Happy tails: Pueblo West water treatment plant workers rescue drowning dog

A whimpering dog trapped in a water storage basin and clinging to life was discovered by a Pueblo West Metro District water treatment plant worker who called upon two co-workers to help him rescue the canine.

Justin Martinez grabbed a ladder and asked coworkers Kyle Staples and Libby Houth to help. As Martinez held the ladder, Staples climbed down into the active water basin attempting to encourage the pup to climb up.

When that didn't work, Staples reached down and pulled the dog up by the collar and the trio hoisted the dog out, said Steve McDowell, safety coordinator for the Pueblo West Metro District.

The workers took the dog to the operations building where he was given a bath, water, a lab coat to use as a bed and a full meal of a corndog, meatballs, and chicken.

"They took care of him until the owners could pick him up — it was a cool rescue operation ― the employees saved that dog," McDowell told the metro district board during its Monday night meeting. "The dog must be like a cat with nine lives because three months prior to getting into the basin, he was bit by a rattlesnake and survived."

Firefighters union seeks to work toward a collective bargaining agreement

Pueblo West Firefighters Local 4765 Union President Will Gavigan asked the board to sit down with the union to work toward a collective bargaining agreement to "procure the safety of our jobs." He said the culture of the department under Chief Brian Caserta has "kept firefighters here even though they can make 15% more by going just 15 minutes down the road."

Gavigan has addressed the board at its past two meetings seeking the opportunity to work toward the agreement in hopes of maintaining the number of jobs generated in the department since the approval of a 2020 ballot measure which earmarks a 1-cent sales tax for fire safety. Both times, the board has been reluctant to take the reins on working toward such an agreement without input from the voters because the tax revenue will sunset in 2030.

"My goal is to keep what you have and I don't want Pueblo West to be a training ground for our firefighters to go elsewhere," said Doug Proal, board president.

Gavigan told the board that even if voters do not approve extending the sales tax, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Safety Response grants are helping neighboring cities like Cañon City and Pueblo supplement income for firefighter payroll.

Board Vice President Joe Mahaney made a motion the board put forth a ballot measure asking voters to weigh in on recognizing the union and eliminating the sunset on the 1-cent sales tax. That motion died for lack of a second.

Board Treasurer Brian Axworthy made a motion to table recognition of the union and revisit the issue after the upcoming board retreat. That motion also died for lack of a second.

Board attorney Karl Kumli reminded the board that even if they do not want to work toward a collective bargaining agreement with the union, they are obligated by state law to meet and confer with the union.

Weed management protocol added to bylaws

The fire department will be in charge of a new vegetative fuels mitigation and abatement program after the board agreed to update the district bylaws. Pueblo West residents can report hazardous conditions to the fire department to initiate an inspection.

Firefighters can then determine if the growth posses an unreasonable fire risk. If there is a likelihood that if ignited, flames would spread from the property in question to adjoining properties the fire department can oversee the abatement of the vegetation.

More Pueblo West news:Pueblo West celebrates new fire station No. 2 with a wet down ceremony. Here's why.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.