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| Spanish Peaks Library grand opening | 02 - July - 2009by William J. Bechaver
WALSENBURG- It’s been several years, has taken the dedication and devotion of countless hardworking employees and volunteers, and there was about a thousand miles of red-tape to go through, but now, at last, the new Spanish Peaks Libr..
| 02 - July - 2009by William J. Bechaver
WALSENBURG- It’s been several years, has taken the dedication and devotion of countless hardworking employees and volunteers, and there was about a thousand miles of red-tape to go through, but now, at last, the new Spanish Peaks Library District main facility, at 415 Walsen Avenue in Walsenburg, is ready to open. In fact, as you read this, final preparations are being made for the grand opening weekend of festivities.
On Friday, June 26th, the celebration begins with a ribbon cutting ceremony, at 11 am, and continues until 5 pm. There will be a luncheon on the lawn, following the ceremony, and everyone is invited to bring a blanket and enjoy. Other events include a story hour with Susan J. Tweit, children’s art activities, and live music. There will also be carnival activities and door prizes.
On Saturday, June 27th, festivities kick off with coffee and pastries, and plenty of door prizes. There will be a local history program with Walsenburg native and retired National Park Service ranger Jon Sudar. There will be live music and dancing.
The new facility of the Spanish Peaks Library District is there for all of us to enjoy. It belongs to us, as a community, and is a grand achievement for us, and an accomplishment for which we can all be proud. So come out and enjoy the grand opening this weekend, and take advantage of the best that Walsenburg has to offer.
On Friday, events kick off at 11 am with door prizes, and at noon there will the official ribbon cutting by state Librarian Gene Hainer. After that, there will be book signings, story hour, beadworking, and at 2:45 live music with Tumblweeds.
On Saturday, the library opens at 10 am with more door prizes, history readings, more live music, and at 12:45 is the announcement of the Big Read, a year-long community reading project to begin in September. At 1:30 pm, El Fandango will perform, and at 3 pm the final door prize drawings. Email openings@spld.org for more information. | | Commissioners OK public prescription card | 02 - July - 2009by Larry Patrick
WALSENBURG- Residents of Huerfano County will soon be able to save money on prescriptions. At the annual Colorado County Association meeting, the commissioners were advised of a prescription card program that the National Association of Cou..
| 02 - July - 2009by Larry Patrick
WALSENBURG- Residents of Huerfano County will soon be able to save money on prescriptions. At the annual Colorado County Association meeting, the commissioners were advised of a prescription card program that the National Association of Counties is endorsing. In 4-6 weeks, when the cards will be available locally, residents can pick up cards and use them at pharmacies including Star Drug in Walsenburg. The card is designed to give you the lowest price on that particular prescription. The savings amount to 22% on average. There is no signup or names on the cards. One card is good for the entire family. The prescription cards come at no charge to Huerfano County or residents using them. The company distributing the cards make their money working with pharmaceutical companies. Many counties and cities are picking up the program statewide and nationally.
Twenty-two young people between the ages of 14 and 24 have signed up with Rocky Mountain SER to clean up the proposed site for a park trail. Each youth will have 240 hours of work at minimum wage beginning on July 1st and going through September. Commissioner Bobian believes the money will assist youth and the local economy. He also feels that the youth will have some ownership in the project which may help prevent vandalism in the future. The young workers will clean up debris, work on building the trail and also help with design work.
The commissioners asked for a resolution to appoint William Stark to the county Tourism Board. That action will be forthcoming next week and will take effect immediately. | | Water treatment plant for River Ridge? | 25 - June - 2009by Brian Orr
WALSENBURG- At a Water Quality Control meeting held last Thursday with the Colorado Division of Water Resources at the Walsenburg Community Center, Petroglyph Energy asked for permission to build a commercial water treatment plant out at their..
| 25 - June - 2009by Brian Orr
WALSENBURG- At a Water Quality Control meeting held last Thursday with the Colorado Division of Water Resources at the Walsenburg Community Center, Petroglyph Energy asked for permission to build a commercial water treatment plant out at their River Ridge property that would treat and release up to ten and a half million gallons of water a day. This water would then be released into an arroyo, which would flow in the Cuchara River and on downstream. This release point would be below where the City of Walsenburg pulls its water from the river.
The water to be treated will come from Petroglyph’s dewatering efforts in its coal bed methane production in the River Ridge Ranch area, south of Highway 160 and west of Walsenburg.
