Three representatives from the Basalt Sanitation District (BSD) came to Town Hall this week to inform the council and community about a significant construction project replacing approximately 800 feet of sewer line, including a section across the Frying Pan River just upstream from the bridge at Two Rivers Road. Construction is estimated to begin around late September of this year.
The section of sewer line slated for replacement begins at the intersection of Midland Avenue and Two Rivers Road and runs uphill towards the Frying Pan River. According to Ian Quillian of BSD, this is one of Basalt’s original sewer lines and serves 1/3 of the district. The significant age of the current pipeline poses a risk not only to the region which it serves, but also the Gold Medal Waters of the Frying Pan River and all of its downstream waters.
Protection of the river and minimizing environmental disturbance are significant aspects of the construction plan and four-year planning process for this project. In order to keep the river flowing and minimize the impact to fish, a U-shaped cofferdam will be used to block one half of the river at a time. BSD and contractor Stutsman Gerbaz estimate that work on the river crossing of the pipeline will take three to four weeks in January, when flows are estimated to be the lowest.
BSD partnered with Roaring Fork Engineering and an independent environmental engineer for design and permitting, which will cost $120,000. The BSD estimates construction will cost $1.375 million, with $137,500 added for contingency. The team from BSD presented at a public hearing last week in Grand Junction, vying for the Colorado Department of Labor Affairs Energy and Mineral Impact Fund Grant.
BSD estimates significant savings as a result of the replacement of the sewer line. The current pipes are constructed from clay, which suffers significant infiltration and inflow from river water seeping into the pipeline, leading to an increased volume of water entering Basalt’s wastewater treatment facility. With a new pipeline preventing inflow and infiltration, BSD estimates energy cost savings of up to 25% at the wastewater treatment facility by drastically reducing the volume of water needing to be processed. This will also increase capacity at the treatment facility, enabling new construction. The lifespan of the new pipeline is estimated at 50-75 years.
Many of downtown Basalt’s original sewer lines have been replaced over the past few years as part of the Midland Avenue Streetscape Project.
“This is the last section of old sewer in downtown Basalt,” said Quillian. “We’ve all heard the ‘once-in-a-generation’ line a lot over the last three years. This is really our last once-in-a-generation project in downtown Basalt.”
Natural medicineps
This week, the Town Council approved an ordinance which permits the sale, manufacturing and use of natural psychedelic medicines in Basalt on a second reading and public hearing.
In 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122, “Access to Natural Psychedelic Substances,” which simultaneously enabled the therapeutic use of psychedelic substances at licensed facilities and prohibited local governments from banning these facilities. However, local governments are free to regulate the time, place and manner of operation of such places.
Ordinance No. 08 approves an amendment to the municipal code that designates “Natural Medicine Healing Center[s]” as a new use permitted by special review in community districts, as well as the C-2 zone district which refers primarily to downtown Midland avenue.
“Natural medicine” is the term used in Colorado state code to refer to psilocybin, psilocin and other psychoactive substances. Natural medicine healing centers which are approved by special use cannot be within 1,000 feet of any childcare center or school. Similar to a marijuana dispensary, all doorways and windows of natural medicine buildings must be screened to hide the interior from view by pedestrians.
Natural medicine cultivation facilities, products manufacturers, testing facilities and any other business licensed to perform operations related to natural medicine are permitted special review only in industrial zones. These regulations are designed to mirror the manner in which Basalt initially regulated marijuana dispensaries when those sales were legalized by the state in 2012.
The motion was approved 6-1, with councilor Angela Anderson voting “no.”