SalidaCitizen.com is urging residents to give something previously loved to a neighbor or friend in the hopes of reducing waste and building our community. Put gently used items curbside for someone else to pick up, with a sign that says free. If the items are not taken, please bring them to a local charity, such as Caring and Sharing. Thank you.

The City of Salida and Chaffee County are near completion of a massive interior remodel of the Touber Building in Salida, Colorado. The original building on the site was constructed as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Hospital in 1900. The building will reopen in March, 2010 as the Touber Building housing Salida City Hall & Police Station, Chaffee County Health & Human Services and other community-minded organizations.

The City is seeking a preservation architect to assist with exterior rehabilitation and reconstruction of some features. The scope of work includes masonry repair, rehabilitation or reconstruction of doors, porches and railings and the decorative metal cornice. The City has received a grant from the State Historical Fund to assist the City and County with the cost of this project.

RFP for Preservation Architect (813 KB PDF Format)

For more information please email Community Development Director Dara MacDonald or call 719-539-4555.

The City of Salida is seeking additional members for several Boards and Commissions. Volunteers who serve on these provide a valuable service to the City and are able to participate in local decision making in a positive way.

Boards that currently have openings include the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Tree Board, Board of Adjustment and Board of Appeals.

The Planning Commission has multiple duties including preparation of the City's Comprehensive Plan. Commissioners meet twice a month on the second Tuesday and the fourth Monday. Meetings on the second Tuesday are work sessions for the Commission to work on ongoing projects such as the Comprehensive Plan or to allow additional time to discuss major development applications. Public hearings are held on the fourth Monday of each month to review development applications such as subdivisions, conditional uses and planned developments. Planning Commission meetings are generally held at 6:00 p.m.

Board of Adjustment members meet as needed on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 a.m. to review variance applications. These are applications to deviate from the Land Use and Zoning section of the Salida Municipal Code. This Board generally meets 3 - 7 times a year.

The Board of Appeals is charged with reviewing appeals to decisions or interpretations by the Building Official. This Board meets as needed when an appeal is filed. This Board usually meets only once or twice a year. Familiarity with building codes and construction is preferred for membership on this Board.

The Tree Board is responsible for all trees on public property including those in parks and along public streets. The Tree Board has a work plan that includes recommended practices and associated costs for the care, preservation, trimming, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of street and park trees. This Board meets regularly at 8:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.

Members of the Historic Preservation Commission are responsible for preserving the historic built environment within the City. The specific focus of the Commission is to review alterations to the exterior of buildings within the Downtown Historic District and on local landmarks. The Commission also works to educate the public about appropriate preservation techniques and the overall benefits of preservation. This Commission meets regularly on the fourth Thursday of the month at 5:00 p.m.

To join any of these Boards or Commissions, fill out the following application and submit it to Janella Martinez, Deputy City Clerk, at City Hall.

Application to join Committees, Boards and Commissions (PDF, 128 KB)

All members of these Boards and Commissions are appointed by the City Council after review of applications. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. For more information please email Deputy City Clerk Janella Martinez or call 719-539-4555.

The Chaffee Housing Trust has recently hosted workshops to give potential homebuyers information on the application process, including qualification requirements, how to prepare for getting a mortgage and buying a CHT home. Initial CHT applications were provided, as well as a checklist of items that potential homeowners will need to compile to prepare for applying for a mortgage. All prospective homebuyers need to have attended one of these workshops. If a potential buyer missed the workshop, they should contact Read McCulloch at 207-4348 as soon as possible.

The CHT plans on having its first units available in the summer of 2010. Potential homebuyers will need to plan far in advance to be ready for purchase, including goal setting and home purchase planning and a commitment to working through the details of information gathering for the application process. These workshops are designed to help applicants prepare for the home buying process.

Many potential homebuyers may not realize that they can afford to buy a home through the Chaffee Housing Trust. The CHT is targeting essential workforce county residents, including teachers and school employees, fire/policemen, county and city employees, hospital workers and other caregivers, construction workers, etc. Households with incomes ranging from under $30,000 for an individual, to over $50,000 for a household of five can qualify. Prospective homebuyers are strongly encouraged to come and learn about the opportunities available through the CHT.

Additional information is available on the Chaffee Housing Trust website at: www.chaffeehousingtrust.org

Please take a moment to link to the following website and fill in the appropriate information to be notified by Chaffee County Dispatch in the event of emergency situations or critical community alerts. Examples include: evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices, and missing child reports.

Click Here: Community Notification Enrollment