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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 2025

April Library Events – Monument Library 50th anniversary; programs for all ages

By Harriet Halbig

All are invited to attend a 50th birthday party for the Monument Library from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. There will be fun activities, historical displays, and cake for all to commemorate this anniversary. Please join us!

Activities for all ages

The youngest patrons can attend Toddler Time on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10 or 10:30 to 11. Songs, rhymes, and stories are featured for ages 1 to 2 and their parents or caregivers.

Storytime on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11 is for children ages 3 to 7 and their parents or caregivers.

For Tweens (ages 9-12) there will be meetings of the Dungeons and Dragons Club from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on April 4 and 19. Play Dungeons and Dragons with other tweens, led by our own dragon master, Dustin. New members are always welcome. Registration is required online at ppld.org, events by location or 719-488-2370.

Also for tweens there will be a Tween Party Games event on Friday, April 25 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Enjoy cup stacking, tackling a mine field while blindfolded, and other games including Minute to Win It challenges. No registration required.

For teen patrons, attend the meeting of the Teen Advisory Board on Thursday, April 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. Learn leadership skills, earn volunteer hours, and give your input on what happens at the library. Regular attendance is recommended, and you must fill out a volunteer application to participate.

For older patrons, join the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) Book Group sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Friends of PPLD. The April meeting will be on Friday, April 18 from 10:30 to 12:30. New members are welcome.

An Art for Older Adults Class will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 10. This class inspires a sense of self-reliance for older adults, even when the participant may be reliant on a partner for help with materials use. This will be a monthly opportunity to produce high-quality art projects that respect their wealth of life experiences, skills, and innate capacity to create. All supplies are provided and registration is required. Go to ppld.org, events and happenings and Monument Library to register or call 719-488-2370.

Homeschool families or those considering homeschooling are invited to attend the annual Homeschool Resource Fair at Library 21c on Friday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This fair features a wide variety of exhibitors offering educational and extracurricular opportunities for homeschooling families. Chat with representatives from organizations and businesses that offer services and support, including arts and science activities, sports groups, enrichment programs, tutoring, and more. There will also be fun activities for kids throughout the building.

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

Other Library articles

Palmer Lake Historical Society, April 21 – General Palmer’s life explored

By Marlene Brown

The Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) held its regular membership meeting at the Palmer Lake Town Hall on March 21. The guest speaker was “Gen. William J. Palmer,” founder of Palmer Lake and Colorado Springs, portrayed by David Harmon.

Palmer began by telling us he was born in 1836 to John and Matilda Palmer. The family was of the Hicksite sect Quakers. He was born on the family farm, near Leipsic, Kent County, Delaware. Hicksite Quakers believed that there is an inner light in each of us, and they were committed to peace and nonviolence. Their religious beliefs would cause conflict later with William and his family when he joined the army.

Palmer’s early school days were spent in Pennsylvania where he went to private school and public school. Private school is where he received an engineering degree, though he never graduated. He had always been fascinated by trains. He was able to save and go to school in Europe, and that was where he studied railroads, mills, and coal mines. Returning to the States, he was hired by his uncle to work the Westmoreland Coal Co. as the secretary and treasurer. The following year he was hired as the private secretary for the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, where he met Thomas Scott, who was later appointed as assistant secretary of war.

Palmer’s upbringing taught him to detest slavery and war, though when the Civil War began he enlisted with the Pennsylvania volunteers and took a commission in the Union Army. At age 25, he was a captain and they gave him a regiment of 1,000 men. Later that year, dressed in civilian clothes and scouting for places for the Union Army to recross the Potomac River back into Virginia, Palmer was captured and incarcerated for four months. He was released in a prisoner exchange and in February 1863 was able rejoin his regiment. In 1865 he received the Medal of Honor for his actions as colonel of the 15th Pennsylvania Regiment.

After the war, the 30-year-old Palmer went back to railroads. While in Colorado Territory, he had a vision of a railroad running south from Denver to Mexico City. He built the first section going south from Denver, across the Palmer Divide and to Colorado Springs by 1871. He was married in 1870 to Mary Lincoln (Queen) Palmer. They had three daughters, and Mary passed away in 1894 at the age of 44.

In 1906, William fell from a horse and was left paralyzed. He was forever confined to a wheelchair. Unable to travel after that, veterans of his 15th Pennsylvania Regiment had their annual reunion in 1907 at Glen Eyrie. He provided a special train for 208 of the surviving veterans. Palmer passed away on March 13,1909. The mayor of Colorado Springs said that Palmer was “a soldier, builder of an empire, philanthropist, and friend of the people whose life was a blessing.

Harmon graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1973. He and his wife Julie have three grown kids and have lived in Colorado Springs since 1981. Many attendees at the meeting came to Harmon afterward with more questions about Palmer.

Above: At the Palmer Lake Historical Society meeting, Vice President Diane Kokes stands with Gen. William J. Palmer, portrayed by Dave Harmon.

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PLHS meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 pm) at the Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information regarding memberships and future programs, go to palmerdividehistory.org/events.

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

Other Palmer Lake Historical Society articles

High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Earth Day and the joys of gardening

By Janet Sellers

Every year on April 22, Earth Day reminds us of our responsibility to care for the planet. First observed on April 22, 1970, it was proposed as a way to have an educational day devoted to protecting our Earth. An estimated 20 million participated in rallies, teach-ins, and demonstrations across the country.

The event was instrumental in gaining support for environmental legislation in the 1970s, including the Clean Air Act (1970) and the Endangered Species Act (1973) and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to the growing concerns over pollution and the welfare of the environment. We can do our part with our landscaping and home gardens.

No deer landscaping

Marigolds are a go-to flower that comes in sizes from 6 inches to a couple of feet high and deters bugs, rabbits, and even deer. Surprisingly easy to grow and acknowledged deer-deterrent plants include chives, lemon balm, parsley, thyme, dill, sage, mint, yarrow, allium, garlic, echinacea, chamomile, and more. And these easy plants are herbs we can use for meals or just for tea.

Black Forest Mulch program

We tried out the multi-size mulch from the Black Forest Slash and Mulch Program this past year. It will be available again in May and it’s free. We were amazed at its performance. We had a new garden bed with plenty of seeds planted and, as an experiment, we let Mother Nature do all the work for watering and weed control, etc.

Without any additional watering or work, just the mulch, that flower garden flourished. (I had to water some newly planted flowering bushes late in the season; we’ll see if they come up this year.) The seeds and all of the plants in the garden bed with the mulch thrived all summer without touching it. We planted seeds in June but August was when they decided to show up and flower. This year I’m planting seeds in April and May under the mulch, because seeds will use their own intelligence for growing. Indoor seedlings can be started in April, but we have to wait until the end of May to put them out safely, unless we have protection like cloches or cold frames.

Due to our late snows and cold temperatures, most plants are not particularly interested in doing much until they can rely on warmth, water, and of course good, garden-prepared soil. Earth Day is a perfect time to start a new garden project, volunteer at a local green space, or simply appreciate the beauty of nature. The Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC) food garden needs volunteers to help plant, care, and harvest vegetables this year. Contact me or TLC at tri-lakescares.org to learn more.

Janet Sellers is an avid “lazy” gardener, letting Mother Nature lead the way for permaculture gardening. Contact her at JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Other Gardening articles

On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Monument Hiking Group planning session

By Steve Pate

Above: Monument Hiking Group planning session led by Lisa Loeber. Photo by Steve Pate.

The Monument Hiking Group (MHG), led by Lisa Loeber, held a planning session at the Monument Barn Community Center on March 30. The group of about 25 local hikers met to discuss options for planning some long hikes as well as close-in treks in our local area.

For example, a local hike is now scheduled for April 8 at 8:30 a.m. The group will meet at the “Windsock” parking lot off of Red Rock Ranch Road located just north of where Mount Herman Road meets the gate leading up to Mount Herman. The plan is to carpool up to the 716 Trailhead on the west side of Mount Herman, hike to the Limbaugh Overlook, and return by way of Raspberry Mountain/Mount Herman to the 716 Trailhead. It will be about a 4-mile round trip with about 1,200 feet of elevation gain and should take about three hours. This time of year, participants should bring micro spikes and be prepared for weather conditions.

The group will plan extended hikes later this year which could include 14ers (14,000-foot mountains) of which Colorado has 58. Several of the experienced hikers in this group, including Randy Phillips, have summited all 58 14ers. The group may also conduct training sessions on how to use devices such as InReach, a satellite-connected safety device or others such as Zoleo.

While you may choose to hike our local trails, it’s best to plan off-trail adventures and bushwhacking to see hidden local points of interest with someone who knows the terrain and location of places like old mines, cabins, etc., such as Kerry Paige, a.k.a. “Saxsquatch” (a local saxophone player who knows our local mountains.

Others discussed planning hikes that require more endurance and could involve overnight stays. If you are interested in participating in either regular local hikes or those requiring overnight or longer travel, follow the Monument Hiking Group on Facebook. You could also seek advice from Al Andersen, who helped set up this meeting and has led many hikes over the years.

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

Other On the Trail articles

Art Matters – Contemporary art: The return of bold beauty

By Janet Sellers

“What any true painting touches is an absence—an absence of which without the painting, we might be unaware. And that would be our loss.” —John Berger, The Shape of a Pocket

Art appreciation is subjective. One person may see beauty in the sunrise, a blade of grass, or glistening drops of dew on a spider web. Another may ignore these and go about their day unaware of small splendors. A key factor in all of this is awareness and the moment of awareness; art may reach one person and not another. The close inspection of the bark of a tree holds an abstract beauty without us ever seeing the whole tree. Likewise, the splashes of paint on a canvas may inspire thoughts of energy, excitement, and freedom.

In The Shape of a Pocket, art critic John Berger wrote about painters like Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Francis Bacon, as well as lesser-known or anonymous artists, emphasizing how their works capture the struggles and dignity of everyday people. Throughout, Berger’s writing reinforces a belief in art’s power to connect people across time and space.

A reflection of the maker

Contemporary art has long been considered a reflection of the artist instead of a reflection of who paid for it to be made, as was the case in Renaissance patronage. The decline of aristocratic patronage after revolutions (French and American) led artists to find new ways to sell their work. Salon exhibitions and art dealers emerged, helping independent artists gain recognition. The Impressionists (late 19th century) painted modern life—cafés, streets, and leisure—breaking from historical and religious subjects.

With Modernism and Abstract Expressionism, artists became completely independent, exploring personal and social themes. Galleries, collectors, and museums replaced churches and monarchs as the primary buyers of art.

Contemporary art often grapples with complex social, political, and cultural issues, reflecting the diverse and rapidly evolving world we live in. In contemporary art, ideas often matter more than technical skill and focus on meaning rather than imitating reality. Art questions and critiques reality, and even distorts it. Our world is reflected in many kinds of art, expressing contrasts of beauty, chaos, environmental issues, and even digital culture.

Artistic autonomy: a chosen beauty

Art market interests have begun a return to art as beauty and refreshment. Perhaps now, in contemporary art, instead of portraying what has been paid for by a controlling hierarchy, be it religion, governments, advertising and money, art as a true human expression is making its return. Art materials are easily obtained, and anyone with a pencil or brush can make something and exhibit it.

Many artists are embracing vivid colors, organic forms, and detailed craftsmanship again, balancing abstraction with recognizable beauty in dreamlike landscapes and soft, emotional portraits, or using light and space to create immersive experiences. Beauty is making a comeback, in bold, fluid and perhaps even unsettling ways.

Janet Sellers is an artist, writer, educator, and speaker and offers local forest meditation hikes. Contact her at
janetsellers@ocn.me.

Other Art Matters articles

Snapshots of Our Community

Lewis-Palmer D38 Chess Tournament, Mar. 8

Bunco Night Fundraiser, Feb. 22

Above: Area residents rolled the dice Feb. 22 to raise more than $4,500 for a future meditation garden at Trinity Community Park in Monument. More than 60 people took part in Bunco night hosted by the park and Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club at Trinity Lutheran Church. The proceeds will go toward the garden that will include benches, sculptures, wind spinners, birdhouses, a labyrinth, and Rotary Peace Poles that display the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” In photo, Debby Jeroslow came dressed for the occasion. Photo by Laurie Beasley.

Lake and Lantern opened, Feb. 26

Above: Lake and Lantern Café opened on Feb. 26 in Palmer Lake at the former Speedtrap restaurant. It serves breakfast and lunch daily and aims to create an alcohol-free space for connection. Their offerings include zero-proof beer and mocktails. CEO Raquel Garcia leads the café with her son Jordan as chef, her husband Chris handling operations, and her son Jayden as cook, server, and mocktologist. Other family members contribute as needed. Lake and Lantern, with the motto “life, lit differently,” will host in-person recovery meetings by HardBeauty starting April 2 at 7:30 pm, offering hot coffee but no food. CEO Raquel Garcia, founder of HardBeauty and the HardBeauty Foundation, supports these efforts through the café. For more details, visit www.lakeandlantern.com or call 719-300-8013. To learn more about HardBeauty and the HardBeauty Foundation, check out www.hardbeauty.life and www.hardbeautyfoundation.org. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Roundabout alternatives, Mar. 5

Above: El Paso County hosted a community presentation on March 5 to discuss its Intersection Study for Woodmoor Drive and Lake Woodmoor. County Project Manager Alissa Werre introduced project managers John Moscovich and Michael Romero from Benesch. While presenters received positive feedback on a temporary roundabout, concerns about its proximity to Highway 105 led to the evaluation of three potential full-size roundabout locations (shown in inset): Woodmoor Drive and Lake Woodmoor, Woodmoor Drive and the Park & Ride entrance, and Woodmoor Drive and Monument Hill Road. Once a decision is finalized, the design phase is expected to take 12-18 months, with construction slated for late 2026 or early 2027. Based on traffic studies and the achievable level of service (LOS), the county favored the roundabout option at Woodmoor Drive and the Park & Ride. Attendees raised questions and concerns, which were documented, and additional input was welcomed until March 21. From left on stage are Romero, Werre, and Moscovich. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Monument Lake restrooms coming

Above: The thousands of people who visit Monument Lake each year soon won’t have to use a porta potty when nature calls. Ground was broken in February on what will be permanent restroom facilities. The inset photo example of what the building might look like was provided by Parks and Trails Planner and Program Manager Cassie Olgren. It has two unisex bathrooms with plumbing. She says she hopes the facility will be ready for use by the end of June. About 75% of the cost will be picked up by a $117,000 grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Photo by Tia M. Mayer.

Taste of Life expands shop, Mar. 1

Above: On March 1, the Taste of Life store, 18965 Base Camp Road, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its expanded retail shop. The shop has moved to the front of the building and features homemade meals for those too busy to cook, gluten-free options, and keto options. The store was packed for the event, which was covered by Fox 21 news. For more information, see www.tasteoflifestores.com. Inset: Donna Poelstra, owner of Taste of Life, greeted the crowd at the grand reopening. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Rock House ready for Easter

Above: On an early spring day, March 23, families and friends enjoyed lunch and/or ice cream at the Rock House ice cream shop, 24 Highway 105, Palmer Lake. Shown from left are Jeff Goldman, owner of the Rock House, Lynda Pate, Claire McFadden, Logan Downey, and Kristen McFadden (Claire’s mother). The Rock House also features house-made fudge, chocolate, and popcorn as well as lunch and dinner items. The Easter bunny atop the dinosaur appeared to be enjoying the ride. Photo by Steve Pate.

PLAG portrait workshop

Above: Members of the Palmer Lake Art Group (PLAG) enjoyed a club portrait workshop session in March. PLAG members, from left, Wilhelmina Steenbergen (modeling), Anne Dye, and Mark Dixon join the Plein Air Artist of Colorado winter indoor drawing program at Library 21c in the Create Space. PLAG members are invited to join this twice-a-month event where artists paint or draw in short gesture or long pose sessions. For information, visit PalmerLakeArtGroup.org. Photo courtesy of Palmer Lake Art Group.

Stars of Tomorrow winners, Mar. 16

Above: Two pianists, three Broadway-style singers, and a ballet dancer who played the drums won the top prizes at the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club’s Stars of Tomorrow talent show held at Palmer Ridge High School in Monument on March 16. Pianist Annabelle Carter, a homeschooled high school junior, earned the top prize of $2,000. In second place among high schoolers was singer Ruby Taylor, a Palmer Ridge junior, who took home $1,000. The third-place prize, worth $500, went to another singer, Winn Sienkowski, a Palmer Ridge High School junior. Among middle-schoolers, Aubrey Davis, a sixth-grader at Palmer Lake Elementary School, came in first for her performance that combined ballet and playing the drums. She earned $750 while singer Lila Brown, an eighth-grader at Lewis-Palmer Middle School, was second, earning $500. Finally, the elementary school winner was pianist Thomas Carter, who took home $500. Pictured from left to right: Thomas Carter, Ruby Taylor, Winn Sienkowski, Annabelle Carter, Aubrey Davis, and Lila Brown. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Whitecaps on Palmer Lake, Mar. 17

Above: On Monday, March 17, the Tri-Lakes area including the lake at Palmer Lake was affected by 55-plus mph wind gusts. The gusts created very choppy waters in a northerly direction with whitecaps. Near-blizzard conditions affected the area the following day and into Wednesday morning. Photo by David Futey.

Monument cemetery talk, Mar. 21

Above: The team of Michael Weinfeld and John Howe has been nominated for the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce honor of Volunteer of the Year. They’ll compete against other nominees and will learn who won at the chamber’s annual awards gala on April 25. Weinfeld and Howe gave two presentations about their book Shootouts, Killings, and War Heroes: The History Hidden in Monument’s Cemetery. They spoke at the Tri-Lakes Senior Center on March 21 (in photo) and the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club on March 22. Photo by Tia M. Mayer.

