The Buena Vista Board of Trustees has a work session to discuss the town’s water supply strategy at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11.
The regular meeting will follow the work session beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center located at 715 East Main Street. The Board will move into Executive Session at the end of the regular meeting “to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, develop a strategy for negotiations, and/or instruct negotiators pursuant to C.R.S. § 24‐6‐402(4)(e), concerning the Carbonate Street Project.”
The public can attend the meeting in person or virtually. Information is available online here for anyone interested in attending or participating in public comment for the meeting. The full packet for the meeting is available here.
According to the packet, the general outline of the work session on water supply will include a review of the Water Portfolio, development and SFE (Single Family Equivalent of water for distribution and use) count. Trustees will go through strategic initiatives to diversify and broaden the water supply, redundancy and distribution.
Water attorney Cindy Covell and water engineer Rachel Pittinger will discuss the process of evaluating “new” potential water sources, the scale of water measurements, and infrastructure when considering water rights. There will also be time for discussion and questions.
During the regular meeting, the consent agenda includes three resolutions. One is to approve notice of an award to WBS Coatings, Inc for the upper zone water storage tank exterior recoating proposal. Another is to approve the agreement for professional services from Dibble Engineering for the 2023 Apron rehabilitation and fence relocation project’s construction at the airport. Another resolution will approve the construction contract for the same project with Pavement Maintenance Services.
Reports will be given by the police chief and airport manager, followed by an update from Shining Mountains Montessori School Director Lisa Lamb on the school and their plans to extend their lease for another year at St. Rose of Lima Chapel.
In considering water, solicitation of tourism and building of trails to bring them here needs to be considered. Here in Salida, our infrastructure and roads cannot handle the influx of tourists already flocking here for recreation. Where Salida has bent over backwards to risk community for profit, I would hope that Buena Vista would take the high road and do the right things for the right reasons.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-mexico-trail-clash-echoes-culture-war-across-us-west-2023-07-07/