Nucla’s Town Board of Trustees met Aug. 13 with a big agenda, and in the public comment Rudi Barbee told trustees he’s got concerns about ATVs and permitting. He’s seeing many people, young and adult, not permitted, and he has questions about the consistency of the permitting process.
And, he’s on a mission to eradicate what he says are hard drugs from the trailer park in Nucla. He’s already got cameras up, talks to local authorities and wants to make it drug-free in the next six months. Dogs are also problematic in the trailer house community, he said, and he told the Forum about a recent dog bite that was troubling. Overall, his goal is to create a safer environment there.
Veteran John Reed spoke on behalf of the VFW and said his group continues to have monthly meetings with coffee and donuts for vets at the airport. He added Danielle Pond, executive director of West End Family Link, is working to set up food boxes for veterans as part of the nonprofit’s outreach.
Mayor Paula Brown spoke as a citizen. She’s requesting the board consider amending a vote they previously made about accepting a platt with misplaced property lines. She’s requesting the board revert back to the original agreed upon exchange, which does affect her home and the Painter residence.
The board discussed the need for grants and loans for critical upgrades in town limits. Nucla will have to increase rates to pay for future projects, but will announce information so there are no surprises for citizens.
The board discussed inactive tap fees. Right now, they’re less than $10. Those will go up to approximately $35. And, there will be a projected $14 increase for both water and sewer.
Trustees are discussing watering restrictions, due to drought. A lack of ditch water has warranted a schedule, so that raw water users irrigate on alternating days. That’s posted at Town Hall, in the Forum newspaper and online.
Trustee Tim Pierce is working on paperwork for the alternate diversion point of the CC headgate, and it’s been hard to find a hydrologist to assist with the tasks.
Pierce is also working on issues with the main waterline that runs from Mustang Water to 2900 Road, and he’s got to complete an easement that was never filed.
The board voted to adopt Stage 2 fire restrictions for town. They also discussed the Vertical Bridge public meeting being moved to Aug. 18.
Toward the end of the meeting, trustees revisited the dilemma of Aimee Tooker’s water and sewer bill, which seem unreasonable, they agreed. Tooker has been paying nearly $600 a month for her lodging space, Vestal House and Amy’s Place. Trustees said she’s paying a utility multiplier, based on an old ordinance, but she’s not exceeding her basic allotment. For now, because she’s been paying so much and not overusing water, town will forgive her bill until they get the new ordinance drafted and approved, which could take six weeks at least.
“She’s not using 5 thousand gallons,” Lampshire said. “We all pay for more than 5 thousand gallons.”
Some other town ordinances were amended or approved, and the Forum is working to better understand those and will update the public.
In community and chamber news, the Cowboy Poetry event in Nucla is Sept. 13, and the Pack Burro Race will be held Oct. 11.
The board discussed hiring for Town Manager Melissa Lampshire’s position. Lampshire told the Forum in July after she announced her departure she’d just retire. Advertising, interview schedules and more are in the works for her role. And, Brooke Smith, the code enforcement officer for Nucla, also resigned, leaving another vacancy. She’s finished as of Aug. 21.
