Most of us take a lot of things for granted. We turn our water tap on and water flows. We depend on our sewer lines to drain properly. If our house catches fire, we depend on the fire department to put it out. All these things depend on a water and sewer system that works.
In Walsenburg we have a very old system and it doesn't always work properly. This is why a portion of sales tax is set aside in capital improvements to replace the old water and sewer pipes in the city. Hopefully, our officials have not forgotten about these funds. At present, the only thing I can see the money used for is to fill in blanks on a financial report.
The new Utility Committee met on February 17 to look at problems we have in the city. Besides looking at some customer service issues, the new committee stated its purpose. One of the stated purposes of the committee is to replace our aging infrastructure.
It seems that everything gets priority over this problem. The city is in the process of spending thousands on new computers. The Northlands project has demanded hours of time and considerable expense from officials. The city is also assuming risk on the grants and loans necessary for the project to move forward. The last time I looked most of the people in Walsenburg who need services live in the older parts of the city.
Can anyone name a project which has benefited residents? We didn't even get Christmas decorations downtown last year. They would have cost about $300 to install. There is a lack of direction and a lack of commitment to the citizens here.
I have one more point on this subject. Who checks our fire hydrants for their operating condition? The last published report was in the Huerfano World Journal on October 31, 2010. At that time over half of the hydrants had mechanical problems. Eleven of the hydrants didn't work at all. Be hopeful that the inoperable ones are not near your home. The two hydrants nearest the latest house fires in Walsenburg had defects. The one on 7th street wouldn't shut off, and the one on Pennsylvania wouldn't turn on. Both hydrants have now been replaced.
Alvin Murphy
Walsenburg
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