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Granby contributes $10,000 to wildfire protection plan

Tonya Bina
Sky-Hi Daily News

The town of Granby approved a $10,000 donation to the Grand Fire District No. 1 Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Such plans are deemed necessary for urban-interface communities seeking federal funding for tree removal projects in preparation for wildfire.

For a plan estimated to cost as much as $60,000, prepared by hazard plan consultants Anchor Point, a total of $48,000 has been raised to date, District Fire Chief David Boyes said. Boyes produced a list of area contributions for the plan at Tuesday’s town board meeting.



The town financed its contribution by appropriation from an $800,000 Water Quality Reserve fund targeted for a water plant investment.

In a 4-1 vote, Town Trustee Ken Coatney disapproved of the out-of-budget expense.



“I can see us supporting it, but not within this budget year with us in a tight budget and a limited sales tax,” Coatney said, who suggested the town hold off until the town’s next fiscal year. “I’m concerned about our budget,” he said.

In Town Manager Wally Baird’s finance report, the new manager urged the board to “use caution with its expenditures.”

Although the town is in “good shape this time of year in regard to the budget,” it has “used money into the reserve account.”‘

“No, we’re not in dire straits and going broke,” he said, yet he warned that there is a chance the town’s sales tax revenues could end up lower than anticipated.

Mayor Jynnifer Pierro said the CWPP contribution could be appropriated, then budgeted to be paid back in 2009. Since no improvements or matching grant funds were being sought for the water plant this year, Pierro said the $10,000 out of a substantial fund presently does not hurt the town.

Trustee Greg Mordini, who made the motion to make the contribution, said the town should not wait to do what’s highly important to the area.

The plan may take four to six months to prepare, according to Boyes. Because of funds gained so far, the CWPP is slated to be started within a few weeks, he said.

“I appreciate your investment in the CWPP,” he said. “Your investment tonight gets the ball rolling on behalf of the community.”

” Tonya Bina can be reached at 887-3334 ext. 19603 or e-mail tbina@grandcountynews.com.


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