Apr 16 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Andrew Villegas Greeley Tribune, Colo.

The Greeley City Council has joined the movement against a proposed Uranium mine near Nunn saying it comes with too many unanswered questions and could hurt people and business in northern Colorado.

The council on Tuesday joined the Fort Collins City Council and the boards of trustees for Timnath and Wellington in passing resolutions opposed to the mine -- which would be located between Nunn and Wellington. Several other municipalities in northern Colorado are considering resolutions against the mine including the Board of Larimer County Commissioners and the Nunn Town Board.

However, unlike the other elected bodies that passed resolutions opposed to the mine, the Greeley City Council's vote on the resolution was not unanimous. Mayor Ed Clark said he didn't like the wording of the resolution. It passed 5-2 with Clark and Councilman Chuck Archibeque -- who said the mayor's concerns should be addressed before proceeding -- dissenting. Clark didn't elaborate on what wording he didn't like to see in the resolution.

Both were overridden eventually by the votes of the other council members who said the council should take a strong stance against the uranium mine now.

The uranium mine would "have a mental impact even if it doesn't have a physical impact," said Councilman Carrol Martin, who added that he doesn't believe Powertech Uranium Corp. -- the Canadian company proposing the mine -- can clean up the site like it says it can. "It's like putting a 'no industry' sign up."

Councilwoman Pam Shaddock said that Greeley city staff also should begin working immediately to make sure Greeley residents would be protected from the mine, even if it goes through in December.

Powertech hasn't applied for permits for the proposed mine and would have to go through several governmental agencies including the Board of Weld County Commissioners for final approval.

Julie Boyle of Gill came to the meeting Tuesday and told the council that "greener," more environmentally-friendly ways of securing energy are possible.

Solar panels at her home generate two to three times more energy than what her home uses, she said.

Colorado has "great renewable energies such as solar and wind power," Boyle said.

Privatization tossed

The Greeley City Council also decided against privatizing the operations of the Union Colony Civic Center and other city-owned services, convinced that it can find money by increasing efficiencies in how city staff operates the venues.

City Manager Roy Otto said Tuesday night that resident boards and commissions along with city staff will work to identify where places such as the UCCC, the Ice Haus, the Family FunPlex and others can increase revenue by making their workings more efficient.

It's not clear just what those efficiencies will mean for city services, but Otto said some boards will make recommendations about what they can do to increase revenue at the council's June 10 meeting.

The discussion of privatization sparked an outcry from residents concerned that a privatization of city-owned amenities would severely scale back services to residents. A majority of council members asked for privatization to be taken off the table, Otto said, but Councilman Ed Phillipsen said he would still like to see a privatization proposal for the city's two golf courses.