The Norwood Town Board of Trustees met in their regular monthly meeting March 12. Then, they discussed hiring a new planner, in light of former town planner Henry Hemphill resigning from his duties. Trustees with town staff discussed five different applicants for the position, and then in a majority vote selected KLJ Engineering, based in Montrose.
Town Manager Sara Owens had discovered recently there was no signed agreement with the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office for the existing law enforcement contract. Owens reviewed information, took a car out of the agreement that the sheriff’s office was purchasing and/or leasing, and the agreement was approved by trustees for 2025.
Trustees discussed code enforcement, in general, and especially dogs at large.
Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Donnellon said that’s not the work of law enforcement.
“We won’t handle dogs at all, unless a crime occurred,” he said.
He added though that in the case of DUI situations, or accidents, the sheriff’s office would assist.
Salaries were discussed, and town staff waived the right to executive session. Owens said she needs more time in her role to adjust, before salaries are set.
“I am asking you guys for another month,” she said.
Trustees will revisit finalizing salaries for town staff in April. Trustee Shawn Fallown said Town Clerk Amanda Pierce does and should earn more than a “town clerk salary.”
The owners of Mary Jane’s Medicinals, newly moved to Norwood from Telluride, requested a discussion of lowering the marijuana license fees, which had been set at $1,500 annually. The yearly fees were set at $2,500 for application and $1,500 for renewal, based on Telluride and Naturita codes. Only two marijuana businesses in Norwood can exist, per Norwood’s land use code.
Pierce said she wanted to bring it up for discussion, and potentially come to an agreement for the April meeting.
Mayor Candy Meehan said she wasn’t sure the town should charge the marijuana stores higher fees than the liquor stores these days.
“I’m not comfortable making our revenue off the backs of our businesses,” she said. She added she hadn’t heard from Donnellon or other deputies any negative feedback regarding marijuana incidents.
Rather than wait until April, trustees made a motion to lower the fees from $1,500 to $250 per year for the marijuana businesses.
Donnellon gave a report on the sheriff’s office's calls for service. For 2024, 1,936 calls were made, and Tuesdays are the busiest days for calls, which matches the national average.
The Town of Norwood’s new shop is complete with “lights and everything,” Public Works Director Randy Harris said. There’s also a new Public Works truck, which is a hybrid. By last week, 500 miles had been put on the vehicle, but 112 were electric. The truck gets 23 mpg.
Shawny Darby, the town’s billing clerk, resigned effective the end of June, leaving town staff plenty of time to fill the vacancy. She’ll be replaced two months before her departure, so she can train the new hire.
In other town news, there’s an issue with the property the Norwood Community Garden is situated on. The garden site was dedicated to the town years ago, but another part of the property, which gives access to the garden, was not donated.
The owner now wishes to sell the access part in exchange for the price of two water taps. The mayor said she was more comfortable selling for cash and an executive session was needed.