WMMI Geology Day, Mar. 22

Above: During the Western Museum of Mining & Industry’s (WMMI) annual Geology Day on March 22, WMMI Curator Jaime Gorrell assists museum visitor James Bolding with one of the activities. Bolding built a mineshaft structure made of toothpicks and marshmallows. To test the structure’s strength, it is placed in sand with wax paper over it then sand over top. A camera directed underneath the wax paper and attached to the adjacent laptop shows how the structure holds up under the weight of the sand. Besides this activity, visitors had the opportunity to interact with a variety of organizations, including the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society, the Phoenix Gold Mine, SSR Mining from Cripple Creek & Victor, Lafayette History Museum, and Maptek staff demonstrating a Lindar scanner. WMMI Executive Director Grant Dewey said he “greatly appreciates the exhibitors enhancing the museum’s visitors’ educational experience and understanding of geology.” Photo by David Futey.

Wildfire risk reduction, Mar. 17

Above: Wildfire hazard management, forest health, and safer ingress/egress routes were described by Jonathan Bradley, Monument Fire’s division chief of Community Risk Reduction, on March 17. He spoke to residents of Pleasant View Estates, Sun Hills Estates, and the nearby Raton neighborhood. He urged all homeowners in the area to make each house and the zone around it less flammable, so it could not be ignited by flying sparks and burning embers. Residents should cut back trees and fuel from the right-of-way in front of each property so that in a wildfire, flames have less chance of blocking the escape route for residents and access for firefighters. For more “home hardening,” “fuels reduction,” and emergency planning ideas, search online for Colorado State Forest Service Home Ignition Zone brochure or see Ready, Set, Go! evacuation ideas at www.wildlandfirersg.org/. Photo by Lisa Hatfield.

WWII Vet Jim Clemmons’ 100th

Above: About 100 people, one for every year of Jim Clemans’ life, attended
his centennial birthday party at Jackson Creek Senior Living in Monument on
March 22. Clemans is a Navy veteran who served during WWII aboard the
escort carrier Wyndham Bay. He saw action at Iwo Jima and the Battle of
Okinawa. Clemans was also active in the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club, serving
as grand marshal in the Fourth of July parade in 2023. Asked by an OCN
reporter what tips he could give for reaching 100 years of age, Clemans said,
“Just relax and don’t worry about it.” Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

TLWC donates baby products

Above: Volunteers with the Tri-Lakes Women Club (TLWC) donated 507 pounds of diapers and wipes to Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC) on March 24. The donation was needed because TLC can give women only seven diapers a week and as any parent will tell you, that’s not nearly enough to keep a baby dry. In addition to the baby products, TLWC raised nearly $500 to donate to TLC. TLC still needs other donations. To find out what else they could use, visit https://tri-lakescares.org/current-pantry-needs/. In the photo are TLWC volunteers Maureen Morgan (in front) and Kayleen Jackson. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

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.

Black Forest slash /mulch program

Firewise mitigation, accepting tree branches, etc., dumping fee for all loads will be $10 payment cash or check made out to SAMCOM. Pine needles are not accepted. Mulch is free to pick up. May through September; May 17 – First day for you to pick up mulch for your garden or property – loader is available most Saturdays to speed up loading.12375 Herring Rd. Info including fire mitigation, forests, pine beetles, etc., https://bfslash.org.

Do not remove trail blazes/markers

You will be seeing some trail markers in Fox Run Regional Park on trees. The trail markers help protect the delicate forest ecosystem because we can stay on the trail and not damage the ecosystem underneath our feet or with bicycles or horses, etc. These are traditional trail markers, especially useful and necessary in snowy, icy weather when we cannot see the actual trail. Our high desert forest clime is dependent on its skin of soil and plants to survive. When we honor this part of the forest we cannot see, the part we can see has a better chance to thrive amid us humans, the invasive species. Please be a good citizen and help us to protect our park from unnecessary erosion. Fox Run Regional Park is heavily used and is located in a fragile ecosystem vulnerable to serious erosion when the forest duff is disturbed. Please respect and protect the park for everyone’s enjoyment by staying on marked and well established trails. A very obvious trail in the summer becomes surprisingly invisible after a moderate snowfall. In winter, a wrong turn taken by the first visitor after a snowstorm can quickly become a misleading scar on the landscape. The silver and light blue rectangles that you see attached to trees serve to identify the only trails to use in the park. Please don’t tamper with or remove trail blazes/markers as they are placed on the trees to identify and distinguish trails and help locate the trails after a snowstorm.The main loop trail uses light blue and silver rectangles. Sub-loops will eventually be marked in different colors to help visitors unfamiliar with the park to find their way and recognize which loop they are on.

Parents Helping Parents

NAMI Parent and Caregiver Support group is a no-cost, peer support program for parents, caregivers, and other family who provide care and support for youth (ages 19 and younger) who are struggling with mental health issues including depression, anxiety, school or peer pressure, substances and more. Facilitated by trained volunteers who have been in your shoes. Meeting is 2nd Monday of each month from 7:00-8:30 pm via zoom. Register online at namicoloradosprings.org. For more information, call the office at (719) 473-8477 or email info@namicos.org.

Get Help in Larkspur

Larkspur Church has a Food Bank and Care Center that offer a good variety of non-perishable food items, as well as clothing for men, women, and children, some household items available too. We’re here to help. If you are in need, or know someone who is, please reach out to Jeff at gethelp@larkspur.church. If you would like to donate contact Jeff by the same email to arrange a pick up.

Tri-Lakes Cares needs your support

Tri-Lakes Cares is the only food pantry and human services organization 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 learn 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 Mon.-Thu., 9 am-4 pm. For more information about Tri-Lakes Cares or how you can help, contact Tri-Lakes Cares at 719-481-4864 or info@tri-lakescares.org.

Black Forest Log School needs your help

Please help preserve the historic school for another 103 years! New exterior damage was discovered. It has exceeded the budget renovation funds. Friends of the Black Forest Log School, a 501c3 corporation, appreciates your donation. Please send a check or bring cash to Black Forest Community Foundation, 6770 Shoup Rd, Black Forest Colorado 90808. www.bflogschool.com

Highway 105A Update

El Paso county construction is expected to continue into spring 2025. The project extends the four-lane section of Highway 105 just east of Jackson Creek Parkway to Lake Woodmoor Drive providing greater mobility by accommodating more traffic. The new configuration will be two lanes in each direction with left and right turn lines; the project also includes multi-use shoulders and pedestrian improvements, sidewalk connectivity, replacement of the traffic signal at Norwood Boulevard, a new underground drainage system and water quality pond, and a new roundabout at the Knollwood /Village Ridge Point intersection. The new roundabout, constructed by Monument Academy, is designed to keep traffic moving and reduce the traffic backups on Highway 105 that previously occurred in this area.

Monument Academy traffic

To ensure a smoother experience for non-school traffic, it is recommended finding an alternate route if possible that avoids this area during the school drop off pick up times Mon.-Thu. 7-8:30 am and 2:45-4 pm and Fri 7-8:30 am. and 11:30 am-1 p.m.

WMMI needs volunteers

The Museum of Mining and Industry is currently recruiting for Visitor Services Associates and Guides. Please consider sharing your time and expertise. Volunteers must be 18 and older and pass a background check. For information about volunteer opportunities, please call 719-488-0880 or email at volunteer@wmmi.org.

Looking for something fun to do?

Space Foundation Discovery Center: www.discover space.org. See ad on page < 10 >.

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.

Community volunteers

Many students need volunteer hours for scouting, civics classes, clubs, or would just like to volunteer for the good of it. Friends of Fox Run Park will have some openings for student volunteers (and grownups, too) most of the year for various tasks. Besides tasks, the group offers information and skills demonstrations for each 2-3 hour session, and celebrates volunteers at the park with annual community events. The Tri Lakes Cares on-site garden in Monument also needs volunteers in Fall, Spring and Summer. Gardening tasks include preparing garden beds, weeding, sowing seeds, and developing the compost. Bring gardening gloves, some tools will be provided on the workdays. Contact Janet Sellers at JanetSellers@ocn.me or Marlene Brown at MarleneBrown@ocn.me for more information.

Can you volunteer today?

  • 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 rely on the hard work of individuals like you. 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.

Palmer Lake Parking Restrictions

When there is an accumulation of two inches or more of snow, the parking restrictions are in effect. No person may stop, stand, or park any vehicle on any portion of a snow route, or leave, abandon, or permit to remain stalled any vehicle, which is stalled on any portion of a snow route and must take immediate action to park the vehicle lawfully. Parked vehicles must be removed from all streets within the town, including those which are not designated snow routes. Parking information details: www.townofpalmerlake.com/pw/page/parking-restrictions-during-snow.

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.

Other Community 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

  • Academy Water and Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Apr. 16, 6 pm. Usually meets third Wed. Public can join the Skype meeting: Check the website for a link: monthly board meeting is on Skype at this link https://join.skype.com/OfBkDyhucmep, info: Info: Steve Callicott (President) 719-325-9039, http://www.academywsdco.gov/
  • Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District board meeting in person or via Zoom. Wed., Apr. 16, 7 pm. Usually meets third Wed. Visit http://www.bffire.org for updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes or contact 719-494-4300.
  • Donala Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Thu., Apr. 24, 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.
  • El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regular meeting, usually every Tue., 9 am. 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: 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1pm Centennial Hall.
  • El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, Thu., Apr. 3 & 17, 9 am. Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News & Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Normally meets first & third Thu. (as required). Info: 719-520-6300, https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2025-hearings-schedule/
  • El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority meeting, Thu., Apr. 17, 9 am, Monument Town Hall Boardroom, 645 Beacon Lite Rd. Normally meets third Thu. Info: 719-488-3603. www.loopwater.org.
  • Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines Metropolitan Districts 1, 2 & 3 board meetings, usually meets quarterly on the first Mon., 4 p.m., via teleconference only. For dial in access and updates, visit www.forestlakesmetrodistrict.com.
  • Lewis-Palmer School District 38 board meeting, Mon., Apr. 22, 6-10 pm, 146 N Jefferson St, Monument. Meets in the school year, 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: www.lewispalmer.org.
  • Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee meeting (now PCAC, formerly DAAC). Tue., Apr. 8, Lewis-Palmer Middle School. 1776 Woodmoor Dr. Meets six times a year. Usually meets monthly, second Tue., They will meet in October, November, January, February and April. Info: tmckee@lewispalmer.org.
  • Monument Academy School Board meeting, Thu. Apr. 10, 6:30 pm, East Campus gym, 4303 Pinehurst Circle. Usually meets the second Thu. Info: 719-431-8001, www.monumentacademy.net/school-board.
  • Monument Fire District board meeting, in person or via Microsoft Teams. Wed., Apr. 23, 4:30 pm, Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For up-to-date meeting information, visit www.monumentfire.org for updates and the agenda listing the Microsoft Teams joining codes, or contact 719-488-0911.
  • Monument Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Apr. 9, 6 pm, Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Usually meets the 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.
  • Monument Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Apr. 16, 9 am, 130 Second St. Zoom meeting. Find joining instructions on the website. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-4886, https://www.monumentsanitationdistrict.org/
  • Monument Town Council meeting, Mon., Apr. 7 & 14, 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 meeting, Tue., Apr. 1, 5 pm, 28 Valley Crescent St., Palmer Lake. Normally meets first Tue., as needed.
  • Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting, Thu., Apr. 9 & 24, 6 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Usually meets second and fourth Thu. Info: 719-481-2953. www.townofpalmerlake.com.
  • Palmer Lake Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Apr. 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.
  • Palmer Lake Town Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Apr. 16 , 6 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-2953, www.townofpalmerlake.com.
  • Tri-Lakes Wastewater Facility Joint Use Committee meeting, Tue., Apr. 8, 10 am , 16510 Mitchell Ave. Meets second Tue. Info: See tlwastewater.com/index.html.
  • Triview Metropolitan District board meeting, in person or via Zoom, Thu., Apr. 17, 5:30 p.m., at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302, Monument. Usually meets third Thu. Visit http://www.triviewmetro.com for updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes.
  • Village Center Metropolitan District Board Meeting, Tue., Apr. 15, 4 pm, Serranos Coffee Shop, Normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month at. If the meeting time/location changes, it will be updated on the District’s website: https://wsdistricts.co/village-center-metropolitan-district/
  • Woodmoor Improvement Association Board Meeting, Wed., Apr. 23, 7 pm, Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. Usually meets fourth Wed. Info: 719-488-2693, www.woodmoor.org.
  • Woodmoor Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Mon., Apr. 14, 1 pm, 1845 Woodmoor Dr., Monument. Normally meets second Mon. Info: 719-488-2525, www.woodmoorwater.com.

WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS

  • AARP Black Forest #1100, second Wed., noon. In-person Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd. All ages welcome. Info: www.aarpchapter1100blackforest.weekly.com.
  • AARP Local Senior Social, fourth Wed. In-person Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd. Info: www.aarpchapter1100blackforest.weekly.com.
  • 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#.
  • Alcoholics Anonymous, every Tue. & Thu., 7:30 p.m. Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. AA is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Join us with your questions. Info: bflc@bflchurch.org.
  • Al-Anon for family and friends of alcoholics, every Tue. & Thu., 7:30 p.m. Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. Al-Anon members are people, just like you, who are worried about someone with a drinking problem. Join us with your questions. Info: bflc@bflchurch.org.
  • Al-Anon Zoom Meeting, Just for Today Online, every Mon., 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Zoom Meeting ID: 845 0971 9868, Password 349309
  • 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.
  • Al-anon Meeting: Monument, every Thu., 7-8 pm, Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. Info: MonumentSerenity@gmail.com.
  • Amateur Ham Radio WØTLM (Tri-Lakes Monument ham radio Association), third Mon. (except December). All amateur ham radio operators or those interested in becoming one are welcome. Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Building, 166 2nd Street, Monument. For details, contact Bob Witte, bob@k0nr.com or www.W0TLM.com.
  • American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11, second Wed., 6:30pm, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Community Meeting House, 300 CO Hwy 105, Monument. New members welcome. Info: Visit website at www.trilakespost9-11.org.
  • Art: Open Studio painting, first Wed., 9:30-noon. Donations welcome, Tri Lakes Senior Center, 66 Jefferson St., Monument.
  • Benet Hill Monastery: Holy week services Apr. 13-20. Let us pray with you, walk in the forest, walk the labyrinth, come and visit prayer sites, Group retreats. Every Sun. 10:15 am worship service.. 3190 Benet Lane, 80921. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Bingo night, American Legion post 9-11 Tri-Lakes, 2nd and 4th Sat., 6-9 pm, Kings Deer Golf Club, 19255 Royal Troon Dr, Monument.
  • 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).
  • Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild Listening Club, third Wed. Free virtual event. Maestro Wilson will conduct monthly hour-long programs. RSVP at www.cspguild.org.
  • 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.
  • Essential Tremor Support Group. Meets quarterly at Colorado Springs Public Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920. For details, contact: Jim Sanchez, 719-660-7275; jimdjs22@gmail.com.
  • Fellowship of Christ Church, every Sun., 9 am. Monument Academy East Campus, 4303 Pinehurst Circle 80908.
  • Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP) Trail Repair Work Days. Monthly, 2nd Thu. Apr. & Oct. 5:00 – 7:00 pm; May-Sept. 6:00-8:00 pm. Details: www.fomp.org. Water, gloves, work attire required.
  • Friends of Fox Run Park, Zoom meeting, fourth Thu., 7 pm, email friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com, they will email you the link the day of the meeting. Join the growing group volunteering at the park: forest safety, trails, trees, education, special events, more; stay tuned! Info: friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com.
  • Fuel Church Easter Sunday Service, Apr. 20, 11 am live service, streaming service at www.fuelchurch.org at 11 am. 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 >..
  • Gleneagle Sertoma, first and third Wed., 11:45 am to 1 pm. Gleneagle Sertoma is the longest continuously active civic service organization in northern El Paso County. Our regular program presenters address local topics of interest to include local developments, community planning and projects, as well as opportunities to serve your community. Contact Harvey LeCato for meeting location and club information at mbca@comcast.net or 719-331-1212.
  • Gleneagle Women’s Club, membership luncheon, third Fri., (Sep.-June), various venues, 12 activity groups, i.e., hiking, bridge, etc. Guests welcome. For information contact Bev Selby, 719-600-1451.
  • La Leche League breastfeeding support group, second Thu., 12:30 pm. Partners and helpers welcome (and babies and kids, too) so we can meet our breastfeeding goals together. Homestead Direct Primary Care Clinic, 15455 Gleneagle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. For more information, contact RachelKLangley@gmail.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.
  • 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.
  • Monument Homemakers, bring a dish to share and your own table service, meet at Chamber of Commerce building, noon. 166 2nd St. Monument. Info and more about the club: Linda Case, 719-354-6575 for reservations.
  • 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: www.liferecoverygroups.com/meetings/life-recovery-group-3/
  • Monumental Impact: open house for technology, engineering and entrepreneurship, professionally or for fun, also competitive robotics for adults and high school students, a monthly, first Sat., 3-5 pm, 55 Adams St, Downtown Monument. Info: www.monumentalimpact.org
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Free virtual support group NAMI Colorado Springs for parents and caregivers of adolescents with mental health issues; facilitated by trained facilitator peers. Participant info: www.namicoloradosprings.org, 719-473-8477.
  • 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.
  • Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), usually meets bi-monthly (Jan., Mar, May, July, Sep., Nov.) the 2nd Sat., Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. Members of local HOAs are welcome. www.nepco.org.
  • Palmer Divide Quiltmakers, first Thu., 6:30-8:30 pm at Monument Chamber of Commerce building, 166 2nd St, Monument, CO.
  • Palmer Lake Art Group, Guests welcome; second Sat. for art programs, social gathering and business meeting. 300 Hwy 105, NE corner of I-25 and 105. 9:30 am. Info: 719-460-4179, www.palmerlakeartgroup.co.
  • Palmer Lake Historical Society, Usually meets the third Thu., 7-8 pm (doors open at 6:30), Palmer Lake Townhall, 42 Valley Crescent. Guest speakers, free to the public. Info: Kokesdm@yahoo.com, or visit palmerdividehistory.org.
  • Palmer Lake Farmers Market, every Sun., 10 am-2 pm. May 25-Oct. 5, now taking new vendors, info: calvertsminimarket.com. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Pikes Peak Genealogical Society, Wed., Apr 9. 6:30 pm: Zoom Hangout, 7 pm, Meeting. Program: speaker Rebecca Whitman Koford CG,CGL: how she built her own brick wall. For zoom meeting details contack: PPGS President@PPGS.org.
  • 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 >.
  • Senior Bingo, third Wed. Silver Key Senior Services, Space is limited to 16. participants. RSVP & info: info@silverkey.org
  • Senior Book Club, second Fri., 11 am-noon, Silver Key Senior Services, all are welcome. Coffee & snacks. RSVP & info: info@silverkey.org
  • Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church, Holy week Palm Sunday to Easter special services; every Sun., Contemporary 9 am; Traditional 10:30 am. 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 < 11 >.
  • 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: tl-cruisers.weebly.com.
  • Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Networking breakfast, first and third Thu., in person or via Zoom 166 2nd Street Monument 7:30-9 am free registration at www.TriLakeschamber.com .
  • Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club meeting, first and third Thu. 6 pm-8 pm. First Thursday via zoom and third Thursday in person at the Chamber of Commerce, 166 2nd St., Monument. Details: www.tlrotary.com, Trilakesdynamicrotary@gmail.com. Guests welcome. We are a service club serving Tri-Lakes. Memberships open to the public. Info: www.tlrotary.com.
  • 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.
  • Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) monthly meeting, third Fri., 11:30 am. Eisenhower Golf Club, USAFA. 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.
  • Tri-Lakes Women’s Club Checkered Table Talks, Tue., Apr. 8, 5 pm, Speaker 5:30 – 6:30, Mike Thiessen, Assistant Coach at USAFA, What makes playing and coaching at the Air Force Academy so special and the purpose behind it all. Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. $10 (Bring your own picnic lunch) Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/checkered-table-talks
  • 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.
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 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 p.m. Meets at Victory Baptist Church, 325 2nd Street, Suite X, Monument. Guests are welcome to join; if you are a relative of a veteran who served on foreign soil during war or other military actions, you would be eligible. For more information please contact Kathy Carlson, 719-488-1902, carlsonmkc@gmail.com or Linda Lyons, 303-579-8114, lindalyons7829@gmail.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS

