Members of the Fowler Town Council water and sewer committee met last Thursday evening with members of the newly convened Utility Board. Absent from the proceedings was Mayor Bushy Wards. Wards was attending a city government training seminar hosted by Colorado Municipal League.
In addition to the mayor, members of the board are Chuck Hitchcock, Pat Christensen, Larry Johnson and Carl Nesselhuf.
First item of business was unanimous approval to disband the water and sewer committee, passing all current projects to the Utility Board. Chuck Hitchcock was appointed chairperson for the board and Larry Johnson accepted the position of co-chair.
Town Administrator, Wayne Snider, updated the board on current projects. A meeting with Otero County, Colorado Department of Transportation, the Town of Fowler and David Cummings is scheduled for July 22. Storm drainage and traffic issues on the east side of town off Highway 50 will be discussed.
Snider informed the board that Kidd Engineering, in charge of the sewer project north of town, has finally been able to identify all the water lines involved and will be submitting a preliminary estimate.
Snider also told the board that work on Fourth Street and Swink Avenue will begin later this month to address drainage in that area of town.
The board was informed that the North Springs project has been temporarily placed on hold until legal counsel can be secured concerning legality of easements on involved property. It was noted that the backfeed line project is not affected by this delay.
The revamping of Title 13 addressing Fowler utility matters is an intense, ongoing project. Town Foreman Ronnie Rein and Snider are planning to spend a day soon carefully reviewing and editing it.
Snider informed the board the town had received notice that the bid submitted for Oxford water shares had been turned down. No other information was yet available.
The final order of business discussed by the board was the issue of privately owned water lines outside the city limits. Rein estimates there are approximately ten such lines. The possibility of the town taking over ownership of those lines and installing a master meter on each was explored. Cost is one of the primary considerations and Rein will be preparing a rough estimate of what that plan would require. Condition of current lines is also a concern that would have to be addressed if the town decided to proceed.
Fowler, Colo. —
