New Granada Trustees Assume Duties

Granada Trustees, Jensen, Choat, Otto, Riddle

New members of the Granada Town Board of Trustees took their places following their oath of office Wednesday night, April 11.  C.W. DeForest replaced Lesli Baca as mayor and Glenn Otto and Andi Riddle were sworn in as new members, while Debra Choat and Martin Jensen were administered their oath as returning board members.  Choat was appointed to replace a board member earlier in the year and ran for re-election when that term expired.  Out going Trustee Tom Grasmick was presented with a plaque honoring his years of service as a Trustee for 38 years. 

New Mayor, C.E. DeForest, Receving his Oath of Office

Town ordinances pertaining to parked cars came before the Trustees, with two citizens requesting that one be reviewed regarding having to fence junked cars on private property.   “Wouldn’t a car cover or a carcoat do the same thing?” the Trustees were asked.  The need for the fence to withstand 90 mph winds was also questioned, with Granada Police Chief Dougherty explaining that provision made sure that just a few pallets wouldn’t be hammered together  to do the job.  Ordinance 2012-001 regarding limitations of semi-trucks parking on paved streets was passed on second reading.   

Kim Fournier, interim director of the Lamar Housing Authority, requested a permit for a fence for property on Emerald Homes in Granada.  The Trustees had no problem with the request, but wanted some idea of the dimensions of the fencing being planned and would consider the request pending the information be provided at their next meeting. 

Officer John Gorton and Chief David Dougherty briefed the board on increasing problems with unlicensed and feral dogs in the community.  “Several people have been bitten or chased,” Dougherty said, “and we have no place to put any dogs we capture.”  He said he’d received a report of a small, leashed dog being mauled by a dog on the loose.  Dougherty also addressed a need for muzzles, and perhaps a tranquilizer rifle and capture equipment.   The department has investigated a grant source to construct a holding pen, but that must be licensed under state regulations.  Lamar is also too far away under state regulations to bring captured animals to their shelter.  Dougherty shared some better news with the Trustees, stating that after several years of applications, the town has been awarded $249,979 in CDOT funding to construct sidewalks, curbs and gutters for student walking routes to their schools.  The Trustees approved Dougherty’s trip to Pueblo in May to receive guidelines on how to report on the project’s progress.  The route will start west of Hoisington Street, to Broadway and over to Highway 50.  The project should be completed by July 2014.  The Granada Town Sign will received a $1,500 check from the Granada Pride Committee which will allow the project to be completed this year. 

The Town is continuing a search for a landfill caretaker.  Someone recently dumped irrigation tubing which had to be broken up by Town Maintenance Manager, John McMillan.  Trustee Jerene DeBono asked if the town just needs a general caretaker, or an employee who is qualified to operate the landfill equipment on certain days of the week.  On a similar note, the board approved re-hiring the Harmon’s for upkeep of the town park.  McMillan said tree trimming is set to start next week and SECPA will help with some of the tasks that are in close proximity to power lines.  The beaver dam along the town dikes has been eliminated and prairie dog bait has also been spread along parts of the dikes.  The Trustees are also getting an idea of the cost of repairs for the concrete water well.  The roof of the building is crumbling and needs to be replaced and bids will go out on the project. 

The board and audience were given a presentation on the May 8 election for the Prowers Medical Center, $5 million bond issue.  The funding, if passed, will provide for a 13,000 square foot Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility for Cardio-Pulmonary patients and provide for HVAC and electrical improvements to the hospital.  The presentation was made by PMC Foundation Director Michael Bryant.  The new board appointed representatives to municipal departments:  Deb Choat will handle Streets and Alleys, Minnie Duarte will cover Electrical, Martin Jensen for Police, Glenn Otto for Water, Andi Riddle for Maintenance, Jerene DeBone for Dikes and Dumps and C.W. DeForest with the Recreation Department.  The consent agenda approved all requests for use of the Granada Complex for various events in June.

By Russ Baldwin