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| 1/25/2008 11:41:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Undersheriff cites 172 percent rise in sanitation bills at jail
By Linda Bjorkland - Correspondent
The Fairplay Sanitation District's board of directors heard complaints of exorbitant rate increases at the Park County Jail, discussed a possible grant for $500,000, and decided to settle a lawsuit for more than $27,000 in a meeting on Jan. 17, which had been rescheduled several times due to bad weather.
New rates for jail considered excessive
A memorandum was distributed by Undersheriff Monte Gore showing a comparison of sewer rates for the Park County Jail between the years 2006 and 2007 and extended to expected usage in 2008. According to jail records, the total sewer billings in 2006 were $16,342 and in 2007 were $28,400. At the new rates adopted by the Sanitation District, the projected cost for 2008 would be $44,539, a 172 percent increase from 2006. The increase is mostly due to the higher rate adopted for non-tax paying entities.
Grant of $500,000 eyed
Board Treasurer Marie Chisholm reported that she had met with two Department of Local Affairs district managers regarding a $500,000 grant she had submitted to be applied to the costs of the new sewage treatment plant. Chisholm related that DOLA was concerned about the grant application because it felt that the district was not far enough into the planning to warrant a grant, citing a lack of estimated costs for the sewage treatment facility. Chisholm was told that the grant application should be pulled to avoid getting a bad recommendation on record. She further explained that the grant application can be re-submitted by an April 1 deadline, when better cost information for the new plant should be available. Chisholm asked that a special meeting be scheduled in which DOLA officials would address the sanitation board on the issue and explain its position. The meeting was tentatively set for Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., pending availability of the DOLA representatives.
Sanitation district election set for May 6
The terms of three of the five directors on the Fairplay Sanitation Board will expire upon the election of their successors on May 6, 2008. The three whose terms will expire are: Marie Chisholm, Trevor Messa and Rick Messa. Any person who wishes to be placed on the ballot for director of the Fairplay Sanitation Board for a four-year term should request a self-nomination petition from the sanitation district office at 1507 Park County Road 16 in Fairplay. Nominations should be submitted no later than 4 p.m. on Feb. 29, 2008, at the sanitation district office. In the event there are not more candidates than offices to be filled, the election can be cancelled and the candidates declared elected. Voting will also be conducted at the sanitation district office on May 6, from the hours of 7 a.m. through 7 p.m.
District settles with former engineering firm
The wastewater engineering firm Damon S. Williams, which was replaced by Burns and McDonnell to design the new wastewater treatment plant required by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, filed suit for payment of monies it considered due for work previously done, even though it did not finish the project.
Damon S. Williams offered to settle the suit for a payment of $27,449.67, which was approved by the sanitation board on the advice of attorney Robert Tibbals.
Wastewater operator bills questioned
District Treasurer Marie Chisholm objected to a bill in excess of $500 for project management from Dave Stanford, the district's wastewater operator. Chisholm explained that no monies had been approved on the current year's budget for project management, so the amount is not eligible for payment. Stanford has had two contracts with the Fairplay Sanitation District, one for the ongoing operation of the sewage treatment plant and another for project management. The project management contract provides for payment at the rate of $65 an hour, was dated May 2, 2006, and was scheduled to end 18 months from its commencement. The matter was tabled until the next regular meeting, as Stanford was unavailable for comment.
Methane monitor at Hand Hotel
Dale Fitting, owner of the Hand Hotel, appeared before the board to explain that he had been unable to find a methane monitor for less than $2,000 but was still looking for one at a reasonable price. Fitting stated that there had been no further complaints of a gas odor, so he felt that the sewer main had been sealed sufficiently at the hotel. In the meantime, he agreed to ask the local fire department to use its equipment to test for methane and was given another month to comply with the requirement that a monitor be installed.
Other business
The board adopted the meeting schedule for the year, noting that all regularly scheduled meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month. The next scheduled meeting will be on Feb. 5, 2008, at 7 p.m. at the sanitation district office.
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