TOWN BRIEFS

RIDGWAY – During a report to the Ridgway Town Council on July 8, Kelly Goodin, the executive director of the Second Chance Humane Society, said that before the nonprofit organization builds a new animal shelter, it would like to have at least three years of operating costs in the bank and is floating the idea of getting those shelter operating costs through a special district mil levy.

“One of the things that is keeping us from feeling like we are ready for a new shelter is operating costs,” Goodin told council. “All new shelters that don’t build in new operating costs are essentially committing Humane Society suicide. One of the things we are seriously looking at is getting feedback in the near future on getting those future operating costs through a mil levy.”

Because Second Chance serves communities in Ouray and San Miguel counties, she said a special district would have to be set up for a mil levy increase. She said with operating costs in place, the building of a new shelter could come sooner rather than later.

“In doing that and eliminating the need to have future operating costs in the capital cost, we can see building it in a much nearer future,” she said.

Mayor Pat Willits complimented Goodin and the Second Chance staff for the work they continue to do at the nonprofit but expressed concern over the current shelter location on Sherman Street.

“I know that you are putting a lot of thought and have done a great deal of communication about when and how to build a shelter,” Willits said. “I hope, though, that you guys are aware that the current shelter is in a difficult place for the community and I hope that you are trying to find a new location for one. I think the thermometer is pretty hot on that.”

Goodin said staff at the current shelter is taking steps to manage the animals’ noise during the day and “taking serious action as proactively” as they can.

“It has really made a difference,” Goodin said. “Beyond that we are certainly aware that we are not in a good location as it is.”

Willits asked Goodin if rumors were true that Second Chance had purchased the Ridgway Real Estate building on Highway 550. She replied, “we were looking at it,” but confirmed that the property had not been purchased by Second Chance.



Piles of Material to Be Considered a Nuisance

The Ridgway Town Council reviewed a new ordinance at its July 8 meeting that would label piles of dirt, sand, mulch, compost, gravel, and similar material located within town limits a nuisance. Town Manager Greg Clifton said the ordinance was requested by members of town council and that there are exceptions to the ordinance

“This treats dirt piles, organic and inorganic material as a nuisance under the nuisance law and can be actionable under that theory,” Clifton said. “There are obviously a number of exceptions that have been carved out.”

Those exemptions include: piles of material that were created and are being utilized in conjunction with a use-by-right; piles that are screened off by lawful fences or walls; those that being maintained temporality in conjunction with construction; piles used for an approved BMX race track; and those created in conjunction with a government building facility.

Councilmember Ellen Hunter questioned putting the piles under the “nuisance category.”

“We found that trying to enforce the concept of a nuisance to be a slippery slope,’ Hunter said, adding that it is hard to document nuisances like barking dogs and then getting the police to issue a ticket.

Clifton said when the nuisance is visible, such as piles of matter, it is easier to enforce the law compared to a nuisance that is audible.

Council unanimously approved the ordinance, which could go before council at their Aug. 12 meeting for a second reading.