MONTE VISTA — The Monte Vista City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance for the regulation of traffic, approved a towing contract with Ace Towing, and approved the Airport Fuel Farm Energy Contract during Thursday’s meeting on Oct. 6.

City Attorney Eugene Farish explained the traffic regulation ordinance for the City of Monte Vista and that it included raising penalties “to keep up with inflation.”

“What we do is go in and modify the CDOT version and delete those portions that are not applicable. We try to be as specific as possible to the city,” Farish said.

Farish said that a public hearing would be held, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 3 at City Hall to discuss the traffic code.

“We will get this out to the paper so that we can publish this at least 15 days before the hearing and again 8 days before the hearing,” Farish said. “So, tonight we place this information before you, for the right of passage. The ordinance is 2022-10, first reading.”

Farish then asked for a motion to approve the traffic ordinance on the first reading and a motion to approve a public hearing for the ordinance. Both motions were unanimously passed.

Next City Clerk Unita Vance brought a towing contract request from Monte Vista Police Department Chief George Dingfelder to the council.

Vance explained that Ace Towing Colorado Cajun LLC has offered a number of services for free to the City of Monte Vista, and the Monte Vista Police Department, as part of an effort to build a quality relationship with the city as well as to ensure that local law enforcement officers can effectively do their duties in a safe and secure environment.

“To help ensure these services for the future, Ace Towing requests a formal primary contract, giving Ace Towing the position of primary use and first call, for any towing and recovery needs from within the city limits of Monte Vista,” Vance said. “Ace Towing has agreed in the contract, and council and Mayor, you all have that in front of you, that they would respond within 20 minutes.”

Vance explained that Chief Dingfelder wanted her to let the council members know that the reason that the city was using Ace Towing, is because Ace was fast, on time, and they appeared within the 20-minute timeframe, and they were always willing to help. Vance said according to Dingfelder other towing companies were not as reliable.

Vance also explained that this allows the city to clear accidents scenes, and crime scenes and other areas of investigation, as necessary.

A motion was passed unanimously approving a towing contract with Ace Towing Colorado Cajun LLC.

At the same meeting Public Works Director Rob Vance first talked about the city’s annual mosquito spraying program. He said it just concluded and that he put out a public survey for the residents of Monte Vista to get feedback on the program. They plan to have meetings and discussions based on these surveys in 2023.

Rob Vance then spoke about the Airport Fuel Farm Energy Contract that would move the project into the construction phase. The contract was for roughly $38,000 and allows the city to “get our engineers under wraps for the construction phase.”

Total funding for the fuel farm project was set at $388,000. Alcon Construction was awarded the construction contract for $310,00.

“So, right now the project is still well under budget,” Rob Vance said.

The council unanimously approved the contract.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 20.