Granada Agreement with CDPHE Keeps Landfill Open
Barbara Crimond | Feb 15, 2018 | Comments 0
The Granada Trustees held a special meeting Friday, February 2nd, to discuss their option on the town’s landfill in light of mandated regulations from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. The issue of keeping the landfill open was finally resolved as the Trustees signed an agreement allowing CDPHE access to the landfill to drill four water monitoring wells over the next five years. After that, it will be the town’s responsibility to have the wells tested for any contamination from the current landfill.
In a related matter, the Trustees decided to increase landfill fees for out of town users by about a third. Barrels went from $6 to $8, a pick-up increased from $16 to $22, single axle loads went from $30 to $40 and double axel, half-loads increased by $10. A full load, double axel rose from $50 to $65 and there was a $15 increase for half and full load tandem vehicles, with the load sizes determined by the landfill operator. The Trustees also decided that the landfill winter/summer hours will be changed the first Wednesday following the daylight savings time switch on Sundays.
Ballot language on the issue of Camp Amache being turned over to the National Park Service was discussed by the Trustees with Jerene and Ian DeBono during their Wednesday meeting, February 14th. The Trustees indicated that a vote of the residents would be required at some point, but they needed more information on what ramifications would develop from the property transfer. Representatives from the National Park Service and Senator Gardner’s office will meet with the Trustees in late March. The Trustees said they will ask the town attorney to weigh in on the legalities for the transfer. The Trustees also intend to send information letters to land owners whose property is adjacent to the former internment camp.
Kevin Rink approached the Trustees for permission to install antennas on the town’s water tower so he can move forward with a commercial venture. Rink intends to offer wireless internet service to Granada subscribers through his company, Boggs Creek. The Trustees will review his offer and certify that he will be charged the same fee that other tower users are paying.
Granada Police Chief, David Dougherty, presented revisions to the town’s golf cart ordinance. The Trustees and Dougherty are balancing safety issues such as turn signals and front and rear lights with the usage of carts on municipal streets. Apparently a number of residents use them as well as ATV’s, for transportation during the day and night. The ordinance would allow residents to use non-lighted carts for Halloween. There was no conclusion and Dougherty will work with the suggestions for a revised ordinance for a future meeting.
Eric Depperschmidt, Executive Director of Prowers Economic Prosperity, PEP, presented a condensed version of the annual report he issued to PEP’s board of directors earlier this month. He outlined some of the features from a countywide business survey which indicated that a number of respondents intend to add to their business, through expansion or additional employees throughout 2018. Depperschmidt said that although there is no economic baseline established yet, the county did see a $6M increase in commercial values in 2017 and there was a gain in sales and lodging tax revenue for the prior year.
He noted that an earlier economic study had suggested Granada could benefit from a warehouse storage operation or even a brewery given the quality of the town’s water supply. When asked for an update on the proposed dairy farm south of Holly, Depperschmidt said he understood that the principals had renewed their special use permit for the operation and were conducting preliminary dirt work for the property. He said more concrete information would be available later in the spring. The expected increase in jobs would impact the local housing market for Holly and Granada and he said the USDA could be a lending source for future development.
A municipal election for Trustees will be held in April. Those whose terms are due are: Pete Hernandez, Andria Riddle, Carrie Esquibel and Argil Thrall Jr.
By Russ Baldwin
Filed Under: City of Granada • Consumer Issues • County • Economy • Elections • Featured • History • Public Safety • School • Tourism • Transportation
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