Town board approves strategies for funding, construction

CREEDE— Trustees, residents and officials received a private preview of Stephen Quiller’s drawing for the Ed Hargraves Memorial Park Proposal during the Creede town board meeting on Monday, Feb. 11. The board committed to funding the project, a recognition of “Mr. Creede,” Ed Hargraves.
“Mr. Creede” was the town’s postmaster for 28 years, and he also served as the Creede School Board president, the exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge and two terms as president of the Creede Rotary Club. For three decades, Hargraves was a member of the Creede Volunteer Fire Department, and he served as president and fire chief for a few periods. In addition to a term as president of the Upper Rio Grande Fish and Game Association, Hargraves was also a deacon of the Creede Community Church. Hargraves passed away in 2016.
“Most important, we’re getting kids involved with this project,” Quiller said.
Quiller displayed his drawing along with design work developed in conjunction with industrial arts students at Creede High School. Using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, engineering and architecture students mapped out ball-field designs while Quiller mocked up drawings.
“I’ve been working with Kendra in one of Jason’s classes,” Quiller said, referring to Jason Whitehorn’s students. A Creede High School alumnus himself, Whitehorn and Dave Richard provided more details during the presentation, ultimately gaining input from board members and City Manager Louis Fineberg.
“I like to see things move like this,” Trustee Kay Wyley said after reaching consensus.
Thinking ahead, trustees agreed to secure funding so Quiller and the students can complete their work on time. To accommodate seasonal residents who would like to participate in a fundraiser, the board targeted Memorial Day weekend or later in the summer to have one or more events surrounding the park’s dedication. Donations can go directly to the park project or future industrial arts projects through the school.
Resuming older Creede town business, trustees scrutinized and approved check detail reports from the tail end of 2018 (September through December).
Addressing new business, board members adopted two new ordinances. The first (Ordinance #415) amends a section of the City of Creede Employee Handbook to further clarify extended medical leave policies. Also approved, Ordinance #416 designates a $5,000 threshold above which Creede Town purchases require a transparent and open bid process. Purchases below $5,000 are considered “administrative purchases.”
Next, the board passed Resolution #19-03, a fee freeze at 2018 levels. Fineberg explained that fees can be adjusted in the middle of 2019 (or in 2020), but all fees, including utility rates, will remain at 2018 levels.  
Before breaking for an executive session, board members discussed their retreat at Blue Creek on Feb. 23, a chance to discuss details with Fineberg for the day. During the new “board reports” section of the agenda, the group learned that the Willow Creek Restoration project is on track. Board members also learned that it costs roughly $174/month to light the skating ponds, including nights when the high-pressure sodium lights were not turned off.