by E.E.Mullens
WALSENBURG — The Huerfano County Commissioners met in a slightly less than one hour session Tuesday working mainly on routine items and hearing the 2019 annual county coroner’s report as presented in person by Vonnie Valdez.
The board of commissioners also announced at this week’s session that the county’s tourism and economic development director, Carl Young, has been offered the county administrator’s job upon current administrator John Galusha’s retirement at the end of this year.
Young will be working with Galusha learning the ropes of the position throughout the remainder of this year. The board indicated they have not yet begun discussions concerning Young’s replacement in his former position and said they may consider various options for moving the tourism and economic development offices forward in 2021.
The board said negotiations are underway this week on Young’s contract and expect it will be ready for consideration of action at their meeting next Tuesday.
In regular business:
• Approved a tower agreement with BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) railroad that will see the rail company building a new 180’ communications tower on county property on Capitol Hill in Walsenburg. BNSF will utilize the top 80’ of the tower, which will revert to county ownership when constructed. The firm will also make lease payments on the plot of ground used for the tower.
• The board approved the purchase of an 8’ X 4” scoreboard for the softball field at Fiesta Park and the county will contribute $2,000 for the project and ask the county park and recreation department for the same financial commitment.
• The board approved an expenditure of up to $26,370 to the Las Animas-Huerfano Public Health Department who is seeking $79,248 for technology upgrades from CARE ACT funds from both counties. The funds are beyond the sums received under the federal program designated to the bi-county health department.
• The board approved the Cooperative Wildfire Protection Agreement and the Emergency Fire Fund Memorandum of Understanding Agreement with state department of public safety.
• The board approved the deed transfer regarding Lot # 151 in the Greenhorn Village Tract to Thomas and Tracey Martin of Rocky Ford.
• The board heard the annual (2019) report from Huerfano County Coroner Vonnie Valdez, and once again, as in years past, praised her for the completeness of the report and the continued efficiency of her office (details in accompanying article, page 13).
La Veta Village project:
The board of commissioners offered congratulations to the staff and directors of La Veta Village Inc., on their recent notification of approval of both a loan and grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. The letter to the non-profit senior living project chairperson Dorothy Caddell from DOLA Executive Director Rick Garcia, dated July 1, said the state housing board has approved a $411,830 Housing Development Grant and a Colorado Housing Investment Fund construction loan of up to $3,000,000 of which $1,125,000 may be converted to permanent debt. The grant and loan are earmarked for acquisition costs and construction.
La Veta Village Inc., is working to convert the old cheese factory in La Veta to an assisted living facility.
WJ file photo
