LA VETA — The late Ray Ryan will live on as the La Veta Town Board approved the renaming of the town maintenance shop in his honor at their regular session. On Saturday, Mayor Doug Brgoch read a proclamation changing the shop’s name at the annual Oktoberfest event. The board made it final Tuesday night. Ryan served the town for decades as maintenance supervisor. Known for his wry sense of humor, Ryan was also known for his dedication to the town as he frequently went above and beyond the call of duty, aiding citizens at all hours of the night and on holidays. The facility will now be known as the Ray Ryan Maintenance Building. A sign is in the works. The board approved another change order for the town’s sewer improvement project along High Street, which needs new sewer piping and manholes. The cost is $23,770, which will be paid to RMS Utilities. Along similar lines, the town opened two bids to replace 600’ of pipeline in the alley to the south of Cuchara Street. Local contractor Paul Morgan bid the project at $18,800, while RMS submitted a bid for $24,500. There are concerns about the possibility of
hitting rock, which could increase the cost. Additionally, the alley is narrow, measuring only 15’ wide, making the work more challenging. Most alleys in La Veta are 20’ wide. Another concern is the status of the alley, as some homeowners along the alley claim it was vacated. After an exhaustive initial records search by Brgoch and Town Clerk Laurie Erwin, they could find no direct evidence of the vacation. If the alley was vacated then the town must restore the land to the condition it was in prior to the project. That includes improvements made by homeowner. If it wasn’t vacated, then the town only has to restore it to a desired condition. The award went to Morgan, but is contingent upon resolving the vacation issue. The board approved a 1” water tap for the La Veta Fire Protection District’s new firehouse, which is under construction. The district had asked for a 1.5” tap but the town only has 1” or 2” taps and the town had previously approved the 1” tap. Additionally, the LVFPD is asking for another 4” sewer line, while only one had been approved for the board. The district will have to apply and pay for the second 4” line. Several new street signs are needed and the board awarded a contract to local sign maker Paul Newman, dba La Veta Sign Company. Newman’s bid was $90 more than a second bid, and the board chose to keep the business local. A preliminary budget was accepted and passed by the board, with a final budget still underway. The mayor read and approved a proclamation for International Walk to School Day, on October 14. The goal of the event is to encourage students to walk or ride their bikes to school as a means of promoting fitness, plus reducing air pollution and traffic. The town received a grant from the Huerfano Park and Recreation District in the amount of $19,500 to go towards new playground equipment in the town park. The town will provide a 30% match with 10% in cash and the rest as in kind services. The grant also provides for handicap parking and access. In other business the board: • Closed the town’s recycle center until the current overflowing load can be picked up by the hauler. The recycle program has only one driver and he recently suffered a second heart attack. The center could be reopened later this week. • Renewed the La Veta Fishing Club’s lease of the town lakes for 2016. • Learned that the new sidewalks on the west side of Main Street will be poured Wednesday morning and Main Street should be back to normal by noon on Thursday. • Received notice the historical assessments for the Fort and the Theatre have come through at $15,000 and $14,000 respectively.
