Asbestos for Holly Landfill & Prairie Dogs Concern Town Board

Marsha Willhite, Holly town Administrator, informed the town trustees that the landfill will be able to accept asbestos under the regulations set up by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. She said the inspection looks good for friable asbestos to be deposited after several steps have been met including: amending the landfill operations plan, review the design plan, open a 30 day public comment period and update the landfill audit for the acceptance of asbestos into a different pit. She said the board should coordinate developments for asbestos dumping with the Holly school board once the old school begins to be demolished to make way for the new school.

Asbestos isn’t the only new item to be found at the town landfill. Willhite told the board last Wednesday night the prairie dog population is increasing on an 80 acre tract north of town, and a cost-effective eradication plan is needed. The geography of the area is such that Tri State G & T is clearing property adjacent to the town’s land, and on the opposite side, eradication is underway on privately owned property. The town has explored one option for its land in the middle, renting three machines used to eliminate the rodents at $700 a day. The board decided to explore other options before allocating funds for the job.

Additional study will be done on setting monthly seasonal rates at the town’s RV park. Board members want to recover the costs incurred on rentals, but all agreed the fees are currently too low. A break-even fee would be $225 a month, but if charges for electricity were adopted, the town would have to install meters. Rules and regulations for weekly or monthly use of the RV park would also require modification. The agenda item will be discussed at next month’s meeting. The Holly town board will explore options for ‘open’ fees for the restrooms at the park. Some figures were discussed for an appropriate charge or deposit, and a resolution will be discussed next month after some options for reasonable fees have been explored.

In-house work on a ruptured hydraulic line on the town’s digger truck saved some repair money. An old unused trailer belonging to the town was modified to haul the mosquito fogger. It’s been adapted so it can be towed by any town vehicle. Town crews will lubricate the on-off flow mechanisms on the hydrants during their annual flushing cycle. This hadn’t been done in a while, and the hydrants are now easier to use. There’s a new, heavy-gauge chain-link backstop fence running from dugout to dugout at the town park. It’s replacing the chicken wire fence that had been in use for several years. Installing a fence for toddler control at their playground was also discussed and the board will look at price options for a four and a six foot tall fence. Holly will hold two town clean-up days in April and announcements will be posted on the scheduled days and areas.

Holly business owner Shawn Lee Bender appeared before the board, asking why there have been so many power outages, especially during the summer. She also asked why it took so long before the town used its own back-up generator to restore electricity. She said the outages have had a negative effect on her business, and she was sure other business owners were in the same boat. Bender wanted to know the town’s options for continuing the current contract with Lamar Light and Power if they weren’t able to fulfill obligations to supply power to their customers. She also inquired as to the prices Holly charged for business oriented permits and fees. “The size of these fees means Holly will stay small. Why would anyone want to start a business here when the fees are so sizable?” she asked. Trustee Jerry Jones explained that the generator could not be used until the lines were clear of any workers, to avoid electrocution. Administrator Willhite said some outages occurred closer to home, such as downed or even burned poles. “We have 24 square miles of our own lines, and it takes time to discover the origin of the problem and coordinate with the Lamar light plant,” she added. Willhite remarked that the board has budgeted to have an engineer audit the power system this month. And she explained that the summer demand of power in Holly was more than the town generator could produce. Electric power sales by kilowatt hour had increased 3% over last year’s numbers, attributable in part to construction on the new motel and repairs to the church. In response to Bender’s questioning a $228 permit and inspection fee, Trustee Brad Simon explained her permit fee covered the cost of the inspection fee, and she wasn’t being billed out of the ordinary.

Lisa Nolder, PCDI director offered a county wide update on the recent governor’s ‘Bottom Up’ state economic development survey. Nolder said the five-goal needs assessment was almost identical for every county community, and the rate of citizen’s response has increased in the past several weeks since the introductory meeting was held in Lamar. One new area that is a shared concern, Nolder remarked, was the need for local representation in Denver. “People said they believe we need our own voice speaking on our behalf in the legislature, and we need someone to take that important step forward,” she said. The key areas of concern there included local job creation efforts, seep ditch water rights and state assistance for replacement jobs when Ft. Lyon prison closes next March.

The board approved a bid from Parker Mechanical for $5,685 for the light plant heating system. Parker Mechanical will increase the btu’s in each of the three rooms with their repairs to the electrical system.

The Holly town board will meet in regular session, the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm at the Town Depot.