There were conflicting and confusing reports at the meeting as to who exactly would monitor and regulate the water treatment plant and the water discharged from it. Indeed, even such questions as what temperature would the water be when discharged, or what level of salinity would it be were not answered by the group present.
Interested citizens and affected property owners present at the meeting came away wondering how adding more water into the already complex problem of potential water pollution and methane off-gassing would help the situation. “Why are they thinking of this, when we haven’t solved the other problems?” asked Huerfano resident Al Tucker, who has closely followed water issues.
The last day for public comment on the Petroglyph Draft Permit with the Colorado Dept. of Public Health is June 23. Write Erin Scott at Erin.Scott@state.co.us | | La Veta hires new deputy marshal | 25 - June - 2009by Carol Dunn
LA VETA- At its June 16 meeting, the La Veta Town Board voted 4-1 to hire Gerald Baumgarner as the new Deputy Marshal. Marshal Harold Willburn said the new deputy will be looking for a place to live within a few days.
Cara Campbell and D..
| 25 - June - 2009by Carol Dunn
LA VETA- At its June 16 meeting, the La Veta Town Board voted 4-1 to hire Gerald Baumgarner as the new Deputy Marshal. Marshal Harold Willburn said the new deputy will be looking for a place to live within a few days.
Cara Campbell and Derek Andreas, members of the student-led organization Get R!EAL Colorado, spoke to the Board about the dangers of tobacco use and second-hand smoke and asked the Board to pass an ordinance to make the town park tobacco-free. Get R!EAL is an advocacy movement that gives youth a voice in the fight against tobacco. Campbell and Andreas recounted ten Colorado cities/towns that have already enacted similar ordinances. The Board scheduled a workshop on June 23 at 6:30 pm at the Community Center to consider, in essence, the nuisance ordinance. Trustee Tracy Webb told the students, “We commend you for taking part in your local government.”
Lance Gatlin, new Division of Wildlife Enforcement Officer for this area, spoke to the Board about bear-proof trash containers. In response to a question about the bear population around La Veta this year, he said, “July is the month that will test us.”
Mayor Mickey Schmidt told the Board that the Town’s dam engineer, Chris Manera, has studied the leaking pipe at the Town Lakes and determined there is no way to line the damaged pipe. Schmidt said the lake will need to be drained and the pipe structure replaced within the next few years, depending on the mandate of the State Dam Inspector. Manera estimated the cost will be $100,000 to $200,000.
The Board agreed to a change in the 2007 intergovernmental agreement which formed the Huerfano Regional Building Authority. The Authority wants all building inspectors of Walsenburg, La Veta and Huerfano County to be ICC-certified by January 1, 2010. Trustee Dale Davis recommended that La Veta’s two inspectors be certified even sooner, by October 31, 2009. The Board agreed.
Randy and Angela Collins were granted a setback variance to build a shed at the old sandstone building, 221 S. Oak.
The Board agreed to pay RAI $700 to remove two dead trees in Town, a locust on Main and a cottonwood on Virginia.
In response to a request by Town resident Nevin McKay, the Board will survey claimed damages from the water project and, if valid, will refer the claim to the project contractor.
Mary Jean Fowler also reported to the La Veta Town Boardthat the Town has been approved by the National Park Service for Certified Local Government status.
State money is available to owners of “landmark structures” within CLGs to help them keep their historic buildings in good repair. Fowler told the Journal, the Historic Preservation Committee is working on a list of landmark structures within La Veta using architectural surveys from 1985 and 1999. The committee considers structures 50 years of age or older that are still similar to their original appearance. | | Possible Federal dollars for forclosed Walsenburg homes | | 25 - June - 2009WALSENBURG- Certified appraiser Ivor Hill came before the Walsenburg City Council Tuesday evening at Councilman Bruce Quintana’s behest to outline a federal stimulus program called the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which basically allows for city gover..
| 25 - June - 2009WALSENBURG- Certified appraiser Ivor Hill came before the Walsenburg City Council Tuesday evening at Councilman Bruce Quintana’s behest to outline a federal stimulus program called the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which basically allows for city governments to apply for grant money to purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes, fix them up, and sell them. The purpose is to (just like the name says) stabilize neighborhoods with many empty homes in it.