  • VOLUNTEER TODAY! Our Community News: volunteer mailing days, Thu., Apr. 3 & May 1, approx. 7-8:30 am. 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 or (719) 488-3455.
  • D38 Art Show, Elementary School Students: Apr. 1-4, 4-7 pm, Apr. 5-6, 11 am-3 pm. Opening celebration Apr. 4, 5-7 pm. Middle and High School Students: Apr. 8-11, 4-7 pm, Apr. 12-13, 11 am-3 pm. Opening celebration Apr. 11, 5-7 pm. Lolly’s Event Center, 174 Washington St. Downtown Monument. Info: amatisek@lewispalmer.org.
  • Bethesda Gardens Annual Hop-Out-Hunger pancake breakfast, benefits Tri Lakes Cares. Sat., Apr. 5, 7:30-9 am. $10/person unlimited pancakes with fun toppings. RSP Jackie Lusk, JL@ba.org or 719-400-9545; 55 Beacon Lite Rd.
  • Puzzle swap and speed jigsaw puzzle competition. Mon., Apr. 21, 6:30-8:30 pm, Trinity Lutheran Church. For each puzzle you bring you can take one home. Complete puzzles only. Info: oreospeedpuzzler@gmail.com.
  • Covered Treasures Bookstore, Sat., Apr. 5, 1-3, kick-off to National Poetry Month with poets Michael Johnson and Kathryn Winograd signing their poetry collections. Poetry activities as well. 105 Second St., Monument.
  • Easter egg hunt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Sun., Apr. 20, 9:30 am. Meet the Easter Bunny, Trinity Community Park, 17750 Knollwood Dr. See ad on page < 10 >.
  • McCord’s Garden Center and Landscaping: Garden Center now open, with special offers. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Monument Hill Foundation of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club, grant applications Apr. 15 – May 31, For instructions and to complete an online application, go to: monumenthillfoundation.org. See ad on page < 11 >. and select “Apply for a Grant” from the top menu.
  • Mountain View Electrical Co-Op giveaway deadline. Wed., Apr 30; see ad on page < 10 >.
  • 100+ Women Who Care Bi-Annual Meeting, next meeting: Wed., Apr. 16, 5 pm, We are 100+ Women committed to contributing $100 two times a year to local Tri-Lakes charities, which will positively impact our communities by allowing us to give up to $20,000 annually. Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Drive. Info to join: http://www.100womenwhocaretrilakes.com/
  • Trinity Lutheran Church Holy Week services and events, see ad on page < 10 >.
  • Vanguard Tri Lakes Good Friday Seder Service, Fri., Apr. 18, 6-7 pm. Kids’ egg hunt Sat., Apr. 19, 10 am-12 pm. Resurrection Service, Sun., Apr. 20, 10 am. See ad on page < 4 >.
  • Affordable Flooring Connection, special offers. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Borders decks, special offers. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • Christina Cotton, Hair stylist, hair colorist. Special offers. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Eagle Wine & Spirits, special offers. See ad on page < 3 >..
  • Mesa Health and Aesthetics, special offers. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Monument Cleaners, special offers. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Monumental Med Spa, special offers. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • Noel Relief Centers, special offers. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • PeakView Windows, special offers. See ad on page < 24 >.
  • Plumb Smart plumbing services, special offers. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Routes Outfitter: ski and bike service, special offers. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Sootbusters chimney sweeps. special offer. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Stubby’s dog wash and grooming salon, special offers. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Tri-Lakes Collision and Auto Service Center, special offers. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Tri-Lakes Paint Company, special offers. See ad on page < 4 >.
  • Windows well covered, window wells special offers, see ad on page < 10 >.
  • YMCA summer youth sports registration, see ad on page < 6 >.
  • Space Foundation National Space Day, Sat., May 3. See ad on page < 12 >.
  • Taste of Tri-Lakes Cares, Wed., May 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Spruce Mountain Events, 14771 S. Spruce Mountain Rd. Larkspur, CO 80118. Ticket prices range from $50-$60, with early bird pricing through April 1. Info and tickets: https://tri-lakescares.org/events/taste-of-tri-lakes-cares/. No tickets will be sold at the door. See ad on page < 8 >.
  • Silver Key Senior Summit, Thu., May 15, 8 am-2 pm. Free event, free parking, expo of senior services. Great Wolf Lodge 9494 Federal Dr., Colorado Springs 80921. Info: silverkey.org. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Picnics and Planes, USAFA graduation airshow event, Thu., May 29, Western Museum of Mining and Industry, see ad on page < 12 >.
  • Front Range Maker’s Market, Sat.-Sun., June 7-8, Sat., 9 am-4 pm & Sun., 10 am-3 pm, Indoors at Lewis-Palmer HS, Shop 125+ local makers & artisans! FRmakersmarket.com. See ad on page < 5 >.

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 Community Calendar articles

Monument Town Council, Feb. 6 and 21 – Beacon Lite business withdraws annexation request after concerns from new board

By Chris Jeub

Monument Town Council business in February included filling its last council seats and gifting the town staff with additional paid vacation. Resolutions and ordinances surrounding the development of property on Beacon Lite Road were voted upon, reconsidered, and ultimately tabled to alleviate concerns expressed by new councilmembers and neighbors over traffic, safety, and tree removal. The month ended with one of the applicants withdrawing its application, but another very similar application was granted. The council also discussed a controversial bill making its way through the Colorado State Legislature and convened to executive sessions to discuss how to legally proceed with the Dec. 28 investigation report. Refer to the February ((www.ocn.me/v23n2.htm#mtc) and January ((www.ocn.me/v23n1.htm#mbot) issues of OCN for background information on the investigation.

New board members

Seven seats exist in the Town Council, two of which are the mayor and mayor pro tem. Mitch LaKind, formerly a councilmember, was elected mayor in November and newly elected Steve King was appointed mayor pro tem. Of the remaining five seats, Jim Romanello continues to serve out his term and Kenneth Kimple and Sana Abbott were elected in November. Two seats were left vacant from LaKind’s previous seat and the resignation of Redmond Ramos in December.

The Town Council interviewed five applicants for the two positions. Referencing the independent investigation of town management over the Home Rule Charter, Mayor LaKind asked the same question of all five candidates, “Do you believe the Home Rule Charter violates any part of the U.S. Constitution?” All candidates answered “no.”

Above: Deputy Town Clerk Tina Erickson gave the oath of office to two new Monument Town Council members at the council meeting on Feb. 21. (L to R) Marco Fiorito and Laura Kronick were sworn in to fill two vacancies caused by the resignation of Redmond Ramos and the promotion of Mitch LaKind to mayor. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Other councilmembers asked questions on how they would handle situations that would come up to the board. Tom Penewell expressed concern with recent yelling and shouting at town meetings but admitted surprise at how little there was this night. Jason Gross expressed the need to get zoning and water right. Roman Peek expressed the desire to keep a small town feel in Monument. Marco Fiorito, who ran for this seat and lost in the November election, and Laura Kronick referenced their previous work with the town.

At the end of the Feb. 6 meeting, Fiorito and Kronick received the most votes from the councilmembers and were appointed to the two positions on the board. They were sworn in on Feb. 21. All seven councilmember positions are now complete:

  • Mitch LaKind, mayor (elected 2022, serving Term 1)
  • Jim Romanello, councilmember (elected 2020, serving Term 1)
  • Steve King, mayor Pro Tem (elected 2022, serving Term 1)
  • Sana Abbott, councilmember (elected 2022, serving Term 1)
  • Kenneth Kimple, councilmember (elected 2022, serving until next regular election)
  • Marco J. Fiorito, councilmember (appointed 2023, serving until next regular election)
  • Laura Kronick, councilmember (appointed 2023, serving until next regular election)

Vacation gift for staff

In January, LaKind offered to gift town staff with two weeks’ paid vacation as amends for “low morale” during December’s independent investigation. Town Manager Mike Foreman brought several suggestions of how to implement this gift while explaining several of the problems associated with it. Questions of administration, fairness, equitability, and whether productivity would remain high were discussed. Public safety for granting free vacation to water and police departments was also a concern.

A total of four options were offered with the strongest recommendation being accepted by the council: Close town hall intermittently (10 separate eight-hour days) and provide Water and Police Department employees with 80 hours of administrative leave with required depletion by the end of the year.

Beacon Lite LLC

On Feb. 6, two resolutions and two ordinances involving the annexation and zoning of Beacon Lite LLC, a commercial property currently part of El Paso County, were opposed by two of the five councilmembers before swaying a third, leaving interim town attorney Robert Cole to encourage the council to reconsider and table the resolutions until the next meeting. Town Planner Shawn Snow presented details of the annexation explaining unanimous support by the Planning Commission and recommended approval by the town staff. Even so, King and Kimple voted against the zoning of the property to Light Industrial (LI), and though Abbott voted for the resolution, she voted against the ordinance.

The vote followed public comments expressing concern primarily over the condition of Beacon Lite Road, which is maintained by El Paso County. A petition signed by 188 neighbors asked the council to consider the overall impact of all the developments along the road, not just one. Citizen Mike Kopycinski, speaking on behalf of the petitioners, expressed that they would also like to see right-turn lanes, sidewalks, the preservation of trees, proper setbacks, minimal heights, and minimal water usage for any new applicant on Beacon Lite Road.

John Clark, the applicant, seemed to agree with these concerns, asking the council to “put pressure” on the county to improve the road. “I understand the concerns,” he said, “but we’re a small 5-acre lot who is getting stuck between a rock and a hard place.” Romanello encouraged citizens to complain to the county rather than deny a business fair use of the property. “I am very empathetic to the problems with the road there,” he said, “but I’m hoping these 188 people call the county and complain,” and added, “why put a stranglehold on a loyal business with something that is a county issue?”

King and Kimple did not vote against the annexation but voted against the zoning. King explained he was fine with the applicant’s use of the property but concerned that it could be sold and used for purposes he didn’t like. “I don’t want to be tied to a rezoning.” Kimple added, “My concern is safety and accessibility; that road is just inadequate.” Though Abbott voted for the first ordinance, she voted against the second without giving a reason why. “[Since] the annexation passed but the zoning didn’t,” Cole explained, “the applicant has the right to pull out.” King asked, “Can we have more discussion on this?” The council then motioned to reconsider and table the decisions till the next council meeting.

An executive session, public hearing, resolution and two ordinances were on the Feb. 21 agenda but removed at the beginning of the meeting due to the announcement that Beacon Lite LLC withdrew its application for annexation into the town of Monument. A reason for withdrawal was not given. Beacon Lite LLC remains in the county.

XL3 rigging

A similar ordinance passed 5-0. Ordinance No. 04-2023 read, “An Ordinance Amending the Official Zoning Map of the Town of Monument Rezoning 5.0 Acres From Commercial Center (CC) Zone District to Light Industrial (LI) Zone District for Property Known as XL3 Rigging Located on Beacon Lite Road Consisting of 5.0 Acres.” Snow presented details of the application.

Like Beacon Lite LLC, XL3 Rigging is a 5-acre parcel located along Beacon Lite Road, presently vacant and zoned commercial with the county, whose applicant would like to develop within Monument like other light industrial properties along the road. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the rezoning of Light Industrial and the staff approved. Brett Leveque of XL3 Rigging explained to the board that the company consisted of six employees with an expected traffic of 30 trips per day. The rigging “provides equipment-moving services to companies throughout Colorado.” The land use would consist of F-150s and small trucks.

Questions from the council led to a disagreement over trees. King asked, “How can we save the trees?” and referenced the town municipal code to give Director Sheila Booth the authority to approve or deny removal of the trees. Kimple added concerns for trees being removed along Interstate 25. LaKind countered, “I’m more concerned about the residents on the west side than what the view is by people driving by at 75 miles per hour on the east side.” He added, “If [the applicant] goes commercial [with the county], they’d be able to take all the trees down.” Kimple did not reply.

Before voting, King explained, “In fairness to the last applicant [Beacon Lite LLC], I am in favor of this project [XL3 Rigging] as it sits in front of us, which is the reason I am voting yes, in that those trees get saved.” The ordinance passed unanimously.

Discussion of state control of local zoning

The council discussed concern over a proposed state initiative to take control of zoning decisions from local municipalities like Monument. King brought up the issue. “There is an agenda from the current governor that wants to increase high-density housing. The biggest problem is [the state] changing the zoning requirements that takes away our local control. We believe in local control, but we need participation from our local community to write letters and push back.”

“It’s the idea of losing local control, which we literally got just a month ago,” LaKind added before asking residents to voice their concerns to their state representatives. Romanello proposed that a proclamation be written opposing the initiative, and to encourage the county commissioners to do the same. Kronick asked, “Is there any type of template we can direct to residents?” King volunteered to draft a template. A citizen asked that the Town Council publish information about the high-density laws coming from the state.

Investigation discussed in executive sessions

Both council meetings in February went into executive sessions to receive legal advice from the new interim lawyer on specific questions relating to the report of investigation findings dated Dec. 28. The report made accusations of impropriety and recommended censuring councilmembers and firing the town manager. Since the findings were released, several decisions were made without legal representation, including moving forward with the elected charter and rescinding the town meetings that publicly discussed details of the investigation. LaKind promised to continue the investigation under his tenure but insisted on setting new legal counsel in place before proceeding. Attorney Cole is advising the Town Council on how to proceed.

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The Monument Town 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, March 6 and Monday, March 20. 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

TLCA sells Palmer Lake building

By David Futey

The sounds of music and display of art will no longer be respectively heard and seen in the building that has housed the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA) on Highway 105 in Palmer Lake since 1999. The TLCA Board of Directors decided to sell the property after the Certificate of Occupancy (CoO) could not be resolved and related renovation costs.

The renovations and an indefinite closure time frame in which to perform them were required to correct fire and other code violations identified by the Palmer Lake Fire Department and to bring the building up to present-day building code standards. The renovations were required to modify the CoO designation. The final musical performance was by David Arkenstone on Dec. 7, 2024.

The discrepancy between the CoO and the building’s use was brought to light when the TLCA rented the space to a church for Sunday services. The CoO, assigned by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, was never changed by the original board when the art center began operation in 1999 or by the contractor that performed renovations at that time. The CoO designates the building for light manufacturing.

Built in 1947, the building was placed for sale by the TLCA board in 2024. With an original asking price of $1.45 million, the 9,419-square-foot building sold on Jan. 17, 2025 after being available for nine months. According to the El Paso County Assessor’s Office, the sale price was $760,000 with a present total market value, land and improvement, presently at $341,796. It was purchased by GAK Real Estate Holdings LLC.

The building’s location was originally the site of the Thomas A. Hanks Livery Stable and Transfer Service in 1898. Before the TLCA, the building had housed a variety of businesses, with the building split north and south for a period of time to accommodate separate businesses. These included an Angora rabbit wool processing plant, a Denver Rio Grande Railroad train car repair facility, retail space for an alpaca fur dealer, location of the Colorado Worm Growers, and for nearly two decades a Kaiser-Frazer parts distributor and restoration shop. A fiber-optic business will now occupy the building.

