In an effort to improve safety and traffic flow on Patterson Road, the Grand Junction City Council is considering an access control plan that recommends significantly reducing access points onto the road.
Public Works Director Trent Prall explained at the Councilâs Monday work session that, as traffic increases on the road, implementing an access control plan would make the road safer and extend its life.
The plan is also meant to increase traffic flow so widening the road would not be necessary.
âAs we all know, Patterson Road has been one of the backbones of the Grand Valley since it was first constructed back in 1984,â Prall said. âOur reliance on it has increased substantially over the years. There comes a time in the life of a road when government agency needs to modify the corridor to improve safety, as well as ensure travel time reliability while maximizing the functional life of the road.â
The Grand Junction City Council voted at its Wednesday meeting to appropriate $1 million in grant funding to help local small businesses and nonprofits that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1 million, plus administration fees, will be split into three programs, Finance Director Jodi Welch said. Two programs will be similar to COVID-19 relief programs the City Council authorized in 2020. One will provide $500,000 in assistance to small businesses and be administered by the Business Incubator. The other will provide $250,000 for nonprofits that are focused on hunger relief and be administered by the Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF).
Much of the discussion was regarding the third program, which is a new proposal. It will likely go to support operations for nonprofits more generally. However, Council Member Anna Stout said the criteria for what nonprofits would be eligible and how the program will be administered is still under discussion. Stout has been me
More than half of the city of Grand Junction’s staff, including the police and fire departments, are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines during the 1B phase that is currently underway.
The Grand Junction City Council is moving forward toward an April ballot question asking voters to allow marijuana businesses to operate in the city, and has directed staff to continue working on developing ballot language.
Grand Junction Senior Planner Lance Gloss gave the initial presentation during the Councilâs Monday work session and explained that the ballot would need to include two questions. The first would overturn a moratorium on marijuana related businesses in Grand Junction that voters passed in 2011. The second would authorize the city to impose local sales and use tax on those types of businesses. City Council would need to approve final language on the ballot questions by early February.