Does CDOT Own the Hotchkiss Downtown Sidewalks? – Controversial Private Marijuana Growing Regs Still in the Pipe
Hotchkiss Town Council
April 10, 2014
Present: Mayor Wendell Koontz, mayor pro-tem – Carrie Wingfield, Marlin McCracken (old council-departing), Georgia Hopper (old council-departing), Tom Wills (new member), Dustyn Foster, Lindee Cantrell (new term) and Jim Roberts. Staff: Town Clerk – Marlene Searle, Marshal Dan Miller, PW Director – Mike Owens, Town Engineer – Joanne Fagan and Town Attorney Bo Nerlin.
The new, 2014-2016, Hotchkiss Town Council looks pretty much like the old council with the sole addition of Herald editor, Tom Wills, who had previously been chairman of the planning commission, as well as a trustee from 2000 to 2010. Wills and Belinda “Lindee” Cantrell were sworn in by Town Clerk for four year terms. Mayor Wendell Koontz, who ran unopposed, was sworn in for a second four year term. Carrie Wingfield, partner of Hotchkiss Deputy Marshal,Chad Lloyd, was unanimously reinstated as Mayor pro-tem.
The Town is now seeking a resident to fill the remaining empty seat since there were only two candidates standing for the three seats offered during the cancelled election. To date, only former mayor, Larry Jakubiak, has expressed interest in the position, which would be for a two year term expiring in April of 2016. Jakubiak previously served from 1991 to 2003 as Trustee, and from 2003 to 2010 as mayor. Any resident over age 18 who is a registered voter, and had lived in the town at least one year, is eligible to submit a letter of interest to fill the position. Letters should be submitted to the Town Clerk’s office or to the Town at P.O. Box 369.
Under old business conducted by the old council, including departing trustees Marlin McCracken and Georgia Hopper, the body approved a letter of support for a grant for the Delta County Housing Authority that would fund the rehabbing of low income residents’ homes.
Fire Mountain Water Offered by Bid
The old council then modified the lease of 848 Town-owned shares of Fire Mountain Canal water to allow Barrow Mesa rancher, Stan Baker, to lease 548 shares and put the other 300 shares out to bid. Marlin McCracken had previously expressed an interest in leasing some of the Town water. Those interested in a minimum 100 share block of the water should contact the Town Clerk.
Town to Start Sidewalk Replacement
According to Hotchkiss Public Work Director, Mike Owens, this year’s capital improvement street project will include the replacement of defective sidewalks on the west side of First Street between Main and Orchard and west from First on both sides of Main Street as far as the funding for this year will allow. Property owners will be required to pay half of the cost for the sidewalk replacement, but according to the new 2013 sidewalks ordinance, will have up to two years to pay the assessment. First Street from Main to Orchard will also be repaved and curb and gutter added to a portion of the west side.
Sign Code to Be Simplified
Town Attorney, Bo Nerlin, provided trustees with samples of sign codes from Paonia and Ouray, [NS1] which he said were some of the “simpler” and shorter ones around. At a March work session the Trustees expressed a wish to make sure that the Town’s first sign code was not unduly onerous upon local businesses.
Also, relating to the draft sign code, Planner/trustee, Tom Wills, provided the council with a memo recommending that the Town engage in collaborative discussion with the Colorado Department of Transportation regarding a claim that CDOT’s travel easements extend from building to building downtown, rather than a more reasonable curb-to-curb. The building-to-building claim puts all signs extending over the sidewalk at risk of removal by CDOT and prohibits future signs that extend out more than 15 inches. Wills and the Chamber of Commerce would like the Town to negotiate either a reduction of the legal travel right-of-way to curb-to-curb or to reach an agreement with CDOT clearly stating which enforcement actions can be taken in the sidewalk area and deferring administration of that area to the Town.
As a starting point, the Town will obtain written documentation of the legal width of the existing CDOT easement. PWD Owens says he is certain the easement is 80 feet, from property line to property line on each side of Bridge Street.
Private Marijuana Growing Regs Still in the Pipe
Town Attorney, Bo Nerlin, provided trustees with a new draft of a private recreational/medical marijuana growing ordinance and asked for trustee comment. Mayor Koontz suggested working on it and having a public hearing at the June council meeting.
The initial draft was extremely restrictive and would have prohibited growing cannabis outside and even in certain rooms of private homes. The trustees agreed at their March worksession that it needed pruning back and some of the more offensive buds nipped.
Other Actions and Discussion:
There was a discussion of having a spring cleanup day, which in the past has consisted of two roll away dumpsters, and town residents being encouraged to transport brush etc. or old furniture etc to them. This approach has been less than successful. Tom Wills pointed out that many residents either do not have access to a truck to haul such items or are physically unable to deliver them. He suggested that either the Town or private volunteers could pick-up such items for those needing the help. The Council agreed on a spring clean-up and the days and details will be discussed later.
At the request of the Hotchkiss Community Chamber of Commerce and president, Nathan Sponseller, the Trustees donated $100 to help sponsor an electronics recycling event at the Delta County Fairgrounds on June 14, tentatively from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sponseller, this time as a representative of the First State Bank of Colorado, also received permission to close First Street on May 9 for the bank’s popular, annual, free community cook-out. The day is also the first day of the Hotchkiss Sheep Camp Stockdog Trials.
The new board also donated $150 to the Hotchkiss Grad Night party. Trustee, Jim Roberts, voted no, noting that no written application for the funding had been submitted. Mayor Koontz stated that in the future no requests would be considered without the completed application. The Town has donated to Grad Night every year for at least two decades.
The Trustees unanimously donated $250 to the Hotchkiss Youth Soccer Association.
The liquor License for the North Fork Valley Restaurant was renewed without comment.
The Trustee made a plan to join with the Hotchkiss Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society and spend the afternoon of April 18 picking up trash on the highway corridors within the town.
Trustees were encouraged to attend the Gunnison Basin Water Plan meeting to be held on May 30, from 7-9 p.m. at the Hotchkiss Senior Center.
Print or Email This PageTags: Bo Nerlin, Carrie Wingfield, Dan Miller, Dustyn Foster, Georgia Hopper, Hotchkiss Town Council, Jim Roberts, Joanne Fagan, Lindee Cantrell., Marlene Searle, Marlin McCracken, Mike Owens, Tom Wills, Wendell Koontz
Does CDOT Own the Hotchkiss Downtown Sidewalks? - Controversial Private Marijuana Growing ...
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