La Veta Town Board passes budget

by Carol Dunn
LA VETA — At its meeting on December 20, the La Veta Town Board passed four budget-related resolutions and its 2012 budget. Revenues from the mill levy are projected at $42,000, with another $116,000 from the 2% Town sales tax. The budget shows total general fund revenues of $1,027,134 and general fund expenditures of $806,291. Trustee Tracy Webb commented, “I would like to thank the Town Clerk, Laurie Erwin, for her many days of work, in combination with other people, in order for us to get this budget passed.”
During the public hearing on the budget earlier in the evening, Trustee Jerry Fitzgerald reminded everyone that the Town has some major water projects coming up, and he thanked previous boards for their fiscal responsibility.
The Board awarded the Town’s cleaning contract to Alma “Rosa” Gandara for $240 per month. Erwin said Gandara’s references were good, and she has the required insurance. She will clean two times per month beginning January 1, 2012. For the record, Erwin also clarified that the Manzanares bid was $390 per month, not “per week” as this reporter had erroneously reported on December 8.
Kerrie Meyler spoke to the Board about the new Two Peaks Fitness, Inc, a nonprofit organization formed in September 2011. The group has submitted an application for IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Meyler said the organization is not associated with the old Two Peak Fitness or the previous owners. The revamped business will be a central point for wellness activities in La Veta and the Cuchara Valley. Its mission will be to “facilitate the process of allowing people to increase their fitness, thereby improving the holistic, physical and emotional qualities of life.”
Meyler said the organizers will be seeking a USDA rural development loan for the business, and USDA wants to know that the Town is in agreement with what Two Peaks proposes to do. Members of the governing board are: Kerrie Meyler, Chair; Robert Ingoldby, Vice Chair; Rena Kaplowitz, Treasurer; Catherine Liese, Secretary; and Jim Taylor.
The new co-chairs replacing Mary Jean Fowler on the Historic Preservation Committee are JoVonne Fitzgerald and Janey Waldrep. Webb said, “I feel it’s appropriate at this time to thank all our volunteers on the Tree Board, the Museum Board and Historic Preservation for all the time they put in.”
Erwin reported that the roof of the maintenance building was damaged by recent high winds, and the insurance adjuster will be looking at it very soon regarding repairs, “before anything else happens to it.”
A new trustee will be elected to fill the Town Board vacancy left by Laurie Erwin during a regular municipal election on April 3, 2012. To accommodate the election, the Board meeting was changed to Wednesday, April 4.