Granada Trustees Ponder Ordinances for Building Permits and Trash Burns

Agenda items before the Granada Trustees for their monthly meeting, Wednesday, May 8^th, included discussion for a trash burning ordinance as well as widening the scope of town-issued building permits.  Other items included needed repairs for the town’s primary fire truck and progress on the landfill issues.

Granada residents pay $25 for a standard building permit for various construction projects on their property. With the exception of a state-required inspection for electrical projects, other work does not receive a write-off.  Granada Police Chief David Dougherty presented a work permit form used in other communities that is placed on view at the work site, a common practice in other towns such as Lamar.

While most other towns charge a percentage of the estimated cost of the project in their building permits, Granada simply charges the flat fee. The nature of the project would also be included in the permit signage while presently the town permit offers no specifics.  The Trustees discussed how that practice could be enforced as well as who would perform inspections to maintain code regulations.  Trustee Thomas Sanchez said safety concerns were a prime issue as anyone could construct a building in any manner they wished or install plumbing without regulations.  “Right now,” he said, “residents are just paying the permit fee without really getting any value out of it.”

The Trustees reviewed past discussions on a trash burning ordinance proposal, this time focusing on recreational firepits and the need for constant monitoring of trash burns, the need to have them covered with a grate and burning on specific days of the week. The Trustees agreed that without burnings, the town landfill will accumulate more trash and they’re currently in discussion with the state for enlarging the landfill pit.  New suggestions included the need for a water source that can reach a private burn area and a numbered permit available from the town office that would be required for trashburns over 12 months.  It was estimated that about 170 of the 230 households in Granada conduct transburns on a regular basis.  A special town meeting will be held Wednesday, May 22^nd for the first public reading of the new ordinance.

Several Trustees will attend a conference call with Mayor Glenn Otto on May 15^th to receive an update from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment on the procedures needed for expanding the current landfill pit.  Natalie Musick said the town’s fire truck, Engine 31 is in need of expensive repairs and she will  search for a more affordable bid for the work, most of which will be for labor.  The town’s Trailblazer Truck, donated from the county’s fire department, has ignition issues and replacement parts will be ordered, as the Musick’s have been using personal vehicles for town work.

Police Chief Dougherty said he’s received an agreement from the City of Lamar’s Animal Shelter so impounded stray dogs from Granada can be kept for the required length of time in Lamar’s Shelter.

By Russ Baldwin