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Ely to sponsor three Saturday cleanups; resident urges broader campaign and raises multiple local concerns
Summary
The council approved a city-sponsored cleanup campaign for May 3, 10 and 17 with supplies for volunteers; at public comment resident George Chachas urged a longer, fee-free disposal campaign and raised concerns about golf course subsidies, RV park safety, connections to city utilities, and selective enforcement.
The Ely City Council unanimously approved a city-sponsored volunteer cleanup campaign on April 24, asking the city to provide high-visibility safety vests, disposable gloves and trash bags for volunteers on three Saturdays: May 3, 10 and 17. Councilwoman Melody Van Camp, who organized the effort, said volunteers and community-service crews will be coordinated and that the city would publicize the events via social media, public radio and the newspaper. She estimated the city's outlay "approximately a couple of hundred" dollars to buy supplies.
"We figured we would spend approximately a couple of hundred trying to get the bags and everything. People have no excuses because I will give them the vest, the bag, and the gloves," Van Camp said, describing past neighborhood cleanups and the plan to focus on the city's worst areas and enlist community service crews through the summer.
During public comment, resident George Chachas called for a broader cleanup campaign running May 1 through May 21 that would allow disposal of large items, vehicles, tires and appliances at no charge, arguing that three Saturday sessions would not be sufficient for many shift workers. He also raised multiple community concerns: that the municipal golf course is being heavily subsidized and should "pay for itself," that industrial water rights granted to the county for a golf course should not be traded, that Golden Gate RV Park needs a fence separating it from the railroad for safety, and requests for a list of individuals permitted to park RVs on city lots and streets while living in them.
Chachas additionally questioned utility work at 582 Highway North 93 (alleging a hookup without a required fire hydrant), asked who inspected the Bell Avenue Water Main Upgrade Project (CDBG 22/pf/04), reported fence damage on Bell Avenue and alleged selective enforcement by the city. These items were made as public comment; council members did not take formal action on each of the concerns during the meeting but the comments were recorded for staff follow-up.
Separately on the agenda, the council received a written quarterly report from Georgetown Ranch lessee Betsy K. Vogler summarizing winter and spring activities (ditch and fence repair, seeding, bringing in bulls and hay), noting 18 head of livestock (three bulls, one cow with new calf and 13 heifers) and outlining future irrigation improvement ideas to be coordinated with the city and Tri-County Weed district.