A monetary gift from Roger and Kim Ward enabled the TLCA to purchase the building in July 1998 at a sale price of $258,000 according to the Assessor’s Office and perform renovations to convert it into the art center. This enabled the art center to operate rent free. Since then, the TLCA hosted community and special events, art exhibits by the Palmer Lake Art Group and other artist groups and individuals, plays, and concerts by local, national, and international musicians in the building. The musicians who performed there include Chuck Pyle, Dakota Blonde, John Adams, Hazel Miller, Peter Yarrow, Judy Collins, Michael Martin Murphey, Branford Marsalis, Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters, Pam Tillis, Eric Elison, and Phil Keaggy.

The TLCA was issued a 501(c)3 designation in January 1999. The TLCA, as a nonprofit arts entity, will continue operating and promoting fine arts. TLCA Executive Director Michael Maddox in a Feb. 12 press release regarding the TLCA and building sale stated that the TLCA “will work with other established arts organizations and acclaimed performing artists in other venues, no longer being restricted to a 170-seat venue,” along with not having to perform a capital campaign or seek other financial resources to cover the cost of the building renovation to bring it up to code and subsequent operating expenses once it was completed. Maddox has been the TLCA executive director since transitioning from interim executive director in 2010. The release also included a note from Roger Ward to the TLCA board supporting the sale given the CoO and renovation cost circumstances.

Information on the TLCA’s Articles of Incorporation, modifications to it, and annual reports can be found in the Business Database Search on the Colorado Secretary of State website (www.coloradosos.gov/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do).

Above: Built in 1947, the TLCA building was placed for sale by the TLCA board in 2024. Photo by David Futey.

Note: Futey covered events and concerts at the TLCA from 2008-24 for OCN. He was a TLCA board member from October 2009 through January 2022. David Futey can be contacted at davidfutey@ocn.me.

Other Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts articles

Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Feb. 18 – Board recognizes achievements, hears about Arts Education and Career and Innovation Center

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer D 38 Board of Education recognized a number of students and staff members at its Feb. 18 meeting. Reports on the Career and Innovation Center and from the Arts Education Task Force were also received.

Student representatives

Palmer Ridge High School students Aiden Miller and Paige Ehresman attended the meeting in a non-voting capacity. They reported on activities at their school and participated in the discussions.

Student and staff recognitions

The board recognized 11 students from Palmer Ridge High School for receiving Scholastic Art Awards for 2025. For a list of names, please see boarddocs under the date of the meeting. This is a state-level competition. Of the 5,000 entries submitted, Palmer Ridge had 11 students and 13 artworks recognized. Of these, five were Gold Key entries which will next be judged at the national level.

To view the artworks, please see boarddocs under the Board of Education tab on the district website. These works will be displayed at the Denver Art Museum and other participating venues until March 5.

The board also recognized 10 students from Lewis-Palmer High School and four from Palmer Ridge High School for their selection to participate in the National Speech and Debate Association competition to be held in Des Moines, Iowa in June.

Lewis-Palmer High School Forensics/Speech coach Brian Hoff was selected as District Coach of the Year, and Lewis-Palmer High School student Anna Hacker was selected as District Student of the Year.

Categories of competition include drama interpretation, original oratory, informative speaking, and world schools debate.

To qualify for the national competition, students must be in the top two in their category.

To see a list of participants, please see boarddocs.

Palmer Lake Elementary School physical education teacher Bret Mischlich was recognized for his participation in the Taekwondo Masters Cup in Houston, an international competition to qualify for the U.S. Masters Taekwondo Team.

Mischlich qualified for the team and received a gold medal for the second time.

The Masters World Games will be held In Taipei, Taiwan. This is Mischlich’s second international competition.

Mischlich commented that his goal in teaching is to introduce students to activities which they can engage in for a lifetime. In addition to Taekwondo, he teaches western line dancing and choreography.

Arts Education Task Force report

Former Board of Education member Theresa Phillips reported on the activities of the Arts Education Task Force.

The task force was funded in January 2024 and involved up to 59 participants, among them representatives from all five elementary schools, the middle school, and both high schools. Also included are 10 students representing both high schools and community members from the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, the Palmer Lake Arts Council, parents, private studio teachers, and musicians and arts enthusiasts in the community

The theme of the task force is to recognize that arts education develops creativity, leadership, collaboration, and teamwork. Arts education also leads to a well-rounded outlook and promotes academic and social emotional learning.

Phillips said the task force strives to make D38 the premier district for arts education by celebrating successes and investing in programming to offer maximum opportunities. Some activities toward this goal would be partnering with community and private organizations, creating magnet programs, applying for grants, and utilizing local media to promote arts education.

The task force seeks to improve the value of the arts, create requirements for students, and specify teacher responsibilities in the area.

Actions recommended by the task force include holding signing events for students receiving scholarships in the arts, holding an elementary arts fair, becoming recognized by the National Arts Honor Society, holding a district art show, and creating honor cords for graduates.

In the long term, a fine arts graduation requirement could be created and an Arts Council of arts teachers and staff could be formed. Signing events for arts graduates would be held in May.

The task force is requesting that it be changed from a task force to an ad hoc advisory committee that would meet quarterly to advise on art education, prioritize community partnerships, engage in professional development, and include guest speakers.

Career and Innovation Center update

Director of Innovative Programs Jessica McAllister reported on continuing activity involving the Career and Innovation Center.

Showing a timeline of activities, McAllister said that the current stage involves marketing and preparing for the registration process for the coming year.

Efforts are in place to seek additional partnerships and apply for grants. The center has received a number of letters of support from educational and trade organizations.

A promotional video which appears on the district website and in social media features views of the building and brief statements from students about the value of having the center whether to prepare them for immediate entry into the workplace or to prepare them for college.

In addition to programs during the school year, McAllister said the center could host camps and potential adult classes to upscale skills.

Home School Enrichment Academy/Transition Services update

Director of Planning, Facilities & Grounds Melissa Andrews spoke of the effort to locate new facilities for the Home School Enrichment Academy and the Transitions program, both of which are presently housed in Grace Best Elementary School.

The possibility of housing the Transitions program in the Career and Innovation Center on a temporary basis is being explored.

District representatives will meet with town staff to discuss variance processing and potential sites. Sites used for educational purposes must meet specific criteria.

Visits to short-term and long-term sites are being scheduled. A visit to a steel building is also being scheduled to determine its potential.

Fiscal stewardship presentation

Director of Finance Ron Sprinz spoke of results from the Employee Experience Survey regarding whether staff feel that organization-level resources are allocated to maximum effectiveness.

Current action plans include engagement with the Financial Transparency Committee, the Staff Collaboration Committee, and the District Leadership Team to improve accuracy in payroll and processing. A new payroll specialist has been hired and plans are being made to cross-train staff in Finance and Human Resources to perform roles where staff are absent due to illness or vacation.

The goal of the entire process is to operate within a window of spending 98-100% of budget allotments. To that end, school and department leaders will be educated to understand and manage their budgets and monthly reporting will be required.

Above: At its Feb. 18 board meeting, the D38 board recognized art students from Palmer Ridge High School for their selection as Scholastic Art Award winners for 2025. The Scholastic Art Awards competition is a state-level art contest in which students from all over Colorado submit artwork. Out of the 5,000 artworks submitted this year statewide, PRHS had 11 students and 13 artworks recognized, five of which are Gold Key entries that will move on to be judged nationally. Their artwork will be displayed at the Denver Art Museum and cooperating galleries through March 5. The following students were recognized: Ellaray Anthony, 11th grade; Isabella Kappel, 12th grade; Landon Kizlyk, 12th grade; Everleigh Larsen, 11th grade; Lilli Marjon, 11th grade; Kullen McKenzie, 12th grade; Liam McKenzie, 10th grade; Joel Nakka, ninth grade; Tiegen Rohrer, ninth grade; Lizzy Sapp, 11th grade; Aleese Williams, 12th grade. Students who were able to attend were presented with certificates at the meeting. From left are Interim Superintendent Amber Whetstine, Rohrer, McKenzie, Sapp, Kellen McKenzie, Williams, and board President Tiffiney Upchurch. Photo by Jackie Burhans.
Above: At its Feb. 18 board meeting, the D38 board recognized national qualifiers from both high schools for their selection to participate in the June National Speech and Debate Association competition in Des Moines, Iowa. Qualifying students from Lewis-Palmer High School include Rylee Call, Drama Interpretation; Quinn Frazier, Drama Interpretation; Call/Julianna Wainright, Duo Interpretation; Jada Robertson, Oral Interpretation; Wainright, Original Oratory; Anna Hacker, Informative Speaking; Grayson Hester, World Schools Debate; Savannah Hollen, World Schools Debate; and Hacker and Robertson, Congressional Debate. Hacker was named District Student of the Year, while debate coach Brian Hoff was named District Coach of the Year. Principal Bridget O’Connor spoke about the students and their accomplishments. Palmer Ridge High School qualifiers are Cole Clary, Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Alexander Hoff, Informative Speaking; Ari Viney and Ella Blakeley, Duo Interpretation; Rhian Wiltz, Big Questions Debate. From left in the front row are board President Tiffiney Upchurch, Hacker, Frazier, Wainwright, Robertson, and Wiltz. From left in the back row are O’Connor, Blakely, Viney, Hester, Hoff, Call, Hollen, Clary, and interim Superintendent Amber Whetstine. Photo by Jackie Burhans.
Above: The D38 board recognized Palmer Lake Elementary School (PLES) staff member Bret Mischlich. Principal Kim Briding presented Mischlich with a certificate recognizing his accomplishments both in and outside the school. Mischlich won a gold medal in Taekwondo at the U.S. Masters Cup, qualifying him for the U.S. Masters Team, which will compete in Taipei, Taiwan, at the end of May in the Masters World Games. As a teacher, Mischlich shares his passion for Taekwondo with students, running a very popular after-school program at PLES. He coordinates the annual Field Day and teaches students the “Thriller Dance,” which is a traditional performance each year during the school’s Halloween parade. He also teaches students country music line dances, which they show off during the annual PLES Barn Dance fundraiser. From left are board members Todd Brown, Dr. Patti Shank, board President Tiffiney Upchurch, Mischlich, board member Kris Noris, Mischlich’s wife Cherie, Briding, and interim Superintendent Amber Whetstine. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

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The Lewis-Palmer D 38 Board of Education usually meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at the learning center, 146 Jefferson St., Monument. The next meeting is on March 17. For further information, contact vwood@lewispalmer.org

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

Other D38 Board of Education articles

Monument Academy School Board, Feb. 13 – Board expresses interest in Grace Best building

By Jackie Burhans

At the Monument Academy (MA) board meeting on Feb. 13, the board agreed to draft a letter of intent to purchase the Grace Best Education Center building. It heard an update on its Homeschool Enrichment Program, learned about a proposed aerospace program, and approved new modular buildings.

Intent to purchase Grace Best

At the beginning of its regular meeting, the board amended its agenda to add an item for “negotiations for real property” to the executive session. When the board returned from the executive session, board President Ryan Graham said the board saw an incredible opportunity to potentially partner with D38 and utilize Grace Best for some of MA’s programs. He moved that the board direct legal counsel to draft a letter of intent to purchase Grace Best and have Executive Director Collin Vinchattle contact the D38 administration team to advise it of MA’s interest.

The board unanimously passed the motion, and Graham said that MA would still have a due diligence opportunity to inspect and review the findings with Grace Best but would like to use the facility for MA programs. See the PCAC article on page < 6 >.

Homeschool enrichment program update

At the beginning of the meeting, Graham read two public comments submitted electronically from parents who praised the Monument Academy Homeschool Partnership (MAHP) program. They said it provided the opportunity to socialize, gave access to reading and math tests and field trips, and was a great supplement to homeschooling.

Vinchattle said they had been planning for 15 students in the first year of MAHP and were currently at 35 and looking to grow next year. He said MA had adjusted so it could accommodate 108 students at the K-5 grade levels. MA has been marketing at events like the school choice fair and was looking to create relationships to offer classes at small businesses. Graham said he had the opportunity to meet with Program Manager Janyse Skalla to catch up.

For more information on MA’s homeschool enrichment program, see https://www.monumentacademy.net/homeschool/.

Proposed aerospace program

Vinchattle introduced the Falcon Aerolab Program for preliminary discussion, saying that he hoped to bring a contract to the board in March. He said the program focuses on flying and aeronautical offerings such as drones, mechanics, and understanding flight. MA is looking to bring the program to high school students. More information on the program can be found at https://www.falconaerolab.org/.

Additional modulars approved

Vinchattle reviewed the opportunity to acquire up to three modular units from D20, noting they could be used for High Performance Program (HPP) students or other new or existing programs and storage for athletic or drama equipment.

Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson said the cost for each modular would be $1, but they would cost $15,000 to $20,000 to move and would need carpet, paint, ramps, and electricity. Vinchattle said that it had cost $120,000 to $150,000 for the infrastructure for the existing modulars but that it should be a little less for this new set.

Gustafson said portables provide schools with flexibility and that it was critical that MA could expand as it builds programs for the school. This would give new program capacity and provide temporary space during capital construction. He said that if MA refinances its bond and starts construction in summer 2025, it would take one year to 15 months to complete. MA would need space to accommodate kids since it would need additional students to pay for the debt on the bond refinancing.

Vinchattle said the work would start in the next fiscal year, and he would designate Operations Manager Jake Dicus to take the lead on the project and secure bids.

The board unanimously approved the budget to acquire and set up three modular units.

Highlights

Above: At its Feb. 13 Monument Academy School Board meeting, board member Craig Carle spotlighted MA preschool teachers and teacher assistants for recognition. A colleague nominated them, he said, saying they had worked hard to build enrollment, recently completed the annual inspection with zero violations, and were licensed by the Colorado Department of Education. Preschool teachers and assistants who received certificates included Anaya Hagger, Asha Nada, Sydney Heher, Stephanie Pontius, Brittany Robertson, Jeanette Tanguma, and Dyann Wenckus. From left in the photo are board member Karen Hoida, Vice President Lindsay Clinton, Wenckus, Robertson, Tanguma, board President Ryan Graham, and board members Jilinda Dygert and Carle. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Board meeting highlights include:

  • Board member Craig Carle spotlighted MA’s preschool team, including preschool teachers and assistants Anaya Hagger, Asha Nada, Sydney Heher, Stephanie Pontius, Brittany Robertson, Jeanette Tanguma, and Dyann Wenckus. Carle said a fellow staff member nominated the group, noting that the preschool had just completed its annual Colorado Department of Education licensing. He said the teachers use daily checklists and had worked hard to build enrollment, recently completing an inspection with zero violations.
  • Vinchattle said that MA was starting to run low on snow days, with only 2.5 left at secondary school. His first choice would be to transition to full days on Fridays, then to e-learning days.
  • Finance Director Laura Polen reported that net income was positive at elementary, middle, and high school.
  • Board member Jilinda Dygert reported for the East Campus School Accountability and Advisory Committee (SAAC) that MA had hosted Dr. Michael Brom, the D38 assessment coordinator, for a presentation on student assessments. Parents reported feeling more prepared to help their students prepare for a college career. She said SAAC East hopes to offer more informational nights.
  • Vice President Lindsay Clinton reported that the Resources and Development Committee was focused on the upcoming gala event, which would raise funds for a field for athletes, field day, and community events.
  • The board unanimously approved the 2025-26 school calendar and the proposed 2026-27 school calendar for preschool, elementary, and high school.
  • The board approved the BTR-MA Teacher Representative to the Board. It was renamed from policy 1515, and the reference from chief executive officer to executive director was changed. Graham asked if there were any incentives for teachers to participate; Vinchattle said no, it was optional.
  • The board unanimously approved policy JCS-MA (formerly 1523) Class Size, adding a limit of 15 students for half-day kindergarten and 18 for full-day kindergarten.
  • The board unanimously approved changing JG-MA Enrollment and Placement policy to move the cutoff date to Oct. 1 from Aug. 15 to match D38. Bryce Carlson of Miller Farmer Carlson Law, the school’s law firm, added proof of residency requirements and additional reasons for enrollment denial.
  • The board unanimously approved modifications to MA’s Bylaws in section 2.1, defining members to include each parent of a child currently enrolled in MA’s traditional brick-and-mortar program.
  • Vinchattle reported that the HPP oversight committee had met twice and was focused on better understanding but was leaning toward a flexible model that would have the opportunity to gain the greatest number of students.
  • Clinton noted that the School Board election applications would remain open until the end of March.

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The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe;; for the agenda and packet, see https://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

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

Other Monument Academy School Board articles

D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Feb. 11 – Selection of new superintendent, treatment of Grace Best Elementary School, budget process discussed

By Harriet Halbig

The Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) discussed the process for selecting a new superintendent, actions on the disposition of Grace Best Elementary School, and the budget process during its Feb. 11 meeting.

In her report to the committee, Board of Education liaison Dr. Patti Shank reported the board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Stacie Datteri at its Jan. 21 meeting. The reason stated in her letter was that working relationships had not developed as hoped. The resignation letter and separation agreement can be found in boarddocs accessible through the district’s website, lewispalmer.org, Look under the consent agenda for the Jan. 21 meeting.

Datteri served as superintendent beginning in April 2024. Members of PCAC said they were frustrated that the interview process did not select a more suitable individual, and some commented that the board should have selected one of two internal candidates for the position.

The board has designated Amber Whetstine as the interim superintendent until June 30.

Discussions in the near future will include what members of the board can and cannot discuss regarding the process and timelines for the process including consultations with building leaders, teachers, parents, and community members. The board also needs to consider whether to use the same search firm (which would be without cost), select a new one, or promote the interim superintendent to the permanent position of superintendent.

Shank said that if there were any questions about the process, individuals should contact her or other board members directly.

Grace Best Elementary School report

Shank also reported on progress involving the impact of demolishing Grace Best Elementary School. In deciding to demolish the building, the board considered several options: whether to demolish part of the building (built before 1988), to continue to support the building which would involve continuing to pay for utilities and maintenance, or to demolish the building and reuse or sell the site.

