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Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area

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Archives for 2023

Art Matters – Fine art and the making of worlds

By Janet Sellers

“Science discovers, design invents. Where science works to uncover an objective world, design brings forth multiple worlds simultaneously …”— Andrea Mignolo, The Design of Things.

I recently attended an artists’ roundtable discussion with the brilliant James Bradburne, general director of Milan, Italy’s Pinacoteca di Brera. He brought up many points about art, saying he believes “museums are a verb and not a destination.” He enthusiastically encouraged us artists to “keep on making art. Our world needs you now more than ever.” He emphasized that courageous, creative thinkers are needed now to invent, speak out, and bring to others important, creative thinking by manifesting ideas into reality.

When we discover how handmade fine art ignites the fires of imagination within ourselves, it’s a profound and transformative experience. Engaging with art can unlock a wellspring of creative potential, leading us to express ourselves in unique and inventive ways. Besides such important cultural support for us to thrive in our communities, our business world depends on innovation to flourish.

Handmade fine art is especially evocative because it shows a human touch, allowing people to connect with their innermost feelings. This emotional resonance can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and others, fostering empathy and compassion. Studies show that when art is available in hospitals, care centers, therapeutic practices and public places, it supports healing, improves memory, and stimulates interest in hope for improvement. It’s fun to look and ponder for oneself the meaning we personally find as well as what the artist might have had in mind. This sense of wonder can extend beyond art and permeate various aspects of our lives.

Taking in our local fine art can inspire our sense of wonder and awe. Reminding us to appreciate creative beauty right where we live, Tri-Lakes has self-guided sculpture tour maps and a monthly Art Hop to get us out into our community generating pleasant connections. These affirm our sense of place. Upcoming, our art-filled local Hummingbird Festival is Aug. 4 and 5 at Happy Landing Ranch (Rollercoaster Road just north of Hodgen). Our next Art Hop is Aug. 17 in downtown Monument—see you there!

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Janet Sellers is an artist, writer, and speaker, sharing her works locally and across the country. Contact her at JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Right: July Art Hop in Monument. On July 20, Jefferson Studios showcased Abbey Hutcheon (top photo – back to the camera) and Daryl Muncey (middle photo – center of frame). At El Santo Vaquero (bottom photo), Christian Kurz chats with guests after the Spiritual Archetypes class, one of their many free classes and events for the community. Photos by Janet Sellers.

Other Art Matters articles

Snapshots of Our Community

WMMI Family Days, July 15 and Aug. 12

Neighborhood Watch, Jun. 29

Above: Brent Ambuehl, coordinator of Crime Prevention for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, presented an informal report to about 45 people on how to protect against various types of criminal activity at a Neighborhood Watch event on June 29 at Wesley Owens Coffee & Café. Actions by residents can reduce risk of home and vehicle break-ins, including signage indicating your home is protected with a security system and/or cameras, exterior lighting, locking all doors including the entrance from your attached garage to the house, not leaving garage door openers on the visor of your vehicle parked outdoors, etc. We’ve all heard the admonition to lock your vehicle and don’t leave valuables visible from outside your vehicle. Ambuehl once conducted a test at a local trailhead and found 14 cars unlocked. For useful information, see www.EPCSheriffsOffice.com, including how to file non-emergency crime reports online. Photo by Steve Pate.

Stallsmith’s 100th, July 1

Above About three dozen friends and relatives helped Palmer Lake resident Joseph Stallsmith celebrate his 100th birthday on July 1. Stallsmith told Our Community News, “There’s not too many around here” who have reached that milestone, “so, I guess it’s a big deal. I never thought when I was going to school that I’d make 100.” Stallsmith says he feels “all right.” Asked if he had any advice on how to live to 100, Stallsmith said, “Stay out of trouble.” Did he follow his own advice? “Not always,” he admitted, smiling. This has been a big year for Stallsmith. In addition to turning 100, the Palmer Lake Sanitation District dedicated its building to him in March. Stallsmith created the district 45 years ago. He also helped set up the sanitation system at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

July 4th Festivities

Photos by David Futey

Palmer Lake Fun Run

Above: The 41st Palmer Lake Fun Run started off the Fourth of July festivities in the Tri-Lakes area. Race Director Kelsey Belsher said over 800 in-person and virtual runners from across the country participated in this year’s race. Belsher said the race is “100% volunteer led and organized” and she “thanks the community for having the race as an integral part of the Fourth events.” Belsher added, “All of the proceeds go to the Palmer Lake Elementary School (PLES) PTO who uses the funds to enrich the PLES student environment in the classroom, through field trips and teacher grants.” Andrew Bel (20:32) and Aubrey Surage (23:42), both from Colorado Springs, were the top male and female finishers. Pictured: Colorado Springs resident Susan Cassell, left, and Cinnamon Lepore of Monument.

Pancake Breakfast

Above: Knights of Columbus Council 11514 of St. Peter Church hosted its annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast. Grand Knight Alan Feldkamp coordinated the event with volunteer assistance from council members, Boy Scout Troop 17, students from St. Peter, and Monument Hill Kiwanis members. Feldkamp said, “We really enjoy doing this every year. We started serving at 6:30 a.m. to first responders and others and expect over 1,500 to take part including finishers of the Fun Run.” The breakfast choices were pancakes, eggs, two types of sausage, coffee, and orange juice. This is the Knights’ largest fundraiser of the year. Feldkamp said the Knights “donate to over 60 organizations including Eagle Scout Colin Sager’s P-51 monument project.”

Parade

Grayson Merriam, left, and Cameron Stathan have their bikes adorned with festive Fourth of July decorations as they await the start of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Children’s Parade.
Mitch LaKind, Monument mayor.
Glant Havenar, Palmer Lake mayor.
WWII Navy veteran Jim Swanson
WWII Army veteran Ed Beck
OCN volunteer and Colorado Front Range Unicyclist Audrey Burkart jumps rope while unicycling.
Greg Bielanski, Kiwanis president.
Makena Norton of Monument, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Girl of the West.
Excited parade spectators yelling, “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”
WWII Army Air Force Veteran, Jim Akin
Monument Fire Department
Palmer Ridge High School football team
Lewis Palmer High School football team

Tri-Lakes Chamber Street Fair

The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Street Fair in Monument was filled with post-parade spectators after the Monument Hill Kiwanis Main Parade on the Fourth of July. The spectators enjoyed a variety of food options and visited vendor booths.
John Howe and Karrie Pittman staffed the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce booth Photos by David Futey.

Pier ribbon cutting, July 24

Above: Members of Monument’s Parks, Water, and Streets Departments, along with the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, watched Mayor Mitch LaKind cut the ribbon for the new pier at Monument Lake on July 24. It took three weeks to build the 375-foot pier. The project cost nearly $239,000. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission grant covered more than $171,000 of the price. The pier in the northeast corner of the lake has been very popular since opening on June 14. It gives anglers and pedestrians access to a part of the shoreline that previously had been inaccessible. This pier is in addition to the old, shorter pier at the southeast corner of the lake. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Patillo at TLCA, July 7

Above: Singer, songwriter, evangelist, and philanthropist Leon Patillo brought his uplifting one-man show to the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA) on July 7. Patillo’s music career started in the 1960s performing with the funk group Creation and with Funkadelic and Martha and the Vandellas. In the mid-1970s, he joined Santana and performed on two of their albums, Borboletta and Festival. After two years with Santana, he turned to a solo career of contemporary Christian music. On this evening Patillo performed Proud to be an American along with his own songs, including Flesh of my Flesh, which is often played at weddings, and J.E.S.U.S. Between songs, Patillo shared life stories and philosophies such as “life is built on relationships” and his efforts toward helping children through his SING Foundation and Rise Above Bullying. Photo by David Futey.

Water tank nears completion

Above: On July 25, workers were wire wrapping and shooting layers of specialized concrete body coating on the Town of Monument water storage tank project. Wire wrap reinforces the installed concrete tank dome and side wall panels yet allows flexibility for fluctuating water levels inside the 2-million-gallon capacity tank once it is in service. Dismantlement of framing and decking, as well as piping, cleaning, and disinfecting of the interior will follow. Exterior painting will be the last step to complete the tank structure. Excavation began in spring 2022 in Forest View Estates west of Monument. A Colorado Supreme Court opinion says the town’s declaration of eminent domain, overriding the established Forest View Estates residential-only restricted covenants, does not require the town to compensate adjacent property owners for lowered property values based on the tank site appropriation. Photo by Sharon Williams.

Sunrise at Palmer Lake

Above: A fisherman casts his line and enjoys the serenity and sunrise at Palmer Lake on the Fourth of July. Photo by David Futey.

Eagle Scout seeks support

Above: Troop 17 Eagle Scout Colin Saber had a booth set up at the Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast to bring awareness to his Eagle Scout project. The project is to honor WWII Col. Earl Depner, a Monument resident who passed away in January 2022. He flew a P-51 Mustang. Saber said he really wants to honor all WWII U.S. pilots and fallen heroes for their sacrifice. The project is to move and install a 2,000 pound, 11-by-7 by 6-foot P-51 Mustang sculpture from Fort Collins to the Monument Town Hall. Saber needs to raise $55,000 for the project and is seeking support from the community. Information on how to support his project is at p51monument.com. Photo by David Futey.

Cruisers holds fundraiser, July 22

Above: The Tri-Lakes Cruisers Hotrod Club sponsored a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association at Jackson Creek Senior Living on July 22. Vintage hotrods and muscle cars were on display, including a ‘32 “deuce coupe,” a souped-up ‘55 Chevy, Andy Houck’s restored ’55 Chevy “first series” pickup shown above, and many others. Jackson Creek Senior Living provided hot dogs, soft drinks, and cookies. Photo by Steve Pate.

TLWC visits Bear Creek Robotics

Above: Members of Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) got to see the results of one of their grants on June 14. From left, Grant Chairperson Julie Shook and co-President Shelley Pruett watched students use the robotics building kits that were bought with the grant. Shook and Pruett were guests of Bear Creek Elementary School at its Summer Robotics Camp. The camp, open to all second- to sixth-grade District 38 students, focuses on robotics and engineering. Last fall, the school started a formal robotics program through the First Lego League Challenge, a research and robotics tournament for 9- to 16-year-olds. To participate in the program, the school needs to buy model robot kits over the next few years, and that is where the TLWC grant came in. Photo by Anne Campbell.

Cherry Creek Chipping Day, July 15

Above: On July 15, residents of Cherry Creek Crossing held their First Annual Chipping Day with the Monument Fire Department. They hope to do this again. From left are firefighters Greg Lovato and Morgan Cudney and residents Dave Lewis and Jeff Childers. Photo by Mike Pipkins.

Monument Farmers Market

Above and below: Where is everybody? They were at the Farmers Market in Monument on Saturday morning. The Farmers Market was in full bloom and brimming with vegetables, fruit, baked goods, soap, and other items in the parking lot at Big Red, 66 Jefferson St. The Farmers Market will be open every Saturday until October, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Photos by Marlene Brown.

MSD celebrates 50th

Above and below: A band, balloons, and hot dogs marked the 50th anniversary celebration of Monument Sanitation District (MSD) on July 29. Members celebrated the board working out of the MSD office on Second Street since 1973. Mark Parker, district manager, was there making sure that all who attended had everything they needed to enjoy their lunch. MSD collects wastewater from the residents and businesses west of I-25 in and out of the town limits of Monument. See https://monumentsd.colorado.gov. Photos by Marlene Brown.

Other Snapshots of Our Community articles

Our Community Notices

By Janet Sellers

Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the information number for that event. Please notify us if your event listing needs to be updated.

Student community volunteers

Many students need volunteer hours for scouting, civics classes, or other clubs volunteering hours. Monument Community Garden as well as Friends of Fox Run Park will have some openings for student volunteers (and grownups, too) for the summer. Gardening tasks include preparing garden beds, weeding, sowing seeds, and developing the compost. Bring gardening gloves, some tools will be provided on the work days by other volunteers. Volunteers are needed weekly, in harvest time, twice a week. Friends of Fox Run Park also has openings for volunteers for various tasks. Besides tasks, there will be a short information and skills demonstration for each 2-3 hour session. Contact Janet Sellers at janetsellers@ocn.me for more information.

MVEA outage notifications

Please add your phone number to your MVEA account to streamline outage reporting and restoration notifications. To report an outage please call or text “OUT” to (800) 388-9881. Visit MVEA’s Outage Center before the storm. There is information about preparing for outages, electrical safety, outage reporting, a link to the outage map, and more.

Slash/mulch program

Because of an unprecedented amount of slash and mulch from recent tree die-off, mulch needs to be picked up and used in the community. The rain has kept people from being able to pick it up but it needs to be picked up as soon as possible. Slash drop off through Sep. 10 ($2/load). Free mulch pick up through Sep. 16. Hours: Tue. & Thu. 5-7:30 pm, Sat. 7 am-4 pm, Sun noon-4 pm. Mulch loader Sat. ($5/2 cubic yards). Located in Black Forest, Herring and Shoup roads. Volunteers needed for shifts. Info: www.bfslash.org.

Trail Repair Volunteers Needed

Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP) needs volunteers to help repair the trails in the National Forest Open Space surrounding the Monument Fire Center. The Forest Service recently completed the second phase of Fire Mitigation work and many of the social trails have been damaged. The Forest Service relies on FOMP to maintain these trails. Trail Repair work days are scheduled on the second Tuesday of the month from April-October. Next meeting: Tue., Aug. 8, 5 pm. Meet at the Mt. Herman trailhead off Mt. Herman Rd and Nursery Rd and bring gloves. Tools will be provided.

Neighborhood safety

What qualifies as suspicious activity? “If you see something, say something.” It’s vital to report to local law enforcement. Suspicious activity can refer to any incident, event, individual or activity that seems unusual or out of place. Some common examples of suspicious activities include: A stranger loitering in your neighborhood or a vehicle cruising the streets repeatedly. Someone peering into cars or windows. Here’s what local authorities and Colorado Department of Public Safety says is needed information: Who did you see; what did you see; when did you see it; where did you see it; why it is suspicious. Call 911 or your local law enforcement agency.

Free search for Unclaimed Property

Unclaimed property is tangible or intangible property that has had no activity for a specific period of time. Once the property is in the custody of the state of Colorado, the State will maintain custody of the property in perpetuity until the rightful owner or heirs come forward to claim. The State Treasurer’s Office provides this service free of charge. Colorado: Great Colorado Payback – Colorado.gov (findyourunclaimedproperty.com) SAME AS: https://colorado.findyourunclaimedproperty.com/app/what-is-ucp

The Sunflower is for people with non-visible disabilities

Watch for green and yellow sunflower lanyards, bracelets, and ribbons, discreet ways to make the invisible visible. Wearing the Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around the wearer including staff, colleagues and health professionals that they need additional support, help or a little more time. However big or small, your help moves us closer to a society where people recognize that an offer of help, understanding and kindness can make a huge difference to the daily experiences that a Sunflower wearer has.

County Trailability Program

A new program uses mobility vehicles to allow more people access to nature in ways previously inaccessible to them. Trail routes for each county nature center include the volunteers and staff, trained to accompany participants. Vehicle registrations can be made at the Nature Center May 1-Oct. 31. Contact El Paso County Regional Parks programs: Mary J Lewis at Bear Creek, or Jessica Miller at Fountain Creek, https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/trailability/.

Tri-Lakes Cares Needs Your Support

Tri-Lakes Cares is the only food pantry and human services organization located in and serving northern El Paso County through emergency relief and self-sufficiency programs. The community-based, volunteer-supported center is a critical resource for our neighbors in need. The best way to help support Tri-Lakes Cares is to donate. Visit https://tri-lakescares.org/donate to find out how to donate money, medical items, personal supplies, or food. Please check the web for current needs in our food pantry at https://tri-lakescares.org/donate/current-needs. Donation drop-off hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm. For more information about Tri-Lakes Cares or how you can help, contact Nicole Pettigrew, director of Volunteers and Community Partnerships, at 719-481-4864 Ext. 111.

Senior Beat newsletter—subscribe for free

Each monthly Senior Beat newsletter is full of information for local seniors, including the daily menu of the senior lunches offered Monday through Friday at the Mountain Community Mennonite Church, 643 Highway 105, Palmer Lake. It also contains the schedule of the classes and events for the month at the Senior Citizens Center and senior-friendly library programs. To subscribe, send an email with your name and mailing address to SeniorBeat@TriLakesSeniors.org. Senior Beat can also be viewed online at www.TriLakesSeniors.org.

Can you volunteer today?

  • OCN needs your help. See article on page < 1 >.
  • Links to local organizations with an immediate need for volunteers are listed on the county’s website, www.elpasocountyhealth.org/volunteering-and-donations, for groups like Care and Share, Crossfire Ministries, blood donations, Early Connections (volunteer from home opportunity), foster an animal, Medical Reserve Corps of El Paso County, Salvation Army, Silver Key, and United Way (ongoing opportunities).
  • The Colorado State University Extension office in El Paso County has several opportunities for individuals interested in volunteering. https://elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/volunteer-opportunities/
  • El Paso County volunteer-based and nonprofit organizations are ommitted to building healthy, caring communities and rely on the hard work of individuals like you. Reach out today and find out how you can play a part by becoming a volunteer in El Paso County. Get involved in El Paso County volunteering non-profits and organizations! https://www.americantowns.com/el-paso-county-co/volunteer-organizations/.
  • The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Program is composed of a collective citizens group with a true and common desire to partner with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office by volunteering their services while learning more about the internal workings of the law enforcement community. https://www.epcsheriffsoffice.com/volunteer-program-0.
  • The El Paso County Volunteer Program is a wonderful opportunity for citizens to learn about the various functions of county government as well as give back to the community. The County’s numerous boards and commissions need your experience, talents and time. https://bocc.elpasoco.com/volunteer.
  • Children’s Literacy Center provides free one-on-one literacy tutoring to Tri-Lakes children in grades 1-6 who are reading below grade level! Tutoring is at the Tri-Lakes Senior Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 pm, and our Summer Session will run through Aug. 14. For more information, to become a volunteer tutor or to enroll your child, visit www.childrensliteracycenter.org or email Christine Jeffson at Christine@childrensliteracycenter.org.

Other Notices articles

Our Community Calendar

By Janet Sellers

Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the info number for that event. Please contact calendar@ocn.me with changes and additions.

GOVERNMENTAL BODIES

  • Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines Metropolitan District 1, 2 & 3 board meeting. Typically meets quarterly on the first Mon., 4 pm Meetings are held via teleconference. For virtual joining instructions and updates see www.forestlakesmetrodistrict.com.
  • El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regular meeting, usually every Tue., 9 am. BOCC land use meetings are being held every first and third Tuesday of the month as needed at 1 pm. View agendas and meetings at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Meetings are held at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Info: 719-520-6430.
  • El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, Thu., Aug. 3 & 17, Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News & Information Channel at https://www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Normally meets first & third Thu. (as required). Info: 719-520-6300, https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com.
  • Monument Town Council meeting, Mon., Aug. 7 & 21, 6:30 pm, Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Normally meets first and third Mon. Info: 719-884-801, www.townofmonument.org/260/Board-of-Trustees for remote attendance links.
  • Woodmoor Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Mon., Aug. 7, 1 pm, 1845 Woodmoor Dr., Monument. Normally meets second Mon. Info: 719-488-2525, www.woodmoorwater.com.
  • Tri-Lakes Wastewater Facility Joint Use Committee meeting, Tue., Aug. 8, 10 am 16510 Mitchell Ave. Meets second Tue. Info: See https://tlwastewater.com/index.html Bill Burks, 719-481-4053.
  • Palmer Lake Board of Adjustments, Tue., Aug. 8, 5 pm, 28 Valley Crescent St., Palmer Lake. Normally meets first Tues., as needed.
  • Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (formerly DAAC), On summer hiatus until October. Usually meets monthly on second Tue., 6-8 pm, Monument. For details, on the meeting site, see https://www.lewispalmer.org/Page/2#calendar. Contact info: tmckee@lewispalmer.org.
  • Palmer Lake Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Aug. 9, 9 am, call-in only: 650-479-3208, Access Code 76439078, 120 Middle Glenway. Meets second Wed. Info: 719-481-2732. www.plsd.org.
  • Monument Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Aug. 9, 6 pm Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Meets second Wed. To see the options for remote public participation in each meeting, visit www.townofmonument.org/263/Planning-Commission-Board-of-Adjustment. Info: 719-884-8028. www.townofmonument.org.
  • Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting, Thu., Aug. 10 & 24, 5 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent, Usually meets second and fourth Thu. Info: 719-481-2953. www.townofpalmerlake.com.
  • Monument Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Aug. 16, 9 am, 130 Second St. Zoom meeting. Find joining instructions on the website. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-4886, www.colorado.gov/msd.
  • Palmer Lake Town Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Aug 16, 6 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-2953, www.townofpalmerlake.com.
  • Academy Water and Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Aug. 16, 6 pm. Usually meets third Wed. Public can join the Skype meeting: https://join.skype.com/PAcujKTn7Nrh. Check the website for a link: https://academywsd.colorado.gov/notices-and-alerts. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-0711, https://academywsd.colorado.gov.
  • Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District board meeting, in person or via Zoom, Wed., Aug. 16, 7 pm, Station 1, 11445 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. Find updates and Zoom meeting joining instructions at www.bffire.org or contact Administrative Officer Rachel Dunn at 719-495-4300. Meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday.
  • El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority meeting, Thu., Aug. 17, 9 am Monument Town Hall Boardroom, 645 Beacon Lite Rd. Meets third Thu. Info: 719-488-3603. www.loopwater.org.
  • Donala Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Thu., Aug. 17, 1:30 pm, 15850 Holbein Dr. In 2023, meets third Thu., Check the website for the access code for the electronic meeting. Info: 719-488-3603, www.donalawater.org.
  • Triview Metropolitan District board meeting, Thu., Aug. 17, 5:30 pm, 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302, Monument. Normally meets third Thu. Info: 719-488-6868, www.triviewmetro.com.
  • Monument Academy School Board meeting, Meets during the school year second Thu. Info 719-481-1950, https://www.monumentacademy.net/school-board/board-meeting-minutes/.
  • Lewis-Palmer School District 38 board meeting, Mon., Aug. 21, 6-10 pm. Normally meets third Mon. The Board of Education meeting will be live-streamed on the district’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/LPSDCommunity, agenda, and supporting documents at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/lewispalmer/Board.nsf/vpublic. Contact Vicki Wood. Phone: 719.481.9546 Email: vwood@lewispalmer.org Website: https://www.lewispalmer.org.
  • Woodmoor Improvement Association Board Meeting, Wed., Aug. 23, 7 pm, Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. The WIA Board usually meets fourth Wed. Info: 719-488-2693, www.woodmoor.org.
  • Monument Fire District board meeting, in person or via Zoom, Wed., Aug. 23, 6:30 pm., Station 1, 18650 Highway 105, Monument. Find updates and Zoom meeting joining instructions at http://www.monumentfire.org, or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin, at 719-484-0911. Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday.
  • Donald Wescott Fire Protection District meeting, Meets every other month on the fourth Wed. The next meeting is Sep. 27, 4:30 pm, at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105 Monument. Find updates and Zoom meeting joining instructions at http://www.monumenfire.org or contact Jennifer Martin, at 719-484-0911.

WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS

  • Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO) meeting, Sat., Sep. 9, 10 am–12 pm., Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. HOA legal topics. Members of local HOAs are welcome. Usually meets bi-monthly (Jan., Mar., May, July, Sep., Nov.) on the second Sat. of the month. www.nepco.org.
  • The Centering Prayer Group at Black Forest Community Church, first Sat., 8:30-10 am The Old Log Church. Centering prayer opens and closes the meetings with discussion and fellowship in between; open to all. Contact Rev. Roger Butts, at 719-433-3135, for information.
  • Half Day Prayer Group at Benet Hill Monastery, first Sat., 9 am-12 pm. All vaccinated guests are welcome. Contact Sister Therese at (719) 355-1638 or (719) 355-1650 or stherese@benethillmonastery.org. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Monument Hill Kiwanis Club meeting, every Sat., 8 am. www.MHKiwanis.org, MonumentHillKiwanis@gmail.com for details, guests are welcome. Service leadership clubs, Key clubs, Builders Club, and K-kids at D38 schools. Memberships are open to the public. Info: RF Smith, 719-210-4987, www.MHKiwanis.org.
  • Neighborhood Net Ham Radio, every Sat., 10 am Amateur ham radio operators practice for emergencies on weekly repeater nets so neighbors can help neighbors. Sign up at www.mereowx.org/neighborhood-net or contactus@mereowx.org.
  • Palmer Lake Art Group, second Sat. A variety of art programs are offered after the social gathering and business meetings. Guests welcome. 300 Hwy 105, NE corner of I-25 and 105. 9:30 am. Info: 719-460-4179, www.palmerlakeartgroup.com.
  • Lions Club Bingo, every Sat. (except the first Sat.), 8:30 am-1 pm and first Mon., 5:30-10 pm Tri-Lakes Lions Club’s portion of the proceeds benefit those in need in the Tri-Lakes community. Updated info and location: Jim Naylor, 719-481-8741 or www.trilakeslionsclub.org.
  • Tri-Lakes Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, third Sat., 10 am-noon, Monument Community Presbyterian Church, 238 Third St., Monument. Info: Syble Krafft, 719-488-2669; Barry (group president), 719-351-9485. If you need any help, please call Syble or Barry.
  • Benet Hill Monastery, Let us pray with you, walk in the forest, come up and visit prayer sites, every Sun. worship is 10:15 am, 3190 Benet Lane, 80921. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church, Worship every Sun., 9 am Contemporary; 10:30 am Traditional. A live stream is available at www.tlumc.org/live. Watch live or replay: www.facebook.com/tlumc, www.youtube.com/tlumc.org. Info: 719-488-1365, www.tlumc.org. 20256 Hunting Downs Way, Monument. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Fellowship of Christ Church, every Sun. 9 am. 4303 Pinehurst Circle. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Fuel Church Sunday Service, every Sun. Service times, 11:00 am Live service streaming at www.fuelchurch.org at 11:40 am on www.fuelchurch.org. Mountain Community Mennonite Church, 643 Hwy 105, Palmer Lake. Nursery and kids’ service. Non-denominational, spirit-filled. Need prayer? Email us at info@fuel.org. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Ridgeview Baptist Church, every Sun., 10:30 am, temporarily meeting at 9130 Explorer Dr., Colorado Springs, 80920. Info: 719-357-6515 or www.ridgeviewcolorado.org. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • German Conversation Group, every Mon., 1:30 pm, Monument Library, 1706 Woodmoor Drive. Public welcome with Intermediate to Advanced German speaking skills.
  • Women’s A. A. Step Study, every Mon., 6:30 pm, meeting remotely, check for details. Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 Baptist Rd. Park in the west lot. Info: 866-641-9190.Al-Anon Zoom Meeting, Just for Today Online, every Mon., 9:00 – 10:00 am Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4142 7446, Password 349309
  • Al-Anon Zoom Meeting, Just for Today Online, every Mon., 9-10 am Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4142 7446, Password 349309.
  • Monument Life Recovery Group, every Mon., 6:30-7:30 pm, The Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd. This faith-based support group is for those seeking freedom from all hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Daycare for children under age 11. Info: 303-946-2659, www.liferecoverygroups.com/meetings/life-recovery-group-3/.
  • Old Fashioned Community Sing-along. First and third Mon. 5:30 to 6:30 pm Black Forest Community Church 6845 Shoup Rd. Come share the joy of singing old, familiar, catchy tunes just for fun. For details: kay@stricklan.net.
  • Amateur ham radio WØTLM (Tri-Lakes Monument ham radio Association), third Mon. All amateur ham radio operators or those interested in becoming one are welcome. Info: www.W0TLM.com
  • La Leche League breastfeeding support group, second Mon., 7 pm. Partners and helpers welcome (and babies and kids, too) so we can meet our breastfeeding goals together. Black Forest Community Center 12530 Black Forest Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80908. For more information, contact RachelKLangley@gmail.com.
  • Children’s Literacy Center, every Mon. & Wed., 5:30-6:30 pm. Provides free one-on-one literacy tutoring to Tri-Lakes children in grades 1-6 who are reading below grade level. Tutoring is at Grace Best Education Center, 66 Jefferson St. Monument. For more information, to become a volunteer tutor, or to enroll your child, visit www.childrensliteracycenter.org or contact Rachel Morin, Tri-Lakes Senior Center Coordinator, CLC 610-246-1047 (cell).
  • Centering Prayer Group at Benet Hill Monastery, every Tue., 10-11 am. All vaccinated guests are welcome. Contact Sister Therese at (719) 355-1638 or (719) 355-1650 or stherese@benethillmonastery.org.
  • Essentrics Fitness Program at Senior Center, every Tue., 9 am & Thu., 10 am, Grace Best Education Center, 66 Jefferson St, Monument, CO 80132. Registration & info: Sue Walker, 719-330-0241, www.trilakesseniors.org.
  • Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP) Trail Repair monthly Work Days, second Tue. Apr.-Oct. Next meeting: Tue., Aug. 8, 5 pm. Meet at Mt Herman Trailhead at the corner of Mt Herman Rd and Nursery Rd, bring gloves. FOMP needs volunteers to help repair the trails in the National Forest Open Space surrounding the Monument Fire Center. The Forest Service recently completed the second phase of Fire Mitigation work and many of the social trails have been damaged. The Forest Service relies on FOMP to maintain these trails. Tools will be provided.
  • GriefShare Support Group, last Tue. of the month, 10:30 am-noon. NEW LOCATION: Tri-Lakes Senior Center, 66 Jefferson St. in the Grace Best Elementary School building. The Tri-Lakes Silver Alliance has partnered with Colorado Palliative and Hospice Care to host a 13-session grief support group in Monument. RSVP, info: Sue Walker, 719-330-0241.
  • Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild Listening Club, third Wed. Free virtual event. Maestro Wilson will conduct monthly hour-long programs. RSVP at www.cspguild.org.
  • Gleneagle Sertoma, first and third Wed., 11:45 am to 1 pm at Beasts and Brews, 7 Spectrum Loop, Colorado Springs. The longest continuously serving civic service organization in northern El Paso County features a program speaker addressing local topics of interest. Duane Gritzmaker, dwgritz@gmail.com or 719-649-9220.
  • Downsizers Club, free. Every second Wed. 1-2 pm. Next meeting Aug. 9. Discover how to get more out of your golden years, age in place, help yourself or your parents sift through the “treasures”, leverage the value of your current home, and more. Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church, 20256 Huntingdowns Way, Monument. To sign up contact Amanda: AmandaHinnen@Homescolorado.com
  • Senior Social, fourth Wed., 12455 Black Forest Rd. Info: www.aarpchapter1100blackforest.weekly.com.
  • Pikes Peak Genealogical Society meeting, Wed., Aug. 9, “Unusual places to find births and naturalizations” by Debra Dudek. Members can log in and get the monthly meeting Zoom link. Guests are welcome to attend, please request an invitation from the PPGS president at PPGS.org.
  • Tri-Lakes Church of Christ Wednesday night fellowship classes, every Wed., 6-7:30 pm, 20450 Beacon Lite Road, Monument (corner of Beacon Lite & County Line Roads). Info: 719-488-9613, gregsmith@trilakeschurch.org, www.trilakeschurch.org.
  • Tri-Lakes Cruisers, first Wed., 7 pm. A nonprofit car club. Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce community room, with numerous activities and events each month. Club membership applications are now being accepted and are available on the website: https://tl-cruisers.weebly.com.
  • AARP Black Forest #1100, second Wed., noon. All ages welcome. In-person, Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd.
  • Senior Bingo, third Wed. Silver Alliance Senior Center, Space is limited to 16 participants. RSVP & info: Sue Walker, 719-464-6873, or email sue@monumentalfitness.
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7829, third Wed., 7 pm, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce community room, 166 2nd St., Monument. New members welcome. Info: Post Commander and POC Bruce Beyerly, Bruce.Beyerly@gmail.com.
  • VFW Auxiliary to Post 7829, third Wed., 7 pm, The Country Club at Woodmoor, 18945 Pebble Beach Way, Monument. Guests are welcome to join; contact carlsonmkc@aol.com for instructions on how to connect. If you are a relative of a veteran who served on foreign soil during war or other military action, you may be eligible. Info: Kathy Carlson, 719-488-1902, carlsonmkc@aol.com.
  • Pikes Peak Genealogical Society, Wed., Aug. 16, 6:30 pm, hangout begins, 7 pm meeting begins. Guests are welcome to attend the meeting via Zoom, contact the PPGS President@PPGS.org.
  • Al-anon Meeting: Monument, every Thu., 7-8 pm, Ascent Church (formerly the Tri-Lakes Chapel), 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. Info: MonumentSerenity@gmail.com.
  • Palmer Divide Quiltmakers, first Thu., 6:30-8:30 pm at Monument Chamber of Commerce building, 166 2nd St, Monument, CO.
  • Al-Anon meeting: Letting Go, every Thu., 9-10:15 am at Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. For additional information go to www.al-anon-co.org.
  • Networking breakfast, first and third Thu., Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce in person or via Zoom 166 2nd Street Monument 7:30-9 am free registration at www.TriLakeschamber.com.
  • Fuel Church Griefshare, every Thu., 5:30-7:30 pm 643 State Highway 105, Palmer Lake. Email info@fuel.org. 643 Hwy 105, Palmer Lake.
  • A.A. Big Book Study, every Thu., 7 pm, Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 W. Baptist Rd. Call 425-436-6200, access code 575176#.
  • Palmer Lake Historical Society, no meeting in August. (Usually meets third Thu., 7 pm; doors open at 6:30 pm) Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St., Contact: Kokesdm@yahoo.com https://palmerdividehistory.org
  • Friends of Fox Run Park, fourth Thu. Zoom meeting, 7 pm, email friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com, they will email you the link the day of the meeting. Join the growing group to learn about volunteering and supporting the park for forest safety, trails, trees, education, special events, and more. Info: friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com.
  • Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) monthly meeting, now on summer break, usually the third Fri. To become a member, or learn about the club, visit our website at www.tlwc.net Contact Info: Tri-Lakes Women’s Club membership@tlwc.net.
  • Senior Book Club, second Fri., 11 am-noon, Silver Alliance Senior Center, all are welcome. Coffee & snacks. RSVP & info: Sue, 719-330-0241.
  • Gleneagle Women’s Club, membership luncheon, third Fri., Sept-June, various venues, 12 activity groups, i.e., hiking, bridge, etc. Guests welcome. For information contact Amy Miller, at (310) 941-1590.
  • Monument Dementia Caregiver Support Group, second Sat., 9:45-11:15 am. Meets in Person, First National Bank Monument ( 581 Highway 105, Monument, CO 80132). Meets monthly, 2nd Sat. Contact: Registration is required, call 800-272-3900 or email khare@alz.org to register.

