Welcome To Public Works
Buena Vista pride is evident in the dedication of our public works employees, who maintain and repair the streets, parks, cemetery and other public buildings and areas of our town.
Public Works is responsible for the following departments:
- Streets
- Water
- Parks
- Building Maintenance
- Equipment Maintenance
Public Works performs routine work and approved budgeted projects as identified in an Annual Work Plan. Additionally, Public Works responds to work orders called in from various sources including Town Departments and the general public.
Current Issues
- Ability to maintain existing infrastructure with limited funding
- Plan, finance and provide maintenance for new infrastructure as our community
grows
- Provide for safe, functional, multi-model transportation (motor vehicles,
pedestrians, bicycles, other non-motorized mode, and airport traffic)
- Add staffing/equipment with the addition of new growth/infrastructures
- Maintain our valuable rural quality lifestyle, while realizing growth is inevitable
Initiatives
- Update and expand the Town’s comprehensive growth plan (Smart Growth)
- Ugrade 5-year Capital Improvement Plans for all Town Departments including
finance plans
- Address our pedestrian sidewalks, crossings, and especially Highway 24 crossings
- Start procedures for planning, design, and financing Highway 24 improvements
HOW TO CONTACT US
Public Works Director: Roy Gertson
Physical Address: 755 Gregg Drive, Buena Vista, CO 81211
Mailing Address: PO Box 2002, Buena Vista, CO 81211
Phone: 719-395-6898
Fax: 719-395-6713
Email: bvpwdir@buenavistaco.gov
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:am-12:Noon and 1:pm-5:pm
STREET DEPARTMENT
The Street Department provides the following services:
- Crack sealing and asphalt repairs
- Marking (striping, crosswalks, handicap, parking spaces, etc.)
- Sign maintenance and upgrades
- Snowplowing and sanding (work accomplished at night)
- Street sweeping
- Pothole repair
- Assistance with special events
- Airport runway maintenance
- Right-of-way maintenance, including trees
- Gravel road maintenance (smoothing, shaping, dust control)
- Storm water drainage maintenance
Transportation Master Plan
Sidewalk Replacement
The Town of Buena Vista’s sidewalk replacement program will not be active in 2009. Normally, when the program is offered, the Town will pay for half of the cost if you would like to replace the sidewalk in front of your home or business. Call Public Works at 395-6898 for more information and applications.
Snow Removal Policy
Public Works has the following snow removal policy in place. If it snows two inches, East Main, West Main, Post Office, and school bus routes will be plowed. If it snows four inches, designated collector streets, in addition to the above, will be plowed. If it snows six inches or more, the remaining town streets will be plowed.
Business owners and homeowners are responsible for snow removal in front of their properties along East and West Main Streets. Move the snow away and out from the drainage along the curb, and shovel the entire width of the sidewalk. Ice can build up on sidewalks and curb areas creating a hazard. Snow can also be piled around the street trees on the grates. Snow Removal Plan
Forms
2010 Driveway Access Permit Application
2010 Street Construction-Excavation Permit Application
Street Closure-Parade Permit Application
Links
Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association
www.co-asphalt.com
Colorado Department of Transportation
www.dot.state.co.us
Colorado LTAP Local Technical Assistance Program
http://ltap.colorado.edu
WATER DEPARTMENT
The Buena Vista Water Department’s objective is to provide high quality, safe,
clean water to the Town’s water customers conveyed by reliable treatment and distribution.
The Water Department provides the following services:
- Water line locations
- Meter and service line inspections
- New main inspections
- Customer requests
- Treatment plant operations and maintenance
- Service line and meter sizing
- Read meters
- Turn off/on curb valves
- Leak detection
- Backflow device testing
- Water quality testing
- Administration of Water Supply Protection District
2009 Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report
Water Resource Master Plan
The 20-Year Water Resource Master Plan has been finalized and is available for
review at Town Hall and the Public Library.
Water Rate Structure
2010 Water Rates are as follows:
- $26.54 monthly fee, includes 5,000 gallons, $2.13 for every 1,000 gallons thereafter
Extraterritorial Rate: 1.5 x in-town rate ($39.81 plus $3.41/1,000 gallons or portion thereof, in excess of 5,000 gallons)
Ivy League: 1.6 x in-town rate $42.46 plus $3.41 /1,000 gallons, or portion thereof, in excess of 5,000 gallons)
Qualifying Seniors: $19.90 plus $1.62/gallons in excess of 5,000 gallons
The low income or fixed income levels are at or below 130% of the Gross Federal Poverty Level as reported annually by the Department of Social Service in Chaffee County. If you are over 60 years of age and have a total household income at or below this level, you qualify for assistance with your water bill. This discount applies only to an owner occupied residence and not to any other property owned by the qualified customer. Talk with the water clerk at Town Hall for details regarding this discount.
Water Conservation Tips
Outside watering accounts for 50% of water used during the summer months. While the Town of Buena Vista does not have water restrictions, the best times to water are before 10:30 a.m. and after 7:30 p.m. This will reduce evaporation.
More helpful water tips:
- Water only when a soil probe shows dry soil or a screwdriver is difficult to push into
the soil.
- Weeds are water thieves and will rob your plants of nutrients and water.
- Mow infrequently and cut your lawn higher than normal.