Because repair costs were prohibitive due to the age of the building and water damage and aged heating and other systems, it was decided that demolition would be the most practical option. Later in her report, Shank said that Tri-Lakes Cares has submitted a letter of intent to purchase 3 acres of district land on Beacon Lite Road just south of Bethesda Gardens.

As a consequence of the demolition, new facilities must be found for the Home School Enrichment Academy, the Transitions program, and Silver Key at the Tri-Lakes Senior Center. Because demolition is unlikely before the 2025-26 school year, efforts are underway to solve this issue. Temporary relocation is likely in the interim.

Budget presentation

Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway explained the annual timeline for creating a district budget. Steps in this process include:

  • November—Governor presents his proposed budget.
  • February—A projected student count is prepared based on consultation with staff and principals. Building Accountability Committees are asked to list priorities for spending.
  • March—Scenarios for pay changes are examined, and priorities for capital projects are determined.
  • April—Changes in student participation fees are projected in consultation with PCAC, the Financial Transparency Committee, and other resources.
  • May—A preliminary budget is presented to the board.
  • June—Board adopts complete budget.

Regarding consideration of pay changes, Ridgway said that the increase in per pupil funding is likely to be much smaller next year. The difference between 2023-24 and 2024-25 was over 6%. The difference between 2024-25 and 2025-26 is more likely to be 3%.

Ridgway also commented that the addition of the Career and Innovation Center will require a more conservative approach to budget development.

­Gordon Reichal said PCAC and the Financial Transparency Committee (FTC) have specific roles to advise the district on the budget. PCAC Co-chair Renee Butler said not every school is represented on the FTC, but all schools are represented in PCAC. She said information discussed at meetings needs to be better communicated to staff at buildings.

Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Board President Tiffiney Upchurch said there was a presentation on post-secondary education and the Transitions Program at the committee’s January meeting. The March meeting will feature a presentation from IN! Inclusive Higher Ed. The Aliorum Dei awards nominations to honor people who play a role in the life of special-needs individuals opened on Feb. 14.

The Graduation Requirements Task Force is discussing next steps and is working to get student feedback.

The Arts Education Task Force met virtually in January and is recommending that it be converted from a task force to a permanent committee.

The Gifted and Talented Leadership Committee is focused on discussing ways to meet state requirements, including an annual plan, budget, early access plans, and grant applications. A pilot program on creativity and leadership at Lewis-Palmer Middle School is also underway.

The Staff Collaborative Committee discussed upcoming changes in health insurance plans. The district currently offers four alternative plans. In the coming year they will offer three, with the selection based on staff input. An increase in cost is anticipated but it is not yet known how the increase will be shared between the district and staff. The anticipated increase in state funding for the district is 3%.

The Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee visited the preschool at Lewis-Palmer Elementary, reviewed recent Family Survey results, and discussed ways to elevate the Pre-K program.

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The Parent and Community Advisory Committee meets six times a year, usually on the second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. The next meeting will be on April 8 at Lewis-Palmer Middle School, 1776 Woodmoor Drive in Monument. For further information, contact tmckee@lewispalmer.org.

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

Other D-38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee articles

Monument Town Council, Feb. 3 and 18 – Discussions on code enforcement, PPRBD, Jackson Creek, and Silver Key Senior Services

By Chris Jeub

The Monument Town Council convened on Feb. 3 and 18 to discuss infrastructure updates, municipal code revisions, and strategic planning. Presentations covered regional development trends and a major roadway project, while council deliberations centered on ordinances, public concerns, and strategic priorities.

Code Enforcement Overview

Monument Police Chief Patrick Regan led a detailed presentation on the town’s code enforcement process, focusing on how complaints are handled and the role of Police Services Aides (PSAs). Complaints are first assessed for jurisdiction; if they fall under the town’s authority, PSAs attempt informal resolution. If issues persist, formal notices and citations follow. The town’s fine structure starts at $250 for a first offense, rising to $500 for a second and $1,000 for a third. Violators may contest citations in municipal court.

Councilmembers debated the enforcement timeline, particularly concerns over extended compliance periods. Mayor Pro Tem Steve King advocated for stricter deadlines, cautioning against judicial discretion that might delay resolutions. However, some violations, such as vehicle removal or extensive property cleanups, require additional time. The town’s compliance rate stands at 95%, indicating general effectiveness. The council urged residents to report violations via the online code enforcement tracker rather than through elected officials, ensuring a faster response.
Pikes Peak Regional Building Department Annual Report

Greg Dingrando, spokesperson for the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), presented regional construction trends, including Monument-specific data. The 2024 report showed a 7% increase in new single-family home permits across the region. However, Monument’s permits declined by 30%, from 276 in 2023 to 193 in 2024—the steepest drop in El Paso County.

Commercial construction also fell, with 302 new permits issued—25% fewer than the previous year. Meanwhile, 16,000 roofing permits were issued due to past hailstorms. Regional inspectors conducted 296,429 inspections, averaging 1,100 daily.

Dingrando also highlighted major projects, including the $14 million Monument Warehouse development and the construction of three new well houses for water infrastructure. Additionally, the PPRBD introduced public permitting classes, including a Homeowner Permitting Course to assist DIY builders.

Jackson Creek Parkway

Public Works Director Thomas Tharnish and Steve Murray of FHU presented the 90% design plans for the Jackson Creek Parkway expansion. The project will widen the road from Higby Road to Highway 105, adding four lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks, and a landscaped median. Construction is expected to take 12 to 18 months, pending funding.

A regional water quality pond, projected to cost $2.2 million, would benefit both Monument and El Paso County, but funding from multiple stakeholders remains unresolved. The total project cost is $15.7 million, leaving a $9 million funding shortfall.

Interim Town Manager Madeline VanDenHoek emphasized the need for discussions on addressing this shortfall, including budget reallocations and regional collaboration. Councilmembers explored potential funding sources, such as federal grants and developer contributions.

Ordinance 04-2025: Monument Municipal Code revisions

The council held a public hearing on Ordinance No. 04-2025, revising Title 1 of the Monument Municipal Code. Town Attorney Bob Cole detailed key updates, including deleting outdated sections and clarifying election procedures—now requiring mail ballot elections unless otherwise specified.

The ordinance also maintains the town’s maximum fine of $2,650, unchanged since 2013. While future automatic Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases are allowed, the council opted to review inflation adjustments before implementing any fine increases. The ordinance was unanimously approved.

Ordinance 03-2025: affordable housing and condominium debate

Mayor Pro Tem King moved to indefinitely table Ordinance 03-2025, which would have required owner-occupied units within multifamily developments to encourage homeownership. He argued that Colorado’s construction defect laws have stifled condominium development, reducing affordable homeownership options.

King criticized the state’s housing policies, stating, “The condominium market has been all but destroyed by frivolous lawsuits, making it nearly impossible for developers to provide entry-level homeownership opportunities.” He warned against excessive rental growth, stating, “If we do nothing, Monument risks being overrun with apartments that fail to serve our long-term housing needs.”

Councilmembers agreed on the need to balance development with sustainable housing policies. Several developers expressed interest in discussing alternative strategies to promote homeownership. The council unanimously voted to table the ordinance for further discussion.

Resolutions approved by the council

The council approved several resolutions by unanimous vote:

  • Final Plat for Woodmoor Placer Replat B: A commercial subdivision north of the YMCA, including a new fire station.
  • Final Plat for Falcon Commerce Center Park and Signage: Featuring landscaping and a seating area but no designated parking.
  • Auditing services contract: DMC Auditing & Consulting was awarded the 2024 financial audit contract for $16,800, with options to extend for two additional years. King and Councilmember Jim Romanello participated in the selection process.
  • Colorado Department of Transportation intergovernmental agreement (IGA): Addressing stormwater infrastructure and road improvements at Highway 105 and I-25 northbound offramp. Classic Homes will cover initial construction costs, though Monument assumes future stormwater maintenance.

Public comment: Silver Key Senior Services relocation

During public comment, Silver Key Senior Services CEO Jason DeaBueno addressed the council regarding the nonprofit’s impending displacement from Grace Best Elementary. Serving 700-plus Monument seniors, Silver Key provides food, transportation, and social services. With Grace Best slated for demolition, Silver Key urgently needs a new location. DeaBueno thanked the town for past support and emphasized the need for a permanent facility. Mayor Mitch LaKind encouraged council members to tour Silver Key’s main campus to better understand its impact.

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The Monument Town 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 meetings are scheduled for Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 17. For more information, call 719-884-8014 or visit www.townofmonument.org. To view upcoming agendas, complete board packets, or download audio recordings of past meetings, visit http://monumenttownco.minutesondemand.com and click on “Town Council.”

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

Other Monument Town Council articles

Monument Planning Commission, Feb. 12 – Commission reduces development density for key projects; Dairy Queen and Subway approvals recommended with landscaping condition

By Janet Sellers

On Feb. 12, the Monument Planning Commission rescheduled the review the construction of a retaining wall and storm sewer bypass of the Triview Promontory Point Water Tank Project on Higby Road. The wall, outside the project’s property line, raises concerns about property use and coordination. The board debated its authority to approve the wall, concluding it lacked jurisdiction. It also reviewed roadway standards, noting a 24-foot width for the project compared to 20-22 feet in other developments.

Despite supporting the project’s design, the commission voted to deny the appeal for the retaining wall, citing lack of authority and concerns about erosion control. The planning director will continue working with the developer and town staff to find a path forward on the Higby Road right-of-way improvements. The Planning Commission will have further discussions with the Town Council regarding the road width standards and criteria. This portion of the meeting concluded with a decision to adjourn for 10 minutes and reconvene later that evening.

The Planning Commission reconvened the meeting and addressed several key projects. The Connexus Lot 2 proposal by Meritage Homes was approved for recommendation to the town, reducing density to 6.9 units per acre from 10, with 158 lots and amenities. The Baja Terrazzo commercial development, reducing from 25 to nine lots with individual stormwater ponds for each lot, was also approved for recommendation to the Town Council. The Monument Marketplace North Lot 2 final Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Dairy Queen and Subway was approved for recommendation to the Town Council, with conditions for landscaping and traffic impact.

The meeting also focused on approving a new zoning map, which is now accessible online and includes clickable features for detailed property information. Significant changes from 2024 to 2025 include a rezoning of a single-family home to commercial business. The map will be updated throughout the year, and a header indicating changes from the previous year will be added. The Comprehensive Plan update will begin on March 3, with community engagement sessions planned. Additionally, the stormwater management plan and a development impact fee study are underway. The meeting concluded at 8:44 p.m.

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The Monument Planning Commission advises the Town Council on land use and development issues. The commission’s recommendations are based on local and state laws, zoning, and municipal codes. The Planning Commission usually meets on the second Wednesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for March 12. For further information on Planning Commission meetings, please visit www.townofmonument.org/263/planning-commission-board-of-adjustment or contact 719-884-8028. A recording with a transcript of the meeting is also available.

Janet Sellers can be reached at JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Above: Monument Market Place North Lot 2 vicinity map. Courtesy the Town of Monument

Other Monument Planning Commission articles

Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Feb. 11 and 13 – Board holds workshop on water issues

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

The Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) held a workshop to discuss the town’s water infrastructure on Feb. 11 and a regular board meeting on Feb. 13. A second board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 27, after this issue of OCN goes to press. That board meeting will be reported in the April issue.

At the Feb. 13 meeting, the board heard a presentation from Kim Briding, principal of Palmer Lake Elementary School (PLES) and staff reports from Police Chief Glen Smith, Fire Chief John Vincent, Town Administrator Dawn Collins and Town Attorney Scott Krob. Two seats on the Planning Commission were filled. The board considered an application for a special event permit to hold a Festival on the Fourth celebration. The board revised the map included in its three-mile plan. The plan is a requirement of the annexation of land for a Buc-ee’s travel center that is under consideration by the board.

The Feb. 13 meeting was preceded and followed by an executive session.

Workshop examines water rights and production

Mark Morton, an engineer with GMS Inc., the consulting engineers that the town has worked with on water issues for several years, presented to the board the recent background of the town’s water system and recommendations for its development.

Morton said that in 2017 Tetra Tech, an engineering company with offices in Denver, studied the town’s water infrastructure and found that the system was “maxed out,” and there were few taps available for future development.

In 2020, the town declared a moratorium on the sale of new water taps and hired GMS to study the town’s water availability. This study concluded that Tetra Tech had underestimated water supply, leading to a loosening of the moratorium on sales of water taps.

Morton said the preliminary engineering report (PER) written by GMS considered the entire water system, including the town’s water rights and the town’s ability to produce water. He made a distinction between water rights, which the town owns in abundance, and the upper limit on how much water the town’s wells and treatment plants can produce. Production is the key thing to consider, Morton said.

The PER concluded the town’s water system could meet existing needs, but its capacity is limited.

Morton explained that the town uses groundwater from wells and surface water from its reservoirs. Ground and surface water have separate treatment requirements. The town’s surface water is diminishing. The town has plentiful rights to groundwater, but production is limited by the town’s infrastructure.

The PER made four recommendations:

  • Drill an additional well to provide redundancy.
  • Increase the production capacity of the town’s groundwater treatment facility by adding a third filter.
  • Replace older pipelines that are made of cast iron with lead soldering.
  • Reconfigure the pipelines in the southern end of the service area to create loops in place of dead ends. Dead ends need to be flushed, which is a wasteful use of treated water.

Morton said extending service to lots in the southern part of the service area that use private wells was considered but discarded as too expensive.

Director Dennis Stern summed up the town’s situation as long on water rights but short on production. Morton said the town also needed to add redundancy to its system.

In 2023, Morton said, the board had reordered the priorities of the PER recommendations. The discussion continued through 2024, and an analysis of the surface water treatment facility showed that the filters had twice the capacity assumed by previous plans, so treatment moved down in priority. Morton emphasized the need for an additional well and for older pipes to be replaced. He said replacing the older lines could be done by Water Supervisor Steve Orcutt’s team rather than being handled by a contractor, thereby lowering the cost of the overall project. He said the reconfiguration of pipelines to remove dead ends needed further discussion by the board. Morton added that the work would likely need to be funded through a loan, not through grants.

Orcutt questioned the plan to remove dead ends, arguing the pressure reducing valves would be needed to implement a loop configuration, but those valves would be de facto dead ends. Mayor Glant Havenar said she had not heard Orcutt’s concerns in any of the previous discussions.

The workshop ended with questions from residents. Collins asked that any additional questions be sent to her to be answered at later meetings.

PLES to add preschool program

Briding told the board that PLES would add a half-day preschool program, which she said would help the school build a relationship with families with young children that might encourage them to remain at the school for later grades. Preschool students will have their own shaded playground, Briding said.

Briding also commended two outstanding PLES teachers: Michelle Miller, who is retiring after 14 years at PLES, and Brett Mischlich, who recently won a gold medal in Tae Kwon Do at an event in Houston. She also thanked the Palmer Lake Police and departments for helping out at the PLES carlines.

Staff reports

Smith said he had received three applications for the open position in the Police Department.

Vincent talked about his weeklong deployment to the San Bernardino mountains in California, where he and other Palmer Lake firefighters fought the recent catastrophic fires. He said he had filled two positions on his team in February.

Collins said the town was still trying to hire an additional police office and a water operator. She introduced Erica Romero, the new deputy town clerk. She said town staff had been training on code compliance issues, and code violations could be reported on the town’s web page. Collins said she was scheduling meetings between department supervisors and board members.

Krob said a group called Integrity Matters had sued the town over the proposed annexation of land for a Buc-ee’s travel center. Buc-ee’s had agreed to pay all legal costs for the lawsuit, Krob said.

Seats on Planning Commission filled

The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 14-2025, which appoints Matt Stephen and Herb Tomitsch to the Planning Commission. Stephen will serve a term ending in 2027 and Tomitsch a term ending in 2026. Collins said Mark Bruce had resigned from the Planning Commission, so his seat and an additional seat are open. There are three applicants for the two available seats, Collins said.

Fireworks may return on the Fourth of July

Alisha Sears, representing Awake the Lake (ATL), asked the board to consider granting a special event permit for a Festival on the Fourth celebration that would include fireworks. Sears said she was the chair of the group planning the event, which will include a beer garden, live entertainment, and vendors. Romero said she was working with Sears and ATL on planning the event, which would be required to meet the town’s benchmarks for security. The large number of attendees have led to safety concerns in previous years.

The Fourth of July celebration was canceled last year because of a shortage of volunteers and a committee chairman.

Smith said he had overseen similar events in Florida. Collins said she wanted the board to stay involved in the planning for the event.

The board voted to approve the special event permit.

Three-mile plan map updated

Krob explained that the Colorado annexation statute requires towns to have a three-mile plan that includes a map. Resolution 15-2025 proposes the adoption of an updated map that removes private property in Douglas County owned by a Douglas County resident from the map accompanying the three-mile plan. Krob said adopting the revised map would not annex any property; the map is simply a planning tool.

Resident Marty Brodzik claimed no one on the Planning Commission read the update and argued there should have been a “redline” version of the plan documenting every change. She asked for a policy requiring the town to produce a redline version of every document that changes. Collins said that nothing changed in the three-mile plan document, so there was nothing to redline.

Resident Roger Moseley repeated the claim nobody had read the plan and said it should have been available at the annexation eligibility meeting.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.

Executive session

An executive session, which began before the regular board meeting and concluded following the meeting, was held to consider negotiating positions regarding the town’s lease of property to the Willans for their EcoSpa project at the Elephant Rock property and regarding the Integrity Matters lawsuit against the town.

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The next regular board meetings are scheduled for March 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.