An incredulous City Council kept looking for the “catch” to the offer, but there doesn’t appear to be one. “Is this for real?” asked Councilwoman Edie Flanagin. Hill emphasized that there doesn’t appear to be any financial risk to the City. Council instructed City Administrator Alan Hein to begin looking into applying for the next round of grant applications.
Hein gave his report, noting that his task of fixing the City’s natural gas pipeline was progressing well, with the scariest problem area fixed on Tuesday. In all, he noted there were 12 problem areas that needed to be fixed to keep the line from breaking again.
Hein also reported that City crews will begin repairing and replacing sections of sidewalk on Main and Seventh streets, where tree roots have buckled the slabs up dangerously.
Councilman Larry Patrick reported to the Council about a meeting with the City’s auditor, who said Walsenburg’s financial records needed some improvement, but overall were in good shape, and the City should receive an unqualified audit. The Council voted to explore the use of a different auditing firm next year, just for a different perspective.
Finally, Jacque Sikes appeared before the Council to report progress on the Huerfano Regional Building Authority, a relatively new organization she is heading up to organize and codify building codes and contractor’s licences throughout the whole county. The City reiterated it’s support for the groups’ efforts. | | Cuchara District plans cell tower | 25 - June - 2009by Carol Dunn
CUCHARA- At its June 12 meeting, the Cucharas Sanitation and Water District announced details for a Commnet Wireless cell phone tower to be placed in the Pine Haven subdivision. “It will cover almost all the providers,” Director James Howard ..
| 25 - June - 2009by Carol Dunn
CUCHARA- At its June 12 meeting, the Cucharas Sanitation and Water District announced details for a Commnet Wireless cell phone tower to be placed in the Pine Haven subdivision. “It will cover almost all the providers,” Director James Howard told the audience. “At the very least we’ll have it if we have another situation like the hiker who fell fifty feet,” added Chairman Leon Skaggs, referring to an emergency rescue situation a week ago. The cell tower proposal was approved by Huerfano County Planning and Zoning last week and will be considered at the Commissioners meeting on June 17. The 60-foot tall monopole tower, a wind-resistant design, will be located beside the Pine Haven water tank. According to the District Board, the adjacent landowner is agreeable to having the tower erected, and it does not impede her view. Skaggs said Commnet wants to see how the first tower functions, then erect another one to cover the blank spots in coverage. The District office has a map of the planned coverage areas for the first tower. “The noise this thing makes is like a refrigerator in your kitchen,” Skaggs said. “And the radiation it gives off is equivalent to a 1000 Watt microwave.”
Dave Grove with Century Small Business updated the Board on the increase in the cost of health care insurance for the District’s six employees. The District currently pays $66,768 per year in health insurance costs. Grove suggested the District may want to change to a plan with a higher deductible to save costs on premiums. Grove said the savings could be set aside in the District’s HRA account and used to pay the difference between the existing deductible of $1,000 and the suggested new deductible of $2,000 for any employee who needs it. Director Dan Brewer commented, “Trying to keep the premium down as low as we can seems like the best thing to do.”
General Manager Bob Northup reported that he is working on a grant application for up to $25,000 in training funds through the State. He said engineering and design work are needed to rehab the ski resort water plant and move a 100,000 gallon water tank, and this grant could help get those projects started.
The staff is studying a sewer line on Road 402 which is at a questionable depth. Northup added that at least ten sewer tie-ins have been completed in Pine Haven. Work is ongoing with pressure reducing vaults in the Spanish Peaks subdivision. Maintenance is also being done on some manholes which have surface water draining into them.
A resident asked the Board about possibly getting more gravel on the Pine Haven roads. Reportedly, snow plows caused part of the problem late last year when they plowed snow and gravel after a couple large snowfalls. Skaggs said the District staff has put some gravel on the muddy spots and has a plan. “We’re doing what we can,” he added. | | Gardner Post Office is closed | 18 - June - 2009by Brian Orr
GARDNER- Gardner residents were shocked last Wednesday afternoon when the local post office was abruptly closed down, with the official reason being that it was structurally unsound. The Gardner Postmaster, Rhoda Northrup, got the word about t..
| 18 - June - 2009by Brian Orr
GARDNER- Gardner residents were shocked last Wednesday afternoon when the local post office was abruptly closed down, with the official reason being that it was structurally unsound. The Gardner Postmaster, Rhoda Northrup, got the word about the same time as the post office patrons. Until the matter is resolved, all mail service will be in the Walsenburg post office. Residents who are unable to get to Walsenburg to pick up their mail may send someone else to pick up their mail, providing they have a handwritten note stating that fact, with the person’s box number, and the designated picker-upper has a photo I.D.
