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<br />San Luis to apply for grant <br />to remedy drainage woes <br />By SYLVIA LOBATO <br />Courier Staff Writer <br />SAN LUIS - U drainage problems <br />.here are not remedied soon, It may cost <br />the taxpayers some $150,000 to build an <br />additional sewage lagoon" but Mayor <br />Joe Espinoza said the town is already <br />taking steps to find a solution and has <br />applied for a $25,000 grant to develop a <br />draUmgeplan. . <br />In addition, be said, the U,S. SOU <br />Conservation Service has committed <br />engineering, inspection and other work <br />at no cost to the town, Williamson <br />Rancb has offered an in-kind con- <br />tribution of labor and equipment and <br />Costllla County has also offered in-kind <br />'contrlbutlons, <br />Espinoza said !be sa; area engineer <br />has..recommended.a tile drainage., <br />system to alleviate - problems in the <br />northeast section of town. where most <br />of the flooding is taking place, and the <br />total cost of that system is about $78,980 <br />- a greet deal less than the price of a <br />new lagoon. <br />Seasonal flooding has been a problem <br />in northeastern San Luis for some time, <br />and, while residents agree it Is difficult <br />to live with, they haven't been able to <br />agree on the source of the water, <br />Some residents blame their flooded <br />basements on irrigation and a nearby <br />gravel pit, while othe~ have suggested <br />that the town irrigation system and the <br />waters of the Rlto Seco are the source of <br />the problem. <br />Espinoza said the town is serious <br />about finding the cause of the flooding <br />and seeking a way to end It through an <br />Improved drainage plan. <br />U nothing is done, he said, the <br />problem could become even more <br />costly to the taxpayers. . ,,: <br />The Costllla County Water and <br />Sanitation Department "has . been' <br />. notified by !be Colorado Departinent of <br />Public Health that, If work isn't done to <br />remedy the situation,' Construction <br />must begin on a third sewage lagoon. <br />Espinoza said the wai'nlng stems <br />from the fact that residents In nor- <br />theastern San LuIs liave been pumping <br />,water from their flooded basements <br />:Jnto the sewer, causing the existing <br />lagoons to overflow ani! dump effluent <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />into CUlebra Creek. <br /> <br />. : David G. Pach.eo, executive director <br />01 . the Conejos-CostlUa Community <br />Action Agency, will direct the new <br />project, Espinoza said, adding that he <br />.and Pacheco will attend a conference in <br />Gunnison Aug. 20 and submit the town's <br />application for the $25,000 planning <br />grant. <br />