By Fred Torres, mayor pro-tem

A goal the council has been working toward since I was elected councilman is to improve relations between the City, Montezuma County, Cortez Sanitation District, Montezuma County Economic Development Council and all other branches of government.

It is the goal of this council to work cooperatively and achieve mutual understanding with the various state and national institutions that we have to deal with. These improved relations will continue so that we can understand the issues between our organizations and concentrate on achieving needs that are beneficial to all of us.

I would like to share some of the accomplishments of this council from 1998 - 2000.

• Implemented new wage and salary systems that brought city employees up to wages paid in the private and public sectors for comparable communities.

• Settled an ongoing dispute between the City and Sanitation District over an escrow account set up to prevent employees who had transferred from the City payroll to the Sanitation District payroll from losing any benefits.

• Developed a cost share with Montezuma County on the operation of the Animal Control Shelter.

• Established an excellent working relationship between the County and the City of Cortez.

• Rebuilt a strong working relationship between the City and the Montezuma County Economic Development Council.

• Funded the Mainstreet Program — a partnership between the City, Chamber of Commerce and the Mainstreet (downtown) Association to promote main street businesses, promotions, events and long-term development of our community’s main street.

• Developed a partnership between the City and the County on the development of the county jail property. This includes the development of an office park on lands adjacent to the jail.

• Completed over $2.3 million of major renovation work at the Cortez Airport.

• Entered into an agreement to resolve boundary trespass and related issues between the city and a landowner adjacent to the golf course. This issue had remained unresolved for many years.

• Became the first city in Colorado to resolve utilization of the Fire and Police Protective Association (FPPA) Fund by negotiating an agreement with the affected police officers.

• Amended the land use code to resolve the 1,500 square-foot controversy in the older neighborhoods in town.

• Initiated work to completed improvements to Denny Lake that had been stalled for many years.

• Negotiated with the school district, Cortez Cultural Center and other landowners for the development of a trail in southwest Cortez.

• Completed the construction of a portion of the trail into the Carpenter Natural Area.

• Worked with Chamber, Umbrella Tourism and the Montezuma County Economic Development Council on the development of a plan for the expansion of the Welcome Center.

• Authorized work to proceed with the expansion of the Cortez Library.

• Completed expansion of the Cortez Service Center.

• Completed a plan for the renovation and expansion of City Hall.

• The Wal-Mart Super Store.

• Colorado low-income housing.

• Safeway store to begin building.

• Four new tennis courts.

• Basketball court.