by Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG — During the Tuesday, March 6 meeting of the Huerfano County Commissioners, the board approved one bulk water application to the Gardner water system despite the continued moratorium, acted on a conditional use permit extension request and opened bids for a new motor grader.
Mile High Rose, LLC, a marijuana grow operation requested an extension of CUP-16-022 due to some engineering drawings that have not come in and the operation’s need to hook up to the City of Walsenburg’s sanitary sewer system. The request was granted through June 30, 2018, and all identified conditions in the permit will continue.
The commissioners had two bulk water applications before them this week; both concerning the Gardner system. The application filed by Joseph Brown of 4845 CR 520 was granted, with the commissioners noting the applicant does have a primary residence on the property and the applicant had suffered a well collapse. While the bulk water system is not generally accepting any new applications, due to the in-place moratorium, the request for up to 3,000 gallons per month was granted on a temporary basis.
A similar application from Randy and Susan Qualls for a seasonal use property they have at 3600 CR 630 was denied as there is no primary residence on the property.
The commissioners voted unanimously to conduct bridge repairs under a CDOT inspection order for a bridge over Wahatoya Creek on CR 360. The CDOT repair document said, “Although there has been work done in the channel to help mitigate scour along the East abutment, further countermeasures should be installed at the SE wingwall and East abutment. Repairs are to be completed in accordance with an engineered design.”
The commissioners opened bids for a 2018 model motor grader they will buy on a lease/purchase program. Wagner Equipment and Four Rivers John Deere were the two bidders. The commissioners voted 3-0 to accept the bids on the John Deere and Catepillar graders and forward the bid packages to county public works director Melanie Bounds for an accuracy review. In addition Bounds and road and bridge department staff will review the add-ons requested with the motor grader and come back to the commissioners with the bid prices with the add-ons and their staff recommendation.
