LA VETA — La Veta’s Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvements project is on schedule, even with an additional change order. Mark Hornberger, with GMS Engineering, provided a project update at the La Veta Town Board meeting on Tuesday, noting another unforeseen problem had emerged. Hornberger explained that as the project contractor, RMS from Alamosa, was boring under Main Street at Moore Street they found the sewer line was 5” lower than projected. Completing the bore at the proper grade will cost an additional $2,697. The council approved the change order. Hornberger then requested, that in an effort to keep the project moving, the mayor should be given the authority to approve change orders up to $5,000 without waiting for the next council meeting and board approval. This too passed. The project will also be notifying home owners in advance of work going on near their homes. At times water and sewer service may be temporarily be affected resulting homeowners needing to make adjustments accordingly. Additionally, advance notices will be printed in the paper prior to each upcoming segment
of the work. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs sent a letter to the board notifying them of an additional $200,000 in federal mineral lease funds to be used towards the sewer project, helping out with cost overruns. The town board received an estimate from Blakely Construction for the second phase of work on the old Marshal’s office. Because the council has yet to determine the future us of the building, it was decided to not install finished flooring or carpeting, as a future renter might want to install their own flooring. The board moved to have Blakely prime and seal the existing subfloor and to use foam rather than batting for the insulation, with the second phase costing no more than $9,000. Under new business, the board approved a variance request from Big R to erect an eight foot fence around their outside storage yard. This action was held over from a previous variance request from several months ago. It has now been confirmed that KD Rentals, owned by Karla and Dave Blain, are the property owners. Dave Blain is also the owner of the Big R stores chain. The board approved a liquor license renewal for Mission Mariposa Mexican restaurant. Marshal Willburn reported that although there had been no liquor violations at the eatery, it had been broken into three time with liquor being stolen. Each time the break in was via a weak door and there are no suspects. The restaurant’s owners are working with the building owners to install a more secure door. The board approved the renewal. The annual town cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, from 9 am to 3 pm. Town residents may take their yard waste to the town lakes burn pile, where they will also find two commercial dumpsters available for items such as old bicycles, damaged furniture, appliances, etc. No household garbage or construction waste will be accepted. For an additional fee items such as paint and electronics will be accepted for proper disposal. The town will place more complete notices in the paper prior to the event. The town council approved Emergency Ordinance #282, replatting a small section of the town. The area is located north of the community center at Moore and Birch Streets and was given to the La Veta Fire Protection District by the town for the new fire department building. This process is required by ordinance to have the property undergo a replat. Marshal Willburn reported that he has moved all of the evidence from the vault in the old Marshal’s office to the new office. He is going through the items with the help of the town clerk. Some items will be destroyed, and some could be returned to owners.
