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Residents urge use of cemetery for Wreaths Across America; citizen raises concerns about committee assignments and past hearings
Summary
At the Jan. 7 public forum, Jess Oakes of Wreaths Across America asked the Torrington City Council for permission to use the city cemetery for next December’s wreath‑laying event and noted fundraising and volunteer needs.
During the public forum the council heard from two residents and received a short departmental update:
Jess Oakes, representing Wreaths Across America, asked the council for permission to use the Torrington Cemetery for wreath‑laying events next December. Oakes said she expects to coordinate volunteers from local clubs (FBLA, FFA, 4‑H) and that funding is a significant challenge: wreaths cost about $17 each and she estimated the cemetery contains roughly 1,500 veterans’ graves. “So funding is going to be a very difficult thing, very challenging,” Oakes said, and she asked the council’s approval to use the cemetery; the public forum is for the council to listen and no action was taken on the request at the meeting.
Bob Peterson used public comment to criticize how committee appointments are being assigned and to question the timing and community turnout for a recent trash and water public hearing, saying residents and business owners did not show support for the proposed changes and asking why the council moved quickly on related votes.
Fire Chief Luis Correa updated council on recent calls, reporting several incidents this week including a fatal motor vehicle crash, and said the Goshen County fire ban may have been lifted following recent snow. He reminded residents to notify dispatch or the department’s administrative line for controlled burns (administrative line 532‑7001) so controlled burns are not misreported as uncontrolled fires.
The council did not take action on the Wreaths Across America request during the public forum; the mayor thanked speakers and adjourned the meeting.