SPECIAL EVENTS

  • VOLUNTEER TODAY! Our Community News mailing days, Thu., Aug. 3 & 31, approx. 9 am–2 pm. We are all volunteers at OCN and need YOUR help, even for an hour or two, getting the papers ready to mail. Contact AllenAlchian@ocn.me.
  • Monument Hill Farmers Market, every Sat., 8 am-2 pm. 66 Jefferson Street Monument. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • YMCA summer day camp, through Aug 4, Info: www.ppymca.org/daycamp. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Annual Hummingbird Festival at Happy Landing Ranch, Fri.-Sat., Aug. 4-5, 10 am-3 pm. Hummingbird watch & hourly talk, books, gifts; meet baby alpacas, enjoy fair booths, old-timey games, make giant bubbles, and more.
  • Western Museum of Mining and Industry events, Farm stand, every Mon. & Wed. 9 am-6 pm; Tue., Aug. 8, 4-5 pm, Lecture: Alexander Film Company of Colorado Springs; Sat. Aug. 12, 10-3 pm, Family Day.
  • Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Networking, Tue., Aug. 8, 5 pm–7:00 pm, members free, $15 for non-members. Details: www.trilakeschamber.com. 719-481-3282.
  • Trivia in the Park at Fox Run Regional Park. Wed. Aug. 9, 6 am-7:30 pm, Fox Run Regional Park, 2110 Stella Drive, Colorado Springs, CO, 80921. Info: (719) 520-7529.
  • LAST Concert in the Park, Wed., Aug. 9, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Limbach Park.
  • Love shop, Restyle your furs event, Thu.-Fri., Aug. 10-11, 10 am-5 pm, 251 Front St., see ad on page < 20 >.
  • El Santo Vaquero Free Special Events: Thu. Aug. 10, 7-8 pm, Abracadabra, “The Power of Words,” Thu., Aug. 17, 5-8 pm during Art Hop, guest artist Janet Sellers will paint live in the courtyard; “Expression Through Art” class 7-8, author Christian Kurz 7-8 pm, 213 Washington St., Monument. Info: (719) 358-9421.
  • Kings Deer Community Garage Sale, Fri.-Sun., Aug. 11-13; details: www.kingsdeer.org, see ad on page < 5 >
  • 24th annual Free Community Pig Roast and client appreciation event, Fri., Aug.11, 5:30-7:30 pm rain or shine, 236 N. Washington St., Monument. See ad on page < 8 >.
  • Kiwanis peaches pick up: Customers must pick up peaches ordered through Kiwanis on Sat., Aug. 12, 10 am- 2:00 pm at Bear Creek Elementary School 1330 Creekside Dr., Monument. Kiwanis meets Saturdays at Big Red 146 North Jefferson at 8:00 am.
  • Art Hop, Thu., Aug 17, 5-8 pm., Your chance to enjoy the eclectic downtown Monument experience, buy local art, visit galleries, artists, see live demonstrations, musicians, and more. Downtown Monument. Every third Thu. through Sep. Free. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Covered Treasures Bookstore, Art Hop, Thu., Aug. 17, 5-8 pm, author Mark Stevens will sign his baseball novel, Fireballer, 105 Second Street, Monument. Info: 719-481-2665.
  • Christmas dance performance open for auditions, Sat., Aug. 19, ages 6-18. A Time to Dance. See add on page < 6 >.
  • Benet Hill Monastery, Earth Day in August. Sat., Aug. 26, 9 am-1:30 pm. Register at www.bennetthillmonisterry.org/your-spiritual-journey/retreats/Earth-Day-Retreat. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Pikes Peak Brewing Company presents John Denver tribute, Sun., Aug. 27, 1- 4 p.m (Hickabee); 6-9 pm (Cowboy Brad and the Tropicowboys). 1756 Lakewood Moore Drive Monument. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • YMCA fall youth sports registration, YMCA.org/sports. Season starts Aug. 28. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Make It Work Clinic for PCs, FREE. Donations appreciated. We are gauging interest in helping community members with their PCs, please email us if interested. enable@monumentalimpact.org. 55 Adams St in Downtown Monument.
  • Monumental Impact, Kid’s Robotics, tech, drone Summer Workshops, and Camps. More info/ register: https://monumentalimpact.org/workshops/.
  • St Peter Catholic School, now enrolling preschool to 8th grade, PetertheRockschool.org See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Affordable Flooring Connection, summer specials. see ad on page < 2 >.
  • Cornerstone Cleaners, special offers through Aug. 31. 1030 W. Baptist Road, near King Soopers. See ad on page < 4 >.
  • Crystal’s in-home personal training. Free consultation. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Eagle Wine & Spirits, special offers through Aug. 31. Baptist Road next to King Soopers. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Gleneagle Candle Co., special offers through Aug. 31. 13796 Gleneagle Drive 80921. See ad on page < 4 >.
  • Monument Cleaners, special offers through Aug. 31, 15932 Jackson Creek Pkwy., in Monument Marketplace. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Monumental Med Spa, special offers for August. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • Noel Relief Centers, new patient specials. 950 Baptist Rd #130, Monument. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • The Living Room Plants, special offers through Aug. 31, 12229 Voyager Pkwy, Suite 100. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Palmer Lake Wellness: mention the ad for special offer, see ad on page < 12 >.
  • The Vanity Box, special offers, facial revivals, and more. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Tri-Lakes Collision and Auto Service Center, special offers through Aug. 31. 2101 Wolf Court, Monument. www.trilakescollision.com. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Labor Day weekend art festival: Sat.-Mon., Sep. 2-4, 10-5 pm, Free, Manitou Springs Memorial Park. See ad on page < 9 >.
  • Never Dead Riders Motorcycle Group Poker Run, Sat., Sep. 23. Non-profit to raise funds to help people with a family member with cancer. Info: www.neverdeadriders.net

Our community calendar carries listings on a space-available basis for Tri-Lakes events that are sponsored by local governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations. We include events that are open to the general public and are not religious or self-promotional in nature. If space is available, complimentary calendar listings are included, when requested, for events advertised in the current issue. To have your event listed at no charge in Our Community Calendar, please send the information to calendar@ocn.me or Our Community News, P.O. Box 1742, Monument, Colorado 80132.

Other Calendar articles

Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, June 21 – Evacuation routes raise concern among residents

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) meeting on June 21, the board heard concerns over crowded evacuation routes fueled by increased development, discussed the lack of wildland deployments reducing anticipated revenue, and received a donation to equip the recently purchased 2005 Pierce tower ladder truck.

Director Chad Behnken was excused.

Black Forest Remembers

As the American flag was raised by Colorado Springs firefighters over the Black Forest Community Center on June 10, the 10-year anniversary of the Black Forest Fire, residents and victims of the fire gathered in the rain to pray and hear stories of the day the fire started, the loss of their homes, and the healing process. Many have rebuilt after nearly 500 homes were lost in the 10-day fire. Some moved on, but many have worked to clean up their properties and replant trees and build new homes. The work is still going on 10 years later. For information about fire mitigation and the slash/mulch program or to make donations to help with the cleanup process, go http://bfslash.org. Photo by Marlene Brown.

Evacuation routes raise concern

Resident David Haney of Arrowhead Drive said the planned development Kettle Creek North behind Pine Creek High School and west of Howells Road would bring a total of about 900 homes to that area. The residents living in his neighborhood are concerned about safety should evacuation be necessary in the event of a wildland fire, citing the increased traffic concerns and limited access roads that would hamper evacuation. When he contacted Fire Chief P J Langmaid three months ago, Haney learned the district had not been consulted by the Colorado Springs Fire Department during the process, but it is a fire issue and he had hoped the fire district had more clout when it comes to exits and evacuations. The residents are asking for help from the district, he said.

Langmaid said he advised Haney in March to approach the elected officials and leaders of the City of Colorado Springs. As fire chief, he has no legal standing or authority in that area of the city. See www.ocn.me/v23n4.htm#bffrpd.

Chairman Nate Dowden said he was 100 percent empathetic toward the position of the residents, but the district has zero standing with the Colorado Springs Planning Commission during the decision-making process.

Treasurer Jack Hinton said the Fire Department is limited in the decision-making process.

Langmaid said the district maintains a good relationship with Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), and recently spent 90 minutes discussing operational capabilities, working collectively to bring resources together if another large fire occurs, he said.

Haney said that in the wake of the 10-year anniversary of the Black Forest Fire, he is shocked that the department had not been taken into consideration, especially when many residents would need to depart quickly with animal trailers and motor homes. The traffic study was conducted when the senior high school students were not in class, he said.

Langmaid said typically no one is racing to get out of Arrowhead Drive and Howells Road during school entry and exit times.

Dowden said the wildland urban interface is a big issue with the district.

Zonehaven alerting

Langmaid said the district is working diligently with CSFD and Monument Fire District to address evacuation plans. Decisions are made quickly during a wildland fire evacuation, and this spring the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPCSO) purchased and adopted the Zonehaven software alerting system app for every agency within the county. The app allows information and evacuation instructions to reach residents quickly and accurately, and he highly recommended signing up for notifications.

Note: Residents need to sign up individually at www.bffire.org for Peak Alerts to receive emergency notifications. See www.ocn.me/v23n5.htm#mfd.

Wildland deployments lacking

Langmaid said he had received a request from California for wildland support and it was immediately rescinded, but the district is on the cusp of sending crews on wildland deployments. The district had hoped to purchase two new brush trucks with the net profits from deployment revenue, but district mechanic Gavin Smith conducted an extensive internet search and found three used brush trucks that were about $200,000 each, one had higher mileage than the district- owned brush truck. Wildland deployments have been few so far this year. The net profit from wildland deployments in 2022 was about $270,000; it will likely be less this year, he said.

Note: After the meeting, the district deployed four members of the Wildland Deployment Team for a two-week assignment, patrolling and assisting with a wildland fire in California.

Wildfire mitigation

Langmaid said the wildland crew recently had chance to chip up some neighborhood brush with a chipper borrowed from EPCSO, but that prompted Deputy Chief of Operations Chris Piepenburg to request speeding up the program to purchase a district chipper. The district wildfire risk assessment includes mapping the whole district and working with property owners that have higher volumes of brush that could impact properties that are mitigated in the community. The decision on purchasing additional apparatus will be discussed after wildland deployment revenue for 2023 has been realized, he said.

Note: The El Paso County Slash and Mulch facility is located at 12375 Herring Road, Black Forest. For hours of operation, location, and information, visit www.bfslash.org.

Plan reviews prove time-consuming

Langmaid said the county has an expectation that he is trying to navigate regarding unfunded mandates on the fire district. Most of the day he had been reviewing contractor and developer project plans. The county agreed the district could charge a fee to review plans, but he is unsure if the developer will pay the fee or if the county is prepared to pay for the manpower or use a costly third party. The county is aware of the burden on the fire districts but is also concerned about conflicts of interest. There is more to unpack and unravel, he said.

Financial report

Hinton said that as of May 31, the district had about $2.2 million in the bank (with about $1.4 million for general operations, $567,908 in combined emergency and capital improvement reserves, and $137,400 in the TABOR reserve fund). The district received about $441,718 in county taxes. It had about $3.6 million in total assets (includes $631,554 for the 2022 Pierce Enforcer 4395 engine). The district was at about 37% of the budget year to date at the end of May.

The board accepted the financial report as presented, 4-0.

Operations update

Piepenburg said the district responded to a significant structure fire with Falcon Fire Protection District in May.

Training update

Piepenburg said the following:

  • The weather had put a slight damper on training recently, but staff are still training outside despite the storms. The district completed 1,588 training hours in May, about 20% of their time on shift.
  • Live fire training took place with CSFD and Monument Fire District at the district training center.
  • Firefighter 2 and driver operator pumper practical tests were completed.
  • Orientation training has begun on the tower ladder truck.
  • The district hired Michael Torres as the new training captain to replace Jason Morrison. Torres arrives with 16 years’ fire service experience with the City of Chicago Fire Department and smaller suburban departments.
  • He and Lieutenant Chad Herdt attended Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) training in Lakewood. The hope is to include more staff members in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) USAR training in the future. Nationwide, about 28 teams make up the task forces that deploy to natural and manmade disasters.

Langmaid said besides CSFD and Fort Carson, the district is the only agency in the county that participates in FEMA USAR operations. Teams also deploy internationally to assist in disasters such as the recent earthquake in Turkey. Herdt and Piepenburg are a credit to the district, he said.

Note: Herdt and Piepenburg are members of CO-TF1 Lakewood, Colo., West Metro Fire Rescue FEMA USAR taskforce.

Facilities update

Dowden requested an update on the condition of Station 1 after the prolonged spring rains, in comparison to the leakage issues of previous years.

Langmaid said the repairs to the mezzanine appear to have been successful, and the rain had not affected Station 1. Unfortunately, the concrete and run-off repairs at Station 2 had not worked out as anticipated, and water is travelling down the walls and entering through cracks in the concrete. Staff are pushing water away from walls, and after an inspection that afternoon, he noted water entering the bay at Station 2, he said.

Donation received

Father Brad Noonan of Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, Black Forest, presented Dowden with a $7,000 check on behalf of his parish. Noonan thanked the Board of Directors and the district for their support throughout the years, complimenting the board for its foresight in purchasing the ladder truck. It is a beautiful gift to the community, said Noonan.

Dowden thanked Noonan and the congregation for the generous donation. The district will use the funds to purchase equipment for the 2005 Pierce Tower Ladder truck.

In remembrance

Noonan asked those present to remember Benjamin “Ben” Weylin Montoya who passed away from COVID-19 pneumonia on Jan. 16, 2021. Montoya was an emergency medical technician with the department in the 1990s before moving to Kansas in 1998.

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

**********

Meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday of the month at Station 1, 11445 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. Meetings are open to the public in person or via Zoom. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19 at 7 p.m. For joining instructions, updates, agendas, minutes, and reports, visit www.bffire.org or contact Director of Public Relations Brooke Reid at admin@bffire.org or call 719-495-4300.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

Black Forest Remembers

Other Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, June 6 and 20 – Townhome development off Woodmoor Dr. withdrawn from agenda

By Helen Walklett

A 52 single-family townhome development off Woodmoor Drive was withdrawn from the El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) June 20 land use agenda. The BOCC did approve a rezone application and a minor subdivision application for Black Forest properties during June.

Woodmoor Dr. townhome development withdrawn from agenda

A combined rezone and preliminary plan application by Lake Woodmoor Holdings LLC proposing 52 single-family townhomes on a 7.53-acre property on the east side of Woodmoor Drive, which was due to be heard at the June 20 BOCC land use meeting, was withdrawn by the applicant. No future date was set for it to be heard.

The application was heard at the May 18 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting where the vote to recommend for approval was 6-1. Commissioner Eric Moraes was the nay vote. Neighbors raised concerns at that meeting about water availability and traffic, particularly in relation to the nearby schools and pedestrian safety. See https://www.ocn.me/v23n6.htm#epcpc.

Vessey Road rezone to RR-2.5

Also at the June 20 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners heard a request to rezone a 14-acre Black Forest property from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential). It is located west of the intersection of Vessey Road and Black Forest Road and south of the intersection of Vessey Road and Pine Castle Drive.

The applicant has also submitted a minor subdivision application and wishes to divide the property into a three-lot subdivision with each lot being four acres or greater. This application is currently under review.

The request was unanimously approved as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It came to the BOCC from the May 18 Planning Commission meeting with a recommendation for approval. At that meeting the item was pulled from the consent calendar and elevated to a full hearing after concerns were raised that the rezone would allow the applicant or a subsequent owner to ask for five lots in the future. This concern was alleviated by adding a condition that the applicant abide by the 4-acre lot sizes set out in the subdivision application. The applicant agreed to this.

Kinch minor subdivision

At the June 6 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners heard a request by Paul and Amy Kinch to subdivide their 29.12-acre property on Milam Road into three 5-acre lots and one 14-acre lot. The subdivision does not require a rezone as the land is already zoned RR-5.

The applicants plan to build a new home on the larger lot and sell the other three. They state in their letter of intent that the subdivision will allow them to better maximize the use of their land.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no further discussion. It came to the BOCC with a recommendation for approval following the May 4 Planning Commission hearing.

Appointments to the Planning Commission

At their June 6 meeting, the commissioners approved four appointments to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Jay Carlson was reappointed for a second term as a regular member with a term running until June 1, 2026. He is the commission’s vice chair. Commissioner Christopher Witney, who has been an associate member, was appointed as a regular member with a term running until June 6, 2026. New to the commission, Jeff Markewich and Wayne Smith were appointed as associate members for a one-year term running until June 6, 2024.

Regular members may serve two three-year terms. Associate members are appointed for one year and may serve two consecutive terms. Members can apply to serve more than two terms.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissionersarticles

Triview Metropolitan District, June 22 – NDS pipeline project progressing

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on June 22, the board received an update on the progress of the Northern Delivery System (NDS) pipeline project, approved a water rights lease agreement, and held an executive session to discuss acquisitions, negotiations, and receive legal advice for water, and property, and the draft aquifer storage and recovery report.

Vice Chairman Anthony Sexton was excused.

NDS update

District Manager James McGrady said the NDS pipeline project had reached Roller Coaster Road, and Kiewit Infrastructure is installing about 300 feet of pipeline per day, (the original bid had predicted 200 feet per day). The pipeline project has reached the trail head entrance to Fox Run Regional Park, and everything is going extremely well, he said. The pipeline is expected to reach Highway 83 by September, and he thanked Kiewit Infrastructure for working with landowners along the pipeline to negotiate storage of materials along the route. The district plans to complete the overlay of asphalt along the pipeline route in early fall, he said.

For NDS pipeline project updates, answers to questions and concerns, and to sign-up for email notifications, visit www.triviewnds.com. The link can also be found at www.triviewmetro.com.

Note: TMD is expecting to receive district-owned renewable surface water via the pipeline after the pump house is built next to the Colorado Springs Utilities water storage tank east of Highway 83 and Old Northgate Road. The pump house is scheduled for completion in October 2024.

Water rights lease agreement

McGrady requested the board review and consider an amendment to the district water rights lease agreement between James Treat of 7021 County Road 104, Salida and TMD. The district owns all of Bale Ditch 1, that diverts water into the Arkansas River, and owns half of Bale Ditch 2. The Treat family owns and uses the second half of Bale 2 to irrigate a hay crop. The agreement allows the district to have a standing lease to begin using the second half of the Bale Ditch water whenever Treat decides to stop using the water. The district will pay Treat for the use of the water. In addition to an existing water right, the agreement will justify and include the Treat water right, and whenever he decides to sell in the future, the district would likely be the buyer of the other half of Bale 2. The district has undertaken the engineering portion to divert the water from Bale 2 back to the Arkansas River, he said.

Water Attorney Chris Cummins of Monson Cummins & Shotet LLC said the lease agreement is favorable for owner Treat because it will avoid his duplication of the engineering costs to divert his share of water back into the Arkansas River.

Director Jason Gross said the agreement constitutes astute planning.

The board approved the water rights lease agreement between the district and Treat and authorized the district manager to sign with only non-substantive changes to the approved agreement, 4-0.

Operations report

McGrady said the following:

  • The Pueblo 1041 permit was scheduled for review and consideration by the Pueblo County Commissioners on June 27. The permit is critical for the district to operate all its water assets and exchanges between it and Pueblo.
  • The pump station at the Stonewall Springs Reservoir, Pueblo County, was commissioned on June 26, and the district has begun storing water in the reservoir.
  • The Upper Monument Creek Waste Water Regional Treatment Facility’s 86-page report is being reviewed by the district. The report will be discussed in the July executive session. See www.ocn.me/v23n4.htm#tmd.

Higby Road redesign

McGrady said the Higby Road redesign was undecided due to the multiple staff turnovers at the Town of Monument (TOM). A meeting is scheduled with the TOM to work through some of the technicalities of the design. The district has a comprehensive functional design that meets everyone’s needs including the school district’s, he said. The TOM Planning Department now have new staff with different ideas on the width of the road. The district is managing the project and engaged two traffic engineers, one with over 25 years of experience from Colorado Springs, and a design engineer. A Kiewit engineer also provided a cost estimate for the project. The district did collect money from developers to pay for the Higby Road project, he said.

Gross requested a confirmation briefing to ensure the design considers teen driver safety. See www.ocn.me/v23n2.htm#tmd.

Unexplained water loss cause discovered

Superintendent Shawn Sexton said after re-calculating the water usage versus water sold the district discovered a water loss of a little over 7% compared to previous months that indicated as much as a 15%-22% water loss. Water loss is at a normal acceptable level, but zero would be best.

McGrady said the unexplained water loss discussion in May was due to the district reading the meters on the 28th of each month, but the real reading is on the last day of the month. In winter, the extra days are added to the next month, but a hot day after the 28th in spring and summer would show higher usage. In the future, the district will compare apples to apples to ensure accurate water loss levels. The calculations were just a measurement issue, thrown off by high usage days, he said. See www.ocn.me/v23n6.htm#tmd.

Financial update

President Mark Melville requested the board review and approve the checks over $5,000 and said that all expenses were budgeted line items and part of the overall 2023 budget.

The board approved the checks over $5,000 as presented, 4-0.

Treasurer/Secretary James Barnhart noted that vehicle expenses were at $660,000—1100% over the budgeted $20,000 for 2023 in the financial report.

McGrady said the staff would need to investigate what appears to be a possible line-item discrepancy. The district conducts all vehicle oil changes in house, but expenses have been high for tires and fuel. Having an in-house mechanic has saved money for the district, and until the district purchased a $500 blade sharpener, the district had a weekly expense for the sharpening of blades. The cost of sub-contracting jobs is high and the district endeavors to keep most jobs in house, he said.

The board accepted the financial report as presented, 4-0.

Public Works and Parks and Open Space update

Superintendent Matt Rayno said the following:

  • The spring weather pattern has been a huge challenge for the staff to keep the district in viable shape. The district has seen excessive plant growth due to the rainfall, and additional weed control and early pruning is needed. A typical spring is not usually as wet, and herbicide control has been diluted by the water. Mowing is needed every five days, and the staff are working hard to catch up.
  • The paving is now complete at the new state-of-the-art facility at A Yard (located adjacent to the power station east of Jackson Creek Parkway). The new facility will house the 900-ECO 12-yard truck-mounted combination sewer cleaner, on order since August 2022. See www.ocn.me/v22n9.htm#tmd.
  • The Agate Creek Park enhancement project is nearing completion, with two staff dedicated to working on the park. Staff planted about 500 shrubs alongside the trails and anticipate a July 4 completion date. Foot traffic will not be permitted until after the surface is stabilized and the first mow is completed.
  • The Remington Hills overlay project was placed on hold due to erosion from the new development and the weather, but the district is hoping to begin the overlay July 9, after patching and re-stabilizing the road.

This reporter mentioned the wet trail behind Split Creek Drive at the intersection below the retention pond behind Transcontinental Drive in Promontory Pointe. Although a drain exists in the low point of the trail intersection, and drain improvements had been made in the past, the area more often remains wet throughout the year, causing the majority of trail users to cut another trail close to a property line. The pet station receptacle placed just west of the soggy area is often difficult to access from the trail that runs from the northern utility tract, south to Lyons Tail Road. Although the region has experienced an unusually wet spring, the problem has existed since the beginning of the development, hence the well-worn trail that veers from the designated trail, she said.

Melville suggested some additional buildup in the area might alleviate the problem.

Gross asked if a wet spot on the trail system behind Oxbow Drive could be fixed. He said a neighbor’s sump pump drains onto the trail, and he suggested the district install drainage in that area.

Rayno said that another resident on Lacuna Drive has a sump pump dumping out, and that the district needs to create culverts to help drain water in these spots, but many trails need work, especially after the prolonged heavy spring rain storms.

Executive session

The board moved into an executive session at 7:21 p.m. pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 24-6-402(4) (a), (b), and (e), to discuss acquisitions, negotiations, and receive legal advice for water and property, and the draft aquifer storage and recovery report. See www.ocn.me/v23n6.htm#dwsd.

After the meeting, Assistant District Manager Steve Sheffield confirmed that no decisions were made when the board returned to the regular meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday every month at the district office at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 20 at 5:30 p.m. For meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

Other Triview Metropolitan District articles

Monument Fire District, June 28 – Board meeting held after publication

By Natalie Barszcz

The Monument Fire District (MFD) board scheduled its meeting for June 28 which was after this issue of Our Community News had gone to press. Coverage of that meeting will be included in our Aug. 5 issue.

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Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For Zoom meeting instructions, agendas, minutes, and updates, visit www.monumentfire.org or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin at 719-484-9011.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

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Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 12 – Audit shows good financial health, Lori Akers retires

Correction

In last month’s article, board member Roy Martinez was incorrectly identified as Tom Martinez. Our Community News regrets the error.

By James Howald

At its June meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard an audit report on its 2022 finances. The district’s lawyer announced some changes to her legal firm. The district’s engineer updated the board on changes to the Highway 105 expansion plans and other projects. The impact of recent rainy weather was discussed. The board celebrated the service of longtime employee Lori Akers. The July board meeting was rescheduled, and the meeting ended with an executive session.

Retiring Billing Manager Lori Akers was feted by Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board members, staff, and friends from Woodmoor Improvement Association and the community. Akers worked at WWSD for 38 years in a variety of positions, including meter reading, reporting and repairing, main break repairs, landscaping, front office, and billing. She started in 1985 as a part-time employee when the district had 817 customers and most of the roads were yet to be paved. She became a full-time employee in 1987, doing customer service and using two-way radios to communicate with other employees. She initially did billing by hand, sending out bills on 3-by-5 cards, then helped implement computer-based billing and oversaw three software conversions. During her tenure, WWSD grew to over 4,000 customers. Akers said, “I don’t cry, but I have a lump in my throat,” and she planned to enjoy her retirement touring on her motorcycle. Photo by Jackie Burhans

“Smooth audit”

Uli Keeley, of Prospective Business Solutions LLC, presented the results of the audit of the district’s finances for 2022. Keeley said this was her first audit for the district, but she was familiar with its finances. The board selected her as its auditor in December 2022. Keeley had worked for the district’s previous auditor John Cutler and Associates on WWSD issues before she started her own company.

Keeley’s report issued the district an unmodified opinion, an indication that the audit did not uncover concerning issues.

She pointed out a new line item in the net position portion of the report called “land lease receivables.” Governmental Accounting Standard Board regulations have changed how leases are reported on balance sheets. WWSD leases a portion of the Woodmoor Ranch property, triggering this new reporting requirement.

Keeley said the district’s net position, which represents the district’s equity in its infrastructure, had increased by $4 million since 2021.

Keeley said since this was her first audit of district finances, she was required to do extra work to confirm all beginning balances. She found the previous auditor had deferred the reporting of some revenues that she thought should not be deferred, and she had corrected that.

The board voted unanimously to approve the audit report and authorize Keeley to file it with the state.

District lawyer moves to new firm

Erin Smith, WWSD’s lawyer, announced that her partner of 25 years was retiring, and she planned to merge her practice with Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel LLP, a firm in Durango that has a 75-year history with water law. Her rules of conduct require her to notify the board, she said, and ask for a motion to allow the president to sign a memo authorizing this change and permitting her to move her files to the new firm.

The board voted unanimously to authorize President Barrie Town to sign the required memo.

Highway 105 expansion delayed

District Engineer Ariel Hacker told the board that Phase A of El Paso County’s plans to expand Highway 105 between Jackson Creek Parkway and Lake Woodmoor Drive were being rebid. She said the county expected to award the new contract by the end of June and begin construction in August. Because of this delay, Hacker recommended that WWSD rebid the work required by the county’s project because WWSD received only one bid, which was much higher than expected. Because of the county’s expansion plans, WWSD needs to move water and sewer service lines that are in county rights of way adjacent to the highway.

Hacker mentioned two other WWSD projects she intended to rebid. The largest of these is the installation of additional equipment to manage water pressure in Zone Five, the southernmost portion of the WWSD service area. She said she was also considering whether to rebid construction needed to connect Well 19 to the WWSD infrastructure as a separate project or add it to the Zone Five project.

Spring rains mean free water, headaches

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine told the board that WWSD is currently supplying only groundwater to customers. He added that the rainy weather meant free water for the district, since there are no energy costs to acquire the resulting surface water as there are with ground water. WWSD has not needed to divert water from Monument Creek due to the precipitation, he said. The water level in the Augusta Pit is high, and that additional water has been conveyed to Woodmoor Lake by gravity.

The downside to the rain, LaFontaine explained, is that once the ground is saturated, the rain often infiltrates the sewer lines through leaky manhole covers and stresses the water treatment plant.

Lori Akers to retire

The board celebrated Lori Akers, who served WWSD in many roles for 38 years. .

July board meeting rescheduled

The board delayed its July board meeting by one week until July 17 to allow additional time to prepare WWSD’s midyear budget update.

Executive session

The board meeting ended with an executive session to discuss pending litigation.

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The next meeting is scheduled for July 17 at 1 p.m. Meetings are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at the district office at 1845 Woodmoor Drive; please see www.woodmoorwater.com or call 719-488-2525 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Other Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District articles

Monument Sanitation District, June 21 – Board hears audit report

By Jackie Burhans and James Howald

At its June meeting, the Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board heard an audit report of the district’s 2022 budget. General Manager Mark Parker discussed the need to repair a sewer line running under Highway 105. The meeting ended with an executive session.

District finances in good shape

Derek Watada, an auditor from Olson, Reyes & Sauerwein LLC, told the board that as part of his audit process he worked with district staff to understand financial processes and tested them. He said the district’s books are clean, requiring only a few minor adjustments. The district’s financial statements are materially accurate, he said.

Watada said the district’s assets increased by $1.7 million over 2021. Tap fees generated $1.9 million in cash flow in 2022, an indicator of Monument’s rapid growth. He mentioned $200,000 in receivables, most of which is uncollected user fees, $60,000 of which are delinquent. A single commercial account owes $55,000 of the delinquent fees, he said.

Watada pointed out a new line item in the audit report: net pension assets. He explained this line resulted from the fact that Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association, which had been underwater, is now in a position where future payouts are less than its balance. Previously, MSD’s audits had shown a pension liability, but with PERA’s return to financial health the current report shows an asset instead. MSD’s previous audit showed total liabilities of $400,000; that total is now $275,000, Watada said, primarily due to the new pension asset.

Watada said MSD’s net position, which represents equity in the district’s infrastructure, had increased by $1.9 million in the last year.

He ended his presentation by commenting that the tap fees from over 200 new accounts were the primary driver of the year’s financial performance.

The board voted unanimously to approve the audit report and to file it with the state.

In his discussion of the financial reports for May, Parker pointed out that an increase in gas prices had raised the amount spent on utilities. Director William Morgan pointed out that interest income for the district had increased due to the higher interest rates.

The month’s financial reports were approved unanimously.

Sewer line needs attention

Parker said a sewer line that serves the Conoco gas station, the McDonald’s restaurant, and Jarrito Loco has been discovered to have portions that have sunk and are causing problems. The line runs under Highway 105 and is next to Taco Bell’s drive-through on the west side of the highway. Parker said he thought the problems resulted from poor installation. The line is installed 14 feet deep, making the repair more difficult, Parker said. In the short term the line can be cleaned, but repairing it properly could result in interruptions to business, he said.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss the general manager’s performance review.

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Monument Sanitation District meetings are normally held at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in the district conference room at 130 Second St., Monument. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 19, 2023. See https://colorado.gov/msd. For a district service map, see https://colorado.gov/pacific/msd/district-map-0. Information: 719-481-4886.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Other Monument Sanitation District articles

Donala Water and Sanitation District, June 15 – Contractor selection process defined

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

At its June meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) debated a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) document that will be used to select engineers and other contractors. Updates of the district’s personnel policies and operating regulations were discussed. Board President Wayne Vanderschuere discussed what he learned about energy costs at a recent Mountain View Electric Association (MVEA) meeting. The board heard details of financial and operational reports.

The meeting ended with an executive session to receive legal advice on DWSD’s Upper Monument Creek Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF) Intergovernmental Agreement.

RFQ document approved; contractors pre-qualified

At the May board meeting, General Manager Jeff Hodge told the board that the district is receiving federal funds via the American Recovery Plan Act, and those funds bring with them a requirement to implement a standard process to evaluate contractors that aligns with federal regulations. He presented a draft of an RFQ form to be used when evaluating contractors. The board voted to refine the form and make a final decision at its next meeting.

Following discussion at the June meeting, the board committed to use the RFQ form as presented.

