Granada Trustees Plan GMS Water Study Discussion, Plan for SECPA Sale on Ballot

Granada Water Tower

The Granada Trustees set August 24^th to continue discussion on their plans to refurbish most of the water lines that run through the community and to secure state and federal grants to fund the comprehensive project. An overview was presented to the Trustees on June 15th by Thomas McClernan and David Frisch, consulting engineers from GMS, Inc. of Colorado Springs.  The engineers plan a return visit to provide the Trustees with an update on the project.  The water system is aging, upwards of 80 years and time is starting to take a toll on the efficiency of the infrastructure.  A new system would also help position the community for future economic or jobs development in years to come, as the quality of Granada water is quite high.  A rough estimate of the complete project, wells and pipeline, would cost approximately $2.2M with $1.17M for the distribution system and administrative costs and another million dollars for rehabilitating the tanks and drilling a fourth well.

Jack Johnston, Chief Executive Officer of Southeast Colorado Power Association, SECPA, said he’s working on draft language with Mayor DeForest for the November 8^th  General Election ballot initiative for the potential sale of electricity by Granada to his company.  Earlier this summer, the Trustees passed ordinance 2016-003 establishing a town vote on the question of whether the voters want to sell the town’s rights, title and interest in the electric infrastructure for $600,000 plus assorted technical upgrades.  The ballot language has to be submitted to the county clerk’s office by August 29^th.

Dee Melgosa informed the Trustees the annual Fiesta de Colores parade and festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 17^th this year.  “We’ll have the parade at 10am and various activities at the park until 4pm,” she explained, asking that the police department be available for traffic control.  Vendors, games, a horseshoe tournament, food vendors and an evening dance featuring Prairie Rose will round out the annual festivities.

Ian DeBono requested the Trustees to replace a broken window in the Amache Museum. It’s currently boarded over and the situation may not have been brought to their attention.  He also noted some drainage issues in the ditch near his house and asked for some assistance with clearing a portion of the ditch to allow a better water flow.  He noted there is also a weed and tree build-up on Wolf Creek.

Granada Police Chief David Dougherty discussed some equipment problems in his department. “Our two-way radio is not transmitting,” he explained, adding that he has gotten an assessment on repairs valued at $475 and was advised to see if a less expensive price could be found.  He also noted he’s received a recall notice on a timing chain on a patrol car and is taking steps to have it repaired at a certified dealership.

The Trustees, after some discussion on the scope of maintaining a cleaning schedule for the Complex, decided to hire someone for janitorial services. They are also taking steps to find a permanent operator at the town’s landfill.  One recommendation is hiring two persons who would alternate weekend duties through the month.

By Russ Baldwin