Efforts Continue to Improve Granada Landfill.

Granada Town Complex

The Granada Trustees discussed the improvements made to the town landfill and the tasks that remain before them to bring the landfill into compliance with state regulations.  The Trustees were notified on January 4, 2013 that the Colorado Department of Health and Environment cited the town for 17 deficiencies discovered at the landfill during an inspection.  Not all the problem items are health or environment related as some pertain to record keeping and signage and regulating the use of the dump by area residents. 

Trustee Jerene DeBono will attend a compliance conference on March 19 which was called by the state.  She will review the steps already accomplished for the health officials and will attempt to allow them enough time, perhaps a year,  for the town to correct the remaining deficiencies.  “We don’t want the state to close the landfill,” she said, adding, “We can’t afford to develop a transfer station and with no landfill, people may just dump their trash on back roads.”  Trustee Glenn Otto and Granada Police Chief David Dougherty said both of them have noticed trash on the streets around Camp Amache, a situation that has never really ended.  DeBono said there are just no funds for large equipment such as a trash compactor or a bulldozer.  The town is required to cover the dump areas with dirt each day, but cannot accomplish that with only a backhoe.  Granada was granted a waiver for a pit liner and materials have been purchased to build a fence to keep people out when the landfill is closed, as well as a swing gate to replace a cable that’s been hung as a barrier.  The regulations require a burn pit which is being sited at the landfill, a pit for sheetrock dumping, posted signage for use of the landfill and a trench for water runoff.  The tire pit is now covered and mapping of the older, covered pits is underway. 

Pete Medina, who manages the landfill, requested if he could be given additional hours or extra duties to help augment his income.  He also asked for electricity to be run out to the landfill shack so an electric heater could be installed instead of the propane unit, and he asked the trustees to equip the site with a porta-potty or sanitation equipment.  The trustees said they’d look into his requests.  John McMillan said he’s going to take down some trees in town that are in danger of falling over.  Several are along Walnut Street. 

Granada Police Chief David Dougherty requested funding to deal with roaming and feral dogs in community.  “We’ve had 27 complaint calls in January and there have been two cases of dog bites out by the school,” he reported.  One stray dog tested negative for rabies and the other dog was a family pet.  Dougherty said he’s priced a used dart gun for $250 and darts would cost only a few extra dollars.  The vet used by the police department said he’d contribute the tranquilizer drug.  The trustees authorized the chief to purchase equipment not to exceed $350.  Once captured, the animals not put down would be turned over to agencies such as Second Chance, which finds homes for dogs.  Dougherty said he’d continue to search for a replacement officer for patrolman Gorton who is no longer with the department. 

County Commissioners Joe Marble and Wendy Buxton-Andrade attended the Trustees meeting on Wednesday, February 13.  Marble said Granada would receive $1,689 from the county’s Road and Bridge Fund for 2013, their share of interest proceeds that developed from the sale of Highway 196 to the county by the state several years ago.  The trustees also granted use of the town complex for April 18 to the commissioners between 8am and 4pm.  The commissioners will conduct several of their regular meetings at the cities in the county, and have sent invitations to area schools so students can attend and watch local government in action.  The meetings are also open to the public. 

Commissioner Marble said the county land use administrator, Mary Root, would be available to answer questions regarding the flood plain mapping plan for Granada.  The trustees had questions on just how much repair work would be needed on some of the levees to avoid having to be declared a flood plain area.  Marble told trustee DeBono that Root would be in contact with her.  Buxton-Andrade also volunteered to accompany DeBono and other trustees who would attend the state health compliance conference in Denver on March 19. 

Trustee Andi Riddle suggested the town sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt for youngsters this year.  The trustees agreed, designating Sunday, March 24, at 2pm for the event at the Town Park.  Plastic eggs filled with small prizes will be spread out on the grounds for the hunt.  The trustees adjourned to enter into executive session for the remainder of the evening.  The next trustee meeting will be March 13, the second Wednesday of the month.

By Russ Baldwin