Hodge said four contracting companies had been evaluated using the new process. He presented the evaluations of Merrick & Co., Kimley-Horn, Meyer & Sams Inc. and LRE Water. All four companies scored between 95 and 100 points using the new evaluation process.

Hodge explained these companies were now pre-qualified to be awarded contracts up to $60,000 without further evaluation. Each company had its own areas of expertise, he said.

The board voted unanimously to approve the RFQ document and to add the four companies to the district’s list of pre-qualified contractors.

Personnel policies updated

Madison Phillips, a lawyer with Cockrel Ela Glesne Greher and Ruhland, the law firm representing the district, presented the results of her review of the district’s personnel policy document. Phillips said she had made all the substantive changes requested by the board. She mentioned that the updated policies now used the Consumer Price Index in Denver only as a data point, allowing the use of other information to determine salaries. She also said the policy for time off now specifies Paid Time Off will be used first and when that is exhausted Short Term Disability leave will be used. When that ends, the employee will transition to Long Term Disability.

The board voted unanimously to approve the updated policies.

Operating rules and regulations reviewed

The board considered a new version of its rules and regulations, which govern all aspects of the district’s operations, including how to apply for service, how service will be measured, fees, penalties and charges, control of prohibited waste, and enforcement.

Phillips said some changes had been made to align the rules with changes to the Clean Water Act.

The board voted unanimously to approve the updated rules and regulations.

Energy costs to rise

During the directors’ comments portion of the agenda, Vanderschuere told the board that he attended the MVEA annual meeting, and that he had learned that Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc., MVEA’s supplier of electrical power, will increase the wholesale price of electricity by 8% in 2023. Wholesale power costs are 66% of MVEA’s costs, since MVEA does not produce power itself. MVEA has not increased prices for residential customers in six years, he said, and it will try to cover the increased cost, but it will be difficult for them to do so.

Time of day billing, which charges MVEA’s commercial customers, including DWSD, higher rates at peak usage hours, will be a bigger factor, he said, adding that DWSD should concentrate on timing work to align with the lower-cost time periods. Vanderschuere said the price during peak hours was 24 cents per kilowatt hour and the price was 10 cents per kilowatt hour during the less expensive hours of the day.

Hodge pointed out that increasing energy costs are one of the reasons DWSD is adding variable flow devices (VFDs) to its wells. They reduce energy costs, he explained.

Vanderschuere said energy cost increase will be a factor in DWSD’s future budgets, and he thought the district should plan for the worst.

Highlights of financial and operational reports

  • Hodge said revenues for water sales were low—25% of what was expected midway through the year—due to the rainy weather. That will change during the summer months.
  • Hodge said moving to Piper Sandler Investment Bank saved DWSD $150,000.
  • Water Operator Ronny Wright said wells 1A and 8A have had VFDs installed. Well 14A was due to have a VFD installed on June 26. Well 16A, which is under construction, will also have a VFD installed. Energy suppliers are offering rebates up to $20,000 when VFDs are installed, and VFDs can be remotely managed by software to further reduce energy costs.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to receive legal advice concerning negotiations regarding the UMCRWWTF Intergovernmental Agreement.

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The next meeting is scheduled for July 20 at 9:30 p.m. so that a tour of UMCRWWTF can be held. Generally, board meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. and include online access; call (719) 488-3603 or access www.donalawater.org to receive up-to-date meeting information. The district office is located at 15850 Holbein Drive, Colorado Springs.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Donala Water and Sanitation District articles

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, June 15 – Board awards contract for project manager

By James Howald

At its June meeting, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA) board chose a company to provide project management services. The board also heard the results of the last round of water quality testing.

The EPCRLWA was formed in November 2022 by an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD), Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD), the Town of Monument (TOM), and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) to build infrastructure that would allow water, including treated effluent, that is flowing south in Monument and Fountain Creeks to be stored at Calhan Reservoir at Woodmoor Ranch and then pumped back north to be used by customers of the participating districts.

Merrick & Co. selected for project management services

Following an executive session held to select the company that will provide project management services, Jessie Shaffer, president of the EPCRLWA board, told those present that four bids were received to provide the needed services. Three of the bids were strong, and those companies were interviewed. Mike Foreman, EPCRLWA secretary and Monument town manager, moved to award the contract to Merrick & Co. The board voted unanimously in favor of the motion.

The role of the project manager was discussed in previous meetings. The project manager will coordinate the work of engineers, consultants, and other contractors, allowing the EPCRLWA to have a small staff. Initially, the project manager will work on an as-needed basis. The project manager will not oversee construction.

Water quality testing continues

Josh McGibbon and Peter Hassinger, of JVA Consulting Engineers, the company EPCRLWA has hired to provide ongoing water quality testing, gave the board a summary of the testing done on May 26 at the headgate of the Chilcott Ditch. The ditch, which diverts water from Fountain Creek and conveys it to the Calhan reservoir, was not running when the testing was done because the reservoir was full due to recent rain, McGibbon said.

Hassinger said the results were mostly in line with previous testing:

  • pH and hardness measurements were close to previous results.
  • Nitrate was between 4.5 to 4.9 in previous testing and was 3.6 in the latest tests.
  • There was a small rise in iron and manganese levels.
  • Turbidity increased from 17 to 216.
  • Organic carbon levels remain low.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 20 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Workshop meetings are held every Thursday at 9 a.m. at rotating venues. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority articles

Monument Town Council, June 5 and 19 – Town Code amendments approved on narrow vote; Wilson sheds light on state bills

By Chris Jeub

During two meetings held in June, the Monument Town Council tackled code amendments, resolutions, and an ordinance. The discussions surrounding the Town Code amendments were lengthy, resulting in a split vote among council members. In addition to these local matters, former Mayor Don Wilson, now serving as the representative for District 20, presented insights on state-level House and Senate bills and their implications for Monument.

Town Code amended on split vote

Ordinance No. 12-2023, which amends four sections of the Town Municipal Code, passed narrowly with a 4-3 vote. Director of Planning Shelia Booth presented the ordinance, highlighting the need for modifications due to window wells being built without easements, in violation of the code. Town staff conducted inquiries with various entities and recommended updating sections related to setbacks and easements as the most effective solution.

However, council members expressed differing opinions on the proposed changes. Mayor Mitch LaKind voiced concerns about imposing mandatory window well covers on homeowners, and Councilmember Marco Fiorito agreed, feeling uncomfortable with the requirement. Councilmember Steve King expressed safety concerns, particularly regarding the reduced clearance between window wells and fences. On the other hand, Councilmember Sana Abbott believed developers should be responsible for installing window well covers due to their cost, while Councilmember Ken Kimple opposed requiring homeowners to do so.

Public comments were divided, with a representative from Challenger Homes supporting the proposed changes, emphasizing the importance of continuing construction based on existing designs. The discussion also touched on other issues, including updating the definition of “Family Child Care” to comply with state law and revising the definition of “Lot Coverage” to address concerns related to smaller parcels.

Ultimately, the ordinance passed with a narrow 4-3 vote, but the handling of the ordinance by town staff was lightly admonished. LaKind stated that combining multiple issues in one ordinance without separation should not happen again. Town Manager Mike Foreman acknowledged the concern and assured the council that their feedback had been heard.

Resolutions passed

Resolution No. 41-2023, a resolution approving a final plat for Home Place Ranch Filing No. 3, passed unanimously. Town Planner Jeff Liljegren presented the project, which is located along Gleneagle Drive between Higby and Baptist Roads. Town staff supported the applicant’s rationale, and a traffic study indicated that the development would include 299 homes and one amenity center with 38 parking spots. Kimple raised concerns about the need for a new traffic study and the noise impact of a pickleball court. Mayor LaKind suggested Kimple bring up a pickleball noise ordinance rather than denying the resolution. Ultimately, the resolution passed with a 7-0 vote.

The second resolution, No. 42-2023, focused on adopting the Town of Monument’s 2023 Three-Mile Plan. Town Planner Shelia Booth explained that the plan places limitations on municipal annexations, restricting the extension of municipal boundaries to no more than three miles in any direction from the existing boundary within a single year. The resolution was previously approved unanimously by the Planning Commission. King sought clarification on whether property not included in the plan could still be annexed, and Booth confirmed that it was possible. The resolution passed with a unanimous 7-0 vote.

Retail paint store approved

Ordinance No. 11-2023, which approves the final planned unit development for the 705 W. Baptist Road Final PUD Plan on 0.73 acre, passed unanimously. Liljegren presented the details on behalf of the applicant. The project aims to establish a 4,500-square-foot retail paint store, a use permitted in the Planned Commercial Development zone. Situated adjacent to AutoZone and Family of Christ Lutheran Church, the project received a favorable recommendation for approval from the staff. Notably, no letters of opposition or agreement were received regarding the project. The Planning Commission expressed unanimous support, granting approval with a 7-0 vote, which subsequently resulted in the successful passage of the ordinance.

Rep. Don Wilson presentation

During his presentation to the Monument Town Council, former Mayor Don Wilson, now the representative for Colorado District 20, provided an overview of several state bills and their potential implications:

  • SB 23-166: This bill, despite Wilson’s opposition, was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis. It created another state board, despite the presence of similar resources.
  • First Right of Refusal: Wilson highlighted the concern surrounding this proposal, which would have required ranchers to sell houses to municipalities first, including RVs on their driveways. “Fortunately, the governor vetoed this bill,” Wilson said.
  • HB 1120: Wilson expressed displeasure with this bill, which mandates landlords to collaborate with tenants receiving government assistance before evicting them.
  • HB 1255: This bill allows municipalities to disclose reasons for halting growth without completely prohibiting it.
  • SB 23-303: Wilson addressed this bill, introduced by the governor, which aims to impact TABOR refunds. However, due to its complexity, it has led to uncertainty and legal challenges.
  • SB 23-213. Though this controversial land use bill failed to reach the governor’s desk, Wilson predicted it would return in a different form in the future.

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The Monument Council usually meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month at Monument Town Hall, 645 Beacon Lite Road. The first meeting in July is cancelled to observe the Fourth of July holiday. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 17. Call 719-884-8014 or see www.townofmonument.org for information. To see upcoming agendas and complete board packets or to download audio recordings of past meetings, see http://monumenttownco.minutesondemand.com and click on Town Council.

Chris Jeub can be reached at chrisjeub@ocn.me.

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Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, June 8 and 22 – Board repeals water emergency ordinance

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

The Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) held two regular board meetings in June, each preceded by an executive session. On June 8, the board repealed an ordinance declaring a water emergency and considered the creation of an enterprise fund related to water. It heard an update from Town Administrator Dawn Collins. It voted on two resolutions and considered participating in a block grant program and an advisory board. The board debated how to zone healing centers where patients can be treated with psylocibin mushrooms. A special event permit was approved. The June 8 meeting was opened with Palmer Lake Elementary School student Kaston Flake leading the pledge of allegiance.

At its June 22 meeting, the board heard a staff update from Assistant Town Clerk Julia Stambaugh. The board held public hearings followed by votes on two land use projects: the first a conditional use permit and the second involving requests to vacate rights of way and replat four lots into one. It heard a presentation on a grant for six pickleball courts planned for the west side of Palmer Lake just north of the pedestrian bridge. Finally, it granted a special event permit.

Water emergency repealed; enterprise fund considered

The board considered Ordinance 14-2023, which amends the municipal code to repeal a declaration of emergency regarding the water supply. Mayor Glant Havenar explained the change to the municipal code was necessary so that the board can proceed with its work on projects needed to maintain the water system which impact water rates. Town Attorney Matthew Krob said the town’s water infrastructure needs work and the emergency status would prevent lenders from funding needed improvements.

Resident Roger Moseley opposed the repeal, arguing that the town had not met the requirements to end the emergency such as acquiring new water sources. Moseley expressed concern that repealing the emergency would lead to more development subsidized by residents.

The board voted unanimously to approve the ordinance.

Trustees Samantha Padgett and Shana Ball said they were ready to move forward with the creation of an enterprise fund needed to finance the stormwater drainage project the board is considering. Collins provided a memo to the board with information regarding enterprise funds.

No motion was proposed, but the board agreed to move forward with the establishment of an enterprise fund.

Staff update, June 8

At the June 8 meeting, Collins updated the board on the status of the trail being designed on the Elephant Rock Property and on two recent resignations. She said a property owner next door to the Elephant Rock property had agreed to move an existing fence and the trail would be repositioned. She announced Deputy Town Clerk Julia Stambaugh had resigned her position to take a job in the private sector. Stambaugh was scheduled to stay through the end of June, Collins said. Collins also said Samantha Deeder had resigned from the Parks Commission.

The condition of Highway 105 south of Spring Street has been reported to the Colorado Department of Transportation, Collins said, and it has committed to patching the highway and improving the drainage.

Two resolutions passed

Police Chief Jason Vanderpool asked the board to approve Resolution 43-2023, which authorizes the renewal of a memo of understanding with all El Paso County agencies that those agencies will assist the Palmer Lake Police department in any case where a Palmer Lake officer is involved in a shooting. All officer-involved shootings must be investigated by an outside agency, he said. The memo, which covers a four-year period, has already been approved three times.

The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

Fire Chief John Vincent told the board that the LaFrance fire truck, built in 2001, one of two trucks owned by the department, had recently failed a pump test and was to be repaired. He said the truck needed too many repairs to remain in service and asked the board to approve Resolution 44-2023, which authorizes him to list the engine for sale. He said the funds from the sale would go to capital improvements or back into the budget.

The board voted unanimously in favor of listing the engine for sale.

Board agrees to join block grant program

Havenar asked the board to consider joining the El Paso County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which aims to address urgent needs, mitigate blight conditions, and benefit low- to moderate-income families using funds provided by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It costs the town nothing to join, she said, and membership would help with grants and funding. Building these relationships ensures the town’s voice is heard.

The board voted to participate in the program and Trustee Ball volunteered to manage the town’s participation.

For many of the same reasons, the board decided to participate in the Community Development Advisory Board as well, which makes recommendations to the El Paso Board of County Commissioners concerning the use of CDBG funds. Ball volunteered to represent the town on the advisory board.

Healing centers zoned M1

The board debated Ordinance 15-2023, which adds healing centers where patients can receive treatment with psilocybin mushrooms to the list of conditional uses in areas zoned M1 general industrial. Havenar said no applications for healing centers had been received by the town to date, but she wanted to be prepared. Attorney Krob explained that if towns fail to establish zoning for the centers, then they can be anywhere in the town. Towns can’t refuse applications to create healing centers, he said.

The board voted to approve the ordinance, with Trustees Ball, Kevin Dreher, Nick Ehrhardt, Padgett, Dennis Stern and Mayor Havenar voting in favor. Trustee Jessica Farr voted no.

Special event permits granted

The board heard a request for a special event permit for The Springs 50 Trail Walk, which was held on June 9. Stambaugh, speaking on behalf of the applicant, told the board the event consisted of a group of 50 veterans walking from Palmer Lake to Fort Carson. The walk will provide a time for them to bond, Stambaugh said. The board voted unanimously to grant the permit and waive the event fee. The board also approved a permit for the Pikes Peak Library District to hold three concerts in the Village Green on Aug. 11, 18, and 25.

June 8 executive session

The board meeting was preceded by an executive session to receive legal advice regarding lease agreements at the Elephant Rock property, a possible annexation, and an Intergovernmental Agreement involving the Palmer Lake Fire Department, a complaint against the Palmer Lake Police Department and a personnel matter.

June 22 staff update

At its June 22 meeting, Stambaugh told the board that the audit of the town’s 2022 finances would be complete by July. She said the audit process was smoother this year because of recent changes to the accounting codes. Stambaugh said she expected the town’s insurance premiums to be lower due to improved training and compliance with CIRSA requirements. She mentioned tax revenues from the sale of adult use cannabis were beginning to come in and looked promising. She said the town was seeking an interim accounting service to help with bookkeeping and that Water Operator Steve Orcutt had provided feedback to GMS Engineering Inc. on their preliminary engineering report on stormwater drainage.

Conditional use permit granted

At its June 22 meeting, the board held a public hearing on an application by Curtis Claar for a conditional use permit in a Community Commercial (CC) zone. The permit would allow Claar to build a mixed-use commercial and residential building, with an electrical vehicle charging station in the parking lot, on a small triangular lot at the intersection of Primrose Street and Columbine Road. Claar’s application states the commercial portion of the building will house the office for his vehicle charging business and he will use the residential portion as his home. Claar said the Planning Commission had agreed to the concept. Ball said Claar’s proposal conforms with the town’s master plan.

There were no comments from the public and the hearing was closed.

The board voted unanimously to approve Resolution 45-2023, which allows Claar to move forward with his plan.

Rights of way vacated; replat approved

The board held two public hearings on applications from Cindy Powell and Duran Walton Ventures LLC to vacate rights of way on El Moro Avenue and on Bijou Avenue. A third hearing was held on a related application from Duran Walton Ventures LLC to replat 15 lots into five on which residences will be built. Havenar disclosed that she had been involved as a realtor in the sale of the lots a year previously.

During the first hearing, Krob pointed out that if the right of way for El Moro were granted, the town would still retain a right of way to build a trail on the property in question. The first hearing was closed quickly with no questions from the public.

During the second hearing, there were no questions about the vacation, but Drew Walton of Duran Walter Ventures LLC was asked about his plan to build on the replated lots. He said he intended to build small houses on the four lots, one for himself and his wife, and others for family members. The hearing was closed after that question.

There were no questions from the public on the third hearing.

Following the public hearings, the board voted unanimously in favor of Ordinance 16-2023, which vacates El Moro Avenue, Ordinance 17-2023, which vacates Bijou Avenue and Resolution 46-2023, which approves the requested replat.

Grant for pickleball courts

Tim Cares and Mike Pietsch told the board they had been offered a $250,000 grant to build six pickleball courts and a bathroom on the west side of Palmer Lake just north of the pedestrian bridge. The design they submitted, however, locates the courts over a water line, a pipeline that carries water. Acceptance of the grant would require the water line to be moved. They asked for the board’s thoughts on whether the grant should be accepted.

Havenar said she met with Cares, Pietsch, Orcutt, and Reid Wiecks of the Parks Commission. Other locations for the courts were discussed and rejected. Orcutt expressed concerns about the cost of moving the water line. She added that Awake the Lake (ATL) had committed some funds to the project.

Ball argued for accepting the grant even at the price of moving the water line.

Pietsch explained the courts would be for day use only, with no additional lighting. The courts would be open to the community at no cost but would also generate revenue by charging leagues and tournaments. In response to a concern from Trustee Kevin Dreher about possible cost overruns, Pietsch said ATL had pledged $100,000 over the amount of the grant.

Pietsch said the next step, if the town approved, would be to work on a more formal design for the entire project.

Krob advised the board to see more details before authorizing Cares and Pietsch to accept the grant.

June 22 executive session

The June 22 board meeting was preceded by an executive session to receive legal advice on a complaint involving the Palmer Lake Police Department, on a grant, and on a lease.

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The next board meetings are scheduled for July 13 and 27. See the town’s website at www.townofpalmerlake.com to confirm times and dates of board meetings and workshops. Meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Town Hall. Information: 719-481-2953.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

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Monument Academy School Board, June 8 – Board reorganizes, hears legislative

By Jackie Burhans

At its June 8 regular meeting, the Monument Academy board spotlighted a departing board member and filled a vacancy with a former board candidate. The board also heard a legislative update from House Rep. Don Wilson, HD-20. Finally, the board heard about an upcoming meeting on Navigating Gender Issues as well as updates on the East Campus modulars and the West Campus Highway 105 recirculation project.

Board member changes

Board President Ryan Graham started the meeting by spotlighting board member Michael Geers, whose term would end on June 30. Geers had been appointed to fill the vacancy created when former board member Misty McCuen resigned in August 2022. Graham said boards remain strong and productive based on the people who serve and thanked Geers for his service.

Monument Academy (MA) board President Ryan Graham, left, presents a certificate of appreciation to Michael Geers, who was appointed to the board last August to fill a vacancy. Graham noted that a board’s effectiveness depends on the people who serve, thanking Geers for his service. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

With the May 25 resignation of board member Danny O’Brien, the MA board moved to fill this new vacancy. At McCuen’s resignation in August, the board held a community-wide search which resulted in the appointment of Geers. In that closed-ballot vote, candidate Karen Hoida was the runner-up.

Graham moved that the board appoint Hoida to fill the new vacancy, given that it occurred in the same fiscal year as their previous search. Hoida, a Leadership Program of the Rockies graduate, has lived in the area for 30 years, is a lawyer who specializes in litigation and real property, and supports the mission and vision of Monument Academy, which supports her values, she said. The board unanimously approved her appointment.

Above:On June 8, the Monument Academy (MA) school board unanimously appointed Karen Hoida to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Danny O’Brien. Hoida, who is a lawyer, will serve the remainder of his term. Photos by Jackie Burhans.

Hoida was sworn in and took her seat alongside other board members. All current board members, along with newly elected board member Matt Ross, will take their oaths of office in July. The board voted for its officers, retaining Graham as board president, Lindsay Clinton as vice president, Emily Belisle as secretary, and Joe Buczkowski as treasurer. Board committee assignments will be decided in July.

Legislative updates

Rep. Don Wilson HD-20, the former mayor of Monument, briefed the board on relevant bills from the 2023 legislative session. Wilson serves on the Education Committee in the state Legislature.

The bills he thought would be of interest to the MA board included:

At the June 8 meeting of the Monument Academy (MA) school board, state Rep. Don Wilson (left) provided an update on relevant bills from the 2023 legislative session. Photo by Jackie Burhans.
  • HB-1009 Secondary School Student Substance Use. This puts the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) in charge of how drug use is handled in districts and schools. This bill has been signed into law.
  • HB-1291 Procedures for Expulsion Hearing Officers. The state feels there should be uniform guidelines and a set way of handling expulsions. This bill has been signed into law.
  • HB-1003 School Mental Health Assessment. This lets the CDE conduct mental health assessments on students in sixth through 12th grade and provide mental health advice. The bill, which exempts home school enrichment students or those who only participate in extracurricular activities, has been signed into law.
  • HB-1176 PERA Defined Contribution Plan School Personnel. Wilson was a sponsor of this failed bill which would have allowed teachers to choose a 401K style defined contribution plan in lieu of the standard defined benefit plan.
  • HB-1025 Charter School Application Timelines. Although this doesn’t impact MA, it gives new charter schools more time to complete applications. It has been signed into law.
  • SB-087 Teacher degree apprenticeship program. Wilson was a sponsor on this bill, which was signed into law, that allows an alternative route to teacher licensure.
  • SB-065 Career Development Success Program. This bill, sponsored by Wilson and state Sen. Paul Lundeen SD-9 and signed into law, expands and continues access to trade schools by increasing funding. The bill removes the requirement for the successful completion of apprenticeships and adds the board of cooperative educational services (BOCES) to the program.
  • SB-205 Universal High School Scholarship Program. Wilson and Lundeen were sponsors for this bill, which was signed into law, that makes scholarships available to high school students who go into trades rather than a traditional four-year college.

Wilson said he looked forward to the next legislative session, where he would be watchful for bills impacting charter schools, including waivers for requirements for highly qualified teachers.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

  • Clinton reminded the attendees of the upcoming June 27 meeting on Navigating Gender Issues. It will be held at 6 p.m. on the East Campus and will include board members as well as MA’s lawyer Brad Miller. Topics will include Colorado state laws and the board’s proclamation against discrimination protection for LGBTQ students. There will be a question-and-answer session.
  • Graham reported that construction is underway on the recirculation road at MA’s West Campus that was required due to the Highway 105 widening. Overly saturated soil due to recent rains has slowed the project somewhat. He encouraged parents to be careful due to construction traffic.
  • Graham reported that modular construction on the East Campus would be completed in July before the school session begins in August.
At the June 8 meeting, board President Ryan Graham reported that construction was underway at the Monument Academy (MA) West Campus on the new recirculation road that goes around the school building to divert traffic from Highway 105. Recent rains have slowed the work due to oversaturated soil. Graham asked that MA parents use caution when driving around the school due to the construction traffic. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

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The MA School Board meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, July 13, at 6 p.m. at the East Campus. See more information at see https://bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Monument Academy articles

Lewis-Palmer Board of Education, June 26 – Board approves budgets for district and Monument Academy

By Harriet Halbig

The June 26 meeting of the Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education was held after the deadline for articles for this issue, but a brief description of the meeting follows. Please see the August 5 issue of OCN for additional coverage of what transpired at this meeting June 26.

The board approved the budgets for the 2023-24 school year for District 38 and for Monument Academy. Both budgets may be found in boarddocs on the district website, lewispalmer.org, under Board of Education.

Regarding a restructuring of bus routes discussed at the May 22 board meeting (See https://www.ocn.me/v23n6.htm#d38), one bus stop has been added east of Highway 83 to decrease the distance travelled by students. See the revised map on boarddocs.

The board voted to notify the county of its intent to participate in the November election and voted to call for nominations for directors. Four board seats are involved in the election.

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The Board of Education does not meet in July. The date for the August regular meeting has yet to be determined.

Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.

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June Weather Wrap

By Bill Kappel

June was the second month in a row of well-below normal temperatures and well-above normal rainfall. This was especially the record cold and wet period that was most active during the first three weeks of the month and included several days of severe weather. For the month, temperatures averaged about 4 degrees below normal and precipitation was more than three times the normal amount.

Numerous records were set as well along the Front Range and eastern plains. This included the second wettest period from May 1 through June 17 at the official Denver observational site where records extend back to 1872 and the coldest June 1-17 at that same site since 1872. Daily record rainfall occurred on several days during the month.

All this moisture and daily cloudiness kept temperatures very cool, with our first 80-degree temperatures not occurring until June 18. The last time we hit the 80s in the region was way back on the last day of summer, Sept. 20, 2022. The end of June also marks the end of the snow season. After a slow start we managed to make up a lot of ground from December through April and ended the season quickly with just a small amount of snow recorded in May and none in June.

Overall, we were slightly below normal for the season, just barely breaking above the 100-inch mark. Of course, the abundant moisture in May and June means we are far above normal for the seasonal precipitation having almost reached our yearly total in the first six months.

A cumulonimbus cloud looms large over Black Forest, reflecting the sun as it begins to set in the west at around 8 p.m. on June 21. The Gleneagle community is pictured below the cloud that occurred between two heavy rain storms with large damaging hail on the summer solstice. By 8:30 p.m., the cloud had been replaced with gray skies and electrical activity as the second storm moved in. Photo by Natalie Barszcz.

The first week of the month was wet and cool, with 1-2 inches of rain accumulating. The heaviest rainfall during the period was on the 3rd, when we had cloudy and cold conditions all day. High temperatures only managed to reach the low 50s that afternoon, making our weather feel more like Seattle in the winter than Colorado in the summer.

After a couple days of relatively dry but cool conditions, another week of wet weather moved in. This period included daily thunderstorm activity, with a few days producing hail and flash flooding. The heaviest rain fell on the 7th and the 11th through the 12th. Runoff was exacerbated by the saturated soils as the ground has had no time to dry out.

Extreme shifts in weather are something Coloradans are used to, but the weather changes from June 15 to 16 were even more wild. Early evening on June 15, a double rainbow appeared over the Lake of the Rockies community after a warm shower. The next day, seconds after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Pueblo, the skies opened up and dumped 2 inches of pea-size hail on the ground, knocking leaves off trees and damaging plants. In one Monument yard, a downspout shaped like a dragon looked like it was vomiting hail. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

The 14th saw a brief respite from the rainfall, but we were greeted by hazy skies this day as smoke from Canadian wildfires moved into the region. This smoke was quickly cleared out, however, with another round of heavy rainfall and areas of hail on the 15th and 16th.

Our first truly summer-like weather finally arrived on the 18th, with sunny skies and temperatures touching 80 degrees. The next afternoon was even warmer, hitting 84 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. After another mild and mostly sunny day on the 21st, more moisture moved back in. This time there was a high amount of instability to combine with the very moist air mass. This combination results in strong to severe thunderstorms on the 22nd and 23rd. Several tornadoes were reported in the region, with the strongest, an EF3 occurring south of Grenada and another near Highlands Ranch. Hail, sometimes large enough to cause damage, occurred both days. On the 22nd the most dramatic aspect was the hail that injured several spectators at Red Rocks Amphitheater. On the 23rd, parts of the Palmer Divide were hit with hail up to 2 inches in diameter, enough to cause dents in cars and damage to roofs.

Finally, a long stretch of relatively dry and quiet weather moved in to end the month. Mainly dry conditions, with sunny skies were the rule from the 24th through the 30th. This allowed the region to begin to dry out a little, just in time for the start of the North American Monsoon season. One benefit of all the moisture is all the plants are happy and everything is green. Now let’s hope our two wettest months of the year (July and August) are well-behaved.

A look ahead

July can be an active weather month around the region, as the Southwest Monsoon season gets going. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are a common occurrence, and when they tap into higher levels of moisture, flash flooding can result. Hot, stagnant weather can also take hold for a few days at time, with highs hitting the 90s on the warmest days.

June 2023 Weather Statistics

Average High 70.6° (-6.8°); 100-year return frequency value; max 82.5° min 66.3°

Average Low 44.7° (+0.4°); 100-year return frequency value; max 50.7° min 40.2°

Highest Temperature 84°F on the 19th

Lowest Temperature 37°F on the 2nd

Monthly Precipitation 6.58″; (+4.63” 330% above normal); 100-year return frequency value; max 6.94” min 0.15”

Monthly Snowfall: 0.0”; (-0.1” 100% below normal)

Season to Date Snow 105.4”; (-17.1” 14% below normal); (the snow season is from July 1 to June 30)

Season to Date Precip 16.96”; (+5.94” 45% above normal); (the precip season is from Jan 1 to Dec 31)

Heating Degree Days 230 (+135)

Cooling Degree Days 9 (-19)

Bill Kappel is a meteorologist and Tri-Lakes resident. He can be reached at billkappel@ocn.me.

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Letters to Our Community – Another hidden cost of excessive development

To make way for development natural land is stripped of its topsoil, then paved over with parking lots, roads, and driveways. This makes the ground impervious to surface water which normally makes its way through layers of earth, sand, and gravel where it is naturally filtered and naturally makes its way to be stored in natural aquifers. This surface water is commonly known to be non-potable, highly contaminated with various pollutants, both organic and inorganic.

The Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) solution mentioned in OCN June 3, 2023, page 18 proposes to collect this excess surface water (i.e., runoff created by excessive development) and inject it directly into the heretofore pristine aquifer through an existing well(s).

I ask you: What could possibly go wrong?

(My apologies for the excessive use of the words natural and naturally.)

Brian Clifford

Other Letters to Our Community

Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Adventure awaits

By the staff at Covered Treasures

“Adventure awaits. Grab your hiking boots and get ready for new adventures.”—Unknown

It’s hiking season! These are expert guidebooks to help you plan your adventures.

Trails to the Top: 50 Colorado Front Range Mountain Hikes

By Susan Joy Paul and Stewart M. Green (Falcon Press) $24.95

While Colorado’s 14ers and 13ers are well known, this new guide from local outdoor adventurers and authors Susan Joy Paul and Stewart M. Green takes readers off the beaten path—to the top of some of Colorado’s lesser-known, yet no less impressive mountains between 9,000 and 12,000 feet. The 50 unique routes covered feature amazing views with accessible trailheads for hikers of all skill levels, all located within a couple hours’ drive of Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. You’ll find hikes suited to every ability, color photos, GPS coordinates, directions to the trailhead, and mile-by-mile directional cues.

Trail Tips: Providing Inspiration for Your Journeys on the Trail, Personal, and Work Life

By Al Andersen (Al Andersen) $25

Everyone is on a journey in their hiking, personal, and work lives. The quality of our success often depends on the support and inspiration we get along the way. Trail Tips will get you thinking and inspire you on your adventures in life. Local author Al Andersen started out writing about his hikes and life. Many found them inspirational, and he has compiled them into this book.

100 Trails, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

By Joe Yogerst (National Geographic Society) $29.99

This travel guide takes you on a series of epic hiking and walking adventures on 100 trails around all 50 states and Canada, including the best scenic overlooks, camping sites, and off-trail activities. With each itinerary you’ll find practical planning advice for when to go and what to expect. This book offers something for everyone, from beginners looking for an easy day hike to advanced trekkers seeking multi-week excursions.

Best Summit Hikes in Colorado: 55 Classic Routes and 100+ Summits (Revised)

By James Dziezynski (Wilderness Press) $24.95

Mountaineer and explorer James Dziezynski presents 55 of Colorado’s best summit hikes. Now in color, this guide covers all of Colorado’s major ranges, including the Front Range, Sangre de Cristo, Sawatch, San Juan, and Mosquito and Ten Mile ranges. Each hike profile includes a topographic map with GPS waypoint and elevation profile, difficulty and class ratings tailored to Colorado’s unique terrain, optional routes for further exploration, and fascinating trivia and history.

Adventure Ready: A Hiker’s Guide to Planning, Training & Resiliency

By Katie Gerber and Heather Anderson (Mountaineers Books) $24.95

In this comprehensive guide, renowned hikers Katie “Salty” Gerber and Heather “Anish” Anderson help prepare long-distance hikers for all the challenges—physical, mental, emotional—they may encounter while on the trail for weeks or months. Backpackers will find detailed information about everything from gear selection, navigation, safety, and trip planning to nutritional and physical preparation and body resiliency to how to readjust after returning home. Worksheets and checklists make for easy planning.

The Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs: Trail-Tested Tips and Expert Advice for Canine Adventures

By Jen Sotolongo (Falcon Press) $24.95

As a dog owner, hiking with your canine companion is one of the most rewarding experiences. With this guide, you and your four-legged friend can be ready for anything the wilderness might throw at you. Set yourselves and others up for the very best hiking experience. Need-to-know topics are covered, from trail etiquette to leave no trace ethics, important gear and packing guides to essential commands you should train for the trail. Featuring beautiful photography, this guide will inform and inspire any adventure dog and their parents.

Uphill Both Ways: Hiking Toward Happiness on the Colorado Trail

By Andrea Lani (Bison Books), $21.95

One grouchy husband, three reluctant kids, a 489-mile trek from Denver to Durango, and one woman, determined to reset her life and confront the history of environmental damage. Lani’s family traveled through stunning scenery and encountered wildflowers, wildlife, and too many other hikers. They ate cold oatmeal in a chilly, wet tent and experienced scorching heat, torrential thunderstorms, and the first trip of winter. Her kids grew in unimaginable ways, and Lani began to uncover the secret to happiness.

Until next month, happy reading.

The staff at Covered Treasures can be reached at books@ocn.me.

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July Library Events – Summer reading, special programs to enjoy

By Harriet Halbig

The Summer Adventure reading and activity program continues until July 31 at the Monument Library.

Nine hundred fifty-four patrons up to age 18 have registered to participate to date. It isn’t too late to join and win prizes! Upon registration, children receive a free book. For each day when 30 minutes or more are spent reading, imagining, or engaging in physical activity, mark off a section on your game card (available online or at the library). After 30 days, those up to four years old receive a free colorful bath toy. Those ages 5 to 11 receive a reading medal, and those 12 to 18 receive a free book or journal of your choice.

Special programs in July include Rhythm Fun for Everyone at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 18. Play drums (provided), sing, and move to the rhythm that you create.

On Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m., enjoy a Life-Size Game Night: Intergenerational Edition. Family members of all ages are invited to play life-size games of Candy Land, Battleship, and Clue from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

On Friday, Aug. 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. there will be a family concert featuring Steve Weeks in Limbach Park, 151 Front St. in Monument. Come prepared to sing and dance to the music and don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Please note that all Pikes Peak Library facilities will be closed on July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Monument Library staff will participate in the parade and street fair in Monument. Stop by to say hello!

Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me

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Palmer Lake Historical Society, June 18 – Father’s Day Ice Cream Social

By Marlene Brown

June’s monthly meeting of the Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) was moved to Father’s Day. The PLHS held its traditional Father’s Day Ice Cream Social on June 18 at the Palmer Lake Town Hall in the Village Green. The weather was warm, and the rain took a break during the afternoon. New fathers and old fathers came with their families to enjoy the sunshine and listen to the guitar music of Craig Walter.

Young and old enjoy ice cream and pie on the Village Green at the Palmer Lake Town Hall on June 18 for the Palmer Lake Historical Society’s Father’s Day Ice Cream Social.
Photo by Esther Martinez.

Free cream and pie were served from inside the Town Hall by members of the PLHS. Pie fillings included apple, cherry, and rhubarb. Rhubarb was a favorite of the pioneers, and the plant was grown in many yards of the settlers. The event was sponsored by John Spidell of The Spidell Foundation of Monument.

Music was provided at the Palmer Lake Historical Society ice cream social by Craig Walter of the Craig Walter Band. Walter is a local singer and songwriter and has performed over much of the United States.

The Lucretia Vaile Museum was open for viewing of historical collections of the area. Volunteer members of the PLHS offered special tours in the afternoon. The museum is operated by the museum director, staff, and docents, all who are volunteers. It is open Wednesdays 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The mission of the museum is to house photos, articles, and artifacts of the historical Palmer Lake, Monument, and Palmer Divide areas. It is located at 66 Lower Glenway Street (below the Palmer Lake Library). For more information, see palmerdividehistory.org/about-the-museum.

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Next month will be the members-only Walking Tours with past President and award-winning director Jim Sawatzki, who has produced many historical videos of the area. It will be held at 10 a.m. July 9 at Historic “Old Ranch Town” of Monument and is an easy one-mile walk. Learn about Monument’s history, including train station and hotels. On July 15, there will be a 2.5-mile walk through Greenland Open Space to visit the Historic Old Cemetery of Palmer Lake. For more information, see palmerdividehistory.org/local-history-on-tour-led-by-jim-sawatski/.

The PLHS normally meets (open to the public) on the third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Palmer Lake Town Hall, 42 Valley Crescent St. For information about becoming a member of the PLHS and other events provided by the PLHS, go to palmerdividehistory.org.

Marlene Brown can be contacted at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other Palmer Lake Historical Society articles

On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Mount Herman Road closure update

By Steve Pate

We mentioned in the June issue of OCN that Mount Herman Road (MHR) had been closed by the U.S. Forest Service. Someone opened the gate and drove up toward the FS 716 trailhead and into a washed-out section of the road. The car has been removed and the Forest Service was scheduled to begin repairing the road June 21.

A masticator begins wildfire mitigation off Mount Herman Road, June 20.
Photo by Steve Pate

During a walk up MHR toward FS 716 on June 20, I was able to talk to the superintendent of the wildfire mitigation crew just starting work to reduce the fire risk on the west and north side of MHR. They will be reducing the fuel load by taking out Gambel oak and other “ladder” vegetation.

Rockslide on Mount Herman Road 2¼ miles from gate. Photo by Steve Pate

I had heard that a rockslide closed the road and came upon it about 2¼ miles up MHR from the closed gate. The storm-caused washout is about 2¾ miles from the gate, just below FS 716 trailhead.

Washout on Mount Herman Road 2¾ miles from gate, just below FS 716 trailhead.
Photo by Steve Pate

A natural gas line was also damaged during recent storms, and I talked with a gas company employee en route to work on repairs. The crew was unable to access the damaged lines due to the rockslide, which occurred in mid-June.

Several mountain bikers and hikers were using MHR on June 20. Sections of MHR may close temporarily while wildfire mitigation is underway and when road repairs begin.

Steve Pate may be contacted at stevepate@ocn.me.

Other On the Trail articles

High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Pretty, edible plants that deter mosquitoes and deer

By Janet Sellers

With so much rain in June, we likely will have more mosquitoes than usual. Several plants grow well in our area that help make outdoors fun again. Pots of these aromatic herbs around where you’ll be outdoors will also repel garden pests.

Basil is great for cooking. Its eugenol oil compounds confuse and irritate mosquitoes—they’ll leave for another food source. Gently touch the leaves to release the scent.

Catnip, a great pollinator plant, contains nepetalactone, a compound that is up to 10 times better than DEET at repelling mosquitoes, according to the National Library of Medicine. Traditional medicine says to vigorously rub the leaves between your hands and apply them to the skin to last at least 30 minutes. It’s safe around cats and dogs.

Lemon balm, aka bee balm, is a plant in the mint family that deters pests. Made into a hot or cold tea, people use it for its calming effects and other conditions.

The flowers and leaves of marigolds deter bugs. It contains pyrethrum, a natural insecticide. Plant them near doors, windows, and seating areas.

Mint—its menthol keeps pests away. Grows just about anywhere, even in partial shade.

Flower teepees

We’re going to try flower teepee towers this summer. Made with poles (aspen shoots or bamboo, etc.), it can be a teepee big enough for kids to sit in, or just for climbing plants. I’m going to make them for zesty salad nasturtiums (annuals) and climbing roses (perennials). Both are pretty and deer resistant. The deer leave my nasturtiums and a friend’s prickly climber roses alone. Nasturtiums may drop their seeds for next year, the roses will need annual pruning to keep them in check and in shape.

Pine needle myth

A common myth is that pine needles make the soil acidic. They do not. For proof, just test your soil. Weeds and plants don’t grow in pine needle mulched areas because the weed seeds don’t get into the soil to germinate. Plants and seeds unnatural to the forest clime landscape that don’t grow well may need soil amendments because Mother Nature optimizes forest soil for forest life. That keeps the natural pine forests safe from weeds and helps nurture the pine forest microbiome.

Student volunteers work on the Monument Community Garden. For many years we’ve used pine straw at various local community and home gardens (yes, a safe 2-inch depth) to mulch over food crops after seeding to keep out weeds and lock in the moisture. Pine needles are renewable, knit themselves together, stay put after rain or snow even on slopes, and break down more slowly than other organic mulches. Photo by Janet Sellers.

Annual Colorado Hummingbird Festival

The Annual Colorado Hummingbird Festival will be on Aug. 4-5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a celebration of our four Colorado hummingbirds just before the fall migration. Everybody can enjoy hummingbird talks and stories with hummingbird garden-themed arts and crafts, baby alpacas, giant bubbles, a farmer’s market, and more. It is held at the historic Happy Landings Ranch, 17435 Rollercoaster Road at Hodgen Road.

Janet Sellers is an avid “lazy gardener” letting Mother Nature lead the way for simple yet successful gardening. Please send garden tips to: JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Other High Altitude Nature and Gardening articles

Art Matters – Art Hop: an indoor-outdoor art fair with booths

By Janet Sellers

The unique aspect of our local Art Hop as an art fair is the chance to meet and interact with the artists themselves. Artists attend the events with their work to meet and interact with people and share their work. A personal connection adds a special dimension to the artwork and creates a memorable experience.

We have an engaging, festive atmosphere at the Art Hop in Monument. The air is filled with energy, creativity, and a sense of celebration. We can enjoy browsing through art displays, listening to live music, trying cuisine at food trucks, and engaging in conversation with fellow enthusiasts. It’s an immersive experience that can be both entertaining and inspiring. And the best part is you get to take the art and the memories of the day home with you.

At Bella Art and Frame, I took some photos of some of the artists and talked to them about their work:

Lynn Roth

Lynn Roth was on hand to share his art images of colorful scenes in Cuba and the stories that go with them. Roth is a founding mentor for the new Palmer Lake Arts Council and has been active in the Tri-Lakes local arts scene with the Palmer Lake Art Group and many arts and civic events. He exhibits his art widely in Colorado and the West.

Steve Weed

Steve Weed, the featured Bella Art and Frame exhibitor for June, talked to visitors about his portrait paintings. Weed’s exhibit had many paintings of characters of the West. He is the creator and instigator of the “Ashes to Art” project. He says the project was “created to ultimately show gratitude and help my neighborhood in Colorado Springs. The artwork incorporated charcoal and ash found in our yard and neighborhood, initially for my own emotional therapy. Then, they became a way that I could use my skills to thank the firefighters and police officers and also to help my neighbors who lost everything.”

John McClusky

John McClusky shared his natural landscape and night skies fine art photography at his booth. Ranging from the night skies of the West to bucolic and forest landscapes, his artwork shows nature’s beauty in the sky, land, and waterscapes. His photos are readily available locally, and as a lifelong science educator and college provost, he enjoys sharing his knowledge of nature and photography with others in pictures and in the field.

Tom Ulmer

Photos by Janet Sellers.

Tom Ulmer showed his nature photography at his booth. He named his photo studio Rock 36 Photography. An Air Force Academy graduate with a career in the Air Force, he said he fell in love with the Alaskan wilds while developing his photography avocation. His work is viewed locally and in Broomfield. He has many photos of his favorite natural places and the animals that live there.

Janet Sellers is an artist, writer, and lecturer. Contact her at janetsellers@ocn.me.

Other Art Matters articles

Snapshots of Our Community

Thunderbirds rehearsed May 31 for the USAFA Graduation

Above and Below: The Thunderbirds rehearsed their airshow on May 31, a day before performing at the Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony in Colorado Springs. A crowd watched the rehearsal from the parking lot at Bass Pro Shop in Northgate. The rehearsal was in two parts. In the morning, four planes conducted a survey flight. Then, in the afternoon, six planes practiced the airshow they would perform at the graduation. President Joe Biden spoke at the ceremony. He thanked the graduates for choosing “service over self.” Photos by Michael Weinfeld.

Fire district youth camp, June 1

Students engage in fire rescue drills at Station 1, Monument Fire District, during the first annual Youth Camp on June 1. Thirteen high school students attended the three-day camp on June 1-3 to discover more about the type of work firefighters and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers carry out. Students were taught about the history of the fire service, personnel protective equipment, hose and ladders, forcible entry, vehicle extrication, a host of EMS topics, and how to compete for a firefighter career position successfully. The camp is expected to expand next year to accommodate more students and continue annually for high school students with an interest in fire and EMS careers. Photo courtesy of Monument Fire District.

PLAG honors Maddox, June 2

Palmer Lake Art Group (PLAG) member John DeFrancesco, left, and PLAG President Vicki Mynhier, right, present Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA) Executive Director Michael Maddox with a portrait of Maddox painted by DeFrancesco. The presentation took place at PLAG’s opening reception for its 2023 Color Splash Art Show at the TLCA on June 2. DeFrancesco said it was in recognition of Maddox’s “many years of supporting PLAG, the arts, and keeping the arts meaningful in the Tri-Lakes community.” DeFrancesco said he got the concept for the portrait composition from a photograph of Maddox on the TLCA stage as the lighting illuminated Maddox’s face. Photo by David Futey.

Hazel Miller at TLCA, June 3

On June 3, Colorado Music Hall of Fame 2023 inductee Hazel Miller, with Coco Brown and backup band The Collective, performed a Tribute to Aretha Franklin along with covers of other artists for a sold out and raucous Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA) audience. Miller, Brown, and Collective guitarist Cody Carbone shared lead vocals and provided complementary background vocals throughout the evening while backed by exceptional Collective musicians Rich Lamb (bass), Dana Marsh (keyboards), and Brian Mikulich (drums). The Franklin songs performed included Baby, I Love You, Chain of Fools, Dr. Feelgood, Freeway of Love, and Respect. Interspersed among the Franklin songs, the group performed other covers including Stevie Wonder’s Superstition, Carlos Santana’s Smooth and culminated the evening with a tribute to Tina Turner with Proud Mary. Information on upcoming TLCA events is at www.trilakesarts.org. Photo by David Futey.

Cotton wins art scholarship, June 2

Lewis-Palmer District-38 High School art student Isabelle Cotton received the 2023 Palmer Lake Art Group (PLAG) Scholarship during PLAG’s opening reception at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts on June 2. Cotton also had several of her works on display for the month-long PLAG gallery show. For 60 years, PLAG has offered the scholarship to a graduating D38 student who will be continuing their art education, awarding over $86,000 to date. Cotton said it is “an honor to receive the scholarship and have my artwork featured in this show.” Cotton will continue her artistic pursuits at Temple University in Japan. Photo by David Futey.

Zettler’s woodcarving wins 1st place

The Palmer Lake Art Group (PLAG) held its opening reception on June 2 for its 2023 Color Splash Art Show in the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA) main gallery. The show was scheduled from June 1-28 and dedicated to the memory of longtime PLAG member Claudette Bedingfield. A total of 42 PLAG members had their works displayed at the show. Two paintings that were jointly painted by a variety of PLAG members, were auctioned off with proceeds going toward the PLAG scholarship fund. The show was judged by Tim Deibler, who selected Bob Zettler’s woodcarving (shown above) titled The Rock House for first place. An interesting display was 18 cloud and sky paintings by PLAG painters. The adjacent gallery contained Inside- and Outside- the Lines by Sandy Goddard (paintings) and John Goddard (photography). This show goes through July 25. Information about PLAG is at www.palmerlakeartgroup.com. Photo by David Futey.

Shiloh Pines chipping day, June 3

The residents of Shiloh Pines Homeowners Association west of Monument Lake worked through the rain on June 3, with the help of the Monument Fire District chipper and two firefighters, to reduce the load of “ladder fuels” in their neighborhood. By removing flammable material close to homes, it’s less likely the home will ignite during a wildfire. And by thinning pines growing too close together to thrive and reducing the amount of Gambel oak, when a ground fire comes through, there’s less of a chance it will become a crown fire. See https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/. Photo courtesy of Shiloh Pines HOA.

Tri-Lakes Lions hold annual Palmer Lake Fishing Derby, June 3

The Tri-Lakes Lions Club held its annual Fishing Derby for kids at Palmer Lake on a cold, rainy June 3. About 160 young people ages 4 to 14 competed for prizes for the biggest fish. Colorado Parks and Wildlife provided fishing rods for those who did not bring their own, and bait was also provided. According to Jim Hazuka, co-chair of the derby, Bass Pro Shop provided prizes including tackle boxes and fishing rods. Other sponsors included Farmers Insurance, Rosie’s Diner, and Colorado Friends and Family Fishing. Parents or other adults helped the young people rig their fishing gear and cast if needed. Palmer Lake’s water level had been too low to accommodate the derby until recent torrential rains replenished the Palmer Lake reservoirs and the lake. Parks and Wildlife again stocked the lake with rainbow trout before the derby.
Photo by Steve Pate.
Kaison (center) with a friend, and his dad Landon Blatter, caught an 11¾-inch trout. Photo by Steve Pate.

PLAC offers summer art classes

Camilla Borroel and Hunter Aho enjoy the first summer art class inaugurated by the Palmer Lake Arts Council (PLAC), which will offer children’s art experiences throughout the summer. These classes are sponsored by PLAC and Facinelli Motors. So far, classes were held at The Shop in Palmer Lake. Photo courtesy of Palmer Lake Arts Council.

Church buries time capsule

The Church at Woodmoor is celebrating its 50th anniversary. In honor of the occasion, a time capsule was buried in front of the church on June 11. It contains a cross used by Pastor Bob Browning in Vietnam during battlefield communion, a replica of the three crosses in front of the church, a church directory, a book of photos, a copy of The Messenger, a church bulletin, a history of the church, and photos of the church grounds. Next to the spot where the time capsule was buried, a commemorative sculpture of the church’s logo was installed.
Left photo by Robyn Martinez. Right photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Volunteer gardeners honored

Tia M. Mayer and John Howe were honored by the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce on June 7 for their work in reviving the garden next to the Chamber’s meeting house on Highway 105. The garden is called Ms. T’s after Mayer, who’s in charge of buying and installing new plants. Mayer says she’s always wanted a public garden to take care of and it’s an “incredible honor” to have the freedom to plant what she wants. Chamber President and CEO Terri Hayes (right) says the garden used to be in “horrendous” shape before Mayer and Howe took over. Mayer and Howe received a certificate of appreciation, a gift card, and a note that says, “The entire community benefits from your efforts.” The building was originally a schoolhouse in the 19th century settlement of Gwillimville before moving to Monument Presbyterian Church, where it was used as a Sunday school. It was then donated to the Chamber and moved to its current site about 20 years ago. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Free shredding in Black Forest

For the first time since 2019 when COVID-19 shut down everything, Chapter 1100 of AARP in conjunction with AARP ElderWatch Colorado held a free shredding event in Black Forest on June 10. People from 21 areas of central Colorado dropped off their personal documents for shredding, yielding about 7,000 pounds of paper, which will be recycled. They also donated 370 pounds of non-perishable food and $255 to the Black Forest Care and Share Food Bank. Shredding unneeded personal documents is recommended to make sure no one can find personal information in trash bins or storage areas. In the photo, volunteers unload personal documents to waiting trucks for on-site professional shredding. Photo by Stan Beckner.

Awake the Lake holds “fun”-raiser

On Saturday, June 10, the “fun-raiser” sub-committee of Awake Palmer Lake held a Red Wine & Blue BBQ, a fundraising event at Palmer Lake Town Hall. The sold-out event raised money for the fireworks display at the upcoming Festival on the Fourth in Palmer Lake on July 4. Attendees enjoyed a barbecue dinner, lawn games, music, and line-dancing lessons. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Mass casualty drill, June 14

First responders and volunteer casualties participate in an area-wide mass casualty incident drill at Lewis-Palmer High School on June 14. Monument Fire District, in partnership with Monument Police Department, hosted the drill on June 12, 14, and 16. The purpose of the drill was to allow local first responders to practice their roles in a mass casualty event, should one occur in the area. The following organizations also participated in the drills: District 38 Security, Palmer Lake Police and Fire Department, Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, Colorado Springs Fire Department, Falcon Fire Protection District, Security Fire Department, American Medical Response, and Asteri Ambulance. About 35 volunteers from Emergency Incident Support provided food and refreshments, and they were actors during the drill. Photo courtesy of Monument Fire District.

New pier on Monument Lake

There’s a new pier at Monument Lake. It took eight days to build the 370-foot structure on the northeast corner of the lake. The project was completed on June 14. Anglers and pedestrians will now be able to cross the lake and get to a part of the shoreline that had been inaccessible. The pier was constructed in sections with members of the Public Works Department maneuvering each section through the water with long poles. The sections are weighed down with 55-gallon drums filled with concrete each weighing 1,000 pounds. The project cost about $224,000. About three-quarters of the cost was picked up by a $171,000 Fishing is Fun Grant from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

BOCC hearing on redistricting

On Monday, June 12, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held a public meeting of the redistricting committee at Lewis-Palmer High School, greeted by demonstrators. The BOCC, which is required to redraw the county commissioner districts at least once in the second odd year after the decennial census, appointed itself to the redistricting committee at its April 18 meeting and must hold public meetings in each commissioner district and complete the process by Sept. 30. After opening remarks, a presentation on possible maps based on previous commission direction, and a demonstration of the geographical information tool they used and that the public could use to propose its own maps, the board heard public comments from local district residents, residents outside the local district, and residents from outside the county. Comments included concerns about the previous redistricting splitting the town of Monument into two separate districts and dividing the southeastern quarter of the county into three districts. These actions were described as diluting the votes of Manitou Springs after a close election and splitting the vote of the primarily Black and Latino community in southeastern Colorado Springs. Information about the redistricting process, including videos of past meetings and the schedule for upcoming meetings, can be found at https://www.elpasoco.com/redistricting/. The next redistricting meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 6 in Commission District 4 at Mesa Ridge High School. From left are the clerk to the board, Commissioners Holly Williams D-1, Cami Bremer, D-5, Carrie Geitner D-2, Stan VanderWerf D-3, and County Attorney Kenneth Hodges. Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. D-4 attended by phone. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Avian hangout, June 13

Who says only birds of a feather flock together? The morning of June 13, I spotted a heron, a mother goose and her two goslings and seven cormorants hanging out together by the dam at Monument Lake. Once they dispersed, the heron flew to the new pier and landed on the railing where it stayed until workers arrived to complete construction of the pier. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Monument water tank update

Erection of scaffolding on June 23 is keeping construction on schedule for the 2-million-gallon Town of Monument concrete water storage tank in residential Forest View Estates IV (FVE IV). The erected scaffolding will support on-site, pre-poured concrete wall panels which were scheduled to be set during the week of June 26 through first part of July. These panels will be placed by a 500-ton crane with a longest boom reach of 156 feet with lift and carry of 28,000 pounds. Once the wall panels are placed, formation rebar and reinforcement preparation will be done for pouring of the concrete dome later in July. Residential property in FVE IV is restricted by recorded covenants limited for residential use. The Town of Monument purchased the property from a private citizen, declared eminent domain over the property, then eliminated the restrictive covenant. The expansive water tank project will provide for Monument water needs with pipeline access currently being laid through adjacent residential areas of Forest View Estates, Red Rock Ranch, Highway 105, and downtown Monument. Photo by Sharon Williams.

PLAC hosts Shakespere in the Park

Above and below: On June 24, the Palmer Lake Arts Council (PLAC) hosted the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs TheatreWorks troupe. They entertained a happy crowd at the Palmer Lake Village Green with their lively, innovative version of Shakespeare’s Pericles, a romantic play of adventure and intrigue, including pirates, heroes, royalty, and villains. TheaterWorks offers free theater events to many local communities and will perform The Taming of the Shrew at Ent Center for the Arts in July. The PLAC will offer other various events over the summer. In October, PLAC will offer a play about Palmer Lake, written by a local playwright. Photos by Janet Sellers.

Other Snapshots of Our Community

Our Community Notices

By Janet Sellers

Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the information number for that event. Please notify us if your event listing needs to be updated.

Student community volunteers

Many students need volunteer hours for scouting, civics classes, or other clubs volunteering hours. Monument Community Garden as well as Friends of Fox Run Park will have some openings for student volunteers (and grownups, too) for the summer. Gardening tasks include preparing garden beds, weeding, sowing seeds, and developing the compost. Bring gardening gloves, some tools will be provided on the work days by other volunteers. Volunteers are needed weekly, in harvest time, twice a week. Friends of Fox Run Park also has openings for volunteers for various tasks. Besides tasks, there will be a short information and skills demonstration for each 2-3 hour session. Contact Janet Sellers at janetsellers@ocn.me for more information.

MVEA outage notifications

Please add your phone number to your MVEA account to streamline outage reporting and restoration notifications. To report an outage please call or text “OUT” to (800) 388-9881. Visit MVEA’s Outage Center before the storm. There is information about preparing for outages, electrical safety, outage reporting, a link to the outage map, and more.

Slash/mulch program

Because of an unprecedented amount of slash and mulch from recent tree die-off, mulch needs to be picked up and used in the community. The rain has kept people from being able to pick it up but it needs to be picked up as soon as possible. Slash drop off through Sep. 10 ($2/load). Free mulch pick up through Sep. 16. Hours: Tue. & Thu. 5-7:30 pm, Sat. 7 am-4 pm, Sun noon-4 pm. Mulch loader Sat. ($5/2 cubic yards). Located in Black Forest, Herring and Shoup roads. Volunteers needed for shifts. Info: www.bfslash.org.

Trail Repair Volunteers Needed

Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP) needs volunteers to help repair the trails in the National Forest Open Space surrounding the Monument Fire Center. The Forest Service recently completed the second phase of Fire Mitigation work and many of the social trails have been damaged. The Forest Service relies on FOMP to maintain these trails. Trail Repair work days are scheduled on the second Tuesday of the month from April-October. Next meeting: Tue., July 11, 5 pm. Meet at the Mt. Herman trailhead off Mt. Herman Rd and Nursery Rd and bring gloves. Tools will be provided.

Neighborhood safety

What qualifies as suspicious activity? “If you see something, say something.” It’s vital to report to local law enforcement. Suspicious activity can refer to any incident, event, individual or activity that seems unusual or out of place. Some common examples of suspicious activities include: A stranger loitering in your neighborhood or a vehicle cruising the streets repeatedly. Someone peering into cars or windows. Here’s what local authorities and Colorado Department of Public Safety says is needed information: Who did you see; what did you see; when did you see it; where did you see it; why it is suspicious. Call 911 or your local law enforcement agency.

Free search for Unclaimed Property

Unclaimed property is tangible or intangible property that has had no activity for a specific period of time. Once the property is in the custody of the state of Colorado, the State will maintain custody of the property in perpetuity until the rightful owner or heirs come forward to claim. The State Treasurer’s Office provides this service free of charge. Colorado: Great Colorado Payback – Colorado.gov (findyourunclaimedproperty.com) SAME AS: https://colorado.findyourunclaimedproperty.com/app/what-is-ucp

The Sunflower is for people with non-visible disabilities

Watch for green and yellow sunflower lanyards, bracelets, and ribbons, discreet ways to make the invisible visible. Wearing the Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around the wearer including staff, colleagues and health professionals that they need additional support, help or a little more time. However big or small, your help moves us closer to a society where people recognize that an offer of help, understanding and kindness can make a huge difference to the daily experiences that a Sunflower wearer has.

County Trailability Program

A new program uses mobility vehicles to allow more people access to nature in ways previously inaccessible to them. Trail routes for each county nature center include the volunteers and staff, trained to accompany participants. Vehicle registrations can be made at the Nature Center May 1-Oct. 31. Contact El Paso County Regional Parks programs: Mary J Lewis at Bear Creek, or Jessica Miller at Fountain Creek, https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/trailability/.

Tri-Lakes Cares Needs Your Support

Tri-Lakes Cares is the only food pantry and human services organization located in and serving northern El Paso County through emergency relief and self-sufficiency programs. The community-based, volunteer-supported center is a critical resource for our neighbors in need. The best way to help support Tri-Lakes Cares is to donate. Visit https://tri-lakescares.org/donate to find out how to donate money, medical items, personal supplies, or food. Please check the web for current needs in our food pantry at https://tri-lakescares.org/donate/current-needs. Donation drop-off hours are Monday thru Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm. For more information about Tri-Lakes Cares or how you can help, contact Nicole Pettigrew, Director of Client Programs, at 719-481-4864 Ext. 111.

Senior Beat newsletter—subscribe for free

Each monthly Senior Beat newsletter is full of information for local seniors, including the daily menu of the senior lunches offered Monday through Friday at the Mountain Community Mennonite Church, 643 Highway 105, Palmer Lake. It also contains the schedule of the classes and events for the month at the Senior Citizens Center and senior-friendly library programs. To subscribe, send an email with your name and mailing address to SeniorBeat@TriLakesSeniors.org. Senior Beat can also be viewed online at www.TriLakesSeniors.org.

Can you volunteer today?

  • OCN needs your help. See article on page < 28 >.
  • Links to local organizations with an immediate need for volunteers are listed on the county’s website, www.elpasocountyhealth.org/volunteering-and-donations, for groups like Care and Share, Crossfire Ministries, blood donations, Early Connections (volunteer from home opportunity), foster an animal, Medical Reserve Corps of El Paso County, Salvation Army, Silver Key, and United Way (ongoing opportunities).
  • The Colorado State University Extension office in El Paso County has several opportunities for individuals interested in volunteering. https://elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/volunteer-opportunities/
  • El Paso County volunteer-based and nonprofit organizations are ommitted to building healthy, caring communities and rely on the hard work of individuals like you. Reach out today and find out how you can play a part by becoming a volunteer in El Paso County. Get involved in El Paso County volunteering non-profits and organizations! https://www.americantowns.com/el-paso-county-co/volunteer-organizations/.
  • The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Program is composed of a collective citizens group with a true and common desire to partner with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office by volunteering their services while learning more about the internal workings of the law enforcement community. https://www.epcsheriffsoffice.com/volunteer-program-0.
  • The El Paso County Volunteer Program is a wonderful opportunity for citizens to learn about the various functions of county government as well as give back to the community. The County’s numerous boards and commissions need your experience, talents and time. https://bocc.elpasoco.com/volunteer.
  • Children’s Literacy Center provides free one-on-one literacy tutoring to Tri-Lakes children in grades 1-6 who are reading below grade level! Tutoring is at the Tri-Lakes Senior Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 pm, and our Summer Session will run through Aug. 14. For more information, to become a volunteer tutor or to enroll your child, visit www.childrensliteracycenter.org or email Christine Jeffson at Christine@childrensliteracycenter.org.

Other Notices of Our Community

Our Community Calendar

By Janet Sellers

Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the info number for that event. Please contact calendar@ocn.me with changes and additions.

GOVERNMENTAL BODIES

  • Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines Metropolitan District 1, 2 & 3 board meeting. Typically meets quarterly on the first Mon., 4 pm Meetings are held via teleconference. For virtual joining instructions and updates see www.forestlakesmetrodistrict.com.
  • El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regular meeting, usually every Tue., am. Please note there is no meeting on July 4th. The BOCC land use meeting in July is being held on July 18th at 1 pm. View agendas and meetings at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Meetings are held at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Info: 719-520-6430.
  • Monument Town Council meeting, Mon., July 3 & 17, 6:30 pm, Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Normally meets first and third Mon. Info: 719-884-801, www.townofmonument.org/260/Board-of-Trustees for remote attendance links.
  • Palmer Lake Board of Adjustments, Tue., July 11, 5 pm, 28 Valley Crescent St., Palmer Lake. Normally meets first Tues., as needed.
  • El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, Thu., July 6 & 20, 9 am, Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News &amp; Information Channel athttps://www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Normally meets first and third Thu.(as required). Info: 719-520-6300, https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com.
  • Woodmoor Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Mon., July 10, 1 pm, 1845 Woodmoor Dr., Monument. Normally meets second Mon. Info: 719-488-2525, www.woodmoorwater.com.
  • Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (formerly DAAC), On summer hiatus until October. Usually meets monthly on second Tue., 6-8 pm, Monument. For details, on the meeting site, see https://www.lewispalmer.org/Page/2#calendar. Contact info: tmckee@lewispalmer.org.
  • Tri-Lakes Wastewater Facility Joint Use Committee meeting, Tue., July 11, 10 am 16510 Mitchell Ave. Meets second Tue. Info: See https://tlwastewater.com/index.html Bill Burks, 719-481-4053.
  • Palmer Lake Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., July 12, 9 am, call-in only: 650-479-3208, Access Code 76439078, 120 Middle Glenway. Meets second Wed. Info: 719-481-2732. www.plsd.org.
  • Monument Planning Commission meeting, Wed., July 12, 6 pm Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Meets second Wed. To see the options for remote public participation in each meeting, visit www.townofmonument.org/263/Planning-Commission-Board-of-Adjustment. Info: 719-884-8028. www.townofmonument.org.
  • Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting, Thu., July 13 & 27, 5 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent, Usually meets second and fourth Thu. Info: 719-481-2953. www.townofpalmerlake.com.
  • Lewis-Palmer School District 38 board meeting, No meeting in July. Normally meets third Mon., 6-10 pm. This meeting of the Board of Education will be live-streamed on the district’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/LPSDCommunity, agenda, and supporting documents at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/lewispalmer/Board.nsf/vpublic. Contact Vicki Wood. Phone: 719.481.9546 Email: vwood@lewispalmer.org Website: https://www.lewispalmer.org.
  • Monument Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., July 19, 9 am, 130 Second St. Zoom meeting. Find joining instructions on the website. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-4886, www.colorado.gov/msd.
  • Palmer Lake Town Planning Commission meeting, Wed., July 19, 6 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-2953, www.townofpalmerlake.com.
  • Academy Water and Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., July 19, 6 pm. Usually meets third Wed. Public can join the Skype meeting: https://join.skype.com/PAcujKTn7Nrh. Check the website for a link: https://academywsd.colorado.gov/notices-and-alerts. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-0711, https://academywsd.colorado.gov.
  • Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District board meeting, in person or via Zoom, Wed., July 19, 7 pm, Station 1, 11445 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. Find updates and Zoom meeting joining instructions at www.bffire.org or contact Administrative Officer Rachel Dunn at 719-495-4300. Meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday.
  • El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority meeting, Thu., July 20, 9 am Monument Town Hall Boardroom, 645 Beacon Lite Rd. Meets third Thu. Info: 719-488-3603. www.loopwater.org.
  • Triview Metropolitan District board meeting, Thu., July 20, 5:30 pm, 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302, Monument. Normally meets third Thu. Info: 719-488-6868, www.triviewmetro.com.
  • Donala Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Thu., July 26, 1:30 pm, 15850 Holbein Dr. In 2023, meets fourth Wed., Check the website for the access code for the electronic meeting. Info: 719-488-3603, www.donalawater.org.
  • Monument Academy School Board meeting, Meets in the school year, second Thu. Info 719-481-1950, https://www.monumentacademy.net/school-board/board-meeting-minutes/.
  • Woodmoor Improvement Association Board Meeting, Wed., July 26, 7 pm, Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. The WIA Board usually meets fourth Wed. Info: 719-488-2693, www.woodmoor.org.
  • Monument Fire District board meeting, in person or via Zoom, Wed., July 26, 6:30 pm., Station 1, 18650 Highway 105, Monument. Find updates and Zoom meeting joining instructions at http://www.monumentfire.org, or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin, at 719-484-0911. Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday.
  • Donald Wescott fire protection district meeting, Meets every other month on the fourth Wed. The next meeting is July 26, 4:30 pm, at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105 Monument. Find updates and Zoom meeting joining instructions at http://www.monumenfire.org or contact Jennifer Martin, at 719-484-0911.

WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS

  • Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO) meeting, Sat., July 8, 10 am–12 pm., Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. HOA legal topics. Members of local HOAs are welcome. Usually meets bi-monthly (Jan., Mar., May, July, Sep., Nov.) on the second Sat. of the month. www.nepco.org.
  • The Centering Prayer Group at Black Forest Community Church, first Sat., 8:30-10 am The Old Log Church. Centering prayer opens and closes the meetings with discussion and fellowship in between; open to all. Contact Rev. Roger Butts, at 719-433-3135, for information.
  • Half Day Prayer Group at Benet Hill Monastery, first Sat., 9 am-12 pm. All vaccinated guests are welcome. Contact Sister Therese at (719) 355-1638 or (719) 355-1650 or stherese@benethillmonastery.org. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Monument Hill Kiwanis Club meeting, every Sat., 8 am. www.MHKiwanis.org, MonumentHillKiwanis@gmail.com for details, guests are welcome. Service leadership clubs, Key clubs, Builders Club, and K-kids at D38 schools. Memberships are open to the public. Info: RF Smith, 719-210-4987, www.MHKiwanis.org.
  • Neighborhood Net Ham Radio, every Sat., 10 am Amateur ham radio operators practice for emergencies on weekly repeater nets so neighbors can help neighbors. Sign up at www.mereowx.org/neighborhood-net or contactus@mereowx.org.
  • Palmer Lake Art Group, second Sat. A variety of art programs are offered after the social gathering and business meetings. Guests welcome. 300 Hwy 105, NE corner of I-25 and 105. 9:30 am. Info: 719-460-4179, www.palmerlakeartgroup.com.
  • Lions Club Bingo, every Sat. (except the first Sat.), 8:30 am-1 pm and first Mon., 5:30-10 pm Tri-Lakes Lions Club’s portion of the proceeds benefit those in need in the Tri-Lakes community. Updated info and location: Jim Naylor, 719-481-8741 or www.trilakeslionsclub.org.
  • Tri-Lakes Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, third Sat., 10 am-noon, Monument Community Presbyterian Church, 238 Third St., Monument. Info: Syble Krafft, 719-488-2669; Barry (group president), 719-351-9485. If you need any help, please call Syble or Barry.
  • Benet Hill Monastery, Let us pray with you, walk in the forest, come up and visit prayer sites, every Sun. worship is 10:15 am, 3190 Benet Lane, 80921. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church, every Sun., 8 and 11 am traditional, 9:30 am contemporary. Both in-person (no registration necessary) and live stream at www.tlumc.org/live. Watch live or replay: www.facebook.com/tlumc, www.youtube.com/tlumc.org. Info: 719-488-1365, www.tlumc.org. 20256 Hunting Downs Way, Monument. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • Fellowship of Christ Church, every Sun. 9 am. 4303 Pinehurst Circle. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Fuel Church Sunday Service, every Sun. Service times, 11:00 am Live service streaming at www.fuelchurch.org at 11:40 am on www.fuelchurch.org. Mountain Community Mennonite Church, 643 Hwy 105, Palmer Lake. Nursery and kids’ service. Non-denominational, spirit-filled. Need prayer? Email us info@fuel.org. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Ridgeview Baptist Church, every Sun., 10:30 am, temporarily meeting at 9130 Explorer Dr., Colorado Springs, 80920. Info: 719-357-6515 or www.ridgeviewcolorado.org. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • German Conversation Group, every Mon., 1:30 pm, Monument Library, 1706 Woodmoor Drive. Public welcome with Intermediate to Advanced German speaking skills.
  • Women’s A.A. Step Study, every Mon., 6:30 pm, meeting remotely, check for details. Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 Baptist Rd. Park in the west lot. Info: 866-641-9190.Al-Anon Zoom Meeting, Just for Today Online, every Mon., 9:00 – 10:00 am Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4142 7446, Password 349309
  • Al-Anon Zoom Meeting, Just for Today Online, every Mon., 9-10 am Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4142 7446, Password 349309.
  • Monument Life Recovery Group, every Mon., 6:30-7:30 pm, The Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd. This faith-based support group is for those seeking freedom from all hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Daycare for children under age 11. Info: 303-946-2659, www.liferecoverygroups.com/meetings/life-recovery-group-3/.
  • Old Fashioned Community Sing-along. First and third Mon. 5:30 to 6:30 pm Black Forest Community Church 6845 Shoup Rd. Come share the joy of singing old, familiar, catchy tunes just for fun. For details: kay@stricklan.net.
  • Amateur ham radio WØTLM (Tri-Lakes Monument ham radio Association), third Mon. All amateur ham radio operators or those interested in becoming one are welcome. Info: www.W0TLM.com
  • La Leche League breastfeeding support group, second Mon., 7 pm, . Partners and helpers welcome (and babies and kids, too) so we can meet our breastfeeding goals together. Black Forest Community Center 12530 Black Forest Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80908. For more information, contact RachelKLangley@gmail.com.
  • Children’s Literacy Center, every Mon. & Wed., 5:30-6:30 pm. Provides free one-on-one literacy tutoring to Tri-Lakes children in grades 1-6 who are reading below grade level. Tutoring is at Grace Best Education Center, 66 Jefferson St. Monument. For more information, to become a volunteer tutor, or to enroll your child, visit www.childrensliteracycenter.org or contact Rachel Morin, Tri-Lakes Senior Center Coordinator, CLC 610-246-1047 (cell).
  • Centering Prayer Group at Benet Hill Monastery, every Tue., 10-11 am. All vaccinated guests are welcome. Contact Sister Therese at (719) 355-1638 or (719) 355-1650 or stherese@benethillmonastery.org.
  • Essentrics Fitness Program at Senior Center, every Tue., 9 am & Thu., 10 am, Grace Best Education Center, 66 Jefferson St, Monument, CO 80132. Registration & info: Sue Walker, 719-330-0241, www.trilakesseniors.org.
  • Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP) Trail Repair monthly Work Days, second Tue. Apr.-Oct. October, Work Days 5-7 pm. Now through Sept. Work Days 6-8 pm. Meet at Mt Herman Trailhead at the corner of Mt Herman Rd and Nursery Rd, bring gloves. FOMP needs volunteers to help repair the trails in the National Forest Open Space surrounding the Monument Fire Center. The Forest Service recently completed the second phase of Fire Mitigation work and many of the social trails have been damaged. The Forest Service relies on FOMP to maintain these trails. Next meeting: Tues., June 13, 5:00 pm. Tools will be provided.
  • GriefShare Support Group, last Tue. of the month, 10:30 am-noon. NEW LOCATION: Tri-Lakes Senior Center, 66 Jefferson St. in the Grace Best Elementary School building. The Tri-Lakes Silver Alliance has partnered with Colorado Palliative and Hospice Care to host a 13-session grief support group in Monument. RSVP, info: Sue Walker, 719-330-0241.
  • Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild Listening Club, third Wed. Free virtual event. Maestro Wilson will conduct monthly hour-long programs. RSVP at www.cspguild.org.
  • Gleneagle Sertoma, first and third Wed., 11:45 am to 1 pm at Beasts and Brews, 7 Spectrum Loop, Colorado Springs. The longest continuously serving civic service organization in northern El Paso County features a program speaker addressing local topics of interest. Duane Gritzmaker, dwgritz@gmail.com or 719-649-9220.
  • Senior Social, fourth Wed., 12455 Black Forest Rd. Info: www.aarpchapter1100blackforest.weekly.com.
  • Tri-Lakes Church of Christ Wednesday night fellowship classes, every Wed., 6-7:30 pm, 20450 Beacon Lite Road, Monument (corner of Beacon Lite & County Line Roads). Info: 719-488-9613, gregsmith@trilakeschurch.org, www.trilakeschurch.org.
  • Tri-Lakes Cruisers, first Wed., 7 pm. A nonprofit car club. Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce community room, with numerous activities and events each month. Club membership applications are now being accepted and are available on the website: https://tl-cruisers.weebly.com.
  • AARP Black Forest #1100, second Wed., noon. All ages welcome. In-person, Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd.
  • Senior Bingo, third Wed. Silver Alliance Senior Center, Space is limited to 16 participants. RSVP & info: Sue Walker, 719-464-6873, or email sue@monumentalfitness.
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7829, third Wed., 7 pm, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce community room, 166 2nd St., Monument. New members welcome. Info: Post Commander and POC Bruce Beyerly, Bruce.Beyerly@gmail.com.
  • VFW Auxiliary to Post 7829, third Wed., 7 pm, The Country Club at Woodmoor, 18945 Pebble Beach Way, Monument. Guests are welcome to join; contact carlsonmkc@aol.com for instructions on how to connect. If you are a relative of a veteran who served on foreign soil during war or other military action, you may be eligible. Info: Kathy Carlson, 719-488-1902, carlsonmkc@aol.com.
  • Pikes Peak Genealogical Society, Wed., Aug. 16, 6:30 pm, hangout begins, 7 pm meeting begins. Guests are welcome to attend the meeting via Zoom, contact the PPGS President@PPGS.org.
  • Al-anon Meeting: Monument, every Thu., 7-8 pm, Ascent Church (formerly the Tri-Lakes Chapel), 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. Info: MonumentSerenity@gmail.com.
  • Palmer Divide Quiltmakers, first Thu., 6:30-8:30 pm at Monument Chamber of Commerce building, 166 2nd St, Monument, CO.
  • Al-Anon meeting: Letting Go, every Thu., 9-10:15 am at Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. For additional information go to www.al-anon-co.org.
  • Networking breakfast, first and third Thu., Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce in person or via Zoom 166 2nd Street Monument 7:30-9 am free registration at www.TriLakeschamber.com.
  • Fuel Church Griefshare, every Thu., 5:30-7:30 pm 643 State Highway 105, Palmer Lake. Email info@fuel.org. 643 Hwy 105, Palmer Lake.
  • A.A. Big Book Study, every Thu., 7 pm, Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 W. Baptist Rd. Call 425-436-6200, access code 575176#.
  • Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., June 15, meeting, 7 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm. Usually meets third Thu. Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St., 7contact: Kokesdm@yahoo.com https://palmerdividehistory.org
  • Friends of Fox Run Park, fourth Thu. Zoom meeting, 7 pm, email friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com, they will email you the link the day of the meeting. Join the growing group to learn about volunteering and supporting the park for forest safety, trails, trees, education, special events, more. Info: friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com.
  • Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) monthly meeting, now on summer break, usually the third Fri. To become a member, or learn about the club, visit our website at www.tlwc.net Contact Info: Tri-Lakes Women’s Club membership@tlwc.net.
  • Senior Book Club, second Fri., 11 am-noon, Silver Alliance Senior Center, all are welcome. Coffee & snacks. RSVP & info: Sue, 719-330-0241.
  • Gleneagle Women’s Club, membership luncheon, third Fri., Sept-June, various venues, 12 activity groups, i.e., hiking, bridge, etc. Guests welcome. For information contact Amy Miller, (310) 941-1590.
  • Monument Dementia Caregiver Support Group, second Sat., 9:45-11:15 am. Meets in Person, First National Bank Monument ( 581 Highway 105, Monument, CO 80132). Meets monthly, 2nd Sat. Contact: Registration is required, call 800-272-3900 or email khare@alz.org to register.

SPECIAL EVENTS

  • VOLUNTEER TODAY! Our Community News mailing day, Thu., Aug. 3, approx. 9 am–2 pm. We are all volunteers at OCN and need YOUR help, even for an hour or two, getting the papers ready to mail. Contact AllenAlchian@ocn.me.
  • 4th of July Festivities, Monument Hill Kiwanis, Agenda See ad on page < 9 >.
  • Western Museum of Mining and Industry, Farm stand every Mon. & Wed. 9-6; Lecture: Alexander Film Company of Colorado Springs, Tue., Aug. 8, 4-5 pm; Family Day: Sat. Aug. 12,10-3 pm. See ad on page < 11 >.
  • Make It Work Clinic for PCs, FREE. Donations appreciated. We are gauging interest in helping community members with their PCs, please email us if interested. enable@monumentalimpact.org. 55 Adams St in Downtown Monument.
  • Monumental Impact, Kid’s Robotics, tech, drone Summer Workshops, and Camps. More info/ register: https://monumentalimpact.org/workshops/.
  • Monument Hill Farmers Market, every Sat., 8 am to 2 pm. 66 Jefferson Street Monument. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • YMCA summer day camp, through Aug 4, Info: www.ppymca.org/daycamp. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Concerts in the Park, every Wed., through Aug. 9, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Limbach Park. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Covered Treasures Bookstore booksignings, Sat., July 8, 1-3, A.J. Forge signs his book The Buslife Kitchen; Sat. July 15, 10-3, the store’s 30th-anniversary party; Art Hop July 20, 5-8 pm Al Anderson signs Rail Tips; Stewart Green & Susan Joy Paul sign Trails to the Top. 105 Second Street, Monument.
  • Palmer Lake Historical Society, Sat., July 9 & 15, members walking tours led by Jim Sawatski, 10:00 to 1:00. Meet at Palmer Lake Town Hall, 42 Valley Crescent, Palmer Lake.
  • Kids’s Painting Class sponsored by Palmer Lake Arts Council and Facinelli Motors, Mon., July 10, 2-4 pm at The Shop, 735 Hillview Rd, Palmer Lake. Info/register: 719-460-4179.
  • Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Networking, Tue., July 11, 5 pm–7:00 pm, members free, $15 for non-members. Details: www.trilakeschamber.com. 719-481-3282.
  • Freedom car wash fundraiser special coupons (ends Mon., July 10) . See ad on page < 4 >.
  • 2023 Home Buyers Workshop, free community class, Sat., July 15, 10 am – noon. Rebecca Seedorf, see ad on page < 5 >
  • Art Hop, Thu., July 20, 5-8 pm., Downtown Monument. Every third Thu. through Sep. Free. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • A Better Hearing Center, special offers through Jul 31. 574 East Highway 105 Monument. See ad on page < 8 >.
  • Affordable Flooring Connection, summer specials. see ad on page < 3 >.
  • Alpine Essentials Rec MJ dispensary, Special offer through July 3. See ad on page < 13 >.
  • Cornerstone Cleaners, special offers through Jul 31. 1030 W. Baptist Road, near King Soopers. See ad on page < 4 >.
  • Eagle Wine & Spirits, special offers through Jul 31. Baptist Road next to King Soopers. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Gleneagle Candle Co., special offers through Jul 31. 13796 Gleneagle Drive 80921. See ad on page < 4 >.
  • Monument Cleaners, special offers through Jul 31, 15932 Jackson Creek Pkwy., in Monument Marketplace. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Monumental Med Spa, special offers for July. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Noel Relief Centers, new patient specials. 950 Baptist Rd #130, Monument. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • The Living Room Plants, special offers through July 31, 12229 Voyager Pkwy, Suite 100. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Palmer Lake Wellness, mention the ad for special offer, see ad on page < 12 >.
  • The Vanity Box, special offers, facial revivals, and more. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Tri-Lakes Collision and Auto Service Center, special offers through Jul 31. 2101 Wolf Court, Monument. www.trilakescollision.com. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • St Peter Catholic Schools: Now enrolling, see add on page < 2 >.
  • Time to dance, free event, Fri., July 21, 6-7 pm. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • YMCA Fall youth sports registration open; see ad on page < 6 >.
  • 2023 Hummingbird Festival, Fri.-Sat., Aug. 4-5, 10 am-3:00 pm. Learn about hummingbirds and nature, art, alpacas, gifts and farmers market, 17435 Rollercoaster Rd. For vendor space 719-492-0355. See ad on page < 9 >.
  • Kiwanis peaches orders by July 31, pick up Aug. 12; see ad on page < 8 >.
  • Never Dead Riders motorcycle group Poker Run, Sat., Sep. 23. Non-profit to raise funds to help people with a family member with cancer. Info: neverdeadriders.net

Our community calendar carries listings on a space-available basis for Tri-Lakes events that are sponsored by local governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations. We include events that are open to the general public and are not religious or self-promotional in nature. If space is available, complimentary calendar listings are included, when requested, for events advertised in the current issue. To have your event listed at no charge in Our Community Calendar, please send the information to calendar@ocn.me or Our Community News, P.O. Box 1742, Monument, Colorado 80132.

Other Calendar articles

Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, May 22 – Pay schedule approved, board roles revised, funding detailed

By Harriet Halbig

Principal Parsley retires
Above: Bear Creek Elementary School students didn’t want retiring Principal Peggy Parsley to leave without showing how much she meant to them. On May 8, student officers of the Kiwanis K-Kids Club gave Parsley a binder of letters written by club members. The students wrote the letters and then copied them onto special paper that was laminated and loaded into a three-ring binder with a cover designed by one of the students. The K-Kids Club is made up of fourth- through sixth-graders. They do projects aimed at strengthening leadership skills and their appreciation for the impact of service to others. Parsley is the only principal the school has ever had.
Photo by RF Smith.

The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education discussed several major topics at its May 22 meeting. These included the final total of funding from the School Finance Act, a reversal of the Board office of Vice President and Appointment of Secretary, approval of the 2023-24 pay schedule, and other subjects.

School funding for 2023-24

Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway reported that the School Finance Act funding for the 2023-24 school year increased by 10.2%. Because the previous estimated increase was 9%, this amount resulted in significant changes in the proposed budget for the coming school year.

The per pupil revenue as a result of this increase will be $10,000 and the increase will also be reflected in the pay schedule, as seen below.

Ridgway reported that, in addition to this increase, schools and departments were able to discover efficiencies in their operations which would yield an additional $850,000 to be used for compensation of staff.

Treasurer Ron Schwarz asked whether this increase in state funding was sustainable.

Ridgway responded that this amount is sustainable but that another increase of this magnitude is unlikely.

Schwarz commented that this indicates that the state is confident in its ability to fund at this level.

In his proposed budget presentation later in the meeting, Ridgway also mentioned interest income as a revenue source. Interest income for this year totals $200,000, which will be applied to compensation.

Ridgway also said that the district has set aside $3 million for capital improvements in the coming year, returning to pre-pandemic levels.

When asked how property taxes are reflected in the revenue, Ridgway responded that property taxes never leave the county. The state is aware of the amount collected and backfills the remaining amount to reach the appropriate funding.

He pointed out that D38 enjoyed a large increase in property values over the past few years and consequently provided a larger percentage of the funding than some smaller counties.

The proposed budget presented later in the meeting is required by state statute to be provided by May 31. The board will vote to approve the final budget at its June 26 meeting.

Pay schedule approved

Ridgway explained the pay schedule, which reflects the increase in state revenue.

Ridgway explained some new programs which will be made available to employees in the coming year. These include Health Savings Plans, lower bonuses for hard-to-fill positions, and bonuses for longevity. In addition, employees will be credited for additional years of experience, for 15 years up from the current nine, and this credit will be reflected in compensation. Over the next few years, this credit will increase to 20 years.

Ridgway credited the Staff Collaboration Committee for its help in determining which programs are desired by district employees.

He reported that nearby districts anticipate increasing compensation by 8% to 9% while D38 will be able to provide an average 12% when including the $850,000 in efficiencies. While this does not entirely close the gap, it is a considerable improvement.

For details on the pay schedule, please see boarddocs on the district website, lewispalmer.org, under the May 22 date of this meeting.

The board approved the pay schedule as presented.

Board reorganization revised

At its April 17 meeting, following the appointment of Kris Norris as the new director of District 1, the board conducted a reorganization in pursuit of district policy.

At the April meeting, the board elected Tiffiney Upchurch president by secret ballot, and the board voted on a new vice president, which was not a vacant position.

Because this position was already filled by Theresa Phillips, the vote for new board vice president was considered null and void.

The board thereby proposed that Phillips be reinstated as vice president. At the May 22 meeting, the board appointed Norris as board secretary.

This proposal was passed.

The board further stated that though the full reorganization was not necessary during the April meeting, it is important to note that all members have been duly elected and appointed and their actions are still valid.

Parent and Community Advisory Committee

Outgoing Chair Kelly Bain reported on activities of the Parent and Community Advisory Committee.

The committee is composed of teachers and parents from all schools in the district, including Monument Academy, liaisons from the Board of Education and the administration, two student representatives from the high schools, and a community representative.

Bain said the committee offers the opportunity to receive information from the district administration and pass it along to the school level. The committee also advises the district on matters of budget, teacher evaluations, and assessments.

The committee meets at several different schools each year, giving members the opportunity to see how schools approach their responsibilities.

The committee also includes reports from the Special Education Advisory Committee, the Gifted Education Leadership Team and the Wellness Committee.

The committee changed its name this year from the District Accountability Advisory Committee in an effort to increase public attendance.

Superintendent update

During his monthly update, Superintendent KC Somers celebrated the achievements of many individuals in sports, academics, and other pursuits.

Some school-level achievements are notable:

  • The John Irwin Award rewarding academic achievement was awarded to Bear Creek Elementary, Lewis-Palmer Elementary, and Prairie Winds Elementary.
  • Prairie Winds and Lewis-Palmer Elementary also received the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award. D38 was also Accredited with Distinction.
  • Brian Hoff of Lewis-Palmer High School received a National Diamond Coach Award for excellence and longevity in speech and debate. This is Hoff’s third award.

For a complete list of district achievements, please see boarddocs.

Transportation discussion

While not on the board’s agenda, there were several public comments regarding a proposed change in transportation availability to students living east of Highway 83.

This subject was discussed at the board’s May 2 work session. The proposal is to reduce the number of routes in that area from four to one and to provide additional service to the area around Palmer Lake Elementary.

Transportation Supervisor Julie Abeyta said that these buses have often returned empty.

The individuals who commented said that their children would need to travel 3 to 8 miles to a centralized stop in order to use the bus service.

The proposed service would also require that a parent or guardian be present at the stop when a student is brought home.

A meeting was scheduled for May 23 to further discuss this issue.

**********

Correction

At the request of board Treasurer Ron Schwarz, following is a description of the procedure used to reorganize the board at its April 17 meeting:


  • Tiffiney Upchurch and Ron Schwarz were nominated for the position of board president.

  • Upchurch was elected via secret ballot.

  • Matthew Clawson nominated Schwarz for the role of vice president

  • Schwarz declined the nomination and stated that his skill set was better suited to continue in another capacity.

  • Clawson immediately nominated Kris Norris for the role of vice president

  • Following Norris’ appointment, Upchurch asked Theresa Phillips and Schwarz if they would consider serving as secretary and treasurer, respectively. Both parties agreed.

Above and below: At the May 22 meeting of the D38 Board of Education, the board recognized the Bearbotics district robotics team. Head coaches Jeanette Breton and Mike Hinkle (see inset) displayed their robots for the First Robotics Club (FRC), First Technical Chal- lenge (FTC), and First Lego League (FLL) teams. Dan Vandehoek, FRC represen- tative and co-captain, and other team members spoke about the program’s origins and the team’s efforts and achievements over the past school year. All three teams placed in regionals and went to state competitions. Bearbotics is an experiential learning program for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-focused students. Teams build large, custom, high-power, complex robots—using the latest design and fabrication tools-for competition. Students practice skills like leadership, communication, project and business management, teamwork, and applied creativity in a supportive environment with extensive access to local professionals for mentorship. Learn more about Bearbotics and its summer programs and support the team at www.bearbotics.org. Photos by Jackie Burhans.

**********

The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education usually meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of the month in its learning center, 146 N. Jefferson St., Monument. The next meeting, which will be on Zoom, will be on June 26.

Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.

Other Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Board of Education articles

MA School Board, May 11, 25 – MA addresses gender issues, budgets

By Jackie Burhans

At its May 11 regular meeting, the Monument Academy board heard from its community about a gender restroom issue and heard committee highlights. At a special meeting on May 25, the board approved budgets, including changes to job descriptions and organizational structures.

MA addresses gender issues again

During citizen comments, mother and daughter Jenn and Avery Brady spoke out on an interaction between the daughter and a transgender girl who used a restroom. Jenn Brady said her daughter had started a petition to secure privacy and safety in the restroom. She said she was proud of MA’s previous proclamation on gender issues but that it must close the loop to protect all students. The current solution for a student who feels unsafe is to use a unisex restroom or one by the nurse, which she felt discriminated against the majority, causing students to lose passing time—the time between classes when students must pass from one room to another. The solution, while costly, she said, was for MA to overhaul its restrooms. She felt confident parents would rally and said the ball was in MA’s court.

Avery reminded the board that its proclamation supported natural law and moral truth and said it would protect the innocence, well-being, privacy, and safety of every one of MA’s students. Recently, she said, a “biological male” [sic] has been seen entering the girls’ restroom. She said she understood that MA had to follow state law and allow “biological males” identifying as females access to the girls’ restroom. However, the board proclamation mentions the overall privacy of every student. She said MA was protecting “his” privacy but what about hers and that of all the other girls? She said that MA proclaimed it would protect every student, which means her as well.

MA’s proclamation against gender identity protection can be found on its website at bit.ly/ma-proclamation. Read more information about that proclamation at www.ocn.me/v22n3.htm#ma.

Later in the agenda, the board discussed a proposed Town Hall meeting with legal counsel on navigating gender issues at MA. President Ryan Graham said that there had been an incident at MA’s East Campus that caused a significant number of parents to reach out to the board regarding gender issues and the use of restrooms. He encouraged parents to familiarize themselves with two bills mentioned in MA’s proclamation: SB08-200, which expands discrimination protection to a person’s sexual orientation, and HB21-1108, which clarifies that protected class includes “gender identity” and “gender expression.” He noted that MA and every charter school must comply or be subject to legal action. The proclamation is an official announcement but does not constitute a violation of the law.

The intent of the Town Hall is to ask questions and hear directly from legal counsel what they can do as parents and what MA can do as a school while still being in accordance with the law. The meeting will be open to the community, and at least three board members will be in attendance. The Town Hall will be held on June 27 at 6 p.m. at MA’s East Campus.

Budgets approved

At the May 11 regular meeting, interim COO Kim McClelland reported on the FY23-24 budget in the absence of interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gary Gustafson. This met the state requirement that the budget be presented to the board before May 31.

At a special meeting on May 25, Gustafson returned to request approval of a supplemental budget for FY22-23, explaining that, while school districts and charters can amend budgets throughout the year, after Jan. 1 the only mechanism to do so was via a supplemental budget for which an entity must have additional revenues or resources. MA needed to do so to clean up different accounts and accommodate expenditures for the year, he said, noting that it was a violation of state statutes for expenditures to exceed appropriations and that approving the supplemental budget would bring MA back into alignment.

He reminded the board that in the previous year, the auditor had commented that MA had exceeded its total appropriations and it was important not to do so a second time. The revised appropriation showed a total increase of $2.3 million, primarily to the foundation fund, which accommodates the debt service for the East Campus building. He noted that MA’s original forecast was for 1,150 students, but they had only certified 1107.5 students, which resulted in $300,000 less in program funding. The board unanimously approved the FY22-23 supplemental budget.

Gustafson then discussed the proposed FY23-24 budget, starting by thanking the staff and interim COO for their work. He said he welcomed the board adopting the budget documents but that it had until June 30 to approve it. He started with budget assumptions which included increasing enrollment by just over 100 students to a total enrollment of 1219.5, noting that this is a plan and that numbers can be amended later. He noted the budget plans for 676.5 students in elementary and breaks out middle school at 402 from high school at an enrollment of 141. The 2023 school finance act set the per-pupil funding at $10,034, and he expects the per-pupil mill levy override (MLO) funding to be slightly decreased, although due to increased enrollment, the total will be higher. The budget assumptions also include revenues from instructional material fees for the first time and will include MA’s expenses such as contributions to insurance, the Public Employee Retirement Account (PERA), and Medicare.

The board packet included the appropriation resolution, which sets the maximum MA can spend by fund, including $17.4 million in the general fund, $500,000 in the preschool fund, and set amounts in the facilities, foundation, and pupil activity fund. By approving the resolution, the board would be approving the budget. Another required document is the fund balance resolution that would disclose any fund draw-down activity but is set to zero at this time. The inter-fund borrowing resolution is required by the state and applies to MA, which pools its cash into a single account. The statute requires MA to pay back any inter-fund borrowing within 60 days and to balance the accounts by June 30 each year. The preschool fund is kept separately, and MA has no anticipation of a preschool grant this year. The budgeted revenue is based on preschool fees but is very uncertain given the rollout of Colorado’s Universal Preschool program (UPK), in which MA is not participating.

Gustafson also noted that the Facilities Corporation fund and the Foundation fund are used to transfer money to pay principal, interest, and trustee management fees for the West Campus and East Campus buildings, respectively. This is a significant part of the budget, he said, informing the board that preliminary conversations have begun on how to refund the 2019 bonds for the East Campus. He said MA needed to continue to hope that interest rates would come down. Gustafson said that accurate accounting by school was a requirement of MA’s bond covenants.

The middle school is basically subsidizing the high school, he said, which is common until enrollment gets larger and the high school can cover more of the central overhead facility costs. He said he would create a unique accounting system where anything that could be directly charged to the middle or high school would be, but the central common area costs would be allocated on a per-pupil basis. This would transfer $2.3 million of common area costs to the middle school.

Finally, Gustafson noted that he was thrilled to have a balanced budget that cleaned up deficits, included all staff, and was not dependent on fundraising for operational needs. The budget, he said, is resourcing for the board’s strategic plan. It’s a tight budget without much flexibility, he said, and MA will need to continue with budget discipline next year. He explained that MA would pool all its financial resources into its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software so that schools, department heads, and principals could look at their budgets at any time in addition to receiving monthly reports. New processes would be implemented to require a budget transfer request if there was a budget overrun, and a full-time equivalent (FTE) authorization form would need approval before an additional employee could be hired.

McClelland noted that following these procedures would be one of the principals’ goals. Board member Craig Carle suggested that since the budget did not include fundraising, perhaps any fundraising could furnish contingency funds. Gustafson said that since MA did get donations, the budget does have $100,000 total in fundraising for both campuses. He said any money from a fundraising effort such as the gala could be used for specific targeted purposes like an athletic field.

The board voted unanimously to approve the FY23-24 budget.

Updated job descriptions and org chart

As part of the budget discussion, McClelland reviewed changes to the organization chart and updates to job descriptions. The organization chart reflects what is in the budget, she said, and approving the budget would approve the positions but not necessarily the structure. McClelland said she added the students to the top of the organization chart as they are the most important part. To foster the goal of “one MA” she has added the PTO to the chart to show how they support the overall organization. The organization chart is split into Operations and Finance, Academic, and Student Support. Some positions overlap the areas, and each section has categories showing the reporting structure.

She discussed changing the position name from COO to executive director, saying she felt strongly that it reflected that the position covered academics as well as operations. The chart was color coded with dark blue representing the executive director and support systems such as finance, marketing, facilities, athletics, and operations manager, which is the new title for Jake Dicus, whose title of manager of Development and Mission Engagement was incorrect. The position is responsible for day-to-day operations under the executive director and has no one reporting to it. Human Resources is a change in nomenclature from People Operations, and there is an added position of school culture and assessment coordinator that will be posted. This role will cover all grade levels and help support the principals in behavioral matters through discipline, proactive programs, and family engagement, as well as working with contractor Jennifer Strawbridge in data collection and reporting via dashboards.

Gustafson said they had discussed the feasibility of hiring a finance director but that, given the progress made in the past five months, he was reluctant to turn the work back over. In fact, he said the turnover in finance over the past four to five years had hindered the financial integrity of the school. Knowing the budget is tight, he will continue to fill in on a part-time basis as a contract employee, with existing staff picking up the day-to-day activities. He plans to grow the capabilities of the finance staff and turn over things like payroll and bank reconciliation so he can focus on big projects like debt financing for the parking lot, refinancing the 2019 bonds, and preparing for the audit. Gustafson said he could build a more sustainable structure for the long term if he stays another year. He confirmed that, for the next six months, he would still be attending Finance Committee and board meetings while working to bring purchasing and payroll back in-house. MA is paying Netchex $3,600 per month to do payroll, and he hopes to save that money and be in great shape by January 2024.

