Meeker, Stories

It’s a parkoff! Watt, town at odds over sign on truck

In protest, Harry Watt parked his International truck with the sign for Blue Spruce Inn in front of the Meeker Town Hall on April 23. Watt has been feuding with the town about whether the sign on the truck violates a municipal ordinance.
MEEKER I Harry Watt is nothing if not stubborn.
Last week, Watt staged his own personal protest of government control by parking his old International truck smack dab in front of Town Hall.
Watt has received several notices from the town that the sign for Blue Spruce Inn, which is painted on the side of the truck, is in violation of municipal code. Watt, along with Melinda Parker, owns the hotel.
“I just don’t feel like this amounts to anything,” Watt said of the fuss about the painted sign on the side of the truck.
Town Administrator Sharon Day, when asked about the ongoing issue over the truck sign, said, “That’s in the attorney’s hands now.”
Watt isn’t backing down. He’s willing to draw a line in the sand over the issue.
“As it stands right now, I have until Friday before they throw me in jail,” he said. “Essentially, they could throw me in jail for a year and fine me $1,000 a day. If they want to go that far, they can throw me in jail. I’ll go to jail, if I have to.”
Watt said he has received several notification letters from the town, including two personally delivered by Police Chief Bob Hervey. The letters refer to the “continuing off-premise sign violation.”
Initially, Watt had the truck parked last fall in the lot of his grocery store, Watt’s Ranch Market.
“I specially put a box on that truck, specifically, for that sign, but (the truck) serves a dual purpose. We also use it to haul our boxes to the recycling center or to haul trash or gravel,” Watt said.
Watt said he first received a phone message from Town Administrator Sharon Day saying “there was a problem and I needed to come in and talk to her.”
Watt said he did some investigating on his own, including talking to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Watt’s Ranch Market and the Blue Spruce Inn are located on Highway 13.
“They didn’t have a problem with it, as long as it’s a drivable or moveable truck, but the town does,” Watt said. “She (Day) called me back and wanted me to come again. I said, ‘I’m not taking (the sign) off there. I think I’m within my rights and to come in and discuss will be a waste of my time and your time.’”
Watt said at issue is what is the definition of a parked vehicle.
“Is it a parked vehicle if is it parked for five minutes or five days? Mine is not permanently parked there,” Watt said. “My point is no harm, no foul. It’s a nice-looking sign. It’s not hurting anybody. I have not talked to one person who said, ‘Harry, you shouldn’t be able to do that.’ I cannot see their (the town’s) reasoning. I’m struggling to create business, and they are penalizing me.”
Watt is determined to stand his ground.
“I don’t want them to push me around,” he said. “I still haven’t changed my mind. If they feel they have a case, then do what you have to do.”

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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