Rangely asks residents to Shop ’n’ Dine during March

RANGELY I Shop ’n’ Dine Rangely is coming to town again from March 1-31. This program is in effect a sales tax reduction and/or refund program for the citizens of Rangely and an encouragement to those passing through our community and utilizing our many services and retail establishments.
Anticipated local sales for the month are anticipated to increase by as much as 30-40 percent over the monthly averages generally experienced by retailers in 2009. As a result of the incentives being offered to customers, they can pick up vouchers at town hall worth up to $30 per trip with qualifying receipts in hand.
Shop ’n’ Dine Rangely is both a promotion for the town and a recognition that our licensed businesses are very important to the community. You will see posters throughout the community describing the program, newspaper advertisements promoting the event and hear radio spots in the coming weeks.
As many are aware, the town council in Rangely has passed a six-month moratorium on the consideration of new business licenses submitted for the purpose of opening a medical marijuana dispensary within town limits. This moratorium gives the council time to consider land use regulations, security guidelines, health and safety issues and potential fee imposition for a business of this type. The council is also wanting to address the issue of marijuana dispensaries at the third combined board meeting of the Meeker and Rangely Town Councils and the County Board of Commissioners at the end of March.
It appears that April 1 is the target date for the opening of the new Family Dollar in Rangely. This is an 8,000 square foot facility located on the west side of the Ace Hi Steakhouse. The store recently announced receiving its CDOT access permit, which will allow for the modifications necessary to create the Main Street access into the parking area. The addition of this store will be a benefit to the whole community.
We are also expecting Kum ’n’ Go to begin construction on the access improvements on Main Street during this same time frame as it begins the development of its new store in early April. The new store will improve curb, gutter and sidewalk on Main Street from Cedar to Birch as well as on Cedar from Main to Lake Street for approximately a half block and on Lake Street going east from Cedar.
The town of Rangely recently submitted another grant application to the Colorado River District to help offset matching funds used to develop and construct a new water intake structure on the White River, which provides the main water supply to the Rangely Water Treatment Plant and Rangely golf course. The old intake structure is subject to almost daily plugging at the screen during certain periods of the year causing problems with pumps and lines. The structure is also subject to low flow, which threatens the town’s water supply and the structure is not easily maintained, creating safety issues. The first phase of this project is estimated at $450,000 with $220,000 coming from DOLA, another $90,000 from the river district should we be awarded, and the town matching with $140,000.
This summer the town will undertake two miles of street maintenance, 1,200 linear feet of potable water line replacement, the cleaning and maintenance of the flood water control ditch beginning at White Avenue over to River Road and numerous other projects to improve town infrastructure and avoid costly system failures in the future.
If you have questions on any of the information above, please contact town hall at 675-8477. Thanks for your support as we work to serve the town of Rangely.