Board member Emily Belisle asked about the name change to teacher assistant from para; McClelland explained that the term para usually was used for special education. She also clarified that the two women who had shared the registrar position would be full-time employees, each responsible for a separate campus. The position of athletics manager is another nomenclature change as director positions usually have a master’s degree or at least a principal’s license. She said she was working with Michael Svendsen on an alternative administrative degree. She also confirmed that MA’s Director of Academics, Tina Leone, is still part-time and would be assisted by the person they hire in the new instructional coach role.

Finally, Belisle asked to understand the Special Education (SPED) department and why the positions of school psychologist, social worker, and counselor were necessary. McClellan said that she had reviewed MA’s charter contract with the district and was surprised to see it was on a fully insured model where every employee would be approved or provided by the school district. This is not how things work now, she said, and she would be seeking an amendment to the charter contract to better define roles and revenue related to SPED. Once she has that, she will be better able to walk through it with the board, but in the meantime, these roles are placeholders in the organization chart.

Board member Joe Bukowski asked about budgeting for school resource officers (SROs) and the collectability of instructional fees. McClelland explained that a second SRO was in the budget under safety and security as a contracted position from the Monument Police Department, along with additional sensors to detect propped doors. She said that principals recently went through the list of outstanding fees and contacted parents, some of whom had not reviewed their Infinite Campus accounts. There will be a more proactive process going forward, she said, noting that MA could limit privileges such as checking out a library book or walking at graduation for students with outstanding fees.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

Above: Monument Academy (MA) board Vice President Lindsay Clinton presents a certificate of appreciation to Amanda Peters, a parent, for her event planning and other support for MA’s gala fundraiser event: Boot, Scoot & Bid held on April 20 at the Spruce Mountain Ranch. The event raised $129,000 to support teacher compensation, safety, and security. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

  • Board Vice President Lindsay Clinton spotlighted Amanda Peters, a parent, for bringing her event-planning skills to MA’s Boot, Scoot, and Bid fundraiser. Dicus reported that the event was a great success, raising over $129,000, which would impact salaries, contributions toward benefits, and a second school resource officer.

  • The board unanimously approved changes to MA’s bylaws specifying that the board may not include MA employees or their immediate family and declaring that a director shall be deemed to have resigned in the event they have two unexcused absences.

  • The board set its summer retreat date for 9 a.m. July 13 ahead of its regular meeting.

  • Clinton said that Board Café chats would resume in August.

  • Graham said the first preconstruction meeting for the recirculation road around the West Campus was held on the morning of May 11 at the Wilson & Co offices. They will be mobilizing equipment on May 22 and breaking ground shortly.

  • Graham thanked the MA West Campus Parent-Teacher Organization for reaching out about a shade structure. He spoke with contractors at a pre-construction meeting about doing this work at the same time.

  • Board member Michael Geers reported on the School Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) West end-of-year survey, which recommended the school put out a video on how to use the carline and hopes to see PTO events better promoted.

  • Board member Emily Belisle reported that the SAAC East end-of-year survey had 39 responses, whose greatest concern was mid-year teacher turnover. The committee recommends that the board remain dedicated to staff pay and retention, aligning curriculum, expanding extracurricular activities, and developing school spirit and meaningful traditions.

  • After the adjournment of the May 11 board meeting, Calvin Yuen, a student, spoke against the board’s cancelation of an eSport event, saying the club was trying to make money for something students are passionate about.

  • After the executive session following the special meeting on May 25, the board reported that member Danny O’Brien has resigned from the board.

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The MA School Board meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, June 8, at 6 p.m. at the East Campus. See more information at https://bit.ly/ma-boe.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

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El Paso Board of County Commissioners, May 2, 9, and 16 – Approval of three commercial multi-tenant buildings off Struthers Road

By Helen Walklett

At the May 16 El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) land use meeting, the commissioners voted to approve a preliminary plan for the Cathedral Rock Commons Commercial development, which will create three commercial lots on property directly south of the Big R store off Struthers Road in Monument.

Cathedral Rock Commons Commercial

At the May 16 meeting, the commissioners approved a preliminary plan request by Store Master Funding VIII LLC, the owners of the Big R Store, to create three commercial lots and a tract on the 10.25-acre property at the northeast corner of Struthers Road and Spanish Bit Drive. The land is zoned commercial community. The application came from the Planning Commission with a recommendation for approval following its April 20 meeting.

The existing Big R will be on the 6.2-acre lot 1. Lots 2 and 3 will each be less than 2 acres and will have three commercial multi-tenant retail buildings on them, connected via a shared driveway to the Big R store to the north. The applicant anticipates the properties will include businesses that cater to the rural aesthetic that supports the existing Big R store. The first building to the east will potentially have three retail tenants as will the middle building which will also have a drive-through. The third building on the west side of the drive will house a possible wheat grass business and restaurant.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion.

Loop Water Authority update

At the May 9 BOCC meeting, the commissioners received an update on the Loop Water Authority water reuse project which will build infrastructure to allow water flowing south to be reused by being stored in Calhan Reservoir and pumped back north to customers after treatment. The project received $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding from county in September 2022. See Loop Water Authority article on page < 22 >.

Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD), Donala Water and Sanitation District, the Town of Monument, and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District formed the El Paso County Regional Water Loop Authority (EPCRWLA) in November 2022.

Amy Lathen, CMD general manager, told the commissioners that the four organizations were working together to deliver renewable water sources to customers in the northern part of the county. She said the renewable and reuse water would take some of the pressure off the Denver Basin wells and preserve water resources in the parts of the county that are not part of Colorado Springs Utilities’ water resource system. Lathen stressed that the authority was very open to other districts joining as they see the benefit of the project.

Jessie Shaffer, district manager, Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District and president of EPCRWLA, said water quality testing had begun and that the authority was working to hire a project manager to get the project to the construction phase. He hoped to have the person in place in June.

Kevin Brown, CMD water resource engineer, said a schematic design would be worked on over the next six months. This would identify the pipeline route, required pipe sizes, and where pump stations and other infrastructure should be located. This information would then allow the project to move forward with land acquisition.

Commissioner Stan VanderWerf stated he remained really supportive of the concept, commenting, “I really honestly feel we’ve been great and responsible stewards of our precious resources here in this region, including water, and this is just another great example of trying to continue that legacy.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, May 4 and 18 – Townhome development off Woodmoor Drive recommended for approval

By Helen Walklett

At the May 18 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, the commissioners heard a rezone and preliminary plan request for a 7.53-acre property on the east side of Woodmoor Drive where 52 townhomes would be built. The commissioners also heard a rezone and a minor subdivision request for Black Forest properties during May.

Townhome development proposed off Woodmoor Drive

At the May 18 meeting, the commissioners voted 6-1 to recommend for approval a combined rezone and preliminary plan request by Lake Woodmoor Holdings LLC for a 7.53-acre property on the east side of Woodmoor Drive and south of Deer Creek Road. Known as Waterside at Lake Woodmoor, it borders the lake to its east and proposes 52 single-family townhomes.

The rezone would see the property zoned PUD (planned unit development) instead of its current and now obsolete R-4 (planned development) zoning. The applicant also requests a finding of water sufficiency for water quality, quantity, and dependability and has secured a commitment letter from Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, and both the county attorney and the state water engineer have made findings of sufficiency. Ryan Howser, planner III, Planning and Community Development Department, explained that if the water were approved at this stage, final plats could be approved administratively, meaning no further public hearings for this application.

Brooks Swenson, project manager, NES Inc. and representing the applicant, said the proposed development has a density of about 6.9 dwelling units per acre (DUA). This is less than the approximate density of 11 DUAs for the 83 Waterside Condominiums that were approved on the site in 1983 but never developed.

The applicant states in their letter of intent that the development will facilitate a density transition between the higher density residential and commercial to the south and the lower density residential to the north and east. In total, 35% of the development would be open space.

The applicant is asking for four modifications with the PUD, and Commissioner Eric Moraes raised an issue with the one requesting a cul-de-sac be replaced by a hammerhead turnaround. He said he could not see how it could be justified by the land development code criteria.

Howser said the county had notified 35 adjoining property owners. No one spoke in support at the hearing; two local residents spoke in opposition, raising concerns about water, traffic (particularly in relation to the nearby schools and pedestrian safety), and that the hammerhead was not in keeping with the surrounding area where cul-de-sacs prevail.

Swenson responded that the traffic study had taken the school traffic into account and stated, “what’s being proposed is less dense than what’s been approved [in the past] and so there would be a reduction in traffic.” He stated that the applicant has been working with the Woodmoor Improvement Association to advance the Safe Routes to School plan and commented that the lower density would help with water use and that there was also a housing crisis which the development would help address.

Commissioner Becky Fuller said, “I think generally speaking this fits. It makes a lot of sense.”

Moraes said, “I generally think it’s a good project, but I don’t think they’ve made the justification in accordance with the land development code on the hammerhead.” He added that he had other reservations such as the request to have private roads which people might use to bypass Woodmoor Drive. He thought this would eventually lead to the private roads being closed to non-residents.

The vote to recommend for approval was 6-1. Moraes was the nay vote. Commissioner Christopher Whitney said his vote was “a reluctant aye for the same reasons as Mr. Moraes.”

The application is now due to be heard at the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) land use meeting on June 20.

Vessey Road rezone to RR-2.5

Also at the May 18 meeting, the commissioners heard a request to rezone a 14-acre Black Forest property from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential). It is west of the intersection of Vessey Road and Black Forest Road and south of the intersection of Vessey Road and Pine Castle Drive.

The applicant has also submitted a minor subdivision application and wishes to divide the property into a three-lot subdivision with each lot being 4 acres or greater. This application is currently under review.

The rezone application was originally scheduled as a consent item but was elevated to a full hearing, albeit a short one, after concerns were raised that the rezone would allow the applicant or a subsequent owner to ask for five lots in the future. Commissioner Becky Fuller asked, “Is there protection for the neighbors if we approve this?” Commissioner Jay Carlson questioned whether they [the commissioners] could add a condition that the applicant abide by the lot sizes set out in the subdivision application. Senior Assistant County Attorney Lori Seago confirmed this could be done.

Brett Louk, with SMH Consultants and representing the owner, confirmed that his client was happy that a 4-acre lot size condition be added to the rezone approval.

One neighbor spoke in opposition, voicing concern about water and a fear the rezone would enable the property to be further subdivided. Kylie Bagley, planner II, Planning and Community Development, said that water availability would be looked at as part of the subdivision application. The lot minimum size was addressed by the added condition.

The vote to recommend the application for approval was unanimous. It is now due to be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on June 20.

Kinch minor subdivision

At the May 4 meeting, the commissioners heard a request by Paul and Amy Kinch to subdivide their 29.12-acre property on Milam Road into three 5-acre lots and one 14-acre lot. The subdivision does not require a rezone as the land is already zoned RR-5.

The applicants plan to build a new home on the larger lot and sell the other three at a future date. They state in their letter of intent that the subdivision will allow them to better maximize the use of their land.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no further discussion and will now be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on June 6.

New chair and vice chair

At the May 18 meeting, the commissioners voted to elect Commissioner Thomas Bailey as chair and Commissioner Jay Carlson as vice chair. Bailey served as vice chair under former Commissioner Brian Risley’s chairmanship. Risley stepped down in April following his election to the Colorado Springs City Council.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me‑.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

Monument Town Council, May 1 and 15 – Midtown Collection of Monument Junction approved on 5-2 vote

By Chris Jeub

A newly appointed Monument chief of police was sworn in on May 15. The Midtown Collection at Monument Junction West Filing No. 1, a controversial Planned Unit Development (PUD) project, was approved on a split vote. A technical glitch led to the failure of the May 15 Town Council meeting to be published online, leaving only the agenda items to be reported on in this issue of OCN.

New chief of police

Patrick Regan was sworn in as the new chief of police for Monument on May 15, ending a five-month vacancy in the position. Regan brings 23 years of law enforcement experience from the Scottsdale Police Department in Arizona, where he served in various roles including undercover narcotics detective, SWAT operator, and internal affairs supervisor. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has extensive executive leadership training. Regan expressed his excitement about joining the Monument community and highlighted his commitment to maintaining a strong relationship with the residents. He plans to increase the number of officers on patrol, enhance community engagement efforts, and focus on collaboration, accountability, and communication within the Police Department.

Above: Patrick Regan had no idea when he got married in Monument in 2012 that he’d return 11 years later as police chief. Regan was sworn in at the Monument Town Council meeting on May 15. He replaces interim chief Tim Johnson who returns to his previous rank of commander. Regan has spent the past 23 years with the Scottsdale, Ariz., Police Department. He served as an undercover narcotics detective, violent crime investigator, Spanish interpreter, gang enforcement supervisor, internal affairs supervisor, patrol watch commander, commander of the special investigations division, and other positions. After being sworn in, Regan said he’s “incredibly excited” about his new position. He said after he married his wife, Bree, they’d been “trying to come back ever since.” Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Monument Junction

Ordinance No. 10-2023, which approved a Preliminary/Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Midtown Collection at Monument Junction West Filing No. 1, was approved on a 5-2 vote. The project encompasses 21.7 acres with a primary use of single-family detached homes. The development is classified as a mixed-use PUD, surrounded by other PUD-zoned land.

The Monument Planning Commission recommended denial of the plan on April 12 in a 4-3 vote, stating that it did not meet the criteria set forth in the town’s land development code and was inconsistent with the comprehensive plan. However, the town staff recommended approval, asserting that the plan adhered to applicable development standards and was generally consistent with the comprehensive plan.

Andrea Barlow of N.E.S., representing Classic Homes, presented on behalf of the applicant, challenging the denial from the commission. Barlow emphasized the benefits of the proposed public park and highlighted that the land had been zoned for commercial development since the 1980s. The sketch plan, which was approved by the council in 2020, was described as a conceptual plan rather than a precise plan. Barlow pointed out that Commissioner Danny Ours had approved the sketch plan at the time, and the history of the application indicated a track record of approval rather than denial. Barlow explained the recent history of the property:


  • The Village Sketch Plan: Approved on June 15, 2020.

  • Monument Junction West Filing No. 1 Final Plat: Approved on Feb. 7, 2022.

  • Monument Junction Phase 1 (East) Preliminary/Final PUD Plan: Approved on March 21, 2022, with 204 units.

  • Monument Junction Phase 1 (East) Filing No. 1 Final Plat: Approved on July 5, 2022, with 58 units.

  • Monument Junction West Filing No. 1, Lot 4 (Whataburger) Preliminary/Final PUD Plan: Approved on Oct. 17, 2022.

  • Monument Junction West Filing No. 1, Lot 5 (Multi-family) Preliminary/Final PUD Plan: Approved on Oct. 17, 2022, with 240 units.

  • Monument Junction Phase 1 (East) Filing No. 2 Final Plat: Approved on Nov. 21, 2022, with 146 units.

Though the development faced scrutiny from the Planning Commission, the council ultimately decided to approve it by a 5-2 vote, with Councilmembers Kenneth Kimple and Sana Abbott voting against, citing density and traffic concerns. The approval of both the PUD and the final plat marks the end of a challenging development approval process for the Midtown Collection at Monument Junction.

May 15 meeting

Due to a technical failure, the May 15 Town Council meeting failed to publish online. The meeting consisted of the following agenda items:


  1. Town Accountant Mona Hirjoi presented the 2024 budget.

  2. Bob Cole disclosed potential conflicts of interest. A vote was taken to exclude council members with conflicts from consideration, discussions, and voting on relevant matters.

  3. Approval of the Consent Agenda: The consent agenda items approved were the agenda for May 15, 2023, special meeting minutes from April 26, 2023, meeting minutes from May 1, 2023, Resolution No. 34-2023 (on-call engineering service agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.), and Resolution No. 35-2023 (contract with A-1 Chipseal for the 2023 Chipseal Program).

  4. Proclamation: Mike Foreman presented the Police Week Proclamation.

  5. Presentation: Officer Dakota Degenhart received a medal for saving a life, presented by Foreman.

  6. Chief of Police Patrick J. Regan took the oath of office, administered by Foreman.

  7. Town Attorney Bob Cole initiated a discussion on land acquisition for the Monument Hill Tank Site.

  8. Deputy Clerk Tina Erickson requested a presentation on June 5 from Girls of the West, Pikes Peak Range Riders, and Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.
Above: At the May 15 Monument Town Council meeting, Police Officer Dakota Degenhart received a medal for helping to save the life of a person who tried to commit suicide on April 3. Town Manager Mike Foreman said Degenhart and Palmer Lake Officer Eugene Ramirez found the person hanging from a rope in the woods off Red Rocks Drive. By cutting the person down, Foreman said their “quick thinking and teamwork saved a life.” Photo by Michael Weinfeld

Please note that this summary is based solely on the agenda items provided, and further details or discussions that occurred during the meeting are not included.

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The Monument Council usually meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month at Monument Town Hall, 645 Beacon Lite Road. The next two regular meetings are scheduled for Monday, June 5 and Monday, June 19. Call 719-884-8014 or see www.townofmonument.org for information. To see upcoming agendas and complete board packets or to download audio recordings of past meetings, see http://monumenttownco.minutesondemand.com and click on Town Council.

Chris Jeub can be reached at chrisjeub@ocn.me.

Other Monument Town Council articles

Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, May 3, 11, and 25 – Board considers water issues and Elephant Rock

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

In May, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) continued to grapple with water rates, urgently needed improvements to the town’s water system, stormwater drainage, and the future of the Elephant Rock property. The board has worked on these issues in some cases for years. The water system improvements, stormwater drainage issues and funding are complex in themselves and are interconnected. Together, they were the main topics of workshops and board meetings in May. The board heard a presentation from Awake Palmer Lake. Permits were issued for three special events.

Strategy for water rates proves elusive

At a workshop meeting on May 3, the board discussed a revised water rate study written by Chris Brandewie, the town’s water rate consultant. Brandewie’s study addressed the need to increase reserves to fund capital improvement projects. He recommended that capital projects costing $10,000 or less be paid with operating funds, and projects above that amount be paid with reserves, grants, or loans. Brandewie initially recommended adding $550,429 to reserves annually for capital improvement projects.

Brandewie’s study proposed three cumulative increases to the town’s base water rate:


  • To balance the water budget only, the monthly base rate for residential customers would need to be $80.02, an increase of $11.79 per month from the current base rate.

  • To add savings for improvements to the water system proposed by GMS Engineering Inc. (GMS) in its Preliminary Engineering Report (PER), the monthly base rate would need to be $92.88, a total increase of $24.67.

  • To add savings for capital improvement projects over the next 30 years, the base monthly rate would need to be $107.92, a total increase of $39.69.

Brandewie’s water rate study is posted on the town’s website here: https://www.townofpalmerlake.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/board_of_trustees/meeting/packets/7814/scenario_0.1_and_sketches_palmer_lake_water_rate_study_wadd.pdf.

The board asked Mark Morton, the engineer who wrote the PER mentioned above, for his comments on the water rate study. Morton said he would defer to the study on the issue of balancing the budget, and he also agreed with the study’s conclusions on funding for capital improvements.

Mayor Glant Havenar questioned whether the best approach was to “rip the band-aid off” with a single large increase or use an incremental approach, perhaps increasing rates over a year. She also asked if increases to the tiers of water usage should be used in addition to increases in the monthly base rate. Morton pointed out that adjusting the usage tiers was a flexible approach but could motivate residents to reduce their water usage leading to a reduction in revenue from water service.

Trustee Shana Ball pointed out the need to address some issues in the short term while also planning for the long term.

The packet materials for the May 11 meeting documented feedback on the water rate study Town Administrator Dawn Collins had given to Brandewie, including:


  • Use a 30-year planning window.

  • Modify usage tiers to increase revenue.

  • Consider varying rates for restaurants and senior citizens.

  • Consider the priority 1 and 2 improvements in the water system Preliminary Engineering Report when calculating fees.

  • Consider increasing fees over a two- to three-year period.

The packet materials ask the board to confirm this approach and to add any additional direction to Brandewie.

At the May 11 board meeting, resident Roger Moseley gave the board his thoughts on water rates. Mosley discussed issues including basing rates on tap size, how to balance culinary use and yard watering, the impact of family size on water bills and whether to prioritize conservation. He argued operation and maintenance funding and capital improvement funding should be separated in financial reports. Mosely said the board should focus on operation and maintenance costs and should increase water fees by $30 per month.

Town Administrator Dawn Collins agreed that operation and maintenance funding should be accounted for separately, adding that change was already being made.

At a workshop on May 25, Brandewie presented a revised water rate study that addresses some of the questions asked by the board. The revised study presents several scenarios ranging from simply balancing the water budget using only increases to the base rate to balancing the water budget using only increases to the usage tiers.

To cover year-to-year operational costs using only increases to the base rate, without saving anything for capital projects, and factoring in the 3% annual increase in the base rate already planned for but not implemented in previous years, the base rate would need to go to $93.60, an increase of $25.37 per month from the current base rate.

Adding savings of 2% for planned improvements to the water system to the previous scenario would increase the base rate to $108.38, adding $40.15 to the current base rate.

Another approach Brandewie presented increased the number of usage tiers and their respective rates. Currently, there are three usage tiers:


  • 0 to 5,000 gallons charged at $8.40 per 1,000 gallons.

  • 5,001 to 10,000 gallons charged at $10.08 per 1,000 gallons.

  • 10,001 gallons and up charged at $12.10 per 1,000 gallons.

Brandewie proposed going to eight tiers, with the first tier being 0 to 3,999 gallons per month, and each subsequent tier providing an additional 1,000 gallons per month. The cost per 1,000 gallons of each tier would gradually increase from $1.73 to $3.99.

This scenario would generate $975,808 from base rates and another $745,186 from usage.

Another scenario proposed increasing tiers by 3,000 gallons and increasing the cost per 1,000 gallons by 15% between tiers.

The last scenario addressed how much the tiers would have to increase to balance the water budget without increasing the base rate. In this model the cost of each tier would increase by 37.5%.

Brandewie asked the board to give him direction about which of these scenarios to pursue. He also suggested the board consider raising the rates for the few out-of-town customers.

Following Brandewie’s presentation of his revised study, Havenar reiterated her preference for beginning with a large increase, arguing that the 3% increase in the base rate already scheduled was not adequate the balance the water budget. She said she wanted a solution that would not overwhelm a senior citizen who lives alone.

To address Havenar’s concern, Brandewie suggested making the first usage tier free so low usage customers would pay only the base rate. He also pointed out that if high usage tiers were too costly, large customers would pursue getting their own wells.

The board will hold a virtual meeting with Brandewie on June 7 to continue the discussion of water rates. Check the town’s website for meeting details.

Board sets direction for water system improvements

At the May 3 workshop, Morton reviewed the water system improvements called for in the PER he prepared for the town and discussed potential funding sources.

The PER lists three priority one improvements:


  • A new well into the Arapahoe aquifer. Morton said a new well is urgently needed because if one of the town’s existing wells was out of service the town will not have enough water to meet demand.

  • Upgrades to the water treatment plant. Radium mitigation technology needs to be added to the treatment plant and additional treatment capacity is needed to provide redundancy.

  • Six segments of pipeline need to be replaced. These segments are the most prone to failure.

  • The PER also listed three priority two improvements:

  • Build pipeline loop at County Line Road.

  • Build pipeline loop at Shady Lane.

  • Build pipeline loop at the southern boundary of the service area, adjacent to Red Rocks Ranch.

Turning these existing pipelines into loops is necessary to avoid water quality issues in the current pipelines, which have dead ends. The dead ends make it necessary to flush the pipelines of stale water, which wastes water. Pipelines that loop also provide a redundant water supply in the case of a pipeline break and help supply adequate water pressure to support firefighting.

The total preliminary cost estimate for priority one and two projects is just over $6 million, according to the PER.

To fund the water system improvements, Morton recommended the town begin by seeking a loan. If grants can be found, those funds can be used to pay down the principal on the loan, reducing interest costs.

Collins pointed out that the longer the town waits to begin on these improvements, the higher the cost will be. Havenar asked her to begin investigating financing options.

At the board meeting on May 11, Havenar and the board passed a resolution directing Collins to work with Morton to investigate funding for all the proposed water system improvements. Morton offered to update the costs in the PER, which is now a year old, adding that costs may have increased by 5% to 10% due to inflation.

At the May 25 board meeting, the board decided to pursue drilling a new well into the Arapahoe aquifer. Collins said BBA Water Consultants Inc. identified a location in the northeast section of Palmer Lake near County Line Road as the best location for the well. Collins said that $337,000 in American Recovery Plan Act funds were available to fund the well drilling investigation.

At the same board meeting, attorney Matt Krob proposed amending Ordinance 16-2018, an emergency ordinance that restricts the expansion of the water system. Krob said the emergency ordinance could be interpreted to prevent some of the planned water system improvements. Collins said the ordinance obstructed the creation of pipeline loops.

Moseley objected to Krob’s proposed amendment, saying he suspected the amended ordinance would enable development. He suggested town staff might be colluding with developers but offered no evidence this was true. He also argued the original ordinance says it must remain in place until the town has acquired new sources of water. Trustee Shana Ball pointed out that the proposed well could be thought of as a new water source.

Krob said he would redraft the ordinance and bring it to the board at a future meeting.

Design for stormwater drainage selected

The town’s plan to improve the quality of its stormwater drainage was discussed at the May 3 workshop. A previous board began developing this plan in May 2022 in response to a report from John Chavez, of Chavez Consulting LLC, that found that the town was not complying with the terms of its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

GMS did a study in April 2022 that presented three stormwater drainage designs to bring the town into compliance with its permit. Reporting on that study can be found in a previous issue of OCN here: https://www.ocn.me/v22n5.htm#plbot.

At the workshop, Morton said his understanding was that the board wanted to pursue the storm drainage design referred to as the “hybrid” design that would build a drainage system on High Street that would have underground and aboveground segments. The estimated cost is $885,000.

Morton explained that the drainage project requires the creation of a stormwater drainage enterprise fund. Such a fund is a prerequisite for borrowing the money needed to construct the drainage infrastructure. The fund would create a revenue source for the project by charging each resident a fee; those fees would cover debt service and the creation of a reserve to be used for future drainage improvements. The enterprise fund would cover the entire town’s drainage issues, Morton said.

Morton emphasized that the town’s MS4 permit obligates it to produce a good quality of stormwater discharge or face penalties. Krob said the entire town would be responsible for paying those penalties should violations occur.

At the May 25 meeting, the board approved a resolution confirming their choice of the hybrid design. Collins was directed to provide the board more detail on the required enterprise fund. She said the enterprise fund would need to be set up for a year and audited before the town could pursue other loans or grants to fund the improvements to drainage.

Wedding venue proposed for Elephant Rock

At the May 11 board meeting, Havenar said out of the several proposals to develop the Elephant Rock property that the board had received, two were still under consideration: one from Franco Pisani and Lindsey Truitt and one from the Joy on the Rock, a church in Palmer Lake.

Pisani and Truitt told the board they wanted to use the property as a venue for weddings and other events, preserving and restoring the main building and perhaps moving the children’s chapel as well. Pisani said his architect had inspected the site and he wanted direction from the board before committing to a more detailed analysis. Pisani said he envisioned having the site functioning as an event venue by the next bridal season and in later stages would add private suites and a chapel.

The board approved a motion to ask both Pisani and Joy on the Rock to present to the board at its next meeting.

At the May 25 meeting, Havenar said Joy on the Rock had withdrawn their proposal, but Pisani and Truitt were ready to present their plans for the property.

The materials for the meeting included biographies of Pisani and Truitt. In 1997 Pisani was the executive chef at The Villa in Palmer Lake. He left that position to become the food and beverage director at The Country Club at Woodmoor. In 2008 Jeff Hulsmann brought Pisani back to The Villa. Pisani now owns two restaurants in Old Colorado City—Paravicini’s and Ristorante di Sopra. Truitt is a Colorado Springs native with 10 years’ experience as an event coordinator.

Pisani and Truitt have named their project Star View Ranch.

John Nelson, the architect working with Pisani and Truitt, provided more details on the project. Nelson said his design would preserve the character of the old buildings. He said phase one would concentrate on the main building and phase two would involve moving two other buildings out of the flood plain to free up space for parking and for use as a park. He said one cabin would be retained for use as a restroom. The boiler and its plumbing would be abandoned and forced air HVAC would be installed.

Pisani said he was happy to include the Parks Commission and the Fire Department in his planning and would like to participate in the master plan for the property.Pisani said he sought a 10-year lease, with two options to renew for 10 years. If the town decided to sell the property in the future, he asked for the option of a first refusal. He also asked that the town not allow any other food and beverage businesses on the Elephant Rock property.

The town can expect revenue from rent and sales tax, Pisani said. He committed to generating $30,000 a year for the town after the first year of operation and said if revenues fell short of that amount, he would write a check to the town for the difference. He estimated $1.3 million in revenue for the town over the 10-year term of the lease.

History of lake and town presented

Linda Vier, Jeannine Engel, Jason Phillips, and Jeff Hulsmann presented a history of Palmer Lake at the May 11 board meeting. The presentation covers the geological history of the lake, the history of the town from the Long Expedition in 1820 to 1901, the fundraising efforts to benefit the lake beginning in 1994, the current water levels, and the work done to awake the lake.

The presentation is on the town’s website here: https://www.townofpalmerlake.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/board_of_trustees/meeting/packets/7824/awake_the_lake_presentation_5-11-2023.pdf.

Special event permits

The board approved three special event permits:


  • Pikes Peak Library District Story Time, to be held June 8 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Village Green. Denise Gard will bring her dogs to help tell the story of Dogs in the Wild.

  • Palmer Lake Historical Society Father’s Day Ice Cream Social, to be held June 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Village Green. There will be live music, ice cream, and pie.

  • Palmer Lake Arts Council Shakespeare in the Park, two shows to be held on June 24 at 1 and 6 p.m. in the Village Green.

Please bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket to all three events.

**********

The next board meetings are scheduled for June 8 and 22. See the town’s website at www.townofpalmerlake.com to confirm times and dates of board meetings and workshops. Meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Town Hall. Information: 719-481-2953.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at

jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Palmer Lake Board of Trustees articles

Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, May 17 – Directors elected; ambulance sale approved

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) meeting on May 17, the board elected two directors, approved the sale of a surplus ambulance, and heard about a mass casualty incident (MCI) drill and the development of a regional training consortium.

Directors elected

Chairman Nate Dowden administered the oath of office to re-elected directors Vice Chairman James Abendschan and Treasurer Jack Hinton. Both directors were elected by decree and the May 2 election was canceled.

Board nominates director positions

Board Secretary Donna Arkowski said that officially, the board needed to nominate board positions.

The following directors were unanimously nominated: Dowden—chair, Kiersten Tarvainen—vice chair, and Hinton—treasurer.

Surplus ambulance sale approved

Deputy Chief of Operations Chris Piepenburg said Peyton Fire Protection District (PFPD) was interested in purchasing the surplus 2007 ambulance for $5,000. The ambulance had about 285,000 miles less than the existing ambulance in service at PFPD, he said.

Hinton said the 2007 ambulance had been donated to Palmer Lake Fire Department in September 2020, but it was returned to the district. It is good to help neighbors, said Hinton. See www.ocn.me/v20n10.htm#bffrpd.

The board unanimously approved the sale.

Gary Nelson, president of Emergency Incident Support (EIS), said the nonprofit organization he leads would have thankfully received the ambulance as a donation if PFPD had not been interested.

Mass casualty incident drill

Dowden asked if a regional MCI training event was scheduled.

Piepenburg said the district was involved with active-shooter refresher training taking place that week with Monument Fire District, Monument Police Department, Palmer Lake Police Department and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. The district had attended previous events and will also participate in a large-scale MCI drill in June, involving multiple agencies region-wide to include area hospitals. The regional drill was developed by EMS Battalion Chief Sean Pearson and EMS Coordinator Stephanie Soll of MFD, he said. See MFD article on page < 17 >.

Nelson thanked the board for the great work they do and said EIS will support the MCI with logistics, catering, and rehab support. The group’s 35 volunteers will act as mass casualties. The MCI regional drill will be held at Don Breese Stadium at Lewis-Palmer High School, Monument, from June 12 to 16, he said.

Financial report

Hinton said as of April 30, the district had about $3.5 million in total assets, and that includes $1.3 million for General Operations and the reserve funds:


  • Money market deposit account, $137,235.

  • Emergency reserves fund, $236,751.

  • Capital improvement fund, $193,803.

  • TABOR reserve fund, $137,400.

The district received $471,744 in property and specific ownership taxes, and about $6,044 in ambulance revenue. The 2022 Pierce Enforcer 4395 has a loan for $356,731 and is shown in the total assets for the district. The true district assets are shown in the 2021 audit conducted in 2022. The district has spent about 31% of the predicted annual budget year to date, about 2% less than anticipated, he said.

The board unanimously accepted the financial report as presented.

Wildland deployment reimbursements

Hinton requested Administrative Officer Rachel Dunn record the wildland deployment reimbursements received and the month the deployments occurred on the balance sheet. He explained the deployment line on the balance versus actuals sheet now lists deployments separately to show net income or losses. The precise breakout will provide a true depiction of how much the district makes or loses on deployments. State wildland fire deployment payments can take about six months to receive, and Federal Emergency Management Agency payments could take up to a year. The district had yet to receive payment of $45,128 for the last deployment, he said.

Dowden requested a better breakout on the balance sheet because the $380,060 listed on the balance sheet as receivable income was for deployments billed last year that had not been received.

