HomeMy WebLinkAbout20022057.tiff 4 OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
915 STREET
P.O.O. BOX 758 758
GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
119
1111pe.
WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co.us
PHONE: (970) 356-4000, EXT. 4200
FAX: (970) 352-0242
COLORAD
July 26, 2002
Ms. Lisa Meis
4619 West Third Street
Greeley, CO 80634
Re: Your Letter Received July 23, 2002
Dear Mr. Meis:
This letter is in response to your letter received by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County on July 23, 2002.
Although the Board of County Commissioners sympathizes with your situation,we do not have
any mechanisms for assistance available for you to take advantage of in your dealings with the
Everyday Convenience Store.
Your letter suggests a variety of facts which may provide the basis for a lawsuit against the
owners of the Everyday Convenience Store. Therefore,we recommend that you seek private
legal counsel to discuss the possibility of such a lawsuit.
The Board will refer your letter to the Director of the Weld County Housing Authority, Mr. Tom
Teixeira, to see if he knows of any programs which may assist you and your family find
temporary housing.
If you have questions or comments regarding this letter, please feel free to call Mr. Bruce T.
Barker, Weld County Attorney, at (970) 356-4000, ext. 4200.
Sincerely,
44 dagg
Glenn Vaad, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners
of Weld County, Colorado
pc: Tom Teixeira
Bruce T. Barker, County Attorney
3 2002-2057
This is our story. In March of this year we were evacuated from our home of 14
years. This is located at 210 First Avenue in La Salle. Here is why we were evacuated. In
early March the Wells Fargo Bank across the street from us had reported a strong odor
which was believed to gasoline. When it was finally was investigated, it was confirmed to
be just that, testing connected it to the Everyday Convenience Store right next door to us.
Shortly after the problem was found,they closed there doors to take care of this problem.
The bank is still closed at the present time, and the schools in La Salle which reside down
the street one block also were closed. They did testing at my house and found high levels
of Benzene present. So then Everyday put me and my two girls up in a motel, Mirotel Inn
(more like motel hell.) While staying there for a total of 3 %2 months we had our personal
belongs rummaged through and taken(cash and personal items and documents). I have
had to go and buy clothes and other items to replace those that where taken. This of
course came out of my pocket. They told us we would only be there for 2 weeks. Two
weeks turned into 4, and 4 to 8 and 8 to well we are sitting at 5 months right now. They
found out that about 30 thousand gallons had leaked from there tanks. I think more since
we remembered smelling this strong odor way back in November of 2001. I have been
very patient so far with the whole process it is taken to clean this up.
I keep hoping and praying that Everyday does right by my family. I have phoned
their lawyer and voiced my concerns. But to no dismay my concerns are not top priority
to them. They act as if they just don't care. I told them that prior to this incident I had
planned on selling my house and buy a bigger one in La Salle, but not now. Who would
want to buy a polluted house? I don't see why they don't just buy my house and help me
buy a new one. I am truly afraid for my girls. Since we have been out my girls haven't
had headaches and I haven't had my headaches or migraines as well. I have an ugly
feeling that they might say my house,my home is fixable, but from the looks of it not a
chance. You see the grass is already dead and it's starting to slowly kill my trees. The
inside still stinks and it's very dirty and greasy. This is unsanitary. It's going to take a
while to clean and disinfect. I had to buy us new beds and a couch, since the old ones are
still in the house. And some of the clothes I have taken out of the house stink, reek and
have to be washed several times just to get the smell out. We have left behind about 400
Teddy Bears and other stuffed animals, clothes, dishes and other personal items as well as
nick—knacks. I know some of these can be cleaned and others might have to be pitched
out.
I know that the Everyday Store would have handled this different if I was a movie
star, a famous person, a political icon, or even someone with money and power. But I am
none of these, I am just ...Lisa Meis, working class mother of two. So if you could help
us out in any way possible please do so not for me, but for my girls.
Thanks You and Sincerely,
Lisa, Erica and Ashley
P.S.
We just want a home not a house to come home to.
Cell phone 970-371-6913
Home phone 970-346-0957
Work phone 970-686-9570
Address for now 4619 West Third Street Greeley
Work evening at Schwans 320 East Chestnut Windsor
Hello