Granada Trustees Hear Update on Camp Amache Construction

Camp Amache Guard Tower

Granada RE-1 School District Superintendant, Ian DeBono provided the Granada Trustee Board with an update on new additions at Camp Amache during their monthly meeting, Wednesday, July 10.  He said a guardhouse tower was recently erected, and construction is underway on a barracks building which should be complete by the end of September.  Work is also underway on a water tower.  Stanchion supports are being put up at the site while the water tower is being constructed in Denver.  The tower will be shipped to Granada by the end of August.  

Close Up of Tower

The renovations are part of a long range project, funded from a $300,000 grant.  DeBono said, John Hopper, who is overseeing the project, recently received a $2,000 check from a Japanese-American relative of one of the former inmates at Camp Amache.  The donation will purchase a 12 foot tall, 53 by 15 inch LED sign.  Information on visiting times at the Museum and community activities can be scrolled on the sign which will be set up on city property.  He asked the Trustees for approval to locate the sign east of the gateway kiosk and south of the sidewalk in front of the museum.  DeBono said they haven’t been able to locate one sign that scrolls information on the front and on the back, so two may have to be purchased so east/west travelers can read the information from either direction.  He added that Hopper is looking for wooden posts on which to mount the sign so the materials match the kiosks which were recently set up on either side of the museum entrance. 

Supports for Future Water Tower

DeBono mentioned that he’s found trash and debris along the main road in Camp Amache.  Some trash may have just bounced out of the back of a pickup truck such as branches or cinder blocks, but he’s also come upon piles of beer bottles and trash bags where people may have just parked and drank.  No identification was found in the bags, but he asked if the Prowers County Sheriff’s Department and Granada Police could make extra patrols through the site to discourage littering or vandals. 

The Trustees voted to purchase surge protectors for the town’s well and pumping system.  A surge on June 21 knocked out some water pump equipment in the chlorination room and dropped all three fuses at well one and two, according to Town Crew Manager, John McMillan.  He recommended purchasing the protectors for the booster pumps on wells one and three.  The cost is approximately $2,000 each.  McMillan said 13 blocks were recently chip sealed in Granada recently and he plans another run for next year. 

Granada Police Chief David Dougherty reported that a July 26 meeting has been set to review plans for the curbside work later this summer for the safe routes to school project for Hoisington Street.  A VALE appeals board was created which will decide on disputes regarding payments to victims of crimes.  Members are Maria Camacho, Delinda Green and Glenda Tyree.  Granada’s 4^th Annual Night Out event will be held Tuesday, August 6, in conjunction with the thirtieth National event.  It will begin at 6:30pm in the town park and Dougherty said volunteers are welcome to contact him.  He added that family and youth oriented games will be planned along with a traditional cookout and musical entertainment.  The Trustees approved rental of the Community Complex on November 9 and 10 for the annual Hunter’s Breakfast. 

By Russ Baldwin