Piepenburg said it is unfortunate the billing process for wildland deployments is not easy. The bills are loaded into the system and sent to a reviewer and turned around in 30 days. If the reviewer does not send the bill back for correction, the correction is made by the district before being resubmitted to another reviewer. The return process can happen again after being reviewed by another agency. If the process proceeds without delays, it can take just 30 days, he said.

Dunn said billing is usually submitted within 7-14 days, but typically 90% of the bills are returned due to incorrect Government Services Administration rates (per diem reimbursement rates). The deploying crews are required to have a resource order before responding to a fire. The coding process is the last step in the process and involves clarification from the agency responsible for fighting the fire. The bills can be returned at any phase in the process, but once accepted by the state, payment is usually received in 14 days, she said.

Dowden said the reimbursement process is a laborious paper chase.

Hinton thanked Dunn and said the breakout on the balance sheet will allow careful monitoring of deployment reimbursements, help the board make educated funding decisions, and assist with budget planning. The wildland deployment reimbursements are negative year to date, he said.

If the district submits the bills on time, it will not be cut off, and eventually it will receive payment, said Piepenburg.

Department report

Dunn said the following:


  • The 2005 mid-mount ariel ladder truck was received April 28 and is housed in the bay at Station 1.

  • The district received new uniforms.

  • Students at “The School in the Woods” received wildfire education.

  • Remodeling work continued in the training room.

Operations update

Piepenburg said the district responded to 10 fire-related calls and 53 Emergency Medical Service (EMS) calls in April. The district assisted Falcon Fire Protection District with a residential structure fire in Falcon and extinguished a small RV fire within the district. In April, the district deployed two crews to the Gageby Creek Fire, Las Animas/Bent County, for 72 hours with a Type 3 and 6 apparatus. A crew also assisted with the Rampart Range Fire, Teller County, for 24 hours in April, he said.

Training update

Piepenburg said staff had completed a combined total of about 1,281 training hours in April:


  • Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) Fire Academy attended Live Fire behavior training in April at the district training center, and the students were scheduled to return for additional training May 20-21 and again for two days in June before graduation.

  • Staff completed the ongoing monthly North Group EMS Airway training with Centura Health and MFD EMS staff.

  • MFD worked on second-floor Live Fire training for three days.

  • The district is joining a regional training consortium with MFD, CSFD, and possibly Fort Carson Fire Department in the future. The consortium is a path to training and working together more often, with similar training structures and mind set. The district regularly trains with MFD.

Hinton asked if districts with similar terrain and vegetation are taken into consideration when choosing training partners and if line staff also deploy to gain experience.

Piepenburg said the district does not pay too much attention to terrain, but more so structural and EMS training with regional partners. The district usually selects one large wildland training event in the spring with CSFD and MFD. The wildland techs hired to fill the deployment roster are the first to deploy with a Type 3 engine, but the line staff that want to deploy to gain experience take a Type 6 brush truck, he said.

The meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

**********

Meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday of the month at Station 1, 11445 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. Meetings are open to the public in person or via Zoom. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21 at 7 p.m. For joining instructions, updates, agendas, minutes, and reports, visit www.bffire.org or contact Director of Public Relations Brooke Reid at admin@bffire.org or call 719-495-4300.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

Other Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District articles

Donald Wescott Fire Protection District, May 24 – Gleneagle annexation timeline unknown; merger process continues

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) meeting on May 24, the board discussed the timeline for the annexation of Gleneagle, received an update on the dissolution of the sub-district, held an election to determine board director positions, heard about the potential for revenue loss, and received updates on station remodels and new apparatus. The meeting was preceded by the volunteer firefighter pension fund board of trustees meeting.

Directors Charles Fleece and Treasurer Duane Garrett attended via Zoom.

Election of officers

District Attorney Emily Powell of Ireland Stapleton Pryor Pascoe PC law firm requested the board decide the officer positions. After a short discussion, the directors unanimously elected to retain the same positions.

Annexation update

DWFPD Volunteer Pension Board Trustee Dennis Feltz (attending remotely) asked for clarification on the comments made by Monument Fire District (MFD) board Vice President Roger Lance. See www.ocn.me/v23n5.htm#mfd.

President Mark Gunderman said there is no current negotiation regarding any annexation, but the City of Colorado Springs may be interested in annexing Gleneagle in one to 10 years. An annexation would impact all the work the combined districts have undertaken. Fire Chief Andy Kovacs and Gunderman had a discussion over coffee with Town of Monument Manager Mike Foreman, but there is no interest in annexation. The board represents the community for fire service, and Gunderman said he would like to see the merger between Wescott and Monument Fire District progress, to best serve the residents. Town Hall meetings will be held to inform the public of the options, and discuss what the future may look like, he said.

Kovacs said the concern regarding annexation arose from an article and a map that was published in December 2021 by The Gazette.

Note: The map showing potential annexation areas can be found on page < 50 > of Your El Paso Master Plan at https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com.

Sub-district dissolution process update

Powell said the petition for dissolution was submitted to the court, and the hearing is set for June 23. Her associate attorney Dino Ross will represent the district via Zoom. The court hearing notice will be published in a newspaper, in Colorado Springs and Monument, before the hearing. See www.ocn.me/v23n5.htm#dwfpd.

Gunderman asked about engaging a public relations firm to help inform the public after the hearing.

Powell said that after the court approval grants the petition, the court orders the election, and then the board and district cannot engage in one-on-one campaigning. A Resolution of Advocacy with campaign-style language can be disseminated, but not by the district. Any interested party or member of the press can request a copy of the Resolution of Advocacy through the Colorado Open Records Act, but any campaign must be away from the district and the board. A factual summary can be disseminated by the district. Beyond that, information must be away from the board and delivered by groups such as the Local 4319, homeowners associations, and other interested parties, she said.

Gunderman said he would discuss getting the message out to the residents with Kovacs after the meeting.

Potential for revenue loss

Kovacs said there is a potential for revenue loss for fire districts in 2024 with Senate Bill 303 and Proposition HH. The bill is a 10-year reduction in property taxes, and some districts could receive back-fill from the state, the stipulation being no more than a 20% increase in assessed property values, but locally values have risen beyond that. The implications are unknown, and every district is scrambling to decipher the complicated language, he said.

Powell said that SB 303 is a massive piece of tax legislation that passed in both the House and Senate and was signed by Gov. Jared Polis on May 2. The bill refers to the voters in November with Proposition HH, with these questions:


  • Shall property taxes be reduced by reducing assessment rates?

  • Shall we de-Bruce the state by 1% and generate about $167 million in revenue?

  • Shall we use that $167 million to back-fill certain local governments that might lose out due to property tax reductions?

  • Other parts are also included in the referendum.

Taking this to the voters in November creates problems for the 2024 budget process, because the district will not know how much revenue will be generated by property tax assessments in time for preliminary budgeting. If the referendum passes, every assessor in the state will be scrambling to re-assess properties. SB 303 may not make the November ballot due to 12 challenges from statewide counties claiming the bill violates the single subject law; it contains at least three, possibly five subjects. Proposition 103 maybe even more damaging, creating a hard 3% cap in revenue increases for local government, she said.

Powell said her law practice is preparing a practical guide to SB 303 to give clients a brief synopsis, such as:


  • How do I budget for the year?

  • What are the deadlines for certifying mill levies?

  • Will the de-Gallagher measure allow the raising of mill levies, or has the new legislation undone previous voter approval?

  • The legislation may also prevent districts raising revenue beyond inflation.

About 20 clients are participating in a cost share for the guide that will be available in a month.

Gunderman said it would be beneficial to have the guide.

Powell said the combined district could share the information and only pay for one cost share.

Chief’s report

Kovacs presented the board with the April Chief’s report, and said:


  • Multiple station projects are in the planning process, with plans to remodel Station 2, 4 (Gleneagle Drive) and “Shamrock” Station 5 on Highway 83.

  • The district will probably build a new Station 3 in 2023 if the district can secure the land. The new station will incorporate the district administrative offices to accommodate the combined district staff with the consolidation, and additional staff will be needed.

  • The combined district ambulances typically last about five years, and the district will receive one ambulance at the end of the year and another is budgeted for 2024.

  • The new Type 1 Pierce Engine 514 was placed into service at Station 4 on April 29, with a community “push-in” ceremony. Squad car 575 was also pushed into service during the ceremony and has been placed at Station 5.

  • The district is expecting a Type 3 wildland engine this year after a delay of two years.

  • The tower ladder truck pre-construction meeting will take place in October and construction is expected to take about six months. The existing ladder truck at Station 1 will be placed in reserve, and the 75-foot ladder truck that DWFPD owned will be sold.

  • The community chipping program has begun and will continue most weekends, except for holidays, through October. The chipper will be staffed by two firefighters, and on some occasions two chippers will be in operation.

For more information, see the MFD article on page < 17 >. The full report can be viewed at www.monumentfire.org.

Volunteer pension board of trustees meeting

At the bi-annual DWFPD volunteer pension board of trustees meeting, the board heard about the passing of a former volunteer firefighter, discussed the status and funding of the Firefighters and Police Pension Association (FPPA) volunteer pension fund, received a trustee resignation, and approved a new trustee.

Former volunteer firefighter passes away

The board passed on their condolences to the family of former volunteer firefighter Larry Coburn. Coburn was also a retired law safety officer and is survived by his wife.

Pension fund status

Trustee Mike Badger said the FPPA had been requesting the board add funds to the FPPA volunteer pension fund since 2015, but none has been added. The fund has no further liability after the volunteer firefighter hiring program was closed. The 2023 budget did not include funding for the FPPA fund, and additional funding should be discussed during the 2024 budget process, he said. See www.ocn.me/v22n12.htm#dwfpd.

Powell said she takes no position on whether the board should pay into the FPPA fund now or not, there is no obligation, but the board has a fiduciary responsibility to keep the pension fully funded. However, on completion of the merger MFD will manage the FPPA fund. If at that time the FPPA fund is underfunded, the board would need to ensure it is fully funded before the merger is complete, she said.

Badger thanked Powell for the explanation and said that any decisions regarding changes to the 2022 Allocation Report could not be made until after the actuarial study had been received. The next actuarial study is expected in September or October.

Kovacs confirmed that no harm would come to the volunteer pension fund and the commitment from MFD will exist in perpetuity, he said.

Note: At the end of the regular meeting, Powell corrected her previous comment made during the volunteer pension board meeting and said that the pre-inclusion agreement stipulating MFD manage the pension fund cannot be drafted until after the November ballot, and only if the dissolution of the northern sub-district passes.

The board received the resignation of trustee Bill Lowes, and unanimously approved the appointment of Dennis Feltz to the vacant trustee position.

The next pension meeting is scheduled for Oct. 25 at 4 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

**********

Meetings are usually held every other month on the fourth Wednesday at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for July 26 at 4:30 p.m. Meeting attendance is open to the public in person or via Zoom. For joining instruction, agendas, minutes, and updates, visit www.monumentfire.org or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin at 719-484-9011.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

Other Donald Wescott Fire Protection District articles

Monument Fire District, May 24 – Board director positions change; contractor hiring flexibility approved

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting on May 24, the board held an election to determine board positions; approved a resolution to allow flexibility in selecting contractors for the remodeling of Stations 2, 4, and 5; received multiple updates; and was introduced to the fire technician.

Directors Randall Estes, Tom Tharnish, and Mike Smaldino attended remotely.

Board of Directors’ position election

Kovacs said the directors can self-nominate or be nominated by the board, and if more than one director is interested in a position, a secret vote would be taken.

President John Hildebrandt self-nominated himself as board president and said he would like to continue as president until at least the consolidation process with Donald Wescott Fire Protection District is complete. He, Roger Lance, and Donald Wescott Fire Protection District board President Mark Gunderman started the process on Jan. 9, 2021, when they saw an opportunity to make a merger work. See www.ocn.me/v22n1.htm#tlmfpd and #dwfpd.

Director Jason Buckingham nominated Secretary Smaldino for board president.

Smaldino accepted the nomination and said he agreed with everything Hildebrandt said, but he was in position to commit more to the board compared with even two months ago. After nine years serving on the board it feels like a natural step, he said, and he would like the opportunity to lead the district in the same direction it has been going.

Smaldino was elected board president in a 4-3 secret paper/text vote.

Hildebrandt congratulated Smaldino on his new board position.

Smaldino thanked the board and Hildebrandt for everything he had done for the district and said he wanted to use his skill sets to get over some of the hurdles ahead.

Vice President Roger Lance declined to run again for his position, and Hildebrandt accepted Buckingham’s nomination for vice president. Treasurer Tom Kelly elected to retain his position, and Buckingham self-nominated himself as secretary. The Board of Directors are: President Mike Smaldino, Vice President John Hildebrandt, Treasurer Tom Kelly, Secretary Jason Buckingham, and Directors Randy Estes, Roger Lance, and Tom Tharnish.

Contractor hiring flexibility

Hildebrandt requested the board consider Resolution 2023-03, a resolution for integrated project delivery for the remodel of Stations 2, 4, and 5. The resolution allows the district to reject lower bids should the final product be optimal with another contractor. The resolution would not isolate the district into accepting the minimum bid from a construction company, he said.

Kovacs said the resolution allows the district to hire contractors that are considered the most capable of performing the project, contractors that choose the best product and have the most experience. It allows flexibility as the district begins remodeling the three stations. As each bid is received, the district will present it to the board, he said.

Lance said the lowest bidder usually turns out to be higher with all the additions and change orders.

The board unanimously approved the resolution.

Station 1 training center update

Kovacs said the district had requested cost estimates from the architects for the initial phase of the Station 1 training center design process. The architects will provide a rough estimate of initial costs to help budget for 2024. The district is planning a phased approach, with prioritization for the props. The cost of materials could be considerably higher in 2023, he said.

Buckingham asked if all the grading and flat work would be laid out as part of the initial phase, and then add structures, or just approach the property in chunks. Once the earth is moved it makes sense to add utilities before adding structures, he said.

Kovacs said the first phase would include earth work, a retention pond, the installation of utilities and a form of a training tower out of Conex containers. Classrooms are a priority, and a warehouse to store equipment, apparatus, and include a workshop for repairs. Phase 2 would include technical rescue, various firefighter training props, and a vehicle extrication area, he said.

Financial report

Kelly said as of April 30, the district is 33.3% of the way through the predicted budget for 2023, and all revenue is tracking as expected, except for impact fees that are deficient by about 20% with about $24,000 received year to date. The projected revenue for impact fees is about $200,000. Overall revenue received year to date is about $7.1 million. The projected annual revenue is about $16.5 million. Expenses for administration and building were slightly over but are coming back into line with budget projections. The largest expense is for general liabilities and benefits, which were higher than expected due to the 2023 budget passing before receiving the actual amounts due for 2023. The increases were due to accident and health insurance for the additional firefighters on the payroll, some additional IT expenses, vehicles, and rebranding. Overall year to date, expenses were about $4.9 million, or about 34.9% of the projected expense budget of about $14 million.

Kelly also noted the Fleet Capital Fund dropped from about $1.6 million to $845,966 after the 2018 and the 2019 Pierce fire engines were paid off for a total of about $825,000.

Kovacs said the district is carrying about $1.6 million in debt for the new tower ladder truck that is expected in 2024, and about $800,000 for the Pierce Type 1 Engine 514 placed into service at Station 4, and the administrative offices. The district hopes for increased revenue next year to begin paying off the debt before a new Station 3 is built (administration offices are included in the design), he said.

The board accepted the financial report as presented.

Fire technician introduction

Kovacs said that during the budget process for 2023, the district requested a fire technician position be added to alleviate some time-consuming clerical responsibilities the shift battalion chiefs and administrative staff were performing. He introduced the first district Fire Technician Carlos Amaya and said he was an outstanding applicant and has remained busy every day since starting in the position in mid-May.

Amaya said his ultimate goal is to become a firefighter and he is looking forward to learning more about the fire service. He is focused on becoming an asset to the district, helping out in any way he can, he said.

The board welcomed Amaya to the district.

Chief’s report

Kovacs updated the board as follows:


  • The district is hosting a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) from June 12-16. Development of the event within the district was a recommendation in the 2019 Master Plan by Emergency Services Consulting International. See BFFRPD article on page < 14 >.

  • Battalion Chief Sean Pearson and EMS Coordinator Stephanie Soll have developed a regional plan for a county-wide MCI that involves the Office of Emergency Management, multiple agencies, and Centura and UC Health hospitals. He is proud of their achievements.

  • The district completed 813 hours of training in April, and he thanked Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) for hosting the Live Fire Training days in April.

  • The district is working on a proposal for a multi-agency training consortium with Colorado Springs Fire Department and BFFRPD.

  • The retirement ceremony for retired Battalion Chief Mike Keough was a great success. Keough is attending a Police Training Academy and will continue to serve the district as a peace officer with the Monument Police Department. See a photo of the ceremony on page < 27 >.

  • A retirement ceremony will be held at Station 1, on June 28 at 8 a.m. for Battalion Chief Mike Dooley.

  • With Dooley’s retirement, the district hired Jarred Picker; a licensed Firefighter/Paramedic previously employed at Larkspur Fire Protection District. Picker will attend the West Metro Academy in August.

  • Two deserving students from Lewis-Palmer and Palmer Ridge High Schools were each awarded $1,500 scholarships from the International Firefighter Association Local 4319.

Note: For additional information, see the DWFPD article on page < 16 >. The full report can be viewed at www.monumentfire.org.

Future revenue concerns

Kovacs said a 10-year Senate Bill 303, with direct impact on property taxes, is intended to lower the impact on homeowners after the sky-rocketing property tax assessments that were due to the sharp rise in home values. If Proposition HH passes in November, the El Paso County assessor would need to re-assess property taxes at the end of the year, and districts will be setting mill levies five days into 2024. The district is waiting for legal counsel to provide more clarification on the details. See DWFPD article on page < 16 >.

The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for June 28 at 6:30 p.m. Meeting attendance is open to the public in person or via Zoom. For joining instructions, agendas, minutes, and updates, visit www.monumentfire.org or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin at 719-484-9011.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

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Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, May 8 – Board reorganized; request for supplemental water considered

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board opened its May meeting with an election of board officers. The board heard a request for supplemental water from Lake Woodmoor Development Inc., (LWD) and briefly considered a request to host a sheepherder on its Woodmoor Ranch property. It decided how to disburse a refund from CEBT and heard operational reports.

The meeting ended with an executive session to develop negotiating positions on potential agreements with Monument Fire District, Lewis-Palmer School District 38, and Enerfin Renewables LLC and to discuss a personnel matter.

Town replaces term-limited board president

Barrie Town was elected to serve as WWSD board president, replacing Brian Bush, who served two terms as president and was term limited. Town has served on the WWSD board previously.

The board elected Tom Martinez to serve as treasurer. Martinez joined the board earlier in 2023.

Bill Clewe was elected to a second term as secretary.

Waterside development gets supplemental water

District Engineer Ariel Hacker presented LWD’s request for supplemental water service to the board. LWD plans to build 52 multifamily units on four acres of land on the east side of Woodmoor Drive adjacent to Lewis-Palmer Middle School. The development is named Waterside. WWSD’s standard water service is ½ acre-foot of water per year for each acre of land. LWD is requesting an additional 14 acre-feet of water per year for Waterside, Hacker said.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer said the district’s long-range plan anticipated that the land in question would be developed at the density LWD is intending, so the request is “not outside what we planned.” Shaffer said LWD’s request would bring the district $595,000 annually in water fees, in addition to 52 one-time tap fees at the multifamily rate of $22,341 per tap. Shaffer said the multi-family tap fee is 25% less than the tap fee for a single-family residence, due to the expectation that there will be less outdoor irrigation.

The board voted unanimously to approve a motion to accept LWD’s request and bring back a supplemental water agreement for a final vote at the June board meeting.

Sheepherder gets a thumbs down

Shaffer told the board that JUWI Solar Inc., a company that leases a portion of WWSD’s Woodmoor Ranch property for a large solar array, had requested that WWSD host a sheepherder on WWSD’s portion of the ranch. The sheep would help JUWI control noxious weeds.

The board had several concerns with this arrangement, including security, insurance liability, and the potential impact of sheep droppings on water quality. Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine said giving the sheepherder the access requested would interfere with ranch operations.

The board directed Shaffer to deny the request.

CEBT dividend goes to employees

Shaffer told the board he had recently received a check for $9,600 from CEBT, the company that administers WWSD’s benefits program. Shaffer said CEBT’s rates are based on financial projections, and when actual costs are lower than the projections, CEBT returns the overage to the district. Shaffer said this had happened three times in the last 10 years and asked for the board’s thoughts on how the surplus should be handled. Shaffer suggested returning the funds to employees, arguing that the surplus would have gone to employees in their paychecks if CEBT had calculated their costs more precisely.

The board authorized Shaffer to return the surplus to employees.

Highlights of operational reports


  • LaFontaine said surface water from Lake Woodmoor would be added to the blend delivered to customers in June.

  • Wells 12 and 18 are temporarily out of production for maintenance.

  • Hacker told the board that planning for a new well into the Dawson aquifer was underway with BBA Water Consultants Inc. The well will be adjacent to the Central Water Treatment Plant on Deer Creek Road just northwest of Lewis-Palmer Middle School’s football field.

  • Hacker noted that some of the apartments in the Monument Junction development were on hold, but the Whataburger and Maverick filling station are still moving ahead.

Executive session

The May meeting ended in an executive session to consider strategies relative to negotiations and for a conference with legal counsel concerning potential agreements with the Monument Fire District, Lewis-Palmer School District 38, and Enerfin Renewables LLC, and for discussion of a personnel matter.

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The next meeting is scheduled for June 12 at 1 p.m. Meetings are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at the district office at 1845 Woodmoor Drive; please see www.woodmoorwater.com or call 719-488-2525 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

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Donala Water and Sanitation District, May 18 – Board reorganizes; aquifer storage and recovery study presented

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

The Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board swore in newly elected board members and reorganized at its May meeting. It heard the results of a study of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) and a report from its auditor on its 2022 finances. The board discussed a template for a Request for Qualification form that will be used when seeking engineering and consulting services. The board appointed District Manager Jeff Hodge to serve as its representative on the Upper Monument Creek Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF) Operations Committee and approved a bid to add a flow control vault and pipeline to well 16A.

The meeting ended with an executive session to receive legal advice on the UMCRWWTF Intergovernmental Agreement.

New members sworn in, officers elected, and Kenneth Judd honored

Kevin Deardorff, Bill George, and Scott McCollough took their oaths of office at the May meeting. Deardorff and George were re-elected; McCollough is new to the board.

Above: At the May 18 meeting of the Donala board, President Wayne Vanderschuere swore in Bill George, Scott McCullough, and Kevin Deardorff as board members. George and Deardorff were re-elected, and McCullough is new to the board. Following the swearing-in, the board elected Vanderschuere to serve a second term as president; George and Deardorff continued as vice president and treasurer/secretary, respectively. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Following the swearing in, the board elected officers. Wayne Vanderscheuere was elected to serve a second term as president. Bill George was elected vice president. Deardorff was elected as treasurer and secretary. George and Deardorff will serve second terms in their respective offices.

The board passed a resolution expressing its appreciation for the service of Director Kenneth Judd, who stepped up to fill a seat on the board vacated by the resignation of Ed Houle when Houle moved out of the district. Judd intended to fill the position until the next election, and that is what he did. Judd had served on the DWSD board previously, and Vanderschuere commented on Judd’s contributions to a range of issues, including district financing, the preparation of 10 district budgets, the planning of mill levy overrides and fees, and negotiations with surrounding districts.

Above: At the Donala May 18 board meeting, the board recognized and thanked outgoing board member Kenneth Judd whose term had ended. Judd stepped up to fill a seat on the board vacated by the resignation of Ed Houle when Houle moved out of the district. Judd had served on the DWSD board previously, and Vanderschuere commented on Judd’s contributions to a range of issues, including district financing, the preparation of 10 district budgets, the planning of mill levy overrides and fees, and negotiations with surrounding districts. In his farewell remarks, Judd encouraged the board to understand that it serves future generations as well as today’s residents. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

In his farewell remarks, Judd encouraged the board to understand it serves future generations as well as today’s residents.

ASR feasible, study shows

Joel Barber, a hydrogeologist, and Allan Foster, a water quality expert, both of LRE Water, presented the results of a study of ASR commissioned by DWSD. ASR involves pumping excess surface water into aquifers using an existing well, which is later extracted from the same or a remote well and delivered to customers. ASR minimizes water losses to evaporation compared to storage in a reservoir and is valuable in extended droughts.

Barber explained that a study done in 2013 showed aquifers were depleting and identified this as a risk to long-term water supply. As water levels in aquifers decline, it becomes more expensive to use wells as a source of water. Three DWSD wells were tested between 2019 and 2022, and their water levels were seen to be dropping from 4 to 24 feet per year, resulting in pumping cost increases between $200 and $1,000 per year per well. Barber predicted 300 feet of decline in the aquifers that supply DWSD over the next 30 years given current usage. This is a regional trend, Barber said.

Barber estimated that implementing ASR would provide $1,000 in savings per year per well due to a potential 20-foot rise in water level. He estimated construction of a pilot ASR facility at $455,000. Cost of an acre-foot of stored and extracted water would start at $2,500 during the first year of implementation and would decline to a steady state of $800 per acre-foot by year 11 of implementation.

Barber said only treated water would be stored in aquifers, and DWSD’s treated water was compatible with the water currently in DWSD’s aquifers.

Three agencies are involved in the permitting process for ASR implementations, Barber said: the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, whose goal is to protect the health of customers; the Division of Water Resources, which addresses water quantity issues; and the Environmental Protection Agency, which focuses on water quality. There must be a single permit holder that is liable for risks, Barber said.

The presentation included a proposed 10-year implementation road map that includes a pilot phase from 2023 to 2028, a build-out and integration phase from 2028 to 2033, and an ongoing implementation phase beginning 2033.

Barber and Foster recommended DWSD move forward with an ASR pilot and pursue options for regional cooperation. ASR would give DWSD a storage option within the district that DWSD would control. Triview Metropolitan District, DWSD’s neighbor to the west, was a likely choice for collaboration, they said. They recommended that a third-party consultant administer the program if more than one district participates. They discussed the possibility of grants from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation or the Colorado Conservation Board.

The board took no specific action following the presentation, but the consensus was that it would continue to work with LRE to implement ASR.

Audit shows financial health

Tom Sistare of Hoelting & Co. Inc. gave the board the results of DWSD’s 2022 finances. Sistare described DWSD as “a district that is in good shape, run by a healthy board.”

Sistare said the field work for the audit was done at the DWSD in mid-March. He questioned the staff, looked at the books and did walkthroughs of internal controls. The audit procedures were based on the results of his investigation.

Sistare gave a clean report on the district’s internal controls and an unmodified or clean report on the district’s financial statements.

Sistare said the DWSD’s total net position, or equity in the district, had increased by $1.6 million from 2021.He noted capital expenditures were up $2.7 million compared to the previous year and 2022’s tap fees were one-third of the previous year, an indication of less new construction in DWSD’s service area.

Vanderschuere asked about the impact the funds DWSD has received from the American Recovery Plan Act would have on the district’s finances. Sistare said those funds would require a grant-specific audit that drills down on compliance with federal regulations and internal controls. He recommended reviewing the district’s compliance with federal procurement policies. Hodge pointed out DWSD’s procurement procedures were recently reviewed and updated for federal compliance.

Sistare told the board he would file the audit report with the state as required.

RFQ template approved

Hodge said federal policies require the district to use a standard request for qualification (RFQ) form when contracting for professional engineering and specialized consulting services. A draft form was included in the board packet that specifies evaluation criteria such as relevant experience, firm capabilities, technical qualifications, and quality of the submittal.

DWSD Attorney Linda Glesne said her firm was familiar with this federal standard and could advise the district.

Hodge said that the district will implement radium removal using hydrous manganese oxide, and the template would be used during the bidding process to hire the engineers needed for that project. He added that when the district was working with state guidelines, an RFQ was not needed.

The board voted in favor of a motion to refine the RFQ form for final approval in June.

Hodge appointed to Operations Committee

The board voted unanimously in favor of a resolution naming Hodge as the DWSD representative on the UMCRWWTF Operations Committee. The committee oversees the operation of the waste treatment facility that DWSD currently shares with Triview Metropolitan District, Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, and Academy Water and Sanitation District.

Bid awarded

Hodge asked the board to approve a bid from KR Swerdfeger Construction LLC to construct a concrete vault for well 16A that will contain flow control, surge and pressure and waste pumping valves, as well as some additional pipeline, at a price of $355,143. The board voted unanimously to award the bid as Hodge requested.

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The next meeting is scheduled for June 12 at 1:30 p.m. Generally, board meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. and include online access; call (719) 488-3603 or access www.donalawater.org to receive up-to-date meeting information. The district office is located at 15850 Holbein Drive, Colorado Springs.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at

jackieburhans@ocn.me.

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Monument Sanitation District, May 17 – New board members sworn in

By Jackie Burhans and James Howald

Three board members took their oaths of office at Monument Sanitation District’s (MSD) May meeting. Once its new members were sworn in, the board reorganized. A resolution authorizing an upgrade to the district’s internet service was passed. The board planned for a public celebration of its 60th anniversary serving the community and heard operational reports.

Board reorganizes

Tony Archer, Dan Hamilton, and Janet Ladowski were sworn in for four-year terms. Archer was previously appointed to the board on Feb. 15 to replace Director Laura Kronick, who resigned from the MSD board to serve on the Monument Town Council. As an appointee, Archer was required to run for a seat at the next election. Hamilton was also an incumbent, having served as the MSD board president for the previous four years. Ladowski replaced Marylee Reisig.

Following the oaths, the board reorganized, electing Hamilton to serve another term as president, incumbent John Howe as treasurer, and Ladowski as secretary.

Board votes to upgrade internet service

The board voted in favor of Resolution 23-051723, which accepts a bid from Force Broadband LLC to provide internet service to the MSD headquarters building using a fiber connection. Previously, the buildings’ internet service used wireless connectivity. Fiber-based internet service is much faster and more reliable.

District Manager Mark Parker explained that the installation cost would be shared with Lolley’s Ice Cream who will use fiber in its new event center, where Ice Cave Cider used to be, next to the MSD building. Parker said Black Forest Foods Café and Deli, which occupies half of the MSD headquarters building, is considering switching to fiber internet service, which will lower costs.

Hamilton, part owner of Force Broadband LLC, recused himself from the vote on the resolution but answered technical questions about the service during the discussion. The materials for the meeting included a conflict-of-interest disclosure form for Hamilton. The form is registered with the Colorado secretary of state.

60 years of service to be celebrated

Director Howe told the board about the plans he and Parker are making for the district to host a public celebration of MSD’s 60th anniversary. The celebration is planned for Saturday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the courtyard of the headquarters building at 130 Second St. The district’s customers will receive invitations in their June billing statements. Monument Town Council members and County Commissioner Holly Williams will also be invited, Howe said. Complimentary hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided by the Black Forest Foods Café and Deli, which will also be open to serve its lunch menu.

Parker said the event will also have an educational side, with information provided about the district’s operations.

Highlights of operational reports


  • Parker told the board that MSD had received a $995.88 Safety and Loss Prevention grant from the Colorado Special Districts Pool. Parker said he used the funds to purchase a first aid kit and is working with the Monument Fire Department to identify an Automated External Defibrillator that is compatible with their equipment.

  • Parker remarked that the recent heavy rains had stressed the district’s lift stations but none had failed.

  • Parker also noted that the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition software that automates much of the district’s operation had been impacted by the failure of an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS). One lift station was affected by the issue. The battery was replaced in the UPS to return it to service.

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Monument Sanitation District meetings are normally held at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in the district conference room at 130 Second St., Monument. The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 21. See https://colorado.gov/msd. For a district service map, see https://colorado.gov/pacific/msd/district-map-0. Information: 719-481-4886.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Other Monument Sanitation District articles

Triview Metropolitan District, May 18 – Former directors recognized; new directors sworn in

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on May 18, the board recognized outgoing directors Marco Fiorito and James Otis for their eight years of service on the board, administered the oath of office to the new directors, approved a license to construct and operate a pump house, and discussed a request from Conexus to dissolve a sub-district. The board also held an executive session to discuss multiple matters and receive legal advice.

Director recognition

President Mark Melville said that in the past 10 years, the district had widened Jackson Creek Parkway, obtained water rights, and developed and begun the installation of the Northern Delivery System (NDS) pipeline enterprise; and the Stonewall Springs South Reservoir system is ready to pump water to the district. He thanked both outgoing board directors for being instrumental in moving the district forward.

Vice President Anthony Sexton thanked Otis and Fiorito for their guidance and the dedication to the district and for being good board members,

Above: President Mark Melville presents former board Directors Marco Fiorito (left) and James Otis (right) with plaques recognizing eight years of service on the Triview Metropolitan District board at the May 18 meeting. Directors were term-limited on this board. Photos by Natalie Barszcz.

Treasurer/Secretary James Barnhart said the district did not have a single share of renewable water seven years ago, and the achievements since then have been amazing. He thanked Otis and Fiorito for the long board meetings that sometimes ran as late as 11 p.m.

New directors on board

Melville welcomed new board members Amanda Carlton and Jason Gross and administered the oath of office.

Above: President Mark Melville administers the oath of office to newly elected board Directors Jason Gross and Amanda Carlton at the May 18 Triview Metropolitan District meeting. Photo by Natalie Barszcz.

