By Ruthanne Johnson
MONTE VISTA— Hoping to cater to the hundreds of recreational vehicles passing through town, the Monte Vista City Council is considering establishing RV parking in the lot across Grande Avenue from Baldo’s Mexican Restaurant.
The site, just behind Fullenweider Park, was formerly an old potato warehouse and offers angled pads that would be suitable for passing RVs and the trailers they sometimes tow hauling ATVs, snowmobiles and other recreational equipment.
City Councilman Gary Johnson proposed the RV parking at the July 5 regular meeting, noting that many of the estimated 500,000 vehicles driving through Monte Vista annually are motor homes, travel trailers and other vehicles pulling recreational equipment.
“Our neighboring towns of Del Norte and Alamosa offer RV parking and/or RV parks, and we need to take advantage of our tourism traffic,” he said.
To work around the blight of the dilapidated railroad cars being stored adjacent to the proposed RV parking area, Johnson proposes a wall adorned with murals created by local artists. One idea he threw out as an example was a caricature type of map with tourist spots highlighted in fun, colorful renderings.
But significant challenges to the project include cost, easement and pedestrian crossing over the railroad tracks. “There are specific hurdles we’ll have to face, especially with pedestrian crossing over a railroad and easement,” said Monte Vista city manager Forrest Neuerburg. The project would also require cost-sharing partners.
A motion was unanimously approved by council to authorize Neuerburg to negotiate with the seller of the property on Grand Avenue for the RV parking area, subject to the analysis and approval of council.
Public Works Director Robert Vance brought up the city’s new Water Efficiency Plan, which is online and available for public comment through July 17. The proposed plan was designed to help the city implement water-conserving measures such as water restrictions and public education.
Vance said the new plan is a scaled-back version of the old one and allows for more achievable goals.
“There are ordinances in the new plan designed to help residents,” Vance said, “such as incentives to swap out things like old toilets and appliances.”
Older toilets that typically use between three to five gallons of water per flush is one example he pointed out. The newer, water-efficient toilets use only about 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of water per flush. Water efficient appliances add even more to that savings.
Mario Valdez was sworn in as the city’s newest police officer with Police Chief John Rosecrans noting that Valdez has been training and doing in-service with the city since graduating from the police academy in late May.
“We’re pretty lucky to have Mario,” said Rosecrans. “He was valedictorian … [and] won three out of five awards between shooting, driving and academics.”
Valdez brought his wife Joelle to stand beside him as he addressed the city council and community members after being sworn in. “I want to say thanks for having me in the city of Monte Vista,” he said.
In a related matter, Councilman Johnson introduced Resolution 09-2018 to commend Monte Vista’s outgoing code enforcement officer Jeff Huff for exceptional service and support for the city and its citizens. The July 5 city council meeting was to be Huff’s last before moving back east with his family.
Council agreed to sponsor the Valley’s mobile kitchen (MOKI) at the $500 level following a presentation by Deanne Elliot, manager of Monte Vista Farmer’s Market, which kicks off the season this Friday, July 13.
She represented Healthy Habits, a project of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition and Valley-Wide Health Systems that promotes eating locally produced fruits, vegetables and other foods. The organization requested sponsorship for its continued participation in Monte Vista Farmer’s Market, during which it offers free cooking demonstrations, recipe cards and food samples via MOKI. The organization also provides $5 meals made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Other topics discussed during city council were the new bus for Kid’s Connection— made possible with grant money— and vendor permits for the upcoming Ski-Hi Stampede.
City clerk Unita Vance said city hall will no longer issue vendor permits outside of the Ski Hi Complex without written permission from the property owner.
“We have a lot of vendors who like to set up by Ski Hi Trails,” Vance said. “But the apartment complex doesn’t want anyone setting up there.”
Recreation Director Jaime Hurtado said the summer recreation schedule is now in full swing; youth baseball, softball, cheerleading and volleyball. Adult softball is planned to start in mid-August (for more information about the city’s summer rec programs, visit cityofmontevista.com or call 852-2692).
The recreation department also received two grants. The Rio Grande Public Health Prevention Partners gave the department $2,000 in appreciation of the department’s involvement and support.
“We also received a $2,500 grant from Southern Colorado Community Foundation that has allowed us to work on the softball fields,” Hurtado said. The money is being used to amend the dug-outs, fencing, restrooms and infields at the softball fields near Ski Hi.
“We made the enhancements because anyone can walk into the dugouts at any time on the southside of the fields. They are not locked, and when we started going there at the beginning of baseball season we were finding human feces, urination and other evidence of people going there.”
The smell was so bad that Hurtado and his team had to scrape, power-wash and bleach the floor just to get out the smell.
“It’s unhealthy for our kids, so now we’re fencing it all the way around and locking it up.”