Council votes for local plan for City Lake dam rehabilitation

by Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG —  Walsenburg City Council Tuesday night voted unanimously for a $13,700 expenditure with an engineering firm who will prepare construction documents the city may use itself to make some rehabilitation improvements on City Lake reservoir.
The construction, which could take place as soon as spring 2016, calls for the lowering of the dam spillway.  If improvements to the dam were not accomplished, the state had mandated the drop in storage levels, but this action is seen as a way for the city to buy some time on a complete rehabilitation project.  RJH Engineering, who has worked with the city for a number of years, will develop the plan which, if completed, would see a three foot drop in the dam spillway, lowering storage levels by approximately 170 acre feet, or about one-third of the total storage capacity of the reservoir.
Walsenburg City Administrator David Johnston said he doesn’t feel the loss of the storage capacity should effect any water service delivery from the city to residents or commercial users.  Mike Graber, professional engineer and project manager for RJH Consultants attended the meeting Tuesday night and said he was confident city crews would be able to accomplish the work.
The cost of rehabilitating the reservoir to standards set by the State Engineer’s Office are estimated between $4 and $6 million.
In other business, the council unanimously approved the first three charter members of the newly formed Walsenburg Historical Preservation Board.  The three individuals who sent letters of interest and applications to the city for the positions are Gaye Davis, Janice Salapich and Vivian Price.  All three were unanimously selected by the city council. They will serve three-year terms.  The board will have five total members and the next two appointed will serve two-year terms.  Council and administration both indicated they hoped the three initial members may have suggestions for nominations for the two remaining open positions.  All board members must be approved by the city council.  If interested in participating in the board, individuals may get information from either the city administrator or city clerk’s office.
The board will act in an advisory capacity to the  city and help develop and recommend eligibility criteria for the review and designation of historic or archaeological resources within the city limits. 
In other unanimous votes, the council approved a routine resolution and IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement) with the Huerfano County Clerk’s office for administration of the upcoming November election.  In other election news, those interested in open city council positions must have their petitions back into the city clerk’s office by close of business Monday, August 24.
City Council approved a liquor license renewal for the Fraternal Order of Eagles chapter in Walsenburg.
The council put off action on a resolution dealing with the city personnel handbook after discovering some other changes they might want to consider.  It is expected the resolution calling for changes in the handbook will be addressed when the council meets on Tuesday, August 25th for a public hearing regarding annexation.