Election results

District Administrator Joyce Levad confirmed the number of votes received for the May 2 election as follows: Amanda Carlton 233, Ann-Marie Jojola 97, Jason Gross 259. Barrett Edwards withdrew before the election. Any votes cast for Edwards were not counted.

Future pump station license

District Manager James McGrady requested the board approve an annual fee of $1,200 for a land lease agreement for a 25-year term to allow the district to build and operate a pump station on the Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) property where a 3-million-gallon tank sits behind a knoll off Highway 83 at the intersection of Old Northgate Road, Colorado Springs. The tank is about 15 years old, and is an underutilized asset supplying the Flying Horse development.

The board unanimously approved the lease agreement.

NDS project updates

McGrady said the district is about three weeks into the NDS pipeline project, laying pipe from B plant up to Sanctuary Pointe, and a second crew installing pipe up to C plant. A 2,000-foot bore behind the homes in Sanctuary Pointe has begun and will take about 11 days to complete. For all NDS pipeline project updates and to sign-up for email notifications, visit www.triviewnds.com. The link can also be found at www.triviewmetro.com.

Pueblo County permitting

McGrady said the second Pueblo County 1041 permit is proceeding, and the district hopes to present the plan to the Pueblo Board of County Commissioners on June 27. The 1041 planning process is time consuming, but permissions are necessary to operate the district assets in Pueblo County. The first 1041 with Pueblo County was approved in August 2022, allowing the district to store 999 acre-feet of water in Pueblo Reservoir and interface and access the Southern Delivery System. The second 1041 permit will allow operations at the Stonewall Springs South Reservoir and Central Reservoir and will include exchanges to Pueblo and exchanges from Fountain Creek to Pueblo, all steps critical for the NDS operation.

Pump station completed

McGrady said the pump station at the South Reservoir is completed and ready to pump. The massive pump station could, if necessary, move 30 cubic feet of water per second, about 60-acre feet (or 18 million gallons) per day, and tentatively could empty the reservoir in about 20-30 days. The first water was pumped successfully into the South Reservoir on May 12 at 10:45 a.m., a momentous day for the district, he said.

Northern Monument Creek Interceptor project

McGrady said the district had not received any updates from CSU on the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) pipeline project (a large sewer pipe to transport waste 10 miles south to the J.D. Phillips Water Resource Recovery Facility). To determine the feasibility of the project, CSU will hire a consulting agency to complete 30% of the design for the NMCI pipeline. The project has been discussed for five years and included a lengthy National Environmental Policy Act process because the pipeline path would cross the Air Force Academy, he said.

District funding

Melville said the board should anticipate dropping the mill levy again due to the significantly higher property tax value assessment increase for next year. The district reduced the mill levy over the past four years.

McGrady said the previous two-year snapshot is significantly different from the next two-year snapshot. In June 2022 interest rates were about 3% and home prices were going through the roof. The next two-year snapshot from July 2022 through June 2024 will be significantly different with higher interest rates. The district assesses the mill levy at 24 mills solely to pay down the debt service.

Sexton said residents received a reduction of taxes in the district from 35 mills to 24 mills. The revenue from property taxes the district receives has increased with the significant rise of home values. The district taxpayers approved the flexibility to change the mill levy rate should sales taxes dry up in the future, but the district collects what it needs. Some of the loans the district carries cannot be pre-paid, and double payments are prohibited, he said.

Barnhart said the board decision to spread the cost of the debt service loans over 30 years with low interest rates is a benefit. Future residents will also pay for the infrastructure of the district, he said.

McGrady said the district is one of the best financed districts, with a utility enterprise, sales tax, property taxes, tap fees, and an operations and management mill levy that can be assessed if necessary. The money has been expended to the betterment of the community, he said.

Sexton said the district is in a great situation, and if homes are built in TMD, they will have water. The district has enough for buildout with the wells turned off.

Water Attorney Chris Cummins of Monson Cummins & Shotet LLC said the wells on paper are three times buildout, but in the future, extraction will not be economical, and that is the reason the district pursued renewable water rights. Well water will only be used to supplement summer demand in the future, and the district will cease to pump at high demand year-round from the wells, he said.

Conexus dissolution request

McGrady said Conexus had proposed the board dissolve Sub-district B, which overlays the Conexus Metropolitan District 1 and 2. The district relates to the early development days of Conexus when the district implemented two districts: Sub-district A associated with the Conexus development on the east side of I-25 (Jackson Creek North) and Sub-district B on the west side of I-25 (east of the Santa Fe Trail/south of Second Street, Monument). The developers originally thought they would need a funding source, and because the district dropped the mill levy from 35 mills to 24 mills, creating a gap of 11 mills between what the district is entitled to levy and what it does; Conexus could then issue 11 mills of debt in Sub-district B. The debt would not have been associated with existing TMD residents, only the Conexus property owners. At the time Conexus was planning on developing commercial property in Sub-district B, but the plan has changed to residential. The plan no longer works for Sub-district B after Conexus created a special district independent of TMD with an overlapping service plan for water and infrastructure from TMD. Conexus pledged it would not compete and take away water sales. Conexus will levy its residents 11 mills, and TMD will continue to levy 24 mills for Conexus Sub-district B.

The board tabled the request for further discussion in executive session.

Cummins said the TMD board directors are the controlling board for Sub-district B; and Conexus petitioned the board to create the district, and are requesting the board dissolve the district.

Unexplained water loss

Sexton asked about a discrepancy in the water drawn and sold numbers that had tightened for the last couple of months, but the May numbers showed the district sold 12 million gallons and pulled 15 million, and about 2.5 million gallons was missing.

McGrady said that the discrepancy only shows annually in the summer, and it could be due to some residential meters not turning fast enough. The district has about 300 old meters left to replace with accurate cellular meters in homes, so readings should become tighter. Everything is metered even down to the construction lines including hydrants, and the district is trying to discover the cause. Every irrigation system is metered, regulators were installed, and all meters were calibrated about a year ago. It is a mystery, but likely the loss occurs on the commercial side when irrigation begins, and the district will investigate, he said.

Melville suggested the problem might be meters showing slightly more water than actual production.

Superintendent Shawn Sexton said water is metered at the well, at the plant filter, and when leaving the plant so the loss of water is likely occurring after it exits the plant. There is a 2%-5% variance, but all meters are jibing with each other so the loss is occurring elsewhere, he said.

Sexton said a loss of 15%-22% of water will need to be captured before water is metered from CSU to ensure the district is not capped due to metering issues, leaving the district pumping well water again.

Assistant District Manager Steve Sheffield said that 8%-10% loss acceptable and goes on in all water districts.

McGrady said the problem is concerning, and the whole system could be leak protected, but the loss could be an unmetered irrigation system, or maybe one of the three interconnects with neighboring developments. An irrigation leak is a lot of water that would be visible, he said.

Superintendent Sexton said he would examine the interconnects.

Executive session

The board moved into executive session at 7:55 p.m., pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 24-6-402(4) (a), (b) and (e), to discuss negotiations regarding water and property acquisitions and receive legal advice for the Upper Monument Creek Waste Water Regional Treatment Facility and the Conexus sub-district dissolution.

Sheffield confirmed that no decisions were made when the board returned to the regular session.

The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday every month at the district office at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 15 at 5:30 p.m. For meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

Other Triview Metropolitan District articles

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, May 18 – Water quality tests look promising

By James Howald

The El Paso County Loop Regional Water Authority (EPCRLWA) board heard more detailed results of water quality testing at its May 18 meeting. President Jessie Shaffer updated the board on progress filling the project manager position the authority has advertised. Kevin Brown asked the board for direction on how to specify the schematic engineering design report for the project. Director Amy Lathen raised the issue of how to increase political support for the project.

The EPCRLWA was formed in November 2022 by an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD), Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD), the Town of Monument (TOM), and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) to build infrastructure that would allow water, including treated effluent, that is flowing south in Monument and Fountain Creeks to be stored at Calhan Reservoir at Woodmoor Ranch and then pumped back north to be used by customers of the participating districts.

Few concerns with water quality

Richard Hood, of JVA Inc., the company the authority has hired to assess water quality and design the water treatment aspects of the project, summarized for the board a memo he wrote detailing the water quality results from testing done in March and April. Hood said the overall water quality is good, making the water relatively easy to treat. Tests showed the water quality was consistent, he said, with moderate pH and alkalinity levels. The tests showed moderate dissolved carbon and acceptable levels of iron and manganese. Total dissolved solids—a measure of minerals, salts, and metals—were slightly above the standard, Hood said.

Hood said standards for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, commonly called PFAS, were announced by the Environmental Protection Agency in March but are not yet in effect. The standards are expected to be enforced in December 2026. Hood told the board these substances, which don’t break down over time and are linked to a wide range of health problems, should be watched carefully and will impact the design of the water treatment part of the project. Hood said the tests showed perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) levels at 9.5 parts per trillion. The target level is 4 parts per trillion. The tests for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) showed levels at 16 parts per trillion. The target level is 4 parts per trillion.

Hood said the first samples were taken at the headgate of the Chilcott Ditch, the point at which the water is diverted from Fountain Creek. The next round will be drawn from where the Chilcott Ditch enters the Calhan Reservoir. This will provide a measure of changes that may be occurring as the water is conveyed through the ditch.

Project manager position generates interest

Shaffer told the board that the request for proposal for a project manager who will coordinate the work of the consultants and contractors needed for the project has seen many downloads from the BidNet site where it is posted, indicating lots of interest.

Direction sought on design proposal

Kevin Brown, an employee of CMD who is responsible for an RFP to develop a schematic engineering design report for the complete infrastructure required by the project, asked the board for direction on the question of who should make the final decisions on technical issues—the project manager that the board intends to hire or the board members themselves.

The schematic engineering design report is a detailed plan that will address issues such as the water treatment design, the location of pumping stations, the specifications for the several runs of pipeline that will need to be built, and so forth. The report will also document exactly which portions of the infrastructure each participating district will own and is needed to inform financial decisions. The EPCRLWA board plans to hire a consulting company to complete this report.

Brown recommended these decisions be made by the board members but felt either approach could work. The issue remained undecided.

Board will reach out to Mobolade

Director Amy Lathen, who represents CMD on the EPCRLWA board, suggested the board should reach out to Yemi Mobolade, the recently elected mayor of Colorado Springs. Director Mike Foreman, who represents TOM on the EPCRLWA board, said a meeting with Mobolade was already scheduled and agreed that the authority needs to increase its political representation.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 15 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Workshop meetings are held every Thursday at 9 a.m. at rotating venues. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Loop Regional Water Authority articles

Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations (NEPCO) – Wildfires drive up insurance costs in county

By Dave Betzler

The good news is that Colorado has earned another top three recognition. The not-so-great news is that this somewhat smoke-obscured national ranking is for Colorado’s wildfire risk. May was Wildfire Awareness month, providing an opportunity to look at wildfire risks and rising insurance costs facing individual homeowners. The recent catastrophic East Troublesome and Marshall/Boulder wildfires sharply, and in some case painfully, highlighted the dynamics of property insurance, a Rubik’s cube of wildfire risk, rebuilding costs, premiums, and regulatory changes.

Colorado is third nationally for properties in areas of high or extreme risk, and over 40 percent of Colorado’s nearly 6 million people live within the wildland urban interface (WUI). By definition, the WUI is the line, area, or zone where man-made structures and development intersect with undeveloped lands and vegetative fuels. In a two-state—Colorado and New Mexico—risk study, El Paso County was “particularly concerning” for properties at risk of wildfire damage.

Homeowners across northern El Paso County face twin challenges of insurance availability and affordability, and overcoming these challenges will not be easy, quick, or inexpensive. Area homeowners as well as those moving to Colorado face annual insurance costs that are roughly 30% higher than the national average, with 2021 reflecting insurance premiums that were up an average of 12%.

The all-too-common reality for consumers is fewer insurance carriers, limited policy choices, and continuing premium spikes. Nationally, tornadoes and hurricanes account for almost 90% of all losses, with wind/hail accounting for 5.4%, followed by catastrophic fires for 1.5%. Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, followed by Colorado, are the highest-cost states for property insurance. At the state level, more than 75% of insurance carrier groups have written fewer policies, and in Darwinian fashion, large firms are absorbing the small.

In a turbulent and dynamic insurance market, the desired homeowner goal of stable policies and reasonable premiums can often appear like a distant mirage. In Colorado, consumers do have an insurance watchdog and advocate. Vince Plymell, a senior Division of Insurance official, noted that investigation of consumer complaints following the East Troublesome and Marshall fires recovered $19.6 million for consumers, a 93% increase in dollar recovery over the previous year.

In Colorado, property and casualty insurers are governed by regulations and guided by administrative agencies, with oversight by the state Legislature. Legislators are increasingly concerned with today’s dynamic insurance environment of rising costs and limited policy choices and the downstream effect on homeowners. The Legislature developed Senate Bill 22-213, which called for creation of a wildfire urban interface Code Board to oversee statewide wildfire-related buildings and land-use standards. SB 23-213 included language for statewide regulation and enforcement of land use, a particularly concerning clause for homeowners associations and their members. The 2023 Colorado legislative session ended May 8 with SB 23-213 failing to pass after legislators were unable to reach a compromise between the Senate and House versions.

Most states have some type of minimum coverage or insurance-of-last-resort as a safety net for homeowners. Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) plans were created as a response to insurance market unavailability that occurred when insurers stopped providing coverage to high-risk properties and individuals in specific geographic areas. These state-mandated FAIR plans create an insurance pool funded by the insurance companies to provide coverage to individuals and businesses who are unable to obtain insurance in the regular market. In essence, FAIR plans function as a quasi-governmental insurer for homeowners unable to secure a regular insurance policy. This session, Colorado legislators proposed a FAIR plan that, if enacted, would function as insurer-of-last-resort for homeowners and businesses.

Colorado’s heightened and growing wildfire risk, coupled with a more stringent insurance market conditions, limit consumer options and add more difficulty for the individual insurance decision maker. A statewide independent poll in 2015 found that 96% of Coloradans said that it’s very important or pretty important for homeowners to undertake fire mitigation. Monument Fire District has a no-cost risk assessment program that gives homeowners important steps to reduce the wildfire risk, and NEPCO’s (Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations) Wildfire Preparedness Committee provides practical tips to ensure safety and survivability for those living in the wildland urban interface.

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NEPCO meetings are usually held on the second Saturday of every other month at the Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr., 10 a.m. to noon. The next meeting is July 15. The topic is water issues. All members of HOAs are welcome. For more information, see http://nepco.org.

Other NEPCO articles

Woodmoor Improvement Association, May 24 – Board hears about new regulation regarding vegetable gardens

By Jackie Burhans

At its April meeting, the Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board heard an update from the Northern El Paso Coalition of Community Organizations (NEPCO) meeting regarding legislation around homeowner association (HOA) rules for vegetable gardens. It also heard residents’ concerns about trashcans and email communication and heard director reports.

HOA legislation on vegetable gardens

HOA Administrator Denise Cagliaro attended the May meeting of NEPCO in Director Rick DePaiva’s stead. She reported that the state Legislature passed a bill requiring HOAs to allow vegetable gardens in the side and front yards of homes. WIA must pick three designs that are pre-approved and post them on its website. Cagliaro clarified that the rule does not cover greenhouses. The Architectural Control Committee (ACC) is working on developing the approved designs and taking into consideration the need for deer fencing, said ACC Administrator Bob Pearsall.

The legislation in question is SB23-0178, Water-wise Landscaping in Homeowners’ Associate Communities. It reiterates current regulation that allows for non-vegetative turf in backyards, hardscape in a portion of the landscaping area, 80% drought-tolerant plantings, and vegetable gardens in the front, back, or side yard of an owner’s property. The bill requires an HOA to permit three pre-approved garden designs that adhere to principles of water-wise landscaping or be part of a water conservation program operated by a local water provider. For more information, see https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb23-178.

Resident concerns

Two residents spoke at the board meeting. One of them noted that there were several neighbors leaving their trashcans out after their trash had been picked up and asked if there weren’t something that could be done. President Brian Bush, for whom this is a pet peeve, noted that WIA has stickers they can place on trashcans reminding them to take them in. Bush noted that residents could report such incidents to covenant enforcement or Woodmoor Public Safety (WPS), and they will treat it as a covenant violation.

Above: Woodmoor Public Safety stickers may be placed on residents’ trash cans if they are left out after trash pickup has occurred. The issue of trash is covered in Article IV on Covenant Maintenance Assessments, Section 11 on Refuse and Rubbish. See more on the WIA covenants at https://woodmoor.org/governance/. Courtesy WIA.

Another resident asked if WIA had fixed its email problem. Vice President Peter Bille said it had not, but WIA was looking to switch providers. The resident said she could provide a referral to her provider, and Bush suggested she send it to Cagliaro and Bille, but not via email.

Board highlights


  • Treasurer Connie Brown noted that there will still be 100 unpaid accounts and that WIA would file 56 liens before June 1, noting this was a very small percentage of property owners. Bush noted that it was more expensive to pay liens than to pay the annual dues.

  • Brown commended the staff for holding down expenses.

  • Director of Covenants Per Suhr said there were 13 covenant-related items in April and that WIA preferred to handle issues with phone calls or friendly letters. There were no covenant hearings in May, nor did he anticipate one in June. Suhr commended Covenants Administrator Justin Gates, saying he has done a tremendous job, noting that in the past, there had been meetings every month with many residents.

  • Director of Architectural Control Ed Miller reported 47 submitted projects in April; 37 were approved by Pearsall and 10 were approved by the ACC. Year to date, 138 projects have been submitted, 31.3% fewer than in 2022, Miller said. The approval rate is 99.2%.

  • Cagliaro reported on behalf of Director of Forestry Cindy Thrush that there were seven Firewise grant visits and that WIA had just been notified by the state of an additional $30,000 in grant money.

  • Chipping days are scheduled at Lewis-Palmer High School on June 10 and 11, as well as on July 29 and 30. This service is free to Woodmoor residents.

  • The board unanimously approved a $1,000 deposit and budget not to exceed $39,000 to acquire a new Toyota RAV 4 hybrid to be received sometime in July. Public Safety Director Brad Gleason noted that WPS is transitioning away from Jeeps due to maintenance issues.

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The WIA Board of Directors usually meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Barn at 1691 Woodmoor Drive, Monument. The next meeting will be on June 28.

The WIA calendar can be found at www.woodmoor.org/wia-calendar/. WIA board meeting minutes can be found at www.woodmoor.org/meeting-minutes/ once approved and posted.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Woodmoor Improvement Association articles

May Weather Wrap

By Bill Kappel

Near record monthly precipitation occurred during May with total precipitation exceeding 5 inches for all of us and some areas receiving nearly 10 inches. This was the wettest May since 2015. Unlike that year, almost everything fell as rainfall this month, with just a little snow on the Palmer Divide. This was a different story up in the mountains and shows how important just a few hundred feet of elevation difference can be this time of the year between snow and rain.

All the moisture and clouds kept high temperatures relatively cool. Conversely, the excess moisture kept overnight low temperatures relatively mild. This meant overall temperatures were normal for the month. Another interesting aspect of the weather during May was that several days had a good amount of smoke in the air. This wasn’t from any fires in Colorado, but instead was drawn into the region from the numerous fires burning well to our north in Alberta, Canada. This was the result of a very unusual pattern where a strong ridge of high pressure was present in the Pacific Northwest, with a strong low pressure over the Rockies and upper Midwest and another high pressure over the eastern U.S. This blocked the flow and allowed the smoke to get pulled in low over the Rockies and brought into the Front Range of Colorado.

Weather was quiet and relatively dry during two periods, the first week of the month and the last week of the month. Between these two periods most days received rainfall, sometimes heavy. Most days saw the typical late spring weather pattern with quiet weather in the morning, then building into cumulus clouds by late morning and early afternoon. These would then continue to build into thunderstorms that moved generally west to east and produce an hour or so of rainfall. This type of storm pattern results in variable rainfall accumulation amounts depending on whether a given storm moved over your neighborhood or not.

The strongest storm of the month moved through the region from the 9th through the 12th. This storm moved on the West Coast then into our region and strengthened significantly, producing widespread heavy rain and heavy snow in the higher elevations. Ahead of this storm, southwesterly winds produced our warmest temperatures of the month, with upper 70s on the afternoon of the 9th. The next morning, we woke up to low clouds and a very moist air mass. Then the initial thunderstorms associated with this system formed early in the afternoon. This included severe storms and a few tornadoes just to our north and east. The next round of thunderstorms developed around 4 p.m. that afternoon and produced heavy rain and hail.

As this storm continued to intensify, it stalled out to our south and transitioned from a convective event to produce clouds and steady rainfall. Cooler air also moved in, dropping snow levels. Heavy rainfall continued that evening and into the 11th. Temperatures dropped just enough on the morning of the 11th to produce some measurable snow between 8-10 a.m. over the higher elevations of the Palmer Divide. Snow levels then rose just enough to keep us in rain the rest of the day while at the same time producing heavy snow along the Rampart Range and into Teller County.

The storm continued to produce rainfall and cool temperatures through the next morning. By the time the storm was done, we had received 4-8 inches of rainfall, which produced some flooding in low-lying areas and along I-25. The other unusual aspect of this storm was the nearly continuous rainfall for almost the entire period.

A look ahead

By June we can usually say goodbye to our chance of snowfall but hello to frequent afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Most of the time we can expect warm, sunny days with afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

May 2023 Weather Statistics

Average High: 65.0° (-0.7°)

100-year return frequency value max 75.7° min 57.9°

Average Low: 39.4° (+0.5°)

100-year return frequency value max 43.2° min 32.5°

Highest Temperature: 77°F on the 9th

Lowest Temperature: 31°F on the 1st, 6th

Monthly Precipitation: 5.91” (+3.27” 200% above normal)

100-year return frequency value max 6.94” min 0.15”

Monthly Snowfall: 0.5” (-5.2” 91% below normal)

Season to Date Snow: 71.6” (-50.8” 42% below normal) (the snow season is from July 1 to June 30)

Season to Date Precip: 10.38” (+1.54” 15% above normal) (the precip season is from July 1 to June 30)

Heating Degree Days: 398 (+80)

Cooling Degree Days: 0

Bill Kappel is a meteorologist and Tri-Lakes resident. He can be reached at billkappel@ocn.me.

Other Weather articles

Letters to Our Community – More demonstrable lies from D38

While you’re looking at your exploding tax bill, take a few minutes to think about the additional taxes District 38 wanted you to have to pay on top of what your new tax bill has become. Last year, they put a 7.45-mill increase on the ballot. They claimed they needed the $5.5 million for teacher salaries and that it would have only raised taxes for the average house by $260.

That was never the real amount because the average house here costs closer to $800,000 not the $500,000 they claimed. If you doubt that, just look at your new tax bill with the updated property value assessment. If their “ask” had passed, your high tax bill would probably be at least $500 higher right now. And they would have hustled taxpayers out of $8 million, not $5.5 million as advertised.

That’s because, unlike the flat-rate, $4 million/year MLO passed in 1999, an increase of 7.45 mills increases with home values. D38 deliberately used outdated values to advertise lower dollar amounts in their campaign. Anyone who checked real estate listings would have seen this. Thankfully, enough people had the sense to vote No.

But D38 is at it again this year, hoping fewer No voters will bother to mail back ballots. They’re still repeating another favorite lie—that teachers are leaving to go work in other districts who offer higher pay.

How do we know it’s a lie? D38’s own employee termination reports from 2018 to 2020 list only two or three “Not satisfied with position/pay” exits each year (out of an average of 62 resignations annually). Not one left for pay in 2019. When I complained that their own reports prove that teachers aren’t running to neighboring districts for higher pay, they didn’t apologize. They just stopped producing the report.

Vote, and vote no.

Derek Araje/#JustAskDerek

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Letters to Our Community – LPHS After Prom thanks

Thanks to our great community of parents, Lewis-Palmer High School staff, and students, After Prom 2023 was a huge success! We had approximately 430 students attend the event.

Many school districts do not offer an After Prom, as the planning and coordination involved take a substantial amount of parent involvement and resources. District 38 high schools have a dedicated group of staff, parents, and community supporters which allows us to make After Prom a yearly tradition!

LPHS After Prom photo provided by Michelle Oliger

Much of the financial support comes from local businesses and many families’ personal donations. We would like to recognize the following community supporters: Tri-Lakes Printing, Ellie Mental Health, Something New Boutique, Arlene’s Beans, Chick-fil-A, Horseshoe Donuts, Top Golf, The Summit, Target, Scheels, Overdrive Raceway, Glow Golf, Parry’s Pizza, Mod Pizza, City Rock, Lolley’s, Freedom Car Wash, Black Forest Deli, Legends Mini Golf & Batting, Pies & Grinders, In-N-Out, Bad Daddy’s Burgers, Texas Roadhouse, Costa Vida, Burger King, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle, World Arena, Whataburger, Vibes, The Edge Zipline, Snarf’s, Red Robin, Qdoba, PF Chang, Nothing Bundt Cakes, IHOP, I Fly, Freedom Car Wash, Freddy’s, Elitch, Denver Zoo, Crumble Cookie, Canes, Fuzzy’s, Hamula Orthodontics, Taco Bell, Torchy’s, and Wendy’s.

We had over 100 volunteers who helped with purchasing prizes, organizing food, selling tickets, decorating, working on the night of the event, and cleaning up the day after, and so much more.

A very special thank you goes to Angie Ivall, Jenn Clinard, Dyann Wenckus, Liz and Chris Scott, Laurie Devine, Julie Hart, Nicole Pritchard, Liz Meggett, Coach Tupper, and Bridget O’Connor (principal).

Michelle Oliger
After Prom Chair
LPHS After Prom photo provided by Michelle Oliger

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – No Mafia in Monument

Through an open-record request to the Town of Monument, it was discovered that the town illegally engaged in electioneering with taxpayer dollars to promote passing the Town Charter. Fearing if voters found out about this illegal activity, they might potentially lose, the town manager and most on the Charter commission hid the illegal activity from the voters until after the election. Some engaged in this illegal activity are now, as of January 2023, your Monument Council.

The outgoing trustees called for a legitimate investigation into how and why taxpayer dollars were used illegally, but these newly elected corrupt politicians didn’t want you to know the results. They went to great lengths to try sabotaging the investigation, and the reporting of its findings. The town attorney wrote a laughable “report” to try to justify what was discovered. Thinking you can simply vote to bury a report and its evidence of corruption in order to “go away” is something the Mafia does.

On top of illegal electioneering, and only under pressure of an open records request, you, the taxpayers, are going to pick up the tab for the mayor’s personal attorney fees over $21,000. The personal attorney was hired to protect the mayor during the electioneering investigation, which uncovered, among other things, an inappropriate sexual comment made by the mayor toward another trustee.

The taxpayers should never be paying for an elected official’s legal counsel for inappropriate behavior. Shouldn’t our tax dollars be put toward better use, such as fixing the numerous potholes between LPHS and YMCA that would benefit our citizens? Lack of transparency and excusing bad behavior by this Town Council is not in the best interest of Monument citizens. Not now, not ever.

Amy Stephens

Other Letters to Our Community

Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Explore nature and the outdoors Explore nature and the outdoors

By the staff at Covered Treasures

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”—Albert Einstein

This is a glorious time to get outside in Colorado. Here’s a sampling of books to learn more about plants, wildlife, and getting outside.

Colorado Off the Beaten Path: Discover Your Fun

By Christine Loomis (Globe Pequot Press) $17.95

This new, updated 13th edition by local author Christine Loomis is an essential source of information about the sights and sites travelers and locals want to see and experience. From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits to hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales, this guide takes the reader down the road less traveled.

How to Read the Wilderness: An Illustrated Guide to the Natural Wonders of North America

By Nature Study Guild (Chronicle) $35

From the mountains to the ocean shores, from the wetlands to the deserts, North America teems with flora and fauna. With this book in hand, you will understand the language of nature and see those wild places with new eyes. For more than 60 years, these Guild guidebooks have helped hikers, campers, foragers, and explorers navigate the great outdoors. Now, the best of the guides’ informative text and iconic illustrations are gathered in one book, the perfect reference for today’s ramblers.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals Around the World

By Julia Rothman (Storey Publishing) $18.99

Bestselling author/illustrator Julia Rothman shares a delightfully illustrated guide to all the beasts of the wild, from lions, tigers, and bears to elephants, giraffes, foxes, owls, and much more. This guide covers all the key features, right down to the anatomy of a lion’s claw and a wild horse’s hoof. All the illustrations are accompanied by labels, intriguing facts, and identifying details, such as: When is a Panther not a panther?

The Secret World of Weather: How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop

By Tristan Gooley (Experiment) $17.95

Learn to “see” the forecast in the hidden weather signs all around you in this eye-opening trove of outdoor clues. Acclaimed natural navigator Tristan Gooley shows us how, by reading nature as he does, you’ll not only detect what the weather is doing (and predict what’s coming), you’ll enter a secret wonderland of sights and sounds you’ve never noticed before. Discover the ways that weather can reveal a hidden world with every step you take—through the woods or down a city street.

Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution’s Creativity, and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction

By David George Haskell (Penguin) $18

We live on a planet alive with song, music, and speech. David Haskell explores how these wonders came to be. Starting with the origins of animal song and traversing the whole arc of Earth history, Haskell illuminates and celebrates the emergence of the varied sounds of our world. This book is an invitation to listen, wonder, belong, and act.

100 Plants to Feed the Monarch: Create a Healthy Habitat to Sustain North America’s Most Beloved Butterfly

By The Xerces Society (Storey Publishing) $16.95

The plight of the monarch butterfly has captured public attention and sparked widespread interest in helping save their dwindling populations. In this in-depth portrait of the monarch butterfly, detailed instructions on how to design and create monarch-friendly landscapes are enriched by guidance on butterfly behavior and habits. You will find profiles of plant species that provide nourishment, including those that bloom in late season and sustain monarchs on their great migration. Gorgeous photographs of monarchs and plants, plus illustrations, maps, and garden plans, make this a visually engaging guide.

437 Edible Wild Plants of the Rocky Mountain West: Berries, Roots, Nuts, Greens, Flowers, and Seeds

By Caleb Warnock (Familius) $27.99

This thorough field guide documents 437 edible wild plants for Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. Self-sufficiency expert Caleb Warnock brings the ultimate guidebook to living off the land, including a section on poisonous plants to avoid. Packed with over 1,450 photographs and invaluable information on plant identification, flavor, seasonality, history, common synonyms, eating and preparation instructions, and more, you can have accurate information. Be aware: Much false information on wild edibles has been widely distributed on the internet.

Until next month, happy reading.

The staff at Covered Treasures can be reached at books@ocn.me.

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June Library Events – Join us for a Summer Adventure

By Harriet Halbig

It’s time again for the Summer Adventure summer learning program. Summer Adventure is open to those up to age 18 and runs from June 1 to July 31 this year.

Come to the library to register on June 1 or later, or register online via the website ppld.org.

Upon registration, each participant receives a free book (those ages 12 to 18 may choose a journal instead). There is a wide selection of titles to choose from.

Download and print a game card from the website and fill in a space for each day spent reading, moving, or doing such imaginative projects as art, crafts, or music.

After 30 days of participation, those up to age 3 will receive a colorful bath toy, those ages 4 to 11 will receive a reading medal, and those ages 12 to 18 can choose a second book or journal.

Please see the website for a schedule of fun programs for all ages throughout the district. These include science programs, music, and art programs. In Monument, the programs will be on Tuesdays at the same time as regular story times.

Adult programs such as book clubs and Socrates Café will continue at their regular schedule during the summer months.

Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me

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Palmer Lake Historical Society, May 18 – Authors show ways to find history on hikes

By Marlene Brown

At the May 18 meeting of the Palmer Lake Historical Society, authors Rocky Shockley and T. Duren Jones presented a lively PowerPoint on the book Easy Hikes to the Hidden Past. Their book describes many hikes in the Pikes Peak Region, including along the Palmer Divide, the Monument Preserve, and Palmer Lake area. With pictures of relics (junk of the past), there are many interesting points along the way.

Mount Herman, also known as Monument Preserve, has remnants of a Bureau of Forests Planting Station Tree Nursery. Millions of seeds were collected from pinecones and planted in beds. Rows of seedlings were established and shipped all over the Pikes Peak Region. The nursery was abandoned during World War II and rows of young pine trees were left to grow on their own (page 155, Easy Hikes of the Hidden Past).

Palmer Lake sports many historical hikes, including Palmer Lake Trail, New Santa Fe Regional Trail, and Santa Fe Open Space. Santa Fe Open space, recently opened by El Paso County, has many ranch relics along the trail, a 2-mile loop at the base of Ben Lomand Mountain and Elephant Rock ((www.elpasoco.com/el-paso-county-parks-open-santa-fe-open-space).

Continuing on the trail and looking for relics or “junk” on the sides of many worn roads and you will find the past. If you look hard enough, you can imagine the settlers that came and carved out history in stone or metal. You can find old car bodies from the 20s, 30s, 40s and so on. You can find stairs to nowhere and fire chimneys with no house attached. There is whole world out there when you take Easy Hikes to Hidden Past. The book is available at Covered Treasures in Monument and other booksellers online.

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Next month, the Palmer Lake Historical Society meeting will be the annual Father’s Day Ice Cream Social held at the Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St., on June 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. Rain or shine, the event is free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy free pie and ice cream with music by Craig Walter. The event is sponsored by John Spidell of The Spidell Foundation.

For more information regarding the society’s monthly historical talks and field trips, go to its website http://palmerdividehistory.org.

Marlene Brown can be contacted at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Above: The Palmer Lake Historical Society meeting May 18 featured the book Easy Hikes to the Hidden Past. Pictured are authors Rocky Shockley, left, and T. Duren Jones. Photo by Marlene Brown.

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