by Carol Dunn
CUCHARA — “Through the course of activity last fall – including attorney and concerned members – we lowered our commercial rates,” said Jim Berg, Cucharas Sanitation & Water District board member at the monthly meeting on March 9. The board, absent Henry Harnly, unanimously approved the new rate structure, which reflected lower hotel/motel/lodge rates and lower, flat-rates on commercial water and sewer, and tap fees that will be considered on a case-by-case basis per tap size. Originally referring to the list as ‘temporary’ fees, rates, charges and penalties, Berg said, “This is the new commercial rate until it’s changed again.”
CSWD has an election coming up soon, with six people who have submitted self-nomination forms to Administrative Assistant Leslie Cordova. If and when there are new board members, they may choose to further adjust the rates.
CSWD is also getting ready to comment on a preliminary engineering report from GMS Engineering, which is another step in the comprehensive study of the current water system and recommendations for improvements in different phases. “We’re seeing the end of the tunnel on that one,” board member Jim Alt said.
The board is still looking for volunteers to participate in its new Rate Structure (formerly Citizen Advisory) Committee. “We’re waiting for citizen input,” Alt said, and operations manager Shannon Shrout added, “from anyone who’s interested.” Area resident Jim Littlefield suggested notifying the people who were very vocal last fall. “Reach out to these folks. They arrive in May and may be glad to help.” He also said, “Compliments to the board on leadership and transparency since the ‘heat of the battle’.”
Cordova told the board she and Berg are trying to organize the financial records for the audit. “We’re about half way through the audit,” Cordova said, explaining that there was some confusion and disarray after previous AA Jennette Coe left. Berg agreed and said, “Thanks to Leslie” for working through the chaos.
Shrout reported that underground conduit has been installed for the water tank, and Element Engineering will finish all controls by April 6. The plant will be considered up to date at that time. Of all the district’s water meters, Shrout said only 42 did not read, likely due to dead batteries or displacement in the meter pit. Two leaks were repaired in the water system in the past month: one in the pressure vault and one on Britton Trail.
Berg reported that the Blouin water case has been settled and a decree issued. He also alerted the board that CSWD is nearly at the end of the time period for reaching stipulations with opposers to its pond augmentation case: City of Walsenburg, Town of La Veta and Sam Knight. Berg said verbal indications are that agreements can be reached before May 6, however, Knight is asking that evaporative loss from the ponds be calculated on all twelve months of the year – even when iced over. Berg stated the evaporative loss is already being calculated at a higher rate than it should be, using Trinidad Lake as the standard.
Berg reported the rest of court case activity has been on the filing with the Cucharas Storage Collaborative for exchange storage (2017CW3075), in which stipulations have already been reached with the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Maria Lake Grazing Association. The board ratified the stipulations.
Littlefield asked about drought preparedness plans if, “Forbid, we don’t get a couple of big snows in the next month.” Board member Jim Alt replied that it’s on his to-do list. “We might want to be ready with some conservation measures,” he said. Berg added, “The concern becomes bigger than us – including the fire district and the county.”
