.  There is one open position on the board and can be filled in the fall.

Officers

David Hoffman was appointed as board treasurer.  Connie Garrett was appointed as board secretary.  James Toland was appointed as board chairperson.  Currently there are 4 members on the board.  The county PID Program Manager will serve as a tie breaker in the event of a tie vote.  Applications for board members can be submitted on the Larimer County website in the fall: https://www.larimer.gov/boards/storm-mountain-public-improvement-district#/board

Board Mission and General Discussion

The mission of the board is to maintain the roads in the Storm Mountain PID district and improve roads as the budget allows.  The PID is not a HOA or related to the HOA on Storm Mountain.  The PID cannot own property.  The PID may not change tax rates. The PID has no regulatory control over private property and may not enforce any code issues.  The PID board members are volunteers that own property in the community. The PID advises the county and works with contractors (hired by the county) to maintain and improve roads. The PID may recommend for private property owners to clean culverts or cut back trees where they impact the public right of way. 

The PID budget is funded by property taxes and managed by Larimer County.  The Forest Service does not contribute to any road maintenance as their portion of the road is considered a 4WD trail.  The roads in the district are owned by multiple owners: private owners, county, state and federal forest service.  This is the main reason why only portions of the Access Road are paved.  The unpaved section of the Access Road is owned by the forest service. Generally speaking there is a 25 foot easement from the center of the road for road maintenance and improvements.  Culverts on private driveways are not maintained by the PID, but in special circumstances where drainage is causing damage to the public road, then the PID may recommend the private owner to improve the culvert. 

Financial Review – 2024 Spend

The beginning balance in 2024 was about $80k.  This was a carry-over from 2023 for chip seal reserve and emergency\contingency expenses. 

2024 Revenue

• $280k from property taxes
• $17k from ownership taxes
• $11k from intergovernmental revenue
• $7k from interest
• $5k from road and bridge fees

     2024 Expenses

• $207k on summer road maintenance
• $51k on snow removal
• $19k on county collection and administrative fee

     2024 Carry Over for 2025

• $125k of unspent funds will be carried into 2025.  This is more than projected of $90k.  The reasons for the carry-over are as follows:
• The summer road contractor did not spend as much as anticipated
• There were no major snow events which can be costly
• The expected carry-over for chipseal and emergency/contingency funds

 

The county financial report is updated monthly and available on the Larimer County Website: https://www.larimer.gov/engineering/improvement-districts/more-info#storm-mountain

2025 Proposed Budget

 The following budget for 2025 was reviewed and approved with minor changes to increase the chip seal reserve and decrease summer road maintenance so that the next application of chipseal could be completed in 5 years instead of 7 years.  The county recommends to re-apply chipseal every 5-7 years.  The chipseal is projected to cost $100k for both the upper and lower sections of the Access Road. 2025 goals are to continue to improve main thoroughfares first and then side roads.

 

 

Plow Work in 2024-2025

 The contractor for the 2024-2025 season was based out of Estes Park.  This complicates snow removal operations as it takes about 2 hours for the contractor to get their equipment ready and get on the mountain.  The additional time requires more effort in forecasting the timing and intensity of snow events. Larimer County also standardized the plowing threshold to begin at 4 inches across all PIDS.  Due to the variations in elevations and traffic volumes, the PID will advocate to return to the 6” threshold for green and red roads, and 2” threshold for the Access Road.  Winter residents should plan to have appropriate tire traction for mountain winter conditions (chains, studded tires, 4WD).

 Several sand barrels were damaged or destroyed in the Alexander fire.  Larimer county has provided specs for barrel replacements.  A quote was received for $1200 per barrel, which is too expensive in the opinion of the board.  An additional quote has been requested from Foster Dirt.  Due to the high cost, the board recommends a community volunteer effort to build and install the sand barrels.

 The general feedback from the community was that the winter was very mild and felt that there were some instances when plowing was unnecessary.

 As there are no other on-mountain snow removal bidders, the contract with the current Estes Park contractor will be renewed for the 2025-2026 season.

 

Summer Work Review

 Following a lengthy roadblock in the spring caused by driver attempting to bring up a trailer on icy roads, board members have requested a sign at the bottom of the Access Road.  The county has proposed two versions of a sign which if approved, could be placed at the bridge. Both versions call attention to the challenging road ahead with switchbacks, no turn around, and recommended trailer lengths. The sign will cost about $1500 to install. The sign will not be enforceable. Community support was mixed for the sign.  Some community members felt this may deter future roadblocks. Other residents voiced concerns that signs are frequently vandalized and ignored. Others were concerned that the sign might make it more difficult to get contractors up to Storm Mountain.  In the event of road blockages, 911 dispatch should be contacted.

 

2025 goals are to work on main thoroughfares.  In years past, roads in upper filings did not get graded until late summer.  This year, the contractor will grade all main thoroughfares earlier in the season.  The Access Road will get additional mag chloride and recycled asphalt past combat rock. Foster Dirt has advised we discontinue using recycled asphalt as it is difficult to maintain.  Foster Dirt recommends roadbase which can be maintained more easily.  There is not a significant cost difference between recycled asphalt and road base.  Ditching and culvert cleaning will continue to be a priority.  A few problem areas were discussed: Cedar Park leading up to Jug ct is bedrock and needs road base, mushy areas on Spruce Mountain need road base, and Snow Top.  As work is completed on the Access Road, areas beyond the T will be targeted for additional road base as the budget allows.  The board values Foster Dirt.  They have gained experience on Storm Mountain and are familiar with challenges and pain points.

 

Open Discussion

Cedar Springs Reservoir Non Profit has been formed to take ownership of the lake and to actively work towards repair of the dam.  The state will be inspecting the lake in July.  If the current condition of the dam is not repaired the lake will be shut down.  This transfer in ownership is pending a signature from the Cedar Springs HOA.  The PID uses water from the lake the summer maintenance.  The newly formed Cedar Springs Reservoir will work with the PID to ensure access to the lake.  In previous years, the HOA has charged the PID for water use.  Additional discussions between the PID and the Cedar Springs Reservoir Non Profit group will continue to work out any details for water use from the lake.

 There was some discussion on best practices for communications.  Most PID communications are posted on the Storm Mountain PID blogger website as access is not restricted.  Members have been banned from various email groups and social media platforms so the PID will post where possible (groups.io and Facebook), however the primary location for PID communications are located here: https://stormmountainpid.blogspot.com/

 There was some discussion about the recent vandalization of the Foster Dirt’s equipment.  This costs the community money for the contractor’s lost time working on roads and repairing equipment.

 Reminder: there will be open positions at the end of the year.  Board members must own property within the PID district.  Board officers must be full-time residents.  Applications can be submitted on Larimer County website: https://www.larimer.gov/boards/storm-mountain-public-improvement-district#/board

 

Adjourn

 The meeting was adjourned.