The Norwood Town Board of Trustees met April 9 for their regular monthly meeting, which began with stakeholder reports. Daiva Chesonis, of Norwood Park and Recreation District (NPRD), told the board the Music on the Mesa event happens again this summer and is in search of donors and sponsors. Band contracts are to be signed very soon, and then she can announce the performers.
Liza Tanguay, town trustee on NPRD’s board, said pickle ball has now moved outside for the warm season.
Becky Hannigan, deputy town clerk serving the Norwood Chamber of Commerce of Wright’s Mesa, reminded all of the chamber ball, “A Night of Elegance,” happening May 3, which includes community awards.
On the agenda was an item to approve the marijuana license renewal for Alpine Wellness, trustee Mike Grady’s business, which Town Clerk Amanda Pierce said has remained in compliance with laws. Still, Pierce said there was a paradox of a clause in the business’ approval form. Marijuana businesses are legal in Colorado, but not federally. For Norwood, a federal tax question exists on the form that creates a “catch 22.”
Grady went before the board, recusing himself as a voting trustee, with a request of removing that federal question from the form. The form was borrowed from Telluride and Naturita when the town was establishing marijuana policies years ago. Grady told trustees the language created potential consequences and was a legal trap. Answering “yes” to the federal tax question makes a business agree to a crime the business didn’t commit. Answering “no” creates misunderstanding and can be used against the business. Grady said the federal question is not required for legal compliance and there’s no justification for keeping it.
Trustees agreed to remove the question from the form and to approve his license renewal.
The price for the Norwood Community Garden port-a-potty has tripled, after Coyote sold their business to Bruin Waste. Now priced at $130 monthly for cleaning, town did agree to pay for half of the cleaning service from June through October, and at $650, total costs to the town are $325. Mayor Candy Meehan said it’s a public health service. Pierce said if the town is contributing, then the port-a-potty should remain unlocked and available for all residents.
Town Administrative Director Sara Owens discovered the $300,000 drainage study, already paid for through funding, had been sitting, on pause, waiting for town approval. SGM has been ready to do the study and just needed the go-ahead to proceed. Trustees approved the agreement to get the study done.
Trustees also approved the master service agreement with KLJ Engineering, a company they already agreed to work with at the last board meeting. Trustees had to approve the master service agreement before starting any other work on future planning services. Trustees discussed that applications are already coming to the town for lot splits, parking variances and more.
Michael Donnellon, of the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, told trustees that it’s been a slow month, “nothing crazy,” and no persons crimes have happened, “which is great.” He said deputies have seen some intoxicated individuals during the day in town and have taken them into custody. He said public intoxication is a municipal crime, not a state crime, and Norwood officials have discussed “sundowning that.” Donnellon’s opinion is that the law should remain in place, since it’s a quality of life issue. He said it’s used sparingly, and that in small towns, there are families and moms with strollers on the streets. He said having drunk people stumbling around and creating chaos does interfere with quality of life. Those taken into custody sleep it off in the jail, supervised, and appear in municipal court after the incident.
Donnellon said there’s an active investigation happening now, after deputies busted someone living in the Norwood school zone for a large amount of narcotics. He’s proud patrollers discovered this through “proactive policing.”
Public Works Director Randy Harris will begin spraying noxious weeds using an organic compound that is environmentally-friendly and safe for pets. He’s in the process of becoming certified for other herbicides too.
Owens said Shawny Darby will vacate her billing clerk job earlier than expected, and town officials need to fill that vacancy sooner than later. Some applications are coming in, and interviews happen this week. In the meantime, Owens and Pierce have been acquiring Darby’s skills.
Solar units will be installed at Cottonwood Creek Estates, and those homes are going to move to an “all bills paid” type of rent in the future. And, a charging station for vehicles is set to be installed at the Pocket Park.
Owens also initiated a fire mitigation assessment through the West Region Wildfire Council, and she submitted a Department of Local Affairs grant for the redundant waterline that town officials have been talking about for the last several years.
Pierce said the Norwood Farm and Craft Market is set for the Pocket Park, and the FRESH Food Hub will take the lead on it this summer. Vendors can sell art, food and more.
And, Makayla Gordon, of West End Economic Development Corporation, is helping to start a Wright’s Mesa Solutions Group, similar to the West End Solutions Group in Naturita and Nucla. It’s a way for community to come together to brainstorm ways to deal with issues.
