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CogniLocal

Berthoud

Your Community, More Completely.
Tuesday, November 3: Election Day; ballots due by 7 p.m.Tuesday, November 3: No K-5 students in Thompson School DistrictTuesday, November 10: Director of Water Utilities applications close, 11 p.m.Friday, November 20: Berthoud Recreation Center 5th anniversary, 4 to 8 p.m.
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Today in Berthoud

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3; ballots must be received by 7 p.m., and Berthoud's vote center at the Recreation Center opens today.
Thompson School District has no school today, Monday, November 2, and no K-5 students Tuesday, November 3.
The I-25 east frontage road between WCR 36 and the Great Western railroad crossing near Mead is down to one flagger-controlled lane through Friday, November 6, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thompson School District lists MagicSchool, Snorkl and Google Gemini as vetted AI tools for student use.
Applications for the Town's Director of Water Utilities close Tuesday, November 10, at 11 p.m.
The Recreation Center's free Step Challenge starts November 15, and its 5th anniversary party is Friday, November 20.

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 near Mead down to one lane weekdays November 2 to 6

CDOT says the I-25 east frontage road between Weld County Road 36 and the Great Western railroad crossing will be reduced to one alternating lane controlled by flaggers today, Monday, November 2, through Friday, November 6, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on its North I-25 schedule for the week of November 1. Crews are placing erosion control material.

CDOT also lists daytime right shoulder closures on I-25 for guardrail patching: southbound at Colorado Highway 56 on Wednesday, November 4, and northbound at Larimer County Road 16 on Thursday, November 5, and Friday, November 6, each from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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.

ONGOINGBerthoud

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3; ballots due by 7 p.m.

Ballots for the general election must be received by the Larimer County Clerk's office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, according to the county's elections page. Postmarks do not count.

In Berthoud, the 24-hour ballot box at the Berthoud Community Library, 236 Welch Avenue, takes ballots until 7 p.m. Tuesday. The county lists a vote center at the Berthoud Recreation Center, 1000 N. Berthoud Parkway, opening today, Monday, November 2.

Larimer County vote centers are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

ONGOING

Director of Water Utilities applications close November 10

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 under the limited direction of the Town Administrator, according to the listing.

Schools & Youth

ONGOING

No school in Thompson School District today; no elementary students Tuesday

Thompson School District, which serves Berthoud, has no students today, Monday, November 2, a staff professional day. On Tuesday, November 3, there are no students in kindergarten through fifth grade, according to the district's 2026-27 academic calendar.

The district's second quarter runs October 19 to December 18, and Thanksgiving break is November 23 to 27.

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 work began with a task force

Thompson School District, which serves Berthoud, established an AI Task Force of educators, administrators and IT professionals to explore AI's impact and develop guiding principles for its use, Superintendent Marc Schaffer wrote in a March 14, 2025, column on the district's news site.

Schaffer wrote that AI literacy includes thinking critically, evaluating AI-generated content and using AI ethically and effectively, and that AI "cannot replace the relationships, creativity, and emotional intelligence that make learning meaningful."

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 93% 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 sophisticated 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.

NEWBerthoud

Thompson School District lists three vetted AI tools for student use

Thompson School District, which serves Berthoud, lists MagicSchool, Snorkl and Google Gemini on its AI Tools page as tools that have gone through a district vetting process and were added for use with students. The district says it weighs instructional purpose, student privacy and safety, age-appropriate use and accessibility when reviewing student-facing AI tools.

According to the page, Gemini will be available to high school students only, and Gemini Notebook to students in grades 6 through 12. Student work in MagicSchool is set up and started by teachers, who can see students' interactions with the tool, and teachers can review student responses in Snorkl.

The district's separate AI guidance says students and staff must credit sources and acknowledge AI use, and that AI should not replace any educational experience or the role educators play.

Community & Culture

ONGOINGDowntown Berthoud

Small Business Saturday November 28, A Very Merry Berthoud December 5

Downtown Berthoud's next two Main Street events are Small Business Saturday, November 28, when downtown businesses plan exclusive promotions, and A Very Merry Berthoud, Saturday, December 5, an all-day holiday festival with Cowboy Christmas, downtown lighting and a parade of lights, according to Berthoud Main Street's events page.

ONGOINGBerthoud Recreation Center

Recreation Center plans Step Challenge, 5th anniversary party and Winter Craft Fair

The Berthoud Recreation Center celebrates five years with a free, family-friendly evening Friday, November 20, from 4 to 8 p.m., with bounce houses, face painting, aquatic games, sports challenges, giveaways every 30 minutes and a time capsule, according to the Town's Upcoming Events page.

A free Step Challenge runs November 15 to December 15, with participants tracking steps on an app and a live leaderboard. Registration is online, by phone at 970-532-1600 or at the Recreation Center front desk.

The 5th Annual Winter Craft Fair, held in partnership with A Very Merry Berthoud, is Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Recreation Center, 1000 N. Berthoud Parkway.

  • Step Challenge: November 15 to December 15, 2026
  • 5th anniversary celebration: November 20, 2026, 4 to 8 p.m.
  • 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 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 November 2, 2026: all details (the October 23 proposal deadline, that the solicitation has closed, 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 November 2, 2026: all details (the October 26 feedback deadline, the 109 to 105 gallons per person per day by 2032 goal, and final adoption in November). 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 November 2, 2026: all details (the 7-0 vote to go into executive session 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 November 2, 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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