Main St. improvements underway

RANGELY | Rangely trustees met May 25 to discuss the following public business.

PUBLIC COMMENT

René Harden spoke with Rangely Trustees about the community garden, emphasizing that she could use help with the work in the form of volunteer hours, donations or other support. Harden said “I need people” for what she described as “back-breaking work.”

Of the 14 plots currently available for planting, Harden said only two are being utilized. Hand tools were also identified as a need in the garden, including hoes, rakes, shovels, etc. Board members offered to reach out for additional volunteers including from the 4-H program.

Resident Don Davidson referenced a recent conversation he had with Cogency Power CEO Doug Kiesewetter, who Davidson said sees Rangely as “number one” for a proposed energy development project that would involve proprietary solar/geothermal “distributed generation” technology. Rangely mayor Andy Shaffer noted that the council was tentatively on board in terms of working with Cogency, but noted they’d like to see some preliminary project cost estimates.

UTILITIES UPDATE

Utilities supervisor Don Reed updated the board on the water treatment plant, noting production was around one million gallons per day. Referencing calls from concerned residents about water restrictions, Reed said he thought things would be OK this year, adding that he’d be praying for more rain. The Town of Rangely is also updating their communications infrastructure from the original 1984 Motorola system. Reed said two of the primary units are being replaced this year, with more replacements slated for the future. Reed also gave a status update on the “mesa water project,” for which bid packages are expected to go out soon. Due to rapidly increasing material costs, the town submitted a purchase order to “hopefully lock in the price and availability” of items like pipes so the project can begin by July 1. Reed discussed a similar dynamic with the Town’s planned wastewater project, calling it a “scheduling nightmare.” Despite potential complications, the Town has received a grant for the project and placed an order for materials. Reed said the project would hopefully be completed by winter, but may need to perform some final wrap-up work in the winter months.

TOWN MANAGER REPORT

Rangely Town Manager Lisa Piering spoke positively about “Rangely clean up week.” The town handed out 130 trash bags to volunteers who picked up trash along highways and in various locations around and outside of town. Volunteers also assisted senior citizens with the removal of larger items. Piering also pointed to the beginning of the Main Street project, which kicked off last week with new sidewalk concrete pouring. She added the project was “just the beginning” of the work to improve Main Street, an ongoing effort that the Town hopes will involve collaboration with local businesses.

OTHER BUSINESS

The board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Yampa Valley Economic Development Council that Piering said was part of a “resiliency and roadmap agreement” between northwest Colorado counties Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco. As part of the action the board appointed Rangely Mayor Andy Shaffer as representative for the new Northwest Colorado Development Council. Town manager Lisa Piering was appointed as the alternate.

Trustee Rich Garner is leaving the board to again serve on the Town’s police force. During the board’s meeting last week, Mayor Shaffer said he was looking forward to having Garner back on the police force. Garner also shared comments during the meeting.

“The time I’ve spent on this council has been extremely rewarding,” said Garner, “it pains me to leave but I think I can hopefully better serve the citizens of the town by being on the department.”