Hotchkiss Sewer Rates Increased Five Dollars – Free Water in Your Garage?

Mayor Wendell Koontz and other Hotchkiss trustees

Sewer Rates Increased Five Dollars –

Free Water in Your Garage?            

By Thomas Wills

                     Hotchkiss Town Council

January 8, 2015

Present: Mayor Wendell Koontz, Lindee Cantrell, Dustyn Foster, Jim Roberts, Larry Jakubiak and Tom Wills (This reporter). Absent: Carrie Wingfield (ill child).

Sewer Rates Increased Five Dollars Per Month

Hotchkiss residents sewer bills will see an immediate 20% hike, from $25 to $30, after the Town Council voted at their January 8 meeting to pass an expected ordinance accomplishing that. Out-of-town and various commercial rates will also go up by a flat $5 per month. The raise was necessary in order to qualify for government grants and low interest loans that will fund a major project to replace aging sewer lines in the older parts of town. According to Town Clerk, Marlene Searle, the Town’s sewer rates will still be below the State municipal average.

Expansion of Existing Water/Sewer Service to Outbuildings

The trustees had a discussion of a draft change to the existing water (and sewer ordinances)

Currently Hotchkiss requires that each separate building have a separate water and sewer tap with a separate meter and separate connection to the Town’s infrastructure. Over the last year two cases have come up regarding people (one out-of-town) wishing to extend service from their existing home taps to other buildings. One was for a large shop and the other for an agricultural water source in a barn. In the case of the out-of-town shop the structure was several thousand square feet and had the added complication of having at least a half mile of private water line between the Town’s main and the existing home.  Under the existing code the shop would have not only required a new $10,000 out of town water tap but also a new separate line and meter.

In the other case, according to Public Works Director, Mike Owens, a tap owner with livestock wished to place a frost free hydrant for stock watering inside of a shelter barn. Because the tap would be inside of a “structure” the code again requires a separate line, new tap and meter.

The challenge faced by the Town is how to address reasonableness issues versus, in fairness to other current tap owners, not giving away Town owned water capacity on the system without payment.

In a working draft for a change to the code the suggested language, taken from the Cedaredge water ordinance, would allow some fixtures in an accessory building used regularly to house a motor vehicle. This phrasing was immediately challenged by Larry Jakubiak, who pointed out that people with separate workshops, not car garages, might also like a place to wash their hands without purchasing an additional tap. And then there is the issue of where-ever has water (in-town) has to also have sewer service to dispose of that water. And how does the Town make sure that “garages do not transition into informal apartments or businesses? Not as simple as first contemplated. The council members will submit their thoughts to the Town Attorney and discussion will continue at the February meeting.

Building Permits for 2014

A compilation of all building permits issued within the Town of Hotchkiss during the year reveal that no new homes were being constructed but thirty-two permits were issued for projects large and small. These included: 15 re-roofings, 2 porches, 1 entry, 4 demolitions, 2 conversions, 2 decks, 1 shop, 1 addition, 2 garages, 1 carport, and one fence.  Fences over six feet in height require a permit.

Other Discussion and Actions:

Richard Bailey of the Hotchkiss Sheepcamp Stockdog Trials updated the council on the event. The 12th annual trials will happen on Mother’s Day weekend in May (8-10).  Last year there were some 80 dogs in the event and an additional 30 dogs on the standby waiting list.  The nationally known, professionally judged event features dogs and handlers of various skill levels herding sheep around a course setup in the Hotchkiss Centennial Ranch fields just south of Hotchkiss Avenue.

Tom Wills reported that Hotchkiss Neighborhood Watch will have a winter fundraiser soup and chili supper at Memorial Hall on Sunday February 8 from 5p.m to 7 pm.  at Hotchkiss Memorial Hall. The suggested donation will be $5 with the funds going to purchase more signs, window stickers and other educational materials.