Injured Police Chief Fresquez gives report

DEL NORTE — The Del Norte Town Board held back-to-back meetings last Wednesday, Jan. 9 to approve a liquor license and conduct regular business at town hall.
Attorney Gene Farish officiated the hearing for Kehr and Company, LLC, the owners of Mystic Biscuit. Brandi McClure provided details about changing the location and trade name. Justin Kehr and McClure filed on Nov. 16, 2018, responding to what McClure called “an offer we couldn’t refuse.” They will move out of their current location by the end of February and transition to the corner of Columbia Avenue and Grand Avenue.
“The man who owns the building approached us last year when we opened down at the Mystic with an idea about a restaurant,” McClure said during the meeting. “So when our lease was up, we looked at the building and he basically made us an offer we couldn’t refuse.”
In for five years, McClure said the new restaurant and business approach warranted a new name: Capital Grill and Tap Room.
“Capital” earned a spot in the name because Del Norte was an option for Colorado’s state capital before designating Denver instead. McClure noted that “capital” also refers to the most important town in a region, triggering head nods throughout the room.
“Tap Room” made it into the restaurant name for two reasons. Instead of serving beer in bottles and cans, all the draft beers will be on tap (not kegs tucked under the counter). The new establishment will feature a dozen taps lined along the wall. In addition to a few spirits and wines, they will offer more beer selections, particularly Valley varieties and other Colorado brews. The decor will reflect local history and the unique heritage of the region (pictures of mining, logging and farming from Creede, Del Norte and the Valley).
Putting the term “tap room” in the name also sounds more family-friendly than “bar” or “lounge.” They’ll be able to seat about 115 people. The full kitchen menu will be available during dinner hours, followed by lighter fare until the doors close at midnight.
McClure also described alcohol and food safety classes they have already held for current staff, and they plan to do more training when they move. The electrical and drywall work is complete, but they’re still getting floors, counters and equipment installed. They also have plans for parking to finalize.
Referencing alcohol training for staff, Trustee Gary Sabrowski suggested combining TIPS® Certified Alcohol Training for other establishments in town serving drinks. The program is free, and representatives from the police department can be part of the training too.
The board approved the updated Hotel and Restaurant Liquor License for the Capital Grill and Tap Room. Mayor Chris Trujillo said, “I think it will do really well.”  

Regular meeting
Kevin Larimore kicked off the regular meeting with an update from the Public Works department. Crew members have been cleaning out sewer lines recently, and Larimore listed some of the findings. Grease is the worst thing to pour down drains, but they’ve also found socks and other oversized items. The lines from the jail are the worst, stuffed with sheets, blankets and other things inmates are not supposed to have in their cells.
Police Chief Bobby Fresquez gave a thorough report and received a warm welcome from the room. Chief Fresquez has been out of commission since he fell off a ladder while hanging Christmas lights, suffering multiple broken leg bones.
But he gave his department update before his personal update. He has received five applications for positions in the department. He conducted two interviews on Jan. 8 and is trying to schedule the other three as soon as possible.
Referencing the shooting from Dec. 27, they found the suspect, but the victim is not willing to cooperate. The department has handled a couple of burglaries since the school theft in December, but he credited his two part-time staffers for helping reduce burglaries overall.
Chief Fresquez fielded questions about his recovery from residents and town officials alike. “I got the boot on Monday,” Fresquez said. “But I just got to keep pushing through it. I’m able to walk more without the scooter and walker. Physical therapy is tough because I lost muscle tone. I was up in Denver on Monday, and the 12 pins and screws are still in place.”
Fresquez gave some last advice: “Stay off ladders when you’re by yourself.”
According to an update from Element Engineering, the Del Norte Sewer Collection Project is on schedule. To date, the big pit is 25 feet deep at the end of 2nd and Hermosa streets. The next step entails pouring a concrete base for the lift station overflow tank. Crew members put in one manhole, but the frost was almost two feet deep, so they won’t dig any more manholes until maybe mid-March.
Will Kreutzer, president of the Del Norte Chamber of Commerce, gave a brief report about the Mountainfilm on Tour from 5–9 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Vali 3 Theater in downtown Monte Vista. Following a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at Monte Vista’s historic Fassett Building (102 Adams St.), the audience will see 11 films about skiing, mountain climbing, bird migrations and other mountain topics.
Trustee Samuel Scavo has been reviewing grants for planting trees outside town hall. Scavo also mentioned plans to groom Lookout Mountain for nordic skiing. Of all the options for borrowing grooming equipment, two-wheel-drive dirt bikes that BLM owns are the most attractive choice. But the federal government shutdown eliminates that option at the moment.