The town authorized $1,000 to be spent on a survey of Pioneer Park by Ernie Maness of Maness and Associates. It will give them a permanent legal record of the property boundaries. They can move forward with the pending encroachment permit between the town of Mancos and owner Kent Rath.
Monies, specifically $2,383, were also allocated for a heater replacement at the public works shop. Garrhs, Inc., Durango, was the least expensive bid of the three companies who bid the job. They offered a 175,000 BTUH heater. Garrhs performed work on the new wastewater treatment facility heating system as well.
The board approved the policy amendment that gives the Mancos marshal's office permission to use their vehicles for personal use. The board tentatively approved the policy at their last board meeting, but this makes it official. Marshal Bill Knauer and Interim Town Administrator Heather Alvarez wrote the policy, making sure that the town would not be at risk with their insurance.
After much discussion, the board approved $8,302 for the engineering costs to Souder, Miller and Associates (SMA) for a grinder installation at the wastewater treatment plant. SMA and Triad has sent a proposal to install the equipment, but the board wanted to make sure that the price was fair. They will address the issue again at a later meeting.
Ben Hahn, of Mancos Project LLC, spoke to the board. He said that he is trying to turn this area into a training destination for college athletes. The high altitude trails, all the things we don't have to spend money on, are great places to train, he said. "I have six athletes signed up to train this summer," Hahn said. He wanted to let the town know that there will be runners coming to town this summer and that he will encourage them to come to the local businesses. He also wanted to let the board know that he is planning a half-marathon here in Mancos. "I have a long background in long-distance running, and this will be first rate race," he said. He is already working with a race management company from Denver, but he wants to go through the proper channels with the town. It will be in the summer of 2014, he said, and he would like to call it the "Cowboy Half-Marathon". He thinks it will be a fun time for the town and bring in people from all over.
Dawn Lightenberger, assistant to the Cortez city manager, and Amy Fair, special events coordinator, gave a presentation about their new website and portal page that they plan to have up soon. They wanted to open it up to community partners, they said. "The only cost to the partners is for their own website", Fair said. They expect to go live late in May.
In other business, the board appointed Ann Coker to the planning and zoning commission and approved the amended agreement for the fees for the use of the Mancos Community Center.