It’s been a busy few weeks in Cortez. On May 23, the results of a “Feasibility and Business Case Study” for fiber to the home (FTTH) were shared with the community, with several interesting options proposed. Next steps include an in-depth engineering study to more accurately determine the costs of a FTTH project and a survey to gauge citizen appetite for such a project and funding preference.

You can view the presentation on the city website if you were unable to attend. Broadband is also the focus of a pilot project the General Services Department is overseeing. This program, where available, offers customers faster internet speeds than currently available to them while also providing the city with much-needed data on running such a program smoothly and cost-effectively. If interested, contact Rick Smith at 970-565-7320.

We said farewell to Shane Hale, and on June 4, city staff, council and the community gathered at City Hall to meet five city manager candidates. Council has spent many hours interviewing and deliberating, and hopefully will have an announcement by the end of the month. Thank you to everyone who participated and provided council with feedback.

Standing on my front porch Saturday afternoon, I could see a huge plume of smoke, like a giant cloud, rising from the 416 Fire near Durango – a shocking reminder of the extreme drought conditions. The city is now on a summer watering schedule – no watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Violators receive one warning, with water shut-off requiring a reconnect fee for repeat offenders. Have a sprinkling system? Be sure it is in good repair; if programmable, set it to water at night or in the early morning.

A quick internet search revealed the best watering time is 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cut grass a little longer, and if you have water left over from cooking, or food service, consider using it to water plants rather than pouring it down the drain. The city commissioned some of our talented high school students to create a series of water conservation videos. They are entertaining as well as good reminders of simple water conservation practices that can save an amazing amount of water. View them on the city’s Facebook page.

Final demolition on the old high school has at last begun. The city has put down earnest money for the site, with final sign-off scheduled for Nov. 1, pending a Phase I environmental review. Staff will soon announce opportunities for citizens to get involved in the planning process for the new park. In addition to the park, Housing Authority has agreed to purchase 3 acres on the east side of the property to construct additional affordable housing units. This project promises to be an important, as well as beautiful, addition to our community, so check the city website and Facebook pages regularly for dates and times for public input, and plan to share your ideas and feedback.

“Libraries Rock,” this year’s Summer Reading Program, is in full swing, with wonderful programming arranged by children’s librarian Laura McHenry, along with great incentives to encourage kids to spend part of their summer time reading. The staff also has some exciting adult programs slated, including presentations by two well-known authors, Jennifer Pharr Davis and Jonathon Evison. Information is available at the library circulation desk or on the library’s Facebook page. The library is a great place to spend part of your summer!

HVAC installation at the Rec Center is proceeding on schedule, with staff looking at a July 1 date for reopening the pools. It’s been an amazing process – quite an engineering feat when you consider placing several tons of equipment in a new location on the roof, and the attendant reinforcement necessary to make it structurally sound. Kudos to Rec Center staff for being pro-active and making sure the project progresses as planned.

June 21, from 5-8 p.m., is the first “Third Thursday” event of the summer. Good food, great music, outdoor lighting, and, best of all, the opportunity to see friends and family in beautiful Montezuma Park.

See you there!

Karen Sheek is the mayor of Cortez, a position elected by council members. Reach her at ksheek@cityofcortez.com or during her office hours from 12:30-1:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.