Street delivery in Gardner, which normally starts out in Walsenburg anyway, will remain unaffected.
Al DeSarro, regional spokesperson for the postal service, said the problem arises from an annual inspection done of the building, which showed “significant problems, including exposed asbestos.” A building contractor was called in to double check, and his preliminary findings showed major structural problems, including bowing of the east wall of the building, and water leaking around the chimney, which was pushing another wall out. The contractor felt the building was so dangerous that an emergency suspension of service was enacted.
DeSarro said that the full report on the building is still pending, but it will remain closed for the interim.
An action like this, actully closing a post office, has to be reviewed and approved all the way up through the ranks to Washington, D.C., which means this will be moving at a frustratingly slow bureaucratic pace.
Once it is approved from D.C., a modular unit will be brought in and set up at the Gardner Fairgrounds for the duration, until something happens one way or the other with the original building.
Gardner resident Steve Wacterman says the new situation is a hassle, but not too bad for him, as either he or his wife Lana are in Walsenburg almost every day. He thinks the postal service should have seen this coming: “They’ve been doing renovations on this building for years- putting in windows and fixing counters. Suddenly, they have to close it in one day? Hopefully they’ll take care of it ASAP.” | | Colorado's snowpack melting quickly | | 18 - June - 2009Lakewood-After reaching an above average maximum seasonal accumulation in April, Colorado′s mountain snowpack proceeded to rapidly melt across the state during May. According to data collected through the SNOTEL (SNOwpack TELemetry) network, only remnants o..
| 18 - June - 2009Lakewood-After reaching an above average maximum seasonal accumulation in April, Colorado′s mountain snowpack proceeded to rapidly melt across the state during May. According to data collected through the SNOTEL (SNOwpack TELemetry) network, only remnants of this winter′s snowpack remain in many of the state′s major river basins on June 1. May′s weather was slightly warmer and drier than average which, coupled with numerous layers of dust on the snowpack, has lead to a rapid depletion of the higher elevation snowpack statewide according to the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The statewide snowpack dipped to only 32 percent of average on June 1, after recording 90 percent of average on May 1. The state′s maximum snowpack was reached on April 19th, and was 109 percent of the average maximum snowpack.
With the slightly above average snowpack during April, runoff volumes in the higher elevation streams and rivers are expected to produce near average volumes this year across much of the state. However, the impacts of the earlier than normal meltout can potentially have impacts to some water users. These impacts may be greatest during the mid to late summer demand season as streamflows recede sooner than in a typical year. In addition, those water users who are unable to rely upon upstream reservoir storage will see greater impacts from the early melt, according to Allen Green, State Conservationist, with the NRCS. In most basins across the state, snowmelt is currently ranging from about 2 to 3 weeks earlier than is typically expected for this date.
For most of the state, this summer′s water supplies are expected to be near average. However, there are several areas of the state which failed to receive enough moisture during the winter and spring to assure near average runoff volumes. Those basins include the San Juan, Animas, Dolores and San Miguel basins in southwestern Colorado. In addition, a number of other smaller basins across southern Colorado in the Rio Grande and Arkansas basins, as well as the headwaters of the South Platte River, are expected to produce below average runoff volumes this summer. For the most part, these streams are expected to flow with volumes ranging from 70 to 90 percent of average for the remainder of the summer. "For most of the state′s water users, this summer′s water supplies should be adequate, especially for those with access to upstream reservoir storage", said Green.
Reservoir storage has increased significantly during May as the early snowmelt boosted inflows. Storage has improved to above average levels nearly statewide and is ahead of last year′s totals on this date in all basins. With statewide storage volumes at 116 percent of average, these are the best storage statistics since 1999. | | Natural gas pipeline to Walsenburg washed out | 11 - June - 2009LUDLOW- A flash flood on Thursday afternoon swept down out of the mountains to cleave through a buried natural gas pipeline as it crossed through an arroyo just north of Ludlow.
Vince Koutnik, who was driving home from work in Trinidad on Thursday after..
| 11 - June - 2009LUDLOW- A flash flood on Thursday afternoon swept down out of the mountains to cleave through a buried natural gas pipeline as it crossed through an arroyo just north of Ludlow.
