Navajo yard hydrants may stay

by Carla Dolce
NAVAJO- The Board of Directors of Navajo Western Water District held a special meeting last Friday June 24 to modify their rules and regulations. The hotly contested yard hydrant issue was finally resolved to the satisfaction of residents who refused to remove their yard hydrants over the past several years. During that time, the Board sent several letters demanding residents remove frost-free hydrants ostensibly to comply with State cross-connection control regulations. Frost-free yard hydrants will not have to be removed at this time but the Board will require removal if such removal becomes required by State law.
In response to one citizen who demanded to know what the board was going to do for him since he removed his hydrant pursuant to one of the letters, president Gary Baldwin invited him to speak personally with the Board and assured him essentially that they would “make it back to what it was.” Baldwin said he wasn’t sure what the Board would do but he was sure the gentleman would be pleased. Thus, anyone in Navajo Ranch who removed their yard hydrant pursuant to one of the letters might want to contact the District or a Board member.
The Board also modified their rules concerning who can turn on and off water at the meters. In the past, only the District’s operator was authorized to do this. Now, water can be turned on and off at the meter by any licensed and bonded plumber who must notify the District the same day by phone or in person.
Finally, the Board added new charges to its list of fees. Anyone seeking records under the Colorado Open Records Act must pay $25/hour as a search fee as well as $1.00 per page for copies. This will make it a lot more expensive for residents to get copies of minutes or financial documents to follow what their water board is doing or not doing.