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CogniLocal

Berthoud, Colorado Local News & Community Updates

Your Community, More Completely.

Follow Berthoud town government, growth and development, schools, utilities, local businesses and community events. Find the current Berthoud, Colorado report below, with continuing stories and past editions.

Friday, October 30: Berthoud Elementary Halloween parade, 8:15 a.m.Friday, October 30: Last day of Scarecrow Contest votingSaturday, October 31: Scarecrow Contest People's Choice winner announcedMonday, November 2: No school in Thompson School District
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Today in Berthoud

Berthoud Elementary's Halloween parade is this morning, Friday, October 30, from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m.
Today, Friday, October 30, is the last day to vote in the Scarecrow Contest; the People's Choice winner is announced Saturday, October 31.
The I-25 east frontage road between WCR 36 and the Great Western railroad crossing is down to one flagger-controlled lane today, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Town's Director of Water Utilities job listing shows applications closing Tuesday, November 10, at 11 p.m.
Larimer County's draft data center rules for unincorporated areas, released Tuesday, October 27, are open for public comment.
Thompson School District has no school Monday, November 2, and no K-5 students Tuesday, November 3.

NEW: newly reported developments or upcoming opportunities. UPDATE: later substantive information on a covered story. ONGOING: continuing useful information. RESOLVED: the reported issue has ended. BACKGROUND: dated historical context, not a new development or confirmation of current availability. UNCONFIRMED: a story, continuing story or detail that could not be confirmed against its cited source on the edition date; the note under the headline says what is not confirmed. Today and countdown lines carry "(unconfirmed)" for the same reason. All local times are Mountain Daylight Time.

City, Roads & Planning

ONGOING

I-25 east frontage road down to one lane today near Mead

The I-25 east frontage road between Weld County Road 36 and the Great Western railroad crossing is reduced to one alternating lane controlled by flaggers today, Friday, October 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to CDOT's North I-25 schedule for the week of October 25. Crews are placing erosion control material.

The frontage road remains closed to through traffic between WCR 32 and Colorado Highway 56, and frontage road access to WCR 34 is fully closed while crews extend the North Creek box culvert. CDOT suggests Weld County Road 9.5, Weld County Road 7 and Colorado Boulevard as alternate north-south routes, and notes that all work is weather dependent.

UPDATE

Director of Water Utilities job listing shows a November 10 closing date

The Town of Berthoud's listing for its full-time Director of Water Utilities shows applications closing Tuesday, November 10, at 11 p.m. The position, posted September 29, provides leadership and supervision of the Utilities Department and its staff under the Town Administrator, according to the listing.

ONGOING

Trustees adopt public art master plan and state wildfire code

Berthoud trustees on Tuesday, October 13, adopted the Town's Public Art Master Plan (Resolution 2026-28) and Ordinance 1389, which amends Chapter 11 of the municipal code to adopt the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, according to the Town's meeting recap.

Trustees also approved a cooperative agreement with the Berthoud Fire Protection District to administer and enforce the wildfire code, a Habitat for Humanity request to waive certain development fees for new residential construction at 722 Remuda Road, a water dedication agreement with Legacy Park Investors LLC and a contract with Burns & McDonnell Engineering for a preliminary engineering study of the water treatment plant.

The Board also approved a notice of concern about proposed federal revisions to rules implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and a supplies and equipment purchasing policy. A public hearing on the 2027 budget is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8.

Schools & Youth

ONGOING

Berthoud Elementary Halloween parade is this morning

Berthoud Elementary's family calendar lists a Halloween parade today, Friday, October 30, from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m.

Thompson School District's second quarter began October 19 and runs to December 18. The district calendar's next no-school days are Monday, November 2, a staff professional day with no students, and Tuesday, November 3, with no K-5 students.

Thompson School District's homepage features Berthoud Elementary's April Frietag and her work helping young students build safe digital habits, as part of Digital Citizenship Week. The district's Kindergarten Open House is Thursday, November 12, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Thompson Valley High School.

AI in Your Community

CogniLocal tracks where artificial intelligence and related automated systems are already entering the institutions that serve this community, who is deploying them, what they are being used for and what changes next.

BACKGROUNDBerthoud

Thompson School District's AI guidance began with a task-force draft

Thompson School District, which serves Berthoud, has posted AI guidance for educators, students and families. The district says the guidance began with a draft created by the TSD AI Task Force, which used Gwinnett County Public Schools' guidance as a mentor text for structure and content.

The guidance sets four principles: a human-centered approach, student and staff agency, ethical and responsible use, and safety and security. It says AI should not replace any educational experience or the role educators play.

BACKGROUNDLarimer County / Berthoud area

Larimer County shares its generative-AI policy with grant applicants

Larimer County offers its Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy to applicants for its Behavioral Health grant program, saying it may serve as a starting framework for an organization's own policy.

The county's guidance warns that AI tools can generate convincing but inaccurate statistics, tells applicants never to put confidential client information into an AI tool, and says any mistakes generated by AI will be treated as the organization's responsibility. Berthoud is among the municipalities in Larimer County.

