South Torrington residents voice concerns at GCC meeting

Alex Hargrave
Posted 9/18/20

Residents of South Torrington presented concerns Tuesday regarding abandoned vehicles and other issues in the area to the Goshen County Commissioners.

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South Torrington residents voice concerns at GCC meeting

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GOSHEN COUNTY – Residents of South Torrington presented concerns Tuesday  regarding abandoned vehicles and other issues in the area to the Goshen County Commissioners.

South Torrington Water and Sewer Office Manager Donna Feagler told the commissioners about the situation at the intersection of East 6th Avenue and East C Street. 

“We have a potential situation, in my opinion, of a junk or salvage yard going on,” Feagler said. “We’re looking at a situation where people are not able to enjoy their property. Do you want to sit outside and have a picnic or barbeque when that’s your view?”

Feagler asked commissioners to consider creating a zoning committee for South Torrington.

Resident Annie Aleman, who was raised in the area, reiterated Feagler’s concerns about the de facto junkyard and also said neighbors have to be “a little bit cleaner,” which residents need support from the county in enforcing.

“The property value as it is is not that high right now in the area because of the stigma,” Aleman said. “That’s why we say South of Torrington instead of South Torrington. Too much money has been put into that area to destroy it.”

She said there are burning items on the side of the road that cause health concerns.

“People need to understand that we are human beings as well,” Aleman said. “Somebody needs to come up behind us and try and keep our community clean.”

Aleman and another resident, Gordon DuBray, also talked about cars speeding on C Street and the need for speed bumps. Residents are also concerned about dogs running loose in the area biting or acting aggressively toward residents.

Lieutenant Wes Deen of the Goshen County Sheriff’s Department was present, and he said there is no such ordinance in the county that prohibits residents from letting dogs off of a leash or out from behind a fence like there is in the City of Torrington.

“If there’s an aggressive dog down there we can find the owner and write them a citation,” Deen said. “That’s what we can do at this time.”

Chairman John Ellis said the commission will address their concerns with other departments.

“We should get with our attorney and the sheriff’s department, because the sheriff’s department, everybody has tried to fix this and obviously, it isn’t working,” he said. “If we could zone South Torrington without getting out into the rest of the county, we need to look into it if that’s what the people down there want.”

The Yoder Volunteer Fire Department received approval to apply for a grant from the State Loan and Investment Board for an upgrade on the firetruck they use to fight federal fires. Improvements will cost roughly $300,000, according to Dempsey Hansen of YVFD, which will hopefully be funded through the $217,000 SLIB grant, $50,000 from a USDA grant and others. 

“We are at the present looking at $30,000-$50,000 income off federal fires right now,” he said. “We’re in a very strong position right now to pursue this and actually upgrade and be in a position to bring more money into the county in the years to come.”

In other business, the Sheriff’s Department and the County Clerk’s Office are both applying for CARES Act funds. The commission approved a CARES Act grant contract of $10,000 for the sheriff’s office to set up IT for inmates to appear in court virtually. 

The next GCC meeting will be held Oct. 6 at 9 a.m.