Trash talking: Pueblo West starts new process for residents to submit complaints online

Are you seeing unlicensed junk vehicles, overgrown weedy landscapes, squatters, or drainage issues in Pueblo West?

In an effort to help clean up Pueblo West, the metro district has initiated a new reporting process that allows residents to submit online complaints when they see violations of the district's Committee of Architecture rules. Pueblo West Metro Board Secretary Bill Vickers outlined the process at Monday's board of directors meeting.

Residents can visit the district website pueblowestmetro.us , click on the "How do I" tab, scroll down to "Report a concern" and complete the form. More than a dozen violation options are available to choose from.

Once the form is complete, residents should hear back from someone with the district within 48 to 72 hours, said Christian Heyn, interim district manager.

Board discusses new treatment facility

In other business, the board was asked for input on a new residential treatment facility being constructed by Pueblo Recovery House LLC at 315 S. Archdale Drive. The facility will serve up to 14 individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders for up to 30 days, according to a special use permit application submitted to Pueblo County.

"Individuals will remain in a controlled environment for the entirety of their stay, under the direct care and monitoring of professional counselors, nurses, and medical providers," according to a letter in the permit application penned by Perla Ramirez-Groothuis of Pueblo Recovery House. "A minimum of two highly skilled clinical professionals will be on-site at all times."

Residents of the facility are not allowed to leave the facility and are free from alcohol or drug use while in treatment.

"The district has no broad-based land use authority," said Karl Kumli, attorney for the district. However, Pueblo County does welcome input from the board.

The facility is located 1.9 miles from a rehabilitation center for Crossroads Turning Points' Pueblo Circle Program at 355 E. Spaulding Ave., a 20-bed treatment facility. It is also less than a mile away from the ICC Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment facility at 899 E. Industrial Blvd., Suite 354.

"It is a shame we have to have facilities like this, but it is a product of our society and they have a necessary function," said Joe Mahaney, board vice president.

"I think we should welcome them to Pueblo West," said Doug Proal, board president.

District manager finalists announced

In other business, the board announced the top eight candidates for the district manager position who will be interviewed Monday, July 29. The candidates include Heyn, Robert Fejeran, John Kaufman, Clarice Navarro, Kevin Niler, Jennifer Oliver, Ted Ortiviz and Mansoor Shafi.

Following the conclusion of the interviews, the board will narrow the slate of candidates before conducting a second interview that afternoon. The finalists will be introduced during a public meet and greet session at 5 p.m., July 29, at Fire Station No. 3, 729 E. Gold Drive, during which residents can provide input.

The board expects to select a final candidate at its Aug. 12 meeting.

2024 budget amendments discussed

Pueblo West Metro Finance Director Karen Cordova outlined several amendments that need to be made to this year's budget. Among amendments is the transfer of $80,972 in 2023 marijuana excise tax funds to the capital improvement fund earmarked for the aquatic center construction .

Cordova said the pool funds represent 30% of the total $270,000 marijuana excise tax income from 2023, which is "way down and continues to go down."

"We have just nine active grows from the previous 30 licensed grows," she explained.

More aquatics center news: Pueblo West rectifies $1.1 million budgeting error on aquatics center fund

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 .

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Trash talking: Pueblo West starts new process for residents to submit complaints online