Other Palmer Lake Board of Trustees articles

Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 10 – Pipeline maintenance contract awarded

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board awarded an annual construction contract for pipeline maintenance and voted to authorize the closing of the purchase of three lots from Lake Woodmoor Development LLC. The board heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Inliner Solutions gets contract

District Engineer Cydney Saelens told the board that she had received bids from four companies to maintain the district’s pipelines. WWSD proposed a work order contract without a guaranteed number of linear feet to be repaired over the course of the year. Saelens explained there were two methods of pipeline repair: resin impregnated cured-in-place pipe and folded and formed PVC liner. The first method was the least expensive, she said, costing about $55.50 per linear foot. The low bid was from Inliner Solutions.

Saelens said the district had not worked with Inliner Solutions, but the company provided three references, including Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU), and feedback was positive.

The board voted unanimously to draft a contract with Inliner Solutions and authorized board President Brian Bush to sign it.

Real estate closing authorized

District Manager Jessie Shaffer presented a resolution authorizing the closing of a purchase of three lots on the east side of Lake Woodmoor. The district offered the owner of the lots a discount on the purchase of supplemental water for their development of residences on their property at the intersection of Woodmoor Drive and Deer Creek Road in exchange for the lots. Shaffer said the sale was scheduled to close on Feb. 20 at Land Title Guarantee.

Bush pointed out that the purchase was a good deal for the district because it guaranteed the lots would never be developed, ensuring that no one would build next to the lake.

The board voted in favor of the resolution.

Manager’s report

Shaffer told the board a bill had been proposed in the state Legislature that would allow unlimited harvesting of rainwater in barrels. He said unlimited harvesting could impact the stream system and motivate developers to use detention ponds and pump back systems for irrigation.

Shaffer mentioned an indirect potable reuse study in which CSU, Donala Water and Sanitation District, the Town of Monument, and WWSD are taking part. The study will look at the Chilcott Ditch, in which WWSD is the largest stakeholder. The study will assess the feasibility of diverting water from Fountain Creek, conveying it through the Chilcott Ditch to either the Calhan Reservoir or the Williams Creek Reservoir, and then treating it and returning it to customers for reuse. Shaffer compared the plan to the Loop, but said the timeline was 15 years out. He speculated that CSU might be motivated to demonstrate its good stewardship of existing water supplies before shopping for more water rights.

In his update on the Loop, Shaffer said that John Kuosman had left Merrick and Co., and Mark Valentine would be the Loop’s contact at Merrick.

Operational report

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine reported an unusually high water loss for the month due to the timing of meter readings that resulted in a 35-day period.

He said two final rounds of PFAS and lithium testing would be done in 2025. PFAS and lithium levels have been low to date, he said.

LaFontaine said a leak in the system had been detected using a borrowed leak correlator made by Fluid Conservation Systems that could be a useful tool for the district to use to reduce water loss.

Engineering report

Saelens gave a status report on several projects.

She said the bids to upgrade the main lift station were so high that she was investigating rerouting the sewer to avoid the expense of improving the lift station. The Well 22 transmission line project needs to have revegetation work completed; that will be delayed until spring. The pipeline is operational, she said. Saddle replacements are ongoing.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to determine negotiating positions and to confer with legal counsel on potential agreements with the Loop, Walden Water and Sanitation District, Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District, and Woodmoor Improvement Association.

No actions were taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is on March 10 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

Triview Metropolitan District, Feb. 11 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor pipeline project IGA approved

By Natalie Barszcz

The Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) board held a special meeting on Feb. 11 to approve an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) and Forest Lakes Metropolitan District (FLMD) for construction cost sharing for the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) pipeline project. The board held an executive session to discuss negotiations regarding a utility service as it relates to the Conexus Business Center Phase 2 and 3 (located west of I-25).

Cost-sharing IGA approved

District Manager James McGrady requested the board review and consider approving Resolution 2025-02, a resolution of the TMD board to approve an IGA with CSU and FLMD for construction cost sharing for the NMCI, and authorization for the district manager to sign.

Background: CSU began exploring the possibility of the NMCI pipeline in 2019 to increase wastewater flows through the J.D. Phillips Water Resource Recovery Facility (JDPWRRF) located near the intersection of Mark Dabling Boulevard and Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs. The result would transport TMD and FLMD wastewater flows for processing to the CSU-owned facility and allow CSU to remove about three or four lift stations on the east side of I-25, completing a gravity-fed system with increased flows into an underutilized facility.

A study was conducted to compare the cost of anticipated regulatory upgrades and the future operational costs of the Upper Monument Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF) to participation in the NMCI pipeline project. McGrady confirmed to this reporter that the 2-year-old data for the shared cost for the upgrades would likely range anywhere from $20 million to $40 million. However, the estimate did not include any expansion capacity at the plant for additional flows that TMD could potentially need in the future. The UMCRWWTF is shared with Donala Water and Sanitation District, TMD, and FLMD.

McGrady said CSU, TMD, and FLMD had been working on the NMCI pipeline project since 2019, and at the 30% design level the estimated cost is about $92.8 million, with 35.9 % of the cost shared between TMD and FLMD. The IGA allows the process to move forward to the 90% design level, but Garney Construction estimated the design is about 50% complete with the inclusion of the soil sampling. The guaranteed maximum price will be established upon completion of the 90% design phase.

TMD will use utility bonds, and through a reimbursement agreement collect FLMD’s annual cost. The estimated annual cost for TMD and FLMD combined is about $2.3 million from 2028 through 2055, with FLMD contributing about $500,000 annually. The final cost is expected to be revealed around October, in time for the 2026 budget. Funding for the 90% design phase component was appropriated in the 2025 budget, said McGrady. See the FLMD article on page < 10 >.

The board unanimously approved Resolution 2025-02.

Executive session

The board moved into an executive session at 6:03 p.m., pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) section 24-6-402(4)(e), to discuss negotiations regarding utility service to Conexus phases 2 and 3.

McGrady confirmed to this reporter that no action was taken after the meeting returned to the regular session, and then the board promptly adjourned.

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Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month at the district office at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. A special meeting is scheduled for March 3 at 5:30 p.m. to formulate the ballot language for the Higby Road bond question and conduct the regular February business. For information on the Higby Road Improvement Project, visit: https://triviewmetro.com/projects/higby-road-improvements/. The regular meeting is scheduled for March 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

Forest Lakes Metropolitan District and Pinon Pines Metropolitan Districts 2 and 3, Feb. 17 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor pipeline project IGA approved

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Forest Lakes Metropolitan District (FLMD) special meeting on Feb. 17, the board approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) and Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) for construction cost sharing associated with the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) pipeline project.

Attending via teleconference were FLMD Manager Ann Nichols, Tom Blunk of CP Real Estate Capital representing Forest Lakes LLC and Forest Lakes Residential Development, district consul Nicole Peykov of Spencer Fane law firm, and the following board directors: President George Lenz, executive vice president of finance for Classic Homes, Secretary Joe Loidolt, president of Classic Homes, Treasurer/Secretary Douglas Stimple, chief executive officer of Classic Homes, Director/resident James Boulton, vice president/project manager of Classic Homes, and Director Steve Schlosser, a project manager for Classic Homes.

Note: There were no public comments made during the meeting.

NMCI update

Nichols said the district is working with CSU and TMD to consider moving its wastewater treatment process to Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) via the proposed NMCI pipeline. The NMCI pipeline project 30% design phase was completed in November and revealed the preliminary cost estimate from the general contractor to be about $92.8 million. Initially, the thought was to split the cost three ways between CSU, TMD, and FLMD, and although the district and TMD were ready to go in December, CSU decided to lock in the cost sharing with an IGA, with CSU responsible for 65% of the cost and the northern entities responsible for 35%.

But CSU decided to break out the sections, and FLMD and TMD would also be responsible for the cost of the portion of pipeline that serves only the northern entities (about 1,200 to 1,300 feet extending north of the Air Force Academy boundary). The additional pipeline footage pushed the northern entities’ share up to 35.9%, with TMD paying the larger portion of the share because FLMD has only about 500 homes.

Nichols requested the board approve the IGA to lock in cost sharing that breaks out the two sections of the interceptor pipeline, with the upper section participants contributing $33.4 million, up from $32.5 million. CSU believes the project is very important with long-term benefits, and a decision to proceed to a 100% design will be made around mid-December, but the district and TMD are fully committed, said Nichols. See https://wp.ocn.me/v25n1flmd/ and the TMD article on page < 10 >.

Peykov said the IGA is largely in line with the first design agreement, and it is important to continue pushing the project design through and not delay any further.

Stimple said this is a logical extension of where the district has been over the last few years.

The board unanimously approved the IGA.

Peykov said that by end of year the design will be 90% complete, and if the final price is different an addendum can be executed. The district will not be stuck moving forward with the project if the costs are higher than anticipated, said Peykov.

Nichols said it is an expensive project, and all parties are sensitive to the cost, but after running the numbers against continuing to use the Upper Monument Creek Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF), it is still a reasonable cost and it will benefit the customers, said Nichols.

Note: The proposed pipeline would transport the district’s wastewater to CSU’s J.D. Phillips Water Resource Recovery Facility (JDPWRRF) near the intersection of Mark Dabling Boulevard and Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs. Participating in the NMCI pipeline project would avoid the cost of making the required pending regulatory upgrades to the UMCRWWTF.

The meetings adjourned at 4:11p.m.

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Meetings are usually held quarterly or when necessary on the first Monday of the month at 4 p.m., via teleconference. Meeting notices are posted at least 24 hours in advance at https://forestlakesmetrodistrict.com. For general questions, contact Nichols at 719-327-5810, anicholsduffy@aol.com.

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

Other Forest Lakes Metro District articles

Monument Sanitation District, Feb. 19: District manager clarifies upcoming election

By Jackie Burhans and James Howald

At its February meeting, the Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board heard an operational report from District Manager Mark Parker that included details about the upcoming election which will fill two seats on the MSD board. It also heard updates on repairs needed at the district’s headquarters.

Two board seats to be filled in May election

In response to a question from resident Laura Kronick, Parker explained that two board seats would be on the ballot on May 6. The election will be held at the MSD community room at 130 Second St. in Monument between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The directors elected will serve four-year terms.

Kronick asked why some incumbent directors had been elected to three-year terms. Parker said the state Legislature had decided to move special district elections to odd years, keeping state elections on even years. Three-year terms facilitated this change, he said. He explained board President Dan Hamilton and Directors Tony Archer and Janet Lewandowski were elected in May 2023 for four-year terms. Directors John Howe and Skip Morgan were elected in 2022 to three-year terms. Parker said two self-nomination forms for the two available seats had been requested.

Parker said directors were limited to two consecutive terms unless voters decide to remove that limitation.

Headquarters gets repairs

Parker told the board that the Town of Monument’s smart water meters had indicated the MSD headquarters had a water leak resulting in 12,000 gallons of lost water for which the district had to pay. A plumber rebuilt the toilets and traced the leak to a dish soap dispenser at the Black Forest Foods Café and Deli, one of the tenants in the building. Parker said he would use the EyeOnWater application provided by the Town of Monument to do a weekly check on water usage at the headquarters building.

A cracked heat exchanger in the HVAC unit serving the conference room led to the replacement of the entire furnace, at a cost of $5,354. The furnace was more than 20 years old, Parker said. An expansion tank on the hot water system had also failed, and Parker elected to do the repair himself.

Parker said the recently applied $2 fee for a paper monthly statement had encouraged many of the district’s customers to switch to paying their bill online: 737 of the district’s 1,708 accounts are now being paid online.

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Monument Sanitation District meetings are 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 March 19. See https://MonumentSanitationDistrict.org. For a district service map, see https://MonumentSanitationDistrict.org/district-map. 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, Feb. 20 – Voters remove term limits

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

At its February meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District’s (DWSD) board heard the results of a special election held earlier in the month and a cost-of-service analysis. General Manager Jeff Hodge and Superintendent of Water Operations Ronny Wright delivered their monthly operational reports. The board rescheduled its March board meeting.

The meeting ended with an executive session.

Voters approve unlimited terms

Accounts Payable Specialist Christina Hawker presented the results of a special election held Feb. 4 to the board. By a vote of 54 to 39, the district’s voters removed the requirement that board members be limited to two consecutive terms on the DWSD board. The board put the issue before the voters due to the difficulty of finding experienced candidates willing to serve on the board on a volunteer basis.

Hawker said the seats held by board President Wayne Vanderschuere and Director Ed Miller are up for re-election in 2025. Removal of term limits means Vanderschuere and Miller can run again if they choose to do so. Hawker said the complete list of candidates would be known on March 4 and, if the number of candidates matches the number of seats available, the election, scheduled for May 6, would be cancelled.

Cost-of-service analysis confirms 5% rate increase

In November 2024, the board asked Todd Cristiano, a consultant with Raftelis, a company that does financial modeling and rate studies for local governments and utilities, to analyze DWSD’s rates with an eye to determining if they cover the cost of delivering water and sewer service and upcoming capital improvement projects. At that time the board had considered rate increases as high as 10% but had settled on a 5% across-the-board increase and it wanted Cristiano to determine if the lower increase would be adequate.

Cristiano told the board he had studied how much revenue DWSD needs going forward, whether the rates are fair to all customers and if rates would deliver revenue stability. He noted that the district’s sewer service reserves were somewhat behind the water service reserves.

Cristiano said he analyzed two scenarios: rehabilitating the R. Hull treatment plant and successful completion of the Loop water re-use project. He did a 10-year analysis of those scenarios. He concluded a 5% rate increase would cover both scenarios. Reserves would accumulate at first and then be spent down with a 5% increase, Cristiano said. Tap fees were included in his analysis.

Four customer classes were used in Cristiano’s planning: residential customers, who make up 84.7% of revenue; irrigation customers, who make up 6%; multifamily customers, who make up 5%; and commercial customers, who make up 4.3%. The costs for average day consumption and peak day consumption were also factored into Cristiano’s analysis. He explained that his model showed the same amount of revenue would be recovered but it would be allocated a bit differently among customer classes. The current sewer rates were fair and equitable, he said.

In his conclusion, Cristiano said a 5% rate increase would cover the costs of service delivery and needed reserves. He said the board should look at its financial plan on a regular basis and should decide how it wants to handle the rates for multifamily residences.

Vanderschuere pointed out the district has few multifamily residences and suggested the board might be chasing a solution for a problem that it doesn’t have. He said he was leaning toward leaving the current multifamily rate in place. He said he favored moving forward with the 5% rate increase, which would include a 5% increase on tap fees, holding the needed hearings in March so that the rates could be implemented in April.

Manager’s report

Hodge told the board that not much financial data had been generated in the first two months of the year, but “all is well” in terms of the budget. In his update on the Loop, he noted that John Kuosman had left his position with Merrick Inc. and would be replaced by Mark Valentine as the Loop’s workflow manager. The Loop was focusing on water treatment design and had received bids from seven companies.

Hodge gave an update on redrilling Well 7D, which is adjacent to the treatment plant and district offices at 15850 Holbein Dr. Trees would be coming down soon and 40-foot sound-damping walls would be going up. The district was using the greatest amount of noise prevention technology during the three-week drilling period, he said. The goal was to have the redrilled well in production by May or June.

Water report

Wright said the state of Colorado had been in the district to complete a water sanitary survey in February. The survey went well: Two deficiencies were noted and corrected the same day.

March board meeting rescheduled

The board voted to delay its March meeting from March 20 to March 27 to allow 30 days’ notice of a public hearing on rates.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to determine negotiating positions relative to participation in the North Monument Creek Interceptor project.

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Correction

Last month’s article listed the Academy Water and Sanitation District (AWSD) as one of the operators of the Upper Monument Creek Waste Water Treatment Facility (UMCWWTF). The UMCWWTF does in fact treat AWSD’s wastewater, but AWSD does not have any operational role in the facility. AWSD is a customer of DWSD, which shares operational responsibilities for the facility with Triview Metropolitan District and Forest Lakes Metropolitan District.

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The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 27 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 March meeting was delayed by one week to allow adequate notice of a public hearing. 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, Feb. 20 – Interim workflow manager joins Loop team

By James Howald

In February, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board voted on an amendment to its agreement with Merrick and Co. that names Mark Valentine as interim workflow manager. It updated its founding document to make it easier for board members to hold discussions among themselves. The board heard an update from Valentine and a financial report from Corbin Fromm, of Fromm and Co. LLC, the Loop’s accounting firm.

The meeting ended with an executive session.

Valentine replaces Kuosman as workflow manager

Nicole Peykov, the Loop’s attorney, asked the board to consider an amendment to the Loop’s agreement with Merrick naming Valentine as interim workflow manager. The workflow manager is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the engineers, consultants, and other specialized advisors who provide services to the Loop. The Loop board decided soon after its inception that instead of having its own staff it would outsource as much as possible to providers and would fund a workflow manager position to coordinate those providers, schedule meetings, and oversee conversations with related agencies such as Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU). The workflow manager position was held by John Kuosman, a water practice leader with Merrick, until he left his position.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the amendment making Valentine the Loop’s contact with Merrick. Board President Jessie Shaffer said the board would decide how to fill the permanent workflow manager position later.

Number of directors increased

Peykov told the board that the departure of the Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD) from the Loop had created a logistical problem related to quorum and Colorado’s open meetings law. Without CMD, she said, there are only three participating districts and that meant that the presence of just two directors would establish a quorum, triggering the requirement of advertising the meeting 24 hours in advance.

This made it impossible for directors to talk to each other, and Peykov recommended that the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that established the Loop be amended to increase the number of directors from each participating district from one to two. Doing so would require four directors to establish a quorum and would make informal discussions easier to arrange. Peykov said that if more districts joined the Loop, the number of directors per district could be reduced back to one. She explained that this change must be voted on by the board of the participating districts, who are the signers of the IGA.

The board agreed with Peykov’s suggestion and said it would take the issue to the participating districts.

Merrick update

Valentine told the board he had met with companies interested in designing the water treatment portion of the Loop project. He met with Kevin Brown of CMD to discuss how the Loop might incorporate CMD’s Sundance pipeline into its infrastructure.

