Citizen urges city to use microwave tower for siren

Citizen urges city to use microwave tower for siren

October 11, 2001

By Katharhynn Heidelberg
Journal Staff Writer

The terrorist attacks on America were not far from the minds of citizens and council members Tuesday night at the Cortez City Council meeting.

Jim Andrus, local weather observer, asked that the council consider utilizing the defunct microwave tower at the county annex as a means of alerting Cortez to clear and present danger. The tower was to be used by the now-bankrupt REAnet for wireless transmissions.

Andrus pointed out that the tower was not being used for communication, as planned, and said he understood it would be dismantled. He proposed that a civil-defense siren be mounted there, providing an emergency alert system like the city once had. The wiring for such a system, he added, is still in place — it would be a matter of locating it.

While Mayor Joe Keck conceded that such a siren "would be excellent," he also stated that there are "no plans to dismantle the tower" and that Empire Electric Association still holds a valid lease.

An audience member informed the council that Cortez had not used a siren for seven to eight years. Previously, such sirens were used to call out firefighters, but are now outdated because of pager technology.

The council agreed to pursue the issue by inviting Fire Marshal Frank Cavaliere to their next meeting Oct. 23 for more detailed discussion about what form an emergency-alert system would take.

"I believe there is some interest on this council. . . for making sure we’ve got a good (emergency) plan," Keck said.

Andrus also reiterated concerns he had previously voiced to the county commissioners regarding airport security. Andrus said he was worried about snipers or random lunatics taking shots at landing aircraft as they fly over a section of County Road G. "They (the planes) are only 50 to 100 feet off the ground, making them vulnerable to sniper fire," Andrus said.

He proposed an "airport security zone," in which parking or standing would not be permitted and would be grounds for arrest.

Keck responded that an existing easement on Road G already prohibits building of any kind, and that this restriction might well implicitly prohibit trespassing as well.

Moreover, the municipality must comply with FFA requirements that likely cover such a concern. "Their regulations are substantial," Keck said. "We’ll take a look at it, but (designating the zone) might draw attention to it."

City attorney Jim Hatter was concerned that an airport security zone might give would-be criminals ideas, a concern Andrus disputed.

"The approach must be proactive, not reactive," Andrus said. The council pledged to take the matter under consideration.

The council also heard a first reading for Ordinance 955, presented by Zoning and Building Inspector Jeff Reinhart. The ordinance, referred to the council by Planning and Zoning, would amend the land-use code to address new state legislation dealing with severance of surface and mineral estates.

The bill is designed to mitigate conflict between mineral-rights owners, who feel that surface development has blocked development, and those seeking to develop surface estates on the same land. HB 01-1088 would require applicants for surface development to notify mineral-estate owners and the local government "at least 30 days prior to the date scheduled for the initial public hearing on the application for development."

The council has set Oct. 23 as the hearing date for Ordinance 955.

In other business, the council:

• Approved an amendment to the conditional-use permit to allow for the construction of a single-family residence in a commercial highway zone on West Empire. The residence would be the only manufactured home in the zone, and its square-footage had increased from previous plans.

Citing a nearby subdivision as well as a mobile-home park, the council concluded this "might be a good test case" for manufactured homes, and approved the amendment, provided the owners meet building conditions previously set forth by Planning and Zoning. Keck, who is acquainted with the owners, recused himself from the discussion and vote.

• Awarded the 2001 Montezuma County PUD Sewer Project to Fire Hawk Contractors at a bid amount of $76,962. The project is designed to provide sewer services to the northwest corner of Empire and Mildred.

• Moved a draft ordinance for the adoption of the International Building Code to first reading.