The Nucla Town Board of Trustees met Oct. 8 in a regular monthly meeting. Then, trustees discussed the budget review and planned for a budget work session Oct. 27.
Trustee Joseph Hittinger recused himself to present his subdivision replat for approval. Miners Crossing, next to the old elementary school in Nucla on Main Street, has had lot size reduced and a retention pond added. Streets have been widened to 24 feet, and Hittinger said Fire Chief Bryan Keeton was pleased.
The 15 lots are on average 4,200 square feet in size, and Hittinger agreed that was small, but he said he’s building small homes that are 1,200 square feet with two-bedrooms, two-bathrooms. He said they’re starter homes, or places for people downsizing.
Though he was going to use Fading West's prefab-built homes, he said he’ll go with stick-built because of cost. He aims to keep prices down and wants teachers or other workforce in the homes. He doesn’t have a builder yet, but will know more this week.
The Forum asked if he’ll have some commercial space, and he said the Main Street area would, in Phase 3.
Trustees approved the replat.
Nucla’s town clean up day is Oct. 18. Then, trustees will work in various shifts to support the riddance of waste and enhanced beautification. The VFW will help the effort.
Oct. 20, the board will hold interviews in preparation for appointing two new trustees. David Johnson and Scott Barnes have both resigned from their board positions.
Trustee Tim Pierce discussed the alternate diversion point on the San Miguel River, something Mustang Water Authority has been working on with a hydrologist and water attorneys. Pierce let the board know he’s got to submit a letter to the Colorado Cooperative Company board of directors, per their bylaws. Pierce said it’s something that has to be done.
The fishing permit has been tabled until spring.
In the biggest town news, the board ratified the cell tower lease with Vertical Bridge. Trustee Penni Philbrick read the ordinance, which goes into effect next month for the the 50-year lease on town property.
Kristopher Harned, of Nucla, went before the board to express opposition. A contractor who works on the Western Slope, he said he was unaware of the tower discussion or previous meetings.
“What is the town getting out of this?” he asked. “Have you done your due diligence?”
Mayor Paula Brown said it was a “small monetary amount annually.” The Town of Nucla is set to receive $800 monthly for the tower.
Harned said town trustees failed at due diligence, and tower sites at Grayhead and in Ouray County receive $2,400 to $3,400 monthly. Harned said the cistern at the top of town where the tower is going should be historically designated.
“We are being duped,” he said. “We are being railroaded.”
Harned is additionally disappointed property owners surrounding the cell tower site weren’t notified personally by the board.
Jane Thompson, whose home is across the street from the future tower, said in closing there’s no way trustees would install a tower across from their own homes.
The mayor said the board had been in meetings with the town attorney to see what the options were. She said there’s “no way to make everyone happy at the end of this” and the board will continue to “work on it as (they) can.”
Melissa Lampshire, in her last meeting as town manager, discussed community center upgrades. She shared images of options. Hittinger said if citizens want to be involved now, the town can put it to the people, so they can vote and pick what they want.
At the end of the meeting, Jessica Davis was sworn in as new town manager.