Vince Koutnik, who was driving home from work in Trinidad on Thursday afternoon, remembered smelling the strong smell of natural gas, and looked to his right and saw a black pipe bobbing up and down in the arroyo as water gushed past it. “I called 911 and reported a possible break,” Koutnik said. “Aguilar had really gotten hammered by rain and hail.”
Repair crews worked feverishly over the holiday weekend to replace over 300 feet of pipe to return service to most of Walsenburg and Aguilar. Fortunately, this was not the middle of winter, but the cold showers quickly grew tiresome.
By Sunday, the pipeline was fixed, and city crews started going door to door Sunday to light people’s pilot lights in their furnaces and water heaters. By Monday evening, approximately half of Walsenburg was re-lit. | | Supreme Court: CBM wells must get water permits | 01 - May - 2009by Carla Dolce
In the Vance v. Wolfe (originally Vance v. Simpson) case decided last Monday, the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed a water court’s ruling that the extraction of water to release methane in coal bed methane (CBM) operations is a beneficial ..
| 01 - May - 2009by Carla Dolce
In the Vance v. Wolfe (originally Vance v. Simpson) case decided last Monday, the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed a water court’s ruling that the extraction of water to release methane in coal bed methane (CBM) operations is a beneficial use that subjects CBM wells to the permitting, adjudication, and administration requirements of Colorado water laws.
The dispute leading to this decision started in the San Juan Basin where BP America was conducting CBM operations near ranches owned by William and Elizabeth Vance and James and Mary Fitzgerald. The ranchers, who possessed senior water rights, brought suit in late 2005 to compel the State Engineer′s Office (SEO) to require water well permits for the CBM operations. The water court ruled in the ranchers′ favor.
The affirmance of this decision by the Supreme Court puts CBM producers in the same position as Gardner, Navajo Western Water District, Paradise Acres and all other well water users who have to buy or lease augmentation water to replace water depletions. According to the Papadopulos Stream Depletion Study (2007 draft) sponsored by the Colorado Geological Survey, CBM production depletes about 2,500 acre feet (815 million gallons) of water each year from the Raton Basin which includes the Cucharas River. Local water experts believe it would be virtually impossible for CBM producers in Huerfano County to obtain water rights sufficient to augment the quantity of deletions found in the Papadopulos study.
Does this mean the end of CBM operations in our local Raton Basin? Probably not. While the Colorado Supreme Court was mulling over this case, the oil and gas industry was lobbying our state legislators. They weren′t alone. Water rights groups were right there with them. They also heard the SEO’s concerns that an affirmance of the Vance case could potentially give them the impossible task of examining 38,000 well permit applications in 60 days - the statutorily mandated time they have to examine an application.
The result is H.B. 1303, introduced by Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, and Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, which passed the Colorado House on April 7 and is now in the Colorado State Senate. In an interview last Monday, Rep. Curry noted that this bill “is a compromise.” As it was originally introduced, the bill had presumptions for determining whether an oil or gas well is tributary to surface water, thus requiring a permit. Because the legislators couldn′t reach agreement on the criteria for these presumptions, the bill now before the Senate gives the SEO authority to implement rules for determining whether a well is tributary and needs a permit.
Rep. Curry noted that H.B. 1303 gives oil and gas drillers until March 31, 2010 to comply. They have until 2012 to have permanent augmentation plans. Although H.B. 1303 was written to apply to all 38,000 oil and gas wells in Colorado, Rep. Curry believes the Senate might amend it to apply only to Colorado′s approximately 5000 CBM wells since the Vance decision appears to be limited to those wells.
How this will affect local CBM production is uncertain. Paul Powell, from Petroglyph′s main office in Boise, Idaho said his company is still analyzing the Vance decision and waiting to see if and in what form H.B. 1303 passes before making any decisions regarding their CBM operations in Huerfano County.
In an interview Wednesday, Dick Wolfe, the State Engineer, said that Petroglyph and Presco, Inc. have been working on modeling studies for the past year to show which portions of the Raton Basin are nontributary. He said these studies will be a significant factor, along with the Papadopulos study, in determining which CBM wells in the Raton basin will not need permits or augmentation plans. Local water experts say CBM producers are also conducting studies to show water depletions from those wells that will need permits are drastically lower than the Papadopulos study found. In the interim, the economic downturn may well have a greater impact on local CBM production than either the Vance case or H.B. 1303. | |
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