Public Meeting
Monday, May 19, 2025 6:00 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85753894171
Del Norte Board of Trustees wants to hear from our residents-
The Del Norte Board of Trustees wants your help in making these tough decisions!
Del Norte Proposed Water Distribution Project
In June 2024- The Town was successfully awarded a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development a grant and loan. USDARD is investing over
$11 million dollars in grant monies to make our water infrastructure improvements. Since then, the Board of Trustees has been struggling with how to address the loan portion of this project award in the amount of $12 million. Total cost of this project is $24 million dollars.
This project is to address problems with the water system, which is over sixty years old and continues to cost more in repairs every year. It will provide a cleaner and more reliable water distribution system throughout the town, which should help reduce the town’s annual expenses. The project will include a new town-wide water trunk line and replacement of the old fire hydrants.
In January 2025, the Board increased your water improvement service by $5.00 monthly. They would like your input on continuing to increase your utility bill from $10-$15 per month, per year, over the next three years to help with the loan.
This grant/loan award is a generous solution to a problem that will only continue to get worse. The Town knows we must fix what is below the surface before we can address what is above the surface, such as paving roads.
The water problem is not going to go away.
Update on the Del Norte Wastewater Project
In December 2023- The Town of Del Norte had sent out a letter to all residents about the need to comply with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) wastewater limits. The letter stated that the Town sewer lagoons were no longer meeting CDPHE standards. To avoid getting substantial penalties from the State every year, we would have to bring our wastewater treatment into compliance. Knowing the cost of these facilities, the Town Board voted to increase the sewer portion of the utility bill by $10 per month, per year, for the next three years.
Element Engineering was tasked with determining what kind of treatment facility would be required and to estimate an approximate cost. The treatment facility was estimated at $18.9 million.
In March, the Town was awarded a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to help offset some of the site design and engineering costs of the project. The Town will continue to search for supplemental sources of funding to meet the obligation of this facility. We are keeping a close eye on the changes going on in Washington DC.
The Town Board understands and is aware of the burden these two projects put on the residents of Del Norte. On the positive side, these projects will not have to be addressed again for decades. While the water distribution system is trying to end the problem before it becomes an emergency, the wastewater project has been handed to us by a State of Colorado regulatory agency.
The residents of the Del Norte will be part of the solution.
These two major projects are what the Board of Trustees is facing- and want community input. Please try and attend the meeting either in person or by zoom.
You can also: email at: delnorte1860@outlook.com to state your concerns