MONTE VISTA— The Monte Vista City Council meeting on Dec. 6 was once again fraught with discussion over the 2019 proposed city budget. This time, however, the push was for passing the budget and then tweaking it in future months as more information becomes known about the potential need for a new water treatment plant.   
Citizen Margot Alexander again implored the city to err on the side of caution. “I have issues with what is going on with the budget,” she said. “You guys have balanced the budget with the grace of all of the department heads. But next year is a different issue …  What if there is a huge snowstorm and Rob (Vance, director of Monte Vista’s public works department) has to use $20 or 30,000 in the cleanup? Or what if some equipment breaks down? We need to set aside money for emergencies.”
Monte Vista City Manager Forrest Neuerburg later addressed Alexander’s comments, saying the city inherently plans for such emergencies by setting aside adequate reserves— all of which are addressed in the 2019 budget. And as Neuerburg again pitched Ordinance 890, the 2019 city budget to city council, he reiterated that the estimated revenues and spending for next year are conservative and that the city’s budget is well within the best practices as outlined by the Colorado Government Finance Officers Association (CGFOA).  
Councilors Gary Johnson and Kathleen Ellithorpe moved to pass the budget. But councilor Kathy Lorenz wanted to again voice her concerns before a vote was taken.
“I believe this budget is not addressing some of the problems we are facing,” she said. “Come 2021, we will have some serious financial obligations facing us. Yes, we are within best financial practices. But that isn’t addressing the income that we don’t have.”
The issue Lorenz was pointing to is the possibility for the EPA requiring a new water treatment plant for Monte Vista, which should be more firmly known sometime in early 2019. The cost could reach some $17 million. “I went home and put a pencil to that,” Lorenz said. Monte Vista would need to take out a low-interest USDA loan of some $11 million to augment grant funds and already saved monies, which with interest would come to about $16,350,000 that would need to be paid back over 20 to 30 years. Drilling that down would translate to monthly payments of some $68,000, which would need to be passed on to city residents. “’We have 2,150 sewer taps, so that means $31.62 extra per month for the average sewer bill,” Lorenz said. “That may not sound like a lot, but that’s a 72 percent increase.”
Councilor Ellithorpe asked Lorenz what she proposed the city cut to prepare for that cost.
Lorenz threw out Monte Vista’s Parks and Recreation Department as an across the board cut. “They are a nonessential service,” she said.  
Ellithorpe disagreed. “I think taking care of our kids in this community is absolutely essential to this community. It’s the very basis for Monte Vista’s future and if you start cutting parks and rec and cut our Kids Connection and those kinds of things, then no one is going to have a reason to want to move here
In the end, city council passed Ordinance 890 with a four to one vote and an agreement to revisit the budget midterm, when more is known about what will be happening with the water and sewer.
“Our city has to continue to operate,” said Monte Vista Mayor Dale Becker. “As we have discussed at our work sessions, we will continue to work on this starting in February.” Those tough decisions may need to be revisited down the road, he continued, but they didn’t need to be made that night.  
City council also passed Ordinances 891 and 892, which, respectively, will allow the creation and operation of RV parks within city limits and the keeping of backyard chickens. The backyard chicken ordinance covers the number of chickens allowed, the requirements for the chicken coop, chicken run and all licensing requirements. Along with the draft ordinance is a license application that any property owner wishing to have backyard chickens will have to fill out and submit to the city clerk for approval. For more information, contact Monte Vista City Clerk Unita Vance.
In other city news, Neuerburg reported that proposals are now being accepted for improvements to Ski Hi Park. On Nov. 27, the city conducted a walkthrough of Ski Hi with potential respondents to the Request for Proposal for the Ski Hi Park Master Plan. One firm was represented at the walkthrough and a second expressed interest but couldn’t attend the walkthrough.
Neuerburg announced that City Hall will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas and Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. It will also be closed Dec. 19 from 11 a.m.to 2 p.m. for a staff potluck. There will be no city council meeting on Dec. 20 due to the holidays. City Council will reconvene on Thursday Jan. 3, 2019 at 6 p.m. in City Hall.