Valentine said he had met with Forsgren Associates Inc. to discuss how the Loop could share results with CSU, which is conducting a study of indirect potable re-use of water that parallels the Loop’s plans.

Valentine also said he had received questions from the Town of Monument (TOM) concerning the Loop and had sent replies. TOM is still deciding whether to remain a participant in the Loop or switch to another water re-use project led by the Triview Metropolitan District.

Valentine asked the board if JVA Inc. should continue to collect data about water quality. He said JVA had not yet spent all the funds provided for that purpose. The board decided JVA should continue its data collection work.

Financial report

In his financial report, Fromm told the board that the Loop had received its first disbursement of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funding, in the form of a check for $54,000. The Biden administration’s ARPA law awarded $4 million in startup funding for the Loop to use to conduct technical studies, begin design work, and acquire easements.

But those funds, which are distributed by the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), have been slow to arrive. Fromm said he had submitted five more requests for funding to the BOCC. Shaffer said he was glad to see the first disbursement and he was beginning to worry about a funding crunch if the outstanding requests were not acted on quickly.

Executive session

An executive session was held to discuss negotiating positions regarding CMD’s Sundance pipeline, a request for proposals regarding water treatment designs, and the services provided by Merrick. No actions were taken following the executive session.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 20 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are 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 the first Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall. 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 Loop articles

Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District – Board meeting coverage ends

By Natalie Barszcz

Our Community News will no longer provide coverage of the Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) Board of Directors meetings.

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Meetings are open to the public in person or via Zoom and are usually held on the third Wednesday every month at Station 1, 11445 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. For joining instructions, updates, agendas, minutes, and reports, visit www.bffire.org or contact 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

Monument Fire District, Feb. 26 – Board meeting held after publication

By Natalie Barszcz

The Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba: Monument Fire District scheduled its Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 26 after this issue of Our Community News had gone to press. News from that meeting will be included in the April 5 issue of Our Community News.

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Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26 at 4:30 p.m. at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For Microsoft Teams 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.

Other Monument Fire District articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Feb. 11 – $4 million in federal funds approved for North Gate Blvd./Struthers Road stormwater project

By Helen Walklett

At its Feb. 11 meeting, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution to recognize federal revenue and appropriate $4 million to the Road and Bridge 2025 budget for the North Gate Boulevard/Struthers Road Drainage and Permanent Water Quality Pond Project. This will provide stormwater improvements within the multi-jurisdictional area adjacent to North Gate Boulevard, Struthers Road, and I-25.

For many years, stormwater infrastructure in this area has been inadequate and has impacted the county, City of Colorado Springs, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The proposed improvements will include a system that will convey stormwater through a concrete pipe network to a detention/water quality pond in the I-25 median south of North Gate Boulevard.

The project is covered by an intergovernmental agreement between the county and CDOT. The total cost of the project is $4.83 million ($4 million federal and $831,501 local match). There is currently no start date.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

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

Other El Paso County Board of Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Feb. 20 – Approval recommended for three lots at Black Forest property

By Helen Walklett

In February, the El Paso Planning Commission heard a request to create three single-family residential lots on a Black Forest property to be known as Misfits Crew Estates.

Misfits Crew Estates

At their Feb. 20 meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a final plat request to create a minor subdivision of three single-family residential lots on a 35.72-acre Mountain Shadow View property. It is located on the north side of Hodgen Road and to the west of Thompson Road and is zoned RR-5 (rural residential).

The property has an existing home and a barn on its northeastern portion. Long View Estates subdivision with existing 5-acre properties is located to the west. Thirty-five-plus-acre unplatted parcels with existing residences are located to the north and east. The site is accessed by Mountain Shadow View, a private gravel road, which connects to the unpaved Thompson Road.

The proposed Lot 1 would be about 25.7 acres and would contain the existing residence and barn. Lots 2 and 3 would be about 5 acres each and would be made available for single-family residential construction.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It is now due to be heard at the El Paso Board of County Commissioners land use meeting on March 13.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2025-hearings-schedule/.

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

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), Feb. 19 – Helping shape county land development code

By Dave Betzler

Talk to just about any Tri-Lakes or Monument resident today, and you’ll hear comments like “we’re losing that small town feel,” “there’s way too much growth,” “things are out of control.” The Tri-Lakes area, like the big city neighbor to the south, is rapidly growing. A 2024 national survey identified the Colorado Springs area as one of the “top 10 best places to live” in the U.S. A recent article on successful growing communities noted there’s a “tipping point” where citizens realize staying the same is not an option and simultaneously grasp that change is necessary to preserve and shape the community’s future.

A change in perspective is needed. The area’s population growth over the last two decades has been rapid and continuous, with a marked acceleration in the last few years. There’s direct correlation between population increase and increased housing development. The population in ZIP code 80132 grew rapidly from 20,245 to 27,533 (2005-20). Wikipedia highlighted a huge 88% population increase for Monument (2010-20) and an amazing 528% increase over the last 20 years (1,971 to 10,399), with an additional 1,600 by 2023. More people equate to more families, resulting in near doubling of school-age children in the D38 School District (517 to 1,171) since 2015-16 school year.

Local officials have been concerned about growth for years. Twenty-four years ago, Monument Trustee Ed Delaney was quoted in an August 2001 OCN article: “Local growth has been phenomenal and trying to stay up with it has been a lot more difficult than in the past … and we have a lot more to look out for than just the town.”

El Paso County has the largest land area and population of all Colorado counties. Zoning districts relate to defined geographic areas. Roughly 90% of land in the county falls into three categories: agricultural (more than 35 acres), residential rural (less than 5 acres), and agriculture (less than 5 acres). The remaining 10% consists of planned unit development, rural, residential suburban, and rural residential. Many existing residential developments fall within unincorporated portions of the county.

The county’s Land Development Code (LDC) document is the “bible” for all residential and commercial development, and it is part of a hierarchy of plans: County Master Plan (2021), Water Master Plan (2019), Parks Master Plan (2022), and Major Transportation Corridor Plan (2024). A much-needed LDC working group has been established to guide the LDC update process, with completion targeted for the first half of 2026. NEPCO is participating to represent homeowner interests and engage where possible to help shape future development and maintain a high quality of life for residents in our rapidly growing area.

The primary goal is to revise and modernize the LDC to make the document more user-friendly and easier to understand. Major emphases include consolidation of zoning districts and updating the Use and Development Standards. The working group will address a myriad of issues, ranging from manufactured housing affordability and construction methods to setting the decision authority for Additional Dwelling Units to updating standards for residential development parking. County officials have repeatedly stressed the need for public involvement in the LDC process and have taken steps to expand public notice provisions.

The county LDC document must comply with state regulations and evolving legislative requirements. For example, the governor signed HB24-1007 that prohibits residential occupancy limits by county, city, or municipal jurisdictions. The LDC update includes replacing the definition of “family” with “household,” which will allow non-family households in rental properties, to include Additional Dwelling Units.

In summary, the county’s lengthy and ambitious LDC review will result in modernized standards (building design, construction, and land use) and updated and simplified development processes. In sports and in life, to participate fully, one must know the rules. NEPCO participation and engagement in the LDC update will help ensure area homeowner and resident concerns and issues are considered.

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NEPCO is an established, volunteer-run nonprofit supporting over 50 area HOAs, their members and the community. Our mission tagline is succinct and direct: “community engagement, smart growth and quality of life.” Information is available at www.nepco.org.

To review Land Development Code documents, story maps and interactive zoning maps, visit elpasocountyldc.com.

Dave Betzler is director of Community Outreach for NEPCO. He can be contacted at info@nepco.org.

Other NEPCO articles

Woodmoor Improvement Association, Jan. 27 and 29 – Annual meeting and reorganization

By Jackie Burhans

The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board met on Jan. 27 for its annual meeting to elect new board members, review 2024 accomplishments, state 2025 goals, and recognize good neighbors. The board met on Jan. 29 to certify the election, reorganize its positions, and approve operational procedures. The regular February meeting was held on the 26th, after the deadline for Our Community News, and will be reported in next month’s issue.

Annual meeting

President Brian Bush covered the presentation available on the WIA website at http://bit.ly/wia-2025-annual. Bush confirmed that a quorum was achieved via residents returning their ballots and noted that the board had saved over $2,100 by not providing postage-paid envelopes and $1,000 by having staff count the votes. Bush reviewed the rules of conduct for the meeting, which he summarized as “Be respectful, civil, and concise.”

Bush noted that WIA comprises 3,196 homes and nine sub-homeowners associations (HOAs). When the Northbay development comes online, it will increase that number to 10. Information about upcoming developments in Woodmoor is at https://woodmoor.org/woodmoor-developments/. Most sub-HOAs run their own affairs and have their own dues, but residents still pay WIA dues. WIA has different relationships with different HOAs; one of them is a metro district, and WIA enforces covenants on its behalf. Some sub-associations are at the bottom of the WIA home page at https://woodmoor.org/. View the WIA map and boundaries at https://woodmoor.org/wia-map-and-boundaries/.

Bush reviewed the mission of WIA to perform covenant enforcement and architectural control, maintain and improve common areas, and provide public safety. He also noted that WIA monitors issues in surrounding areas that may affect its residents. Contrary to media reports on other HOAs, Bush emphasized that WIA does not foreclose on properties, enforce ridiculous covenants, and fail to work with residents on reasonable solutions, nor does it have rigid and unchanging rules and regulations. However, he said, the board cannot change the covenants without a 66% vote of lot owners. He noted that the board had recently altered the fence rules and increased the number of cars allowed to park on the property outside of a garage.

Noting that board positions are unpaid, he introduced the 2024 board members and WIA staff, many of whom are longtime employees. He said that Cindy Thrush and Sue Leggerio were not running for re-election to the board.

The WIA dues for 2024 have increased by $8.50 to $299 annually after considering the impact of inflation on salaries and the cost of improvements. The top three sources of income were dues, new construction fees, and Barn rentals. The top expenses other than payroll were common area improvements and forestry maintenance. Bush commended the WIA and WPS staff for holding expenses under budget. Bush said the reserve fund is well-funded to pay for expected replacements of vehicles, benches, windows, and flooring. In 2025, WIA will replace office windows to save energy and replace one WPS vehicle with a Toyota RAV4 hybrid.

WPS services include immediate officer response, vacation checks, crime prevention, traffic control, 24/7 patrols, and interagency support and communication. WPS can communicate directly with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Department, and both Monument and Palmer Lake Police Departments over an 800 MHz radio system. All WPS personnel wear body cameras and record all incidents. In 2024, WPS had 13,427 on-duty hours, drove 65,800 miles, completed 13,106 vacation checks, responded to 772 calls for service, and more. WPS received $19,080 in donations for vacation checks.

Bush reminded residents that in 2023, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners had decided only to plow Priority 3 roads when snow depths reach 6 inches, which creates hazardous driving conditions; he noted that by law, WIA can’t plow county roads.

The top covenant violations are barking dogs and trailers or recreational vehicles left too long in resident parking lots. There were 744 total covenant items, which resulted in 44 violations. Bush’s pet peeve is residents leaving their trashcans out after pickup. He noted that there are mandatory hearings for open fire or fireworks violations, which carry a $5,000 fine. Bush said that residents had invested around $1.3 million collectively on fire mitigation, including fuel removal and replacing shake roofs or wood siding.

Accomplishments, goals, and awards

In 2024 WIA:

  • Received and fully executed a noxious weed grant from the state of Colorado.
  • Continued to work with D38 on the Safe Routes to School project.
  • Held four chipping days over two weekends that were free to residents.
  • Put in a small parking lot at the Meadows.
  • Put up a snow fence at Toboggan Hill to keep kids out of the trees.
  • Eradicated prairie dogs in the South Woodmoor Preserve.
  • For 2025 goals, WIA will:
  • Seek additional grant funding for fire mitigation.
  • Continue to develop trails in common areas.
  • Continuing to digitize WIA files.
  • Continuing Woodmoor Public Safety (WPS) patrols and assistance.

The top architectural projects were roof repairs or replacements, followed by house painting. There were 554 total projects (down from 595), of which 99.8% were approved by the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) or office staff.

Common area improvements included mitigating 350 cubic yards of dead trees and scrub oak, mowing, and removing noxious weeds. WIA performed weekly maintenance of pet waste stations, trails, and drainage in the common areas. In 2025, it intends to install the remaining benches and four pet waste stations in The Preserve.

The Good Neighbor award went to Matt Allner, Ryan Thomas, and David Steinberg for helping neighbors clear snow from driveways and streets after large storms. Winners received a $50 Home Depot gift card.

Board reorganization

At the Jan. 29 meeting, Bush reviewed the certified election results, in which he was re-elected and board members Jason Hann and Jennifer Davis were elected. The board directors were elected to the following roles:

  • Brian Bush, president, re-elected
  • Peter Bille, vice president
  • Pete Giusti, treasurer
  • Steve Cutler, Common Areas
  • Rick DePaiva, secretary and Community Outreach
  • Brad Gleason, Public Safety
  • Ed Miller, Architectural Control
  • Jennifer Davis, Covenant Control, newly elected
  • Jason Hann, Forestry, newly elected

Administrative motions

  • The board appointed Bush, Bille, Giusti, and DePaiva as authorized signers on its financial accounts.
  • The board voted unanimously to meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p/m. The November and December meetings will be moved earlier due to the holidays. All meetings are held at The Barn.
  • The board set its covenant hearing dates for the second Thursday of each month at 6:15 p.m. when needed.
  • The board set its ACC meetings for the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. except for December, when there is only one meeting. The board appointed the 2025 ACC committee members.
  • The board authorized the ACC administrator to approve certain miscellaneous projects, handle compliance fee refunds up to $500, and handle routine change orders for all projects without prior ACC approval.
  • The board authorized the director of Forestry to review and approve tree removal requests and Firewise lot evaluations. The board appointed Forestry committee members for 2024.

WIA and area developments

WIA is a member of the Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations (NEPCO) which tracks new developments. WIA:

  • Continues to monitor the proposed development called Monument Ridge East.
  • Sent a letter to Palmer Lake leaders opposing the Buc-ee’s annexation request.
  • Approved governing documents for the 44-unit Waterside development north of The Barn which included an easement restricting construction on land between The Barn and Lake Woodmoor.
  • Amended covenants of the development just north of the YMCA where the new Monument Fire station will be located.

Bush noted that Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District agreed to buy three lots on the east side of the lake from the Waterside developer to ensure that they would not be developed.

For more information on NEPCO, see http://www.nepco.org;; for more information on development projects in Woodmoor, see https://woodmoor.org/woodmoor-developments/.

Residents’ questions and comments

Following the annual and reorganization meetings, residents had questions about changing covenants, their interest in keeping chicks, plans for adding more trails in The Preserve, the availability of water for Buc-ee’s and Monument Ridge West, and the need for fire mitigation.

Bush noted that covenants require a vote of two-thirds of property owners and were intentionally made difficult to change. He said the request to allow chickens comes up from time to time, but for everyone who wants them, many more do not. To call a vote on covenants would cost $6,000 to $10,000.

Regarding trails in The Preserve, Bush said that any promises not documented in the deed could not be guaranteed. WIA has done most of what was required by the deed, but the board had to look at what is in all WIA property owners’ best interests. That said, Bush invited the residents to bring their requests to the board and staff for consideration.

Regarding water availability for Monument Ridge East, Bush noted that its provider will be WWSD. It must pay supplemental water and tap fees and put in all of the infrastructure, which will then be conveyed to WWSD. Bush said Buc-ee’s situation is different, noting that Monument Sanitation District would provide wastewater service. Both the Town of Monument and WWSD declined water service, so Buc-ee’s is now looking to annex Palmer Lake. Bush suggested that concerned residents get involved with local groups opposing the annexation.

A resident raised an issue about a neighbor shooting squirrels with a BB gun on the resident’s property. They were told that the WPS chief and the covenant control administrator would investigate it again as a possible nuisance violation and bring their findings to the board.

At the Jan. 29 meeting, a resident expressed concern about the community’s lack of effort in fire mitigation. He suggested that the board and the people of Woodmoor get behind a major league program such as Firewise to prepare for a major fire. Bush said as long as he had been on the board, fire has been seen as the biggest threat to the community, which was the reason for restrictive rules and regulations and large fines.

He reminded the resident of WIA’s spending and accomplishments on chipping and mitigation. The board provides resources, encouragement, and support but cannot force people to use them. With the costs of mitigation increasing, the board has to find a balance, said newly elected Forestry Director Jason Hann, who volunteered to discuss offline what could be done to engage residents in the effort. The board made available a document on Wildfire safety online at https://woodmoor.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Wildfire-Safety-Home-Hardening-Guide.pdf.

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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 March 26. The WIA calendar can be found at www.woodmoor.org/wia-calendar/. Once approved and posted, the WIA board meeting minutes can be found at www.woodmoor.org/meeting-minutes/.

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

Other Woodmoor Improvement Association articles

Letters to Our Community – Grace Best demolition

D38 is using stagecraft to justify destroying a politically inconvenient school building. After years of complaining about Grace’s maintenance and repair costs, they are now using a fire marshal inspection that the building supposedly failed to leave the impression that “the fire department condemned the building.” Their descriptions of the building’s actual status are suspiciously vague and inconsistent.

The problem with this narrative is that D38 got a surprise windfall last year that could have paid to fix the problems. D38 convinced the state to let them spend $8 million of their reserves. Instead of fixing Grace, they’re spending it all to purchase and renovate a 37-year-old building for a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) center—”transforming an open warehouse into a space for learning that mirrors a Google or Facebook workplace.” They’ll have to pay another $3 million to complete the buildout. The administration provided cost estimates for the project and for building new but estimates for transforming Grace into the CTE center weren’t presented. It wasn’t even discussed.

