Holly Trustees Discuss Water Project, Flood Plain Ordinance

Holly Trustees

Representatives from Antencio Engineering visited in Holly late last month to prepare a preliminary report for the city’s REDI Water project.  Grant funding will be needed for the project which will see crossings under railroad tracks and Highway 50 in town.  Holly Mayor, Brad Simon, said the funding may be available from DOLA, but as it’s a 50/50 match, may be premature regarding the town’s current financing.  Interim City Administrator, Jerry L’Estrange agreed and told the Trustees during their July 1^st meeting, this is only a preliminary visit and at this point, visits with the railroad and landowners will be needed for easement access to the land in question.  One portion of the overall project will deal with needed water storage availability.  There is sufficient water pressure for fire suppression needs, but the issue is having enough available storage.  The preliminary report from Antencio Engineering is expected by August, but L’Estrange estimates it would take a year to begin working to secure a grant.

Discussion among the Trustees also focused on the lack of an ordinance in Holly to comply with Colorado Floodplain Damage Prevention.  The administrator noted that the ordinance should have been passed last year, and the lack of one is hindering a needed Levee Certification which will impact flood insurance requirements for Holly’s property owners.  L’Estrange said he could not find a map of the flood plain for Holly at this point.  He said he’s sure one exists, but hasn’t come upon it in the town’s file. He stated, “I cannot find that the town of Holly had ever adopted a flood plain.”   He stated that the town has the option of approving an ordinance supplied by FEMA or making one up for the municipality, but the cost of attorneys to do that would run into the thousands of dollars.  He asked for future guidance from the Trustees on whether to create one or customize the ordinance sent by FEMA.  “I don’t expect you to come to a decision this evening, but this will have to be considered for the future,” he suggested.  Another costly consideration is that, “If we don’t participate, then citizens can’t get flood insurance from the National Flood Plain Coverage plan, but only from a private company,” he explained.  He said current forms for property purchases come with questions regarding a buyer’s location in a flood plain and it’s axiomatic that flood insurance coverage will be stipulated in the purchase agreement.  L’Estrange said there will be future discussion among the Trustees on their next steps.

Because of recent vandalism at the public bathrooms at the ballpark, users will need to request a key to gain access to the facilities.  The city crews needed to snake a toilet that had been deliberately plugged in June and a week later a second instance occurred with someone using paper towers to plug the sewer line.  Apparently someone had set a small fire on the bathroom floor.

Chip sealing was done on several streets including Vaughn, North 10th, Plaza and Buffalo Streets, all of which were listed for an application this year.  Potholes were filled at North Main, Cheyenne and 10th Streets, North 10th and Highway 50, plus Park Street and Highway 89.  The city water tower was drained and inspected, the dry lagoon was burned to clear weeds and sprayed for weed and insect control, several sewer taps at the RV park were replaced as they had been run over and damaged and the sewer main between 1st and 2nd streets was jetted by the City of Lamar because of sluggishness.  Crews set a power pole at the Viaero Tower for T Mobile which plans to set up an antenna.

L’Estrange, noted a Loss Prevention Award presented by CIRSA to Candy Plummer for her Loss Control Accomplishments and efforts on behalf of the town, specifically for safety concerns.  He also complimented Claudia Parker for her work with the Fun Clubs’ recent Bike Rodeo during the Bluegrass Festival.

Once repairs were conducted to the municipal mosquito fogging machine, the town began operations on June 12 and the schedule will be three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday when wind conditions allow.

Vacant lots are being weeded around Holly, although most of the weeds are about a foot tall before property owners attend to them.  L’Estrange said rather than wait for complaints to be registered with the city, he said an alternative will be to have a member of the city crew note them and then a blanket letter would be sent out for action.

By Russ Baldwin