by Carol Dunn
LA VETA- After taking questions from the public during a hearing Tuesday night, the La Veta Town Board approved the Town’s 2011 budget on December 7. General Fund expenditures are budgeted at $991,731, Water Fund expenditures at $775,389, and Sewer Fund expenditures are budgeted at $489,195. The property tax rate will be 4.474 mills, which will bring in $43,312.70 in revenues. The Board is anticipating raising the standard water/sewer rate from $41 per month to $55.50 early next year.
On behalf of the Streets and Alleys Committee, Trustee Dale Davis recommended that “no parking” signs be placed in Yvette Lane, the alleyway behind La Veta Inn. In addition the committee suggested the dumpsters be placed next to the back door of La Veta Inn.
Trustee Dawn Blanken presented to the Board a map and legal description of a .59 acre parcel of land north of the railroad, referred to as “Tract 3.” She said this will be the only parcel the new zoning will apply to because it is the only one with a legal description.
Doug & Patty Burns, owners of Two Fox Cabins and RVs, sent a letter requesting a reduction in water charges or a seasonal adjustment because five of their cabins are unusable, thus not consuming water, and there is no longer a restaurant operating on the premises. The business is being billed for 35,000 gallons of water per month, but the Burns say it is using about 7,000. Trustee Jim Fowler said he visited the business and determined that the usable units would require 3.95 EQRs. Fowler said perhaps the unusable units could be put on “emergency repair” status and not be charged until they are usable. The Burns letter said they expect to be open for business in mid- to late-spring 2011. Fowler said he would talk with CJ Smith about how the existing EQRs were set, and the Board will discuss the matter at its next meeting.
Fowler reported that the staff will begin welding the water tank this week. They expect the work to take two days. He also reported that the sewer project will start December 9. Fowler said Mike Graber, RJH Consultants, will be consulting with the Town on the leak at South reservoir.
Fowler said the two-inch water line on Cuchara Street, next to the golf course, is only buried 18-inches deep but should be at four feet. Because of its depth, it froze and broke last winter, restricting the flow of water to the “guy down the line.” Fowler said there may be a sandstone ledge in the way of burying the line deeper. He suggested rerouting the water temporarily so test holes can be dug to determine how difficult it would be to bury the line deeper. If there is no rock impasse, “Then we can have our guys do the job,” he said. If it appears to be more complicated, Fowler said the job could be contracted out.
The Board approved the transfer of liquor license for the La Veta Inn from Scott Medsker to Kurt Reuss. It also approved the application for renewal of the 3.2 beer liquor license at the Cliff Brice station. The Board approved the $325 registration fee for a five-day training session in January for building inspector, Rick Dunn. The board agreed that the seven full-time Town employees will each be given a Christmas gift of $100.