ONGOINGI-25, Mead to Berthoud

Automated speed enforcement continues in the I-25 work zone between Mead and Berthoud

CDOT is issuing $75 fines for speeding in the I-25 North work zone between Mead and Berthoud under the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program. CDOT says civil penalties began April 2, after a 30-day grace period during which speeding drivers were given warning notices.

CDOT says excessive speeding in the work zone has decreased by 92% since the program started. The speed limit on the project has been lowered to 65 mph.

On the I-25 North Express Lanes from Berthoud to Fort Collins, CDOT says roadside technology is used to enforce traffic violations, and tickets for crossing the solid white lines start at $75 each.

ONGOINGBerthoud

Town memo says Flock cameras have been damaged

Flock cameras have recently been damaged, Town Administrator Chris Kirk wrote under public safety in his October 20 update memo to Berthoud trustees. The memo says staff is still working to set a date with the Sheriff for a meeting on the topic. It does not say how many cameras were damaged or where.

Berthoud contracts with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services. Denver7 reported in August that the Sheriff's Office has 49 automated license plate reader cameras installed across the county, supplied by Flock Safety, and that the office renewed its Flock contract for 2026 and 2027.

ONGOINGLarimer County

Larimer County releases draft data center rules for public comment

Larimer County on Tuesday, October 27, released draft Land Use Code regulations for future data centers in unincorporated Larimer County for review and public comment. The draft caps power use at 30 megawatts per facility, which the county says effectively prohibits hyperscale data centers, requires at least 80% renewable power and does not allow evaporative cooling.

Data centers would be allowed only in Industrial Heavy and Industrial Light zones. A county data center moratorium for unincorporated areas is in place until February 2027. Comments can be submitted through the county's Engage portal, and work sessions with the Planning Commission and county commissioners come next, followed by public hearings.

The county code applies only to unincorporated Larimer County; towns set their own land use rules. Berthoud trustees approved an emergency ordinance temporarily suspending applications for large data centers on September 22, according to the Town's meeting recap.

Community & Culture

ONGOING

Scarecrow Contest voting ends today

Today, Friday, October 30, is the last day to vote in Berthoud Main Street's Scarecrow Contest. A Scarecrow Map shows participating businesses and organizations, and community members can vote online for a favorite, one vote per person. The People's Choice winner will be announced Saturday, October 31, and receive a 2026 A Very Merry Berthoud community sponsorship.

ONGOING

Recreation Center marks its 5th anniversary November 20

Berthoud Recreation will celebrate the Recreation Center's 5th anniversary Friday, November 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. with free, family-friendly activities, including bounce houses, face painting, aquatic games, sports challenges and a time capsule.

A free Step Challenge, open to everyone, runs from November 15 to December 15. Registration is online, at 970-532-1600 or at the Recreation Center front desk.

The Recreation Center also hosts the 5th Annual Winter Craft Fair, with handmade crafts and gifts from local vendors, Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in partnership with A Very Merry Berthoud.

  • Anniversary celebration: November 20, 2026, 4 to 8 p.m.
  • Step Challenge: November 15 to December 15, 2026
  • Winter Craft Fair: December 5, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Source: Town of Berthoud, Upcoming Events

Libraries & Community Access

BACKGROUND

Berthoud Life Center at Grace Place is open Tuesdays and Thursdays

House of Neighborly Service's Berthoud Life Center, hosted at Grace Place church, 375 Meadowlark Drive, is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The next open day is Tuesday, November 3. The phone number is 970-532-0161.

Partners listed at the center include HNS Family Navigators, the Food Bank for Larimer County and its Mobile Food Pantry, SNAP outreach assistance, Parents As Teachers, BridgePoint Counseling, Disabled Resource Services and the Larimer County Office on Aging. Berthoud HNS was established in 1989, and the Life Center was formed in 2017.

Still Developing

The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.

OPEN

County Road 1 / Farmstead infrastructure

The Town says LGI Homes is in default of its development agreement over delayed infrastructure work.

Still unresolved: Completion and reopening of County Road 1 and the roundabout, plus any additional Town enforcement or legal action.

Next checkpoint: A Town notice of reopening, completion or further action.

Town update September 16.

OPEN

Berthoud Main Street strategic planning

The Town committed $50,000 to the partnership and Berthoud Main Street plans a DOLA-supported strategic workshop this fall. Town Administrator Chris Kirk's October 20 memo lists a Berthoud Main Street annual report among tentative items for the trustees' November 10 meeting.

Still unresolved: The resulting 3-to-5-year downtown strategic plan, annual work plan and priorities for the program area.

Next checkpoint: The Main Street annual report to trustees, tentatively November 10, the strategic workshop and an adopted downtown work plan.

The Town's October 20 memo lists the annual report as a tentative November 10 item.

OPEN

Ursa Major Colorado expansion

The Berthoud-headquartered aerospace and defense company opened a Longmont facility August 20 for its avionics and in-space propulsion work, which it says frees manufacturing floor at its Berthoud headquarters. On August 25 it announced a planned merger with Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. III that would make it a publicly traded company, at a post-transaction equity valuation of about $2.3 billion, with closing expected in the first quarter of 2027. Since then, the company has announced two U.S. Navy solid rocket motor contracts totaling $137 million (October 5) and promoted Jason Meredith to president (October 13).

