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Photo by Lesley Porter Mike Cortez discusses the town's audit with the town board. Click for larger view

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Utility issues continue to dominate the agenda for the Town of Rye Board of Trustees meetings. Last Monday, the Board held their regular meeting, at which time they discussed a new billing format for town residents, a plan for dewatering the lagoon, a moratorium on water and sewage taps within the town, revenue for debt payment, and a punch list of items for Bel Air, so that they can finish up work for the town.

The town will soon be using a different format for billing their water and sewage customers. Customers will receive a postcard in the mail, which will show their water usage for the current and prior month. And, while they will have access to those readings, for now the rates will remain the same. The town hopes that the installation of the water meters will allow them to find any additional leaks, as they will be able to compare the amount of water leaving the water plant with the amount of water actually consumed by customers.

The state is requiring that the town submit a detailed plan in writing explaining their plan for the lagoon. Mayor Tom Holgerson said that he foresaw potential possibilities for the lagoon site, and was hesitant to fill it in. The Board agreed to remove the sludge and contaminates from the lagoon, after which they plan to use evaporation to remove water until only ground water is left behind. They will then make a breach in the berm, which will allow the water to run back to the creek, and finally will remove any asphalt that might exist at the bottom.

Natalie Roles of Country Home Real Estate was present at the meeting to discuss a potential buyer removing his water and sewage services from one of the parcels he is interested in, to a parcel behind it. The Board agreed, as the buyer would cover the cost of the line extensions, but wanted to be clear that water and sewage service would no longer be available on the first parcel, as there is a moratorium on water and sewage taps within the town.

Mike Cortez, who the Board has retained to work on the town’s audit, voiced concern that the town doesn’t have the revenue to continue covering loan payments, which are due twice each year in the amount of $22,000. The town is currently making payment on the full $1 million loan amount that they were approved for, even though they have used less than that amount. In August the town plans to reamoratize the loan, which will lower payments to an amount that the Board feels they can better afford. Cortez also encouraged the town to strengthen their budgeting and accounting practices, as they are anticipating a larger, more involved audit next year.

Representatives from JVA and Bel Air were both present at the meeting, and requested a punch list of items from the Board, so that they could take care of work still needing done, and then be able to move on to other jobs. Bel Air is hoping to complete all work within a week.

Holgerson told the Board that he had discussed the letter from Colorado Natural Gas with the town’s attorney. Holgerson was advised that the case that CNG cited in their letter had no bearing on the Town of Rye. He was encouraged to put in a franchise agreement the conditions that the Board felt the town needed from CNG, and work problems out through negotiations.

The town is now enrolled with FEMA for flood plan insurance, which will bring some relief to home owners within a flood zone, as they will no longer be required to carry expensive flood insurance.

The next regular Board of Trustees meeting for the Town of Rye will be held August 2 at the Methodist Church in Rye.

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