Applications will soon be accepted to fill the vacant seat on the Woodland Park City Council.

The council decided at its May 7 meeting that the window for submitting applications will begin on June 1 and close on July 6. The council then hopes to select the new councilperson at its July 16 meeting. The seat was opened when George Jones was elected as mayor.

Council briefly discussed its three options, which were to leave the seat vacant, fill it via a special election or appoint someone to the position. It was quickly agreed that the public wanted the seat filled and that a special election would be too costly.

That left appointment as the best solution with only the timing of the process to be decided.

“I would like to see the best pool of applicants we can pull,” councilperson Seth Bryant said. “Leaving this matter kind of on the table for a month or two might allow potential applicants to consider the role.”

Eight speakers expressed the opinion that Mary Sekowski, who was defeated in the election, should be appointed immediately, without opening the process to applications.

“Mary is a successful local business owner who is deeply passionate about our community,” Tony Perry said. “She is reasoned, possesses integrity and brings a positive solutions-oriented attitude to every discussion.”

Some of the speakers expressed disgust over campaign tactics during the election and one threatened to bring recusal requests for the selection.

While council opted not to immediately appoint Sekowski, she can still participate in the appointment process by submitting an application.

Graywater hearing

A public hearing will be held at the May 21 city council meeting concerning the prohibition of the use of graywater and the installation of a graywater treatment plant. This ordinance would not prohibit a future ordinance allowing the use of graywater in the future.

Graywater is certain types of wastewater that can be repurposed for use in irrigation, toilets, washing and cooling.

The ordinance was motivated by House Bill 24-1362, which requires municipalities that wish to avoid the state regulatory program relating to graywater to opt out of allowing graywater use and the installation of graywater treatment works. Prior legislation was the opposite, requiring municipalities to opt in to the state program regulating.

Without an ordinance, the state regulations must be followed. In addition, if an ordinance is not adopted, any person could install indoor graywater treatment in new construction projects within the city.

While graywater use helps with water conservation, most of that comes from irrigation. Woodland Park residents do not use irrigation systems.

Failure to pass the ordinance would open the city to uncertain state regulation concerning graywater since the house bill does not explain how the State intends to regulate graywater control after the Bill goes into effect.

Contract approvals

• Council approved just over $1.2 million for construction of an access road to the planned reservoir and $124,600 for construction management services.
• A change order of $53,866 was approved for additional electrical work for the construction of the North Well Field pump.

Appointments

• Ryan Skajewski and Rick Roberts were named to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Skajewski is a reappointment, having served a two-year term. Roberts is filling a vacancy created when Don Dezellem was elected to city council.
• Joe Fury was appointed to the Planning Commission.