OURAY CITY BRIEFS

OURAY – The City of Ouray is exploring new possibilities to replace less energy-efficient streetlights. At their Oct. 6 meeting, the Ouray City Council approved an outlay of $2,000 to replace several existing mercury vapor lights with so-called “induction” lights. City officials want to test the lighting and determine if there are any negative visual impacts.

The city will purchase four white 100-watt units at $270 each; the package will include replacement of the light fixture for the four lamps as well. In addition, several of the smaller, acorn-shaped lights on Main Street will be fitted with compact fluorescent light bulbs, according to City Administrator Patrick Rondinelli, who unveiled the plan to the council. He said that installation of these lights would lower energy usage and costs, requiring only one quarter of the power used by the current lights.

Rondinelli said savings would amount to an estimated $100,000. “That’s because the lamps only have to be replaced every 30 years. Cost recovery will be rather quick and will benefit the city in the long run with long-term, improved efficiency and cost reduction,” he said.

The move follows a demonstration conducted during the summer with San Miguel Power Association, at the behest of Mayor Bob Risch. “Mercury lights are no longer being made and we’re kind of being forced to change,” explained Risch.

The city also considered experimenting with another type of light, known as Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs, but due to the fact that LEDs are considerably more difficult to obtain and highly expensive, purchase of LED lights will be postponed.

City Awaits New Ice Park Appraisal

The Forest Service will be assigning an appraiser to evaluate 21 acres encompassing the Ouray Ice Park, which should put the city back on track in its continuing effort purchase the park. A previous appraisal of $870,000 for 40 acres was deemed cost prohibitive by city officials.

An agreement to downsize the purchase from 40 to 21.1 acres followed two important meetings last week involving Mayor Bob Risch and representatives of the Forest Service. The purchase would fall under the stipulations of the Townsite Act, a federal law authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to set aside National Forest System land for townsite purposes. Areas so designated may be sold to any qualifying county, city or other governmental subdivision.

An appraiser isn’t expected to be assigned until 2009. “In the meantime, the staff will begin to focus on available funding for the purchase,” City Administrator Patrick Rondinelli said. The city is expecting to seek funding from sources including grants and private donations.

Grant for Skyrocket/Box Canyon

The city council announced Ouray has been awarded a grant of $60,000 from the Department of Local Affairs to be utilized for engineering and storm water control in the Skyrocket and Box Canyon drainages. A request for proposals from engineers to represent the city for capital projects will be put out in short order.

The project will involve replacement of a diversion dam that was washed out in 2005, and the installation of 1,300 linear feet of the Box Canyon water line, which is being undercut and damaged by storm water from Canyon Creek. The Box Canyon line is the main hot water line for the city’s public pool. Both of these projects are goals on the council’s 2008-2009 list.

Youth Tobacco Use Prohibited

With a 4 to 1 vote, council approved an ordinance prohibiting the possession or use of tobacco products by persons under the age of 18. Dissenting Councilmember Sandra Stuller, an attorney, reasoned that the issue “does not call for intervention by the criminal system.”

Gravel Pit Permit Hearing

The city will schedule a special hearing to evaluate the conditional use permit for the Bridal Veil Gravel Pit, the subject of ongoing complaints to the city from Bob Boyd, a neighboring resident. “While disagreeing with some of Mr. Boyd’s points, it was determined at this time that this is a land use issue and should be addressed by the planning commission,” said City Administrator Patrick Rondinelli in an Oct. 3 staff report.

Wright Donation

Council authorized a donation of $1,400 to pay unpaid expenses for Friends of the Wright Opera House, as part of a matching contribution for future grant fundraising efforts.