- Use hose washers between spigots and hoses to eliminate leaks.
- Consider drip irrigation systems around trees and shrubs.
- Mulch around trees and flowers to preserve moisture.
- Washing the car at a local car wash can save up to 200 gallons per wash.
Inside watering, the bathroom represents 45% of the total water used in a household.
A few tips for inside water usage are:
- Install a low-flow showerhead which uses 2.5 gallons a minute. A regular
showerhead uses six to seven gallons a minute!
- Check your toilet for leaks. A leaky toilet loses 15 gallons per day; a running toilet
loses five gallons per minute!
- Brushing your teeth with water running accounts for two gallons of wasted water,
shaving five to ten gallons of wasted water.
- Place a quart or a gallon jug of water in the toilet tank, you will save that much
water when flushing.
- Fill your dishwasher completely before running.
Keep in mind; we live in an arid climate. Being a good steward of our water insures adequate water in the future. Changing a few lifestyle water habits is easy, let’s work together to keep your town green.
Forms and Documents
Water Supply Protection District Application
2010 Construction Water Permit Application
2010 Emergency Water Permit Application
Links
American Water Works Association
www.awwa.org
Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment
www.cdphe.state.co.us
Colorado Rural Water Association
www.crwa.net
Colorado WaterWise Council
www.coloradowaterwise.org
PARKS DEPARTMENT
The Town of Buena Vista owns and maintains the following parks and facilities: McPhelemy (Lakeside) Park, Columbine Park, Forest Square Park, River Park, Ball Fields, Millie Crymble Park, Community Center, Courthouse, Rodeo Grounds, Mt. Olivet Cemetery and the South Main Town Square Park.
The Parks Department provides the following services:
- Parks, open space and trail maintenance
- Playground maintenance
- Turf, landscape and tree maintenance and replacement
- Facility maintenance and clean-up of restrooms and showers
- Daily trash pick-up and clean-up
- Assistance with special events
Park Use & Parade/Street Closure Permits
Click here for Park Use application.
Click here for Parade/Street Closure Permit
LINKS:
Colorado State Parks
www.parks.state.co.us
Great Outdoors Colorado
www.goco.org
National Recreation & Parks Association
www.nrpa.org
BUILDING MAINTENANCE
This department provides general maintenance on Town facilities and structures. This includes mechanical, plumbing, electrical, janitorial, interior/exterior maintenance, roof repairs, and contractor coordination.
Town facilities and parks maintained:
- Public Works Shop and Yard
- Community Center
- Town Hall
- Public Safety Complex
- Water Plant and Chlorine Building
- Ivy League and Westmoore Pump Stations
- Water Tanks
- River Park and Restrooms
- Forest Square Park
- Chamber of Commerce Building
- Columbine Park and Restrooms
- McPhelemy Park and Restrooms
- Rodeo Grounds
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
- South Main Town Square
- Other Town Properties: Gorrel Meadow, Industrial Park, and Street ROW
- Millie Crymble Tot Park
- Airport Terminal, Fueling Facilities, Runways, Taxiway, and Aprons
EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
This department provides routine preventative maintenance and general repairs for all town vehicles and equipment including Police Department, Street Department, Water Department, Parks Department and Town Hall.
Equipment used by Public Works
- Airport: 1991 Chevy ½ Ton Pickup, 1987 Ford 6 yd Dump Truck (Snowplow), Tow
Vehicle, Van, Generator Starting Unit
- Parks: 1968 and 1991 Chevy ½ Ton Pickups
- Public Works: 1996 John Deere Grader, 1990 Caterpillar Loader/Multi-use Vehicle,
1996 John Deere Backhoe, Elgin Street Sweeper, 1997 Freightliner 6 yd Dump
Truck/Snowplow/Sander
- Streets: 1969 Chevy 4x4 Pickup, 2000 Ford F250 Pickup, 2009 Ford F250 Pickup
- Water: 1986 Chevy 4x4 Pickup, 1992 Chevy ½ Ton Pickup, 1999 Chevy Utility
Truck, 2003 Ford F250 Pickup, 2006 Ford F150 Pickup
MISCELLANEOUS
COMMUNITY FORESTRY
The Town of Buena Vista has been a Tree City USA for 20 years. The Buena Vista Tree Board has been responsible for numerous tree plantings throughout the Town, including along Main Street and within our five parks. Our “Adopt-a-Tree” program encourages citizen involvement and care of trees planted in the community. If you are interested in this program, applications are available at Town Hall, 210 East Main, or for download from this site.
Our community is spending approx. $11,000.00 for tree planting and maintenance annually. If you are interested in urban forest management, please attend one of the Tree Board meetings. Meetings are held bi-monthly at 6:00 pm at the Public Works Department Conference Room, 755 Gregg Drive. Click here to view the Tree Board agendas and meeting minutes.
Forms and Publications
Adopt-A-Tree Application
Planting Guide
Municipal Code - Chapter 11
Links
Arbor Day Foundation
www.arborday.org
Colorado State Forest Service
www.csfs.colostate.edu
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!
State law requires that you call the Utility Notification Center (UNCC) at 811 three days prior to digging on your property. You can also phone 1-800-922-1987.
Utility Notification Center of Colorado