Despite solid support from the community and numbers that showed that Estes Valley Investments in Childhood Success could start helping administer childcare funding assistance for middle-income families less expensively and immediately, the board voted for a plan presented by Carlie Bangs, the Town’s housing and childcare manager, to use a third-party intermediary service called Bridgecare to administer requests for assistance in that income level.
EVICS presentation said that middle-income households could use the same application process that the lower-income families currently do to get assistance with childcare through EVICS, that there would be no start-up or subscription fees, and that money realized through 6E could be used to help families directly without the administrative fees of using a third party.
“The big difference is the connectivity that Bridgecare has to Colorado,” said Bangs, who went on to explain that the program provides the reporting and enrollment capabilities, especially if a family no longer qualifies for assistance. She admitted she had no problem with the way EVICS currently runs their tuition assistance program. “We’ve been able to communicate to get to a point where I feel comfortable with the information I am getting” from EVICS, she said.
“One of my concerns is past history with EVICS, they have stepped up their game and that’s great,” said Trustee Cindy Younglund, but she also said that perhaps that organization might not get grants to handle administrative costs of the program in the future and would be coming back to the Town to ask for more money. Younglund also questioned if EVICS currently had enough staff to handle the administration of the program or if family resource center had too many staff.
“I have to acknowledge the substantial public support for EVICS,” said Igel, referring to several community members who came out in support of EVICS handling the middle-income funds as well as the lower-income funding for childcare tuition assistance. “I am in full support of EVICS,” he said.
Trustee Brown moved to deny the approval of the contract with Bridgecare and Igel seconded. However, the contract was ultimately approved after Trustee Frank Lancaster asked for a side-by-side comparison of the two organizations and Machalek said that in order to do that, the Town would have to “start from scratch” and go through a formal bidding process.
The contract with Bridgecare needs to be signed and approved yearly, so the predominant sentiment among the Trustees was not to go against the recommendation of Town staff and revisit next year.
Encore! granted an option to be built at Stanley Park
The Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies, one of the longest-running nonprofits in Estes Park, was granted a hold on four acres at Stanley Park to raise funds and build Encore!, a performing arts venue with other art amenities, including an interactive art experience similar to Meow Wolf in Denver.
FAGR will have no extensions on the fundraising schedule to raise 100% of the estimated $20 million project by the end of year six, with fundraising goals set for each year after year two. In addition, FAGR must contribute $1 million for “reclamation reserve.”
“If the Guild is able to operate without issue for 10 years, this reserve would be released back to the Guild,” said Machalek who was presenting on behalf of Rob Hinkle, special events manager for the Town. “If not, this reserve would be used by the Town for repurposing or demolishing the building,” Machalek said.
Additional Town Board news
The Estes Park Housing Authority and its contractor updated the Fish Hatchery workforce housing development, and two new liquor licenses were granted for downtown.
Crossroad Ministry gave its base funding report, and, the board voted formally to take EPHA off the base funding list, replaced with the Estes Park Senior Center.
The first public hearing for electric rate increases was held. The next and final public hearing will be part of the regular meeting of the Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees on June 24 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall, 170 MacGregor Ave.