Still unresolved: How many new jobs the expansion and planned public listing will bring to the Berthoud headquarters, and completion of the merger.

Next checkpoint: A company or Town update identifying Berthoud jobs and investment, or the merger's closing.

Ursa Major announced the Navy contracts October 5 and the president appointment October 13.

OPEN

2026 Town strategic plan implementation

The approved strategic plan identifies Economic Development, Communications & Transparency, and Financial Stability as high-level objectives through March 2028.

Still unresolved: The specific actions, measures and public results that will demonstrate progress on each objective.

Next checkpoint: Published implementation measures and Board progress reports.

Plan approved September 8.

OPEN

Large data centers

Trustees approved Ordinance 1391, an emergency ordinance temporarily suspending the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for large data centers in the Town, on September 22, according to the Town's meeting recap. Larimer County released draft data center rules for unincorporated areas on October 27; the county code does not apply inside towns, which set their own land use rules.

Still unresolved: Permanent siting, infrastructure and process rules.

Next checkpoint: A Town code amendment or technical guide on data centers, and any 2027 budget requests for the work.

The Town's September 22 recap lists the ordinance; the county released its draft October 27.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

Welch Avenue drainage redesign

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: all details (the October 23 proposal deadline, the closed solicitation and that no consultant has been selected). Check the source before relying on it.

Proposals for engineering and construction-document services were due October 23, and the Town's bid listing shows the solicitation has closed. No consultant selection has been announced.

Still unresolved: Firm selection, final design, cost and construction schedule.

Next checkpoint: A consultant award for the design work.

Proposals were due October 23.

OPEN

Jaskowski Open Space

Six bids were received for the Jaskowski Open Space project. Town Administrator Chris Kirk's October 20 memo to trustees says staff is evaluating the bids with plans to bring them to the Board for consideration by early November, and lists Jaskowski Open Space among tentative items for the Board's November 10 meeting.

Still unresolved: The selected bidder, contract amount and construction timing.

Next checkpoint: Board consideration of a contract award, tentatively November 10.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

Water-efficiency plan

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: all details (the October 26 comment deadline, the 109-to-105 gallons per person per day goal by 2032, and November adoption). Check the source before relying on it.

Public feedback was scheduled to close Monday, October 26. The town's draft goal is to reduce use from 109 to 105 gallons per person per day by 2032. The Town's project page says the plan is scheduled for final adoption in November.

Still unresolved: Final revisions and formal adoption.

Next checkpoint: Close of comments October 26, then final adoption, scheduled for November.

OPEN

Heron Lakes Marina / 22nd Filing

Trustees continued the public hearing on Resolution 2026-25, the neighborhood master plan for Heron Lakes Marina (22nd Filing), to October 27, according to the Town's September 22 meeting recap. The Town has not yet posted a recap of the October 27 meeting.

Still unresolved: Approval, denial or conditions for the neighborhood master plan.

Next checkpoint: The outcome of the continued public hearing held Tuesday, October 27, which the Town has not yet posted.

The most recent Board meeting recap posted by the Town covers October 13.

OPEN

Berthoud Veterans Club funding request

Trustees approved $11,500 for the Berthoud Veterans Club on September 22, according to the Town's meeting recap.

Still unresolved: Whether the club will seek further Town funding.

Next checkpoint: Any further funding request from the club.

The Town's September 22 recap lists the approval.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

McCarty property matter

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: all details (the 7-0 executive session vote on the McCarty property and that no public action was recorded). Check the source before relying on it.

The September 22 minutes record a 7-0 vote to go into executive session on the potential acquisition of the McCarty property. The minutes record no public action on the matter.

Still unresolved: Any later public action or disclosed disposition.

Next checkpoint: Public minutes or subsequent Board action.

The September 22 minutes record the executive session and no public action.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

Engineering Supervisor hiring

Not confirmed against the source as of October 30, 2026: the October 14, 5 p.m. application closing date. Check the source before relying on it.

Applications for the development-review supervisor position closed October 14 at 5 p.m. The position no longer appears among the Town's open full-time jobs, and no hire has been announced.

Still unresolved: The hiring outcome.

Next checkpoint: A Town announcement of the hire.

Applications closed October 14.

Source: Town jobs
AWAITING RECORDS

September 29 Board study session

The Town streamed the September 29 study session live on its YouTube channel, where the recording remains available. Town Administrator Chris Kirk's October 20 memo says work is underway to update the Board's Rules of Order and Procedure Manual to incorporate the procedures discussed at the Board's recent study session, including use of study sessions, standard time allocations for agenda items and Robert's Rules of Order.

Still unresolved: Written minutes of the session and the updated Board procedures manual.

Next checkpoint: Minutes, the updated procedures manual or a future action agenda.

The Town's October 20 memo describes follow-up from the session.

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