Worse yet, if you have a building the fire marshal wants to shut down until certain repairs are made you don’t jump to spend $1.3 million to demolish it. You try to sell it as-is. To save yourself $1.3 million. But D38’s board didn’t even discuss selling the building, let alone check if anyone might be willing to take it off their hands. By the district’s own calculations, the land the building sits on is only worth $700,000. Why spend $1.3 million to clear land that’s worth $700,000?

All their narrative-building has left them scrambling to find a home for the homeschool and special needs transitions programs housed at Grace Best. It’s clear that making sure taxpayers cannot use this space for a school in the future is more important to them.

Derek Araje

Guidelines for letters

Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. When there is more than one letter, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Letters to Our Community – D38 chaos

The D38 Board of Education took the unusual action to “accept” Dr. Datteri’s resignation after about six months on the job and post out a confusing severance package which includes a large cash payment that varies from $224,000 to about $84,000 depending on if more staffing changes occur or more resignations come in.

This chaos needs to be solved with well-justified plans to be resolved before June 30 to start a new superintendent search or hire from within D38 from several candidates (old and potentially new), which could be expected.

Sound chaotic to you? During this time of unexpected staff turbulence and transition, we are fortunate to have D38 quickly declare Amber Whetstine as interim superintendent pending June 30.

At the February D38 Working Session, the 5-0 unanimous hiring decision was declared a failed decision, and now several paths forward are being discussed with the next milestone decision scheduled for June 30 (4.5 months from now).

Right now D38 does not have an assistant superintendent but we do have an interim superintendent. Do we also need declared an “interim” assistant superintendent?

How will that new senior staff member salary costs impact “savings” from Dr. Datteri’s resignation salary avoidance?

Gordon Reichal

Guideline for letters

Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. When there is more than one letter, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

Other Letters to Our Community articles

Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – March mystery madness

By the staff at Covered Treasures

“If I had a bookstore, I would make all the mystery novels hard to find.”—Demetri Martin

Check out the following titles for an engaging mystery.

Head Cases

By John McMahon (Minotaur Books) $28

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. Gardner and his squad of brilliant, quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, brought in for cases that no one else can solve. When DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer long presumed dead, the team springs into action.

Presumed Guilty (Presumed Innocent No. 3)

By Scott Turow (Grand Central Publishing) $30

Rusty is a retired judge living in the rural Midwest with his wife, Bea. But the peace that’s taken Rusty so long to find evaporates when Bea’s son, Aaron, disappears. Aaron eventually turns up and his girlfriend is discovered dead. Aaron is arrested and set for trial on charges of first-degree murder. For Rusty, the question is not whether to defend Aaron, or whether the boy is in fact innocent—it’s whether the system to which he has devoted his life can ever provide true justice for those who are presumed guilty.

All the Colors of the Dark

By Chris Whitaker (Crown Publishing Group) $30

1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Muhammad Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Mo., girls are disappearing. When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, a most unlikely hero emerges. With a missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, and a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession and the blinding light of hope.

The Oligarch’s Daughter

By Joseph Finder (Harper) $30

Paul Brightman is a man on the run, living under an assumed name in a small New England town with a million-dollar bounty on his head. When his security is breached, Brightman is forced to flee into the New Hampshire wilderness to evade Russian operatives who can seemingly predict his every move. Six years ago, Paul was a rising star on Wall Street who fell in love with a Russian oligarch, and the object of considerable interest from several U.S. intelligence agencies. Now, to save his own life, Paul must unravel a decades-old conspiracy that extends to the highest reaches of the government.

We Solve Murders

By Richard Osman (Pamela Dorman Books) $30

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He still does the odd bit of investigative work, but his days of adventure are over. Adventure is daughter-in-law Amy’s job now. Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. Working in private security, every day is dangerous. She’s currently on a remote island protecting mega-bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio, until a dead body and a bag of money mean trouble in paradise. As a thrilling race around the world begins, can Amy and Steve outrun and outsmart a killer?

Death in a Darkening Mist: A Lane Winslow Mystery (Lane Winslow Mystery No. 2)

By Iona Whishaw (Touchwood Editions) $20

On a snowy day in December 1946, Lane Winslow, a former British intelligence agent, is introduced to the local hot springs. While there, she is astonished to overhear nearby patrons speaking Russian. The investigation points to the Soviet Union, where Stalin’s purges are eliminating enemies. Her complicated relationship with the local police inspector is intensified by the perils of the case. It all comes to a frantic and shocking end with a perilous nighttime journey along treacherous snow-covered roads.

Night Watch

By Jayne Anne Phillips (Vintage) $18

In 1874, in the wake of the Civil War, 12-year-old ConaLee finds herself on a journey with her mother, Eliza, who hasn’t spoken in more than a year. They arrive at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. In the asylum, they get swept up in the life of the facility—the mysterious man they call the Night Watch; the orphan child called Weed; the fearsome woman who runs the kitchen; the remarkable doctor at the head of the institution. Epic, enthralling, and meticulously crafted, Pulitzer Prize-winning Night Watch is a stunning chronicle of surviving war and its aftermath.

Until next month, happy reading.

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

Other Between the Covers articles

March Library Events – Adult Reading Program continues; special programs; jigsaw puzzle swap

By Harriet Halbig

The 2025 Winter Adult Reading Program continues through March 31. Participants who read 30 minutes per day or participate in specified district programs for 30 days will receive the annual program mug and a coupon for a dessert from Crumbl. Upon registering, participants receive a program tote bag while supplies last. To see a list of programs which qualify for credit, please go to ppld.org/winter-reading.

Special programs in March

Homeschool students ages 5 to 12 are invited to Explore the Natural World on Wednesday, March 12 from 2 to 3 p.m. Experience this on-the-road version of Pikes Peak Library District’s Educational Resource Center at the Monument Library. The program includes resources to explore the natural world of plants and animals and the human body.

On Saturday, March 8 from 11 to noon, adult patrons are invited to a program called Strange Colorado, exploring urban legends and stories of the odd, spooky, or the macabre. Join author and paranormal investigator Erin Taylor to discover tales from her book Strange Colorado. Some of the lore includes the Pikes Peak Highway’s Phantom Hitchhiker, Tommyknockers in the mountains, and aliens in the San Luis Valley. Offered as part of the Winter Adult Reading Program.

The Tweens Dungeons and Dragons club will meet from 4 to 5:30 on Saturday, March 8. Play Dungeons and Dragons with our own Dragon Master Dustin. New members are welcome and no experience is required. Open to ages 9 to 12. Registration is required. Go to ppld.org and look under programs by location.

Teens are invited to learn leadership skills, earn volunteer hours, and give input on what happens at the library by attending meetings of the Teen Advisory Board and working on projects. Regular attendance is recommended and you must fill out a volunteer application to participate. The meeting will be on Thursday, March 13 from 5 to 6 p.m.

Come to the Monument Library’s Jigsaw Puzzle Swap on Saturday, March 5 from11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Give a puzzle, get a new-to-you puzzle in exchange. Only gently used puzzles accepted.

The Friends of the PPLD Book Group will meet from 10:30 to 12:30 on Friday, March 21. All are welcome. The March selection is Sooley by John Grisham.

This year’s special program for spring break is Cool Science Super-sized Science on Tuesday, March 25 from 10:30 to 11:15. Join Cool Science as it runs simple but cool science experiments, tricks, and demonstrations that you can do at home with everyday materials. Watch them super-size it for super-sized excitement.

Teens age 12 to 18 are invited to Escape Room: Travel to the 80s on Thursday, March 27 from 3 to 4 p.m. Welcome to 1986. Here you will find cutting-edge technology from the 1980s that you will need to use along with your knowledge of all that was rad in the 80 to get yourself back to the present day. You only have 45 minutes before you are stuck in the past forever. Registration is required by calling 719-488-2370 or go to ppld.org and check programs by location.

See ppld.org for regularly occurring library events and programs by location.

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

Other Library articles

High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Wild outdoors: pine needle bread, gardening in March

By Janet Sellers

March is the first month we can, maybe, plant some things outdoors, but only with special care and covering. I have used pine needle mulch with success to protect plants. Indoors, we can start seeds (tomatoes and other favorites) and even harvest crops from pots. Easy indoor food crops include radishes, lettuces, bok choy, and other short root plants. The fastest crops come from the cut-and-come-again kitchen scraps planted and kept in moist soil: onions, carrots, bok choy, celery, cabbage, and so on.

Starting slips of yams, potatoes, and sweet potatoes now will get a head start for earlier harvests, and they practically grow themselves into plants just by inserting them in a pot or bag of soil as long as they are protected with thick mulch outside or grown indoors until the last frost. I have a cart to wheel mine indoors if the weather gets below 40 degrees, and last fall I just popped a bunch of purple potatoes in my garden bed to see what happens for spring.

This is wild: Pine needles are not just for mulch

Pine needles have been used to create yeast to make bread—pine needle bread! Most pines can be used to make tea from the needles which have a lot of vitamin C and other antioxidants. Blue spruce pine needle yeast bread can be made using spruce tips, flour, yeast, water, and other ingredients such as beer. The needles can add flavor to the bread. (Caution: Ponderosa, Monterey, and lodgepole pine are reported to be toxic and Norfolk island pine, balsam fir, and yew pine are not really true pines and not for cooking either).

A study last year from the University of Helsinki reported that incorporation of green needle and twig extracts enhanced functional, nutritional, and technological properties of bread; the bioactive compounds showed good stability, with some showing increased content during storage. During forest logging, trees are harvested for timber or pulpwood, often leaving their branches on-site to decompose. Green needles are an underutilized reservoir of valuable polyphenols.

Helpful safe hints for spring pests

To deter hornets and wasps from places you don’t want them, deter them with a paper bag or more around the home. A crumpled brown lunch bag looks like a wasp nest and can deter a queen from nesting 200 feet away from it. I have tried this, and it works if I get the bags out in March. The fake nest traps are also available online. If you can reasonably avoid them for a season, the problem will resolve itself with the first freeze, as hornets will abandon their nests and find a new place to start fresh next year.

European hornets eat harmful insects like caterpillars, flies, and grasshoppers. They can also help control the population of other stinging insects, like yellow jackets. And European hornets are important pollinators. Yellow jackets eat caterpillars and harmful flies that can damage gardens and crops, protect tomatoes and kale from garden pests, and are a source of protein for migrating birds. They help keep insect populations balanced in natural ecosystems. These are useful to us when they live where we need them, we just need to tell them where.

The easiest (and greenest) way to deal with hornets? Soap and water spray (on individual insects). Just add a teaspoon of liquid soap (not detergent) to a quart spray bottle of water and shoot. The soap gets through their “armor” and drowns them in minutes.

Janet Sellers is an avid “lazy gardener” letting Mother Nature lead the way to easy gardening. Send your garden tips to JanetSellers@OCN.me.

Other Gardening articles

Art Matters – Amateur: art just for the love of it

By Janet Sellers

“Every artist was first an amateur.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Amateur is a word from the late 18th century, from French, from Italian amatore, from Latin amator “lover,” from amare “to love.” A person that does something for the love of it is an amateur. What a wonderful and happy moniker!

In art, an amateur can challenge what art could or should be without the constraints of professional norms and create outside the mainstream, the orthodox, and the conventional. It is a freedom deeply connected to personal fulfillment. It also allows an artist to be authentic and adventuresome, since there are no trends or expectations placed upon them, and offers a freedom of play and exploration not often available to professional artists who often must keep their art tied to its commodification, for its buying and selling value. And often professional artists face public scrutiny for their lives and art that an amateur will never have to consider.

Art for human expression has made its art path from ceremony to religion to historical record and commodity. This traces human creative history, useful technologies, and commerce. Some of our most profound discoveries and pleasures arise from the love of doing something fulfilling in many fields.

We humans have been making art for a very long time, and it has been a central part of our culture and technical development. Even before that, when we consider the Neanderthals and modern humans are both hominids that have made art, Neanderthals created the oldest known cave paintings in the Spanish caves of La Pasiega, Maltravieso, and Ardales. The paintings date back at least 64,000 years and include abstract images of animals, dots, and geometric signs. Neanderthals may have made jewelry, such as eagle talon pendants, from the Krapina Neanderthal site in Croatia. These pendants date back about 130,000 years.

What separates an amateur from a professional in the arts, and is that important? Professionals often have a deeper understanding of their medium and more developed technical skills. Formal education with an artist or in art school can offer training that might take a lifetime to acquire on one’s own. Professionals tend to have a greater output, quality, and consistency for their art, largely because it is their livelihood and career.

Importance of the professional vs. amateur depends on perspective

To be a professional in the arts can carry importance in terms of credibility, respect, and market value. The term “art professional” can carry a certain value; the professional has to keep the intended audience, intent and output (collectors, galleries, the public, art history, and even critics) in mind, whereas the amateur has the freedom to make art at will. The true value for either exists within the authenticity and commitment of the artist. But the lasting value lies within the art itself. We will protect and keep what is valuable to us and our lives. We take care of what is meaningful to us.

Janet Sellers is an artist, writer, educator, and speaker specializing in creative endeavors for health and communities through her indoor and outdoor sculptures, landscape, and nature art, and offers local forest bathing hikes. Contact her at JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Other Art Matters articles

Snapshots of Our Community

Lake of the Rockies fire mitigation

Above and Below: As detailed in the photo caption on the front page, the Lake of the Rockies community fire mitigation project was necessary because three acres of dense stands of scrub oak and ponderosa pines behind the community and south of the Monument Lake dam were considered a “high hazard area.” A powerful machine called a “masticator” (pictured below) was used to chew up small trees, oak brush, and debris on the floor of the forest to open up space beneath the pines. Now that the project has been completed, it will be less likely a fire could spread to houses (visible in the background in the photo). The project cost nearly $11,000 and was paid for with a grant from the Pikes Peak Regional Council of Governments. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

PRHS football signing, Feb. 5

Above: In a formal ceremony held in the Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS) auditorium on Feb. 5, three graduating student athletes signed commitments to attend college and continue their football experiences. Coach Earl Carlton expressed his appreciation for the contributions made by these young men and wished them well in their coming adventures. Seated during the signings are, from left, Aiden Cohen to play football at Colorado Mesa University, David Brodeur, Ave Maria University, and Isaac Burks, Saint Ambrose University. Photo by Steve Pate.

Arndt wins PLAG show blue ribbon

Above: Donna Arndt was the blue ribbon winner of the Palmer Lake Art Group’s annual winter show with her Garden of the Gods, After the Storm, 2025, acrylic palette knife painting, 16” x 16”, created in 2025. This year the exhibition was held at the Garden of the Gods visitor center all month in February. Arndt, a local artist of several mediums, is also the sculptor for the statue, Come, Dizzy! in Palmer Lake at the Town Hall. Dizzy was the construction helper for the Palmer Lake star, fetching tools up and down the mountain. Dizzy fetched such things as hammers, nails, wires, light bulbs and more for the workers upon the mountain when the star was being built nearly a hundred years ago. Photo by Janet Sellers.

Bella Art has new owners

Above: On Feb. 16, the new owners of Bella Art and Frame gallery invited their gallery artists and clients for a meet-and-greet gathering. From left are Joseph Jesse, gallery artist Bonnie Sands, and Micaela Cimino. Jesse and Cimino are the new owners who said they will continue to offer art, art events and picture framing at Bella Art and Frame Gallery. New for the venue will be art and artist events, planned for Saturdays starting in March, including open studio hours with art instruction available. The various events will be open to the community. Cimino was a Palmer Lake Art Group high school scholarship award winner and went on to study at Pratt Institute in New York. After working in New York as an illustrator for many years, she has returned home to the Monument area with her family to continue her support of the arts locally. Photo by Janet Sellers

Stone wins Stars and Stripes Award

Above: On Feb. 16, Isabelle Stone of Monument was presented with the Stars and Stripes Award, the highest honor given by American Heritage Girls. Friends, family, and supporters attended the ceremony at the Ascent Church in Monument. Isabelle earned the award by partnering with the nonprofit group Sarah’s Home to remodel a storage room for books used in the group’s curriculum. The room had been in disarray (left photo). Sarah’s Home provides a sanctuary for teenage girls who are survivors of sex trafficking. Over the last 13 years, Isabelle has earned 97 badges and performed 1,295 hours of community service with American Heritage Girls, a group that teaches girls 5-18 years old perseverance, self-reliance, and leadership. She’s been a member of three different troops across the country since she was 5. She currently attends weekly meetings of Troop CO2017 at the Ascent Church. Caption by Lilyan Gardner. Photos by Rebecca Stone.

Stars of Tomorrow auditions, Feb. 22

There was music, comedy, poetry, magic—even a ballet dancer who played the drums. More than three dozen area students tried out for the Monument Hill Kiwanis Stars of Tomorrow talent show on Feb. 22. The students are competing for cash prizes. The elementary school winner will take home $500, and the middle school winner will earn $750. There will be three high school winners. The top prize will be $2,000, second prize will be worth $1,000, and third prize $500. Students who pass their auditions will compete in the talent show on March 16. Photos by Michael Weinfeld.

Above: Claire Baldwin, a 6-year-old first-grader from LPES sang a song.
Above: Julianna Ward, a 16-year-old PRHS student, sang a Broadway tune.
Above: Carmen Claudio, a 13-year-old LPMS student, dressed like Little Red Riding Hood and came equipped with trees and a basket to sing a song from Into the Woods.
Above: Ruby Taylor, a PRHS student, sang a song.

Above: Miriam Beasley, a LPMS student, sang a song while doing sign language.
Above: Winn Sienkowski, a 17-year-old PRHS student, sang a song.
Above and Below: Aubrey Davis, an 11-year-old sixth-grader at LPMS,
played the drums after dancing a ballet.

Above: Lila Knapp (left), a 13-year-old Lewis-Palmer student, played clarinet and Brooke Tuck, a 14-year-old Lewis Palmer Student, played French horn.
Above: Penelope Hall, a 12-year-old seventh-grader at Lewis-Palmer Middle School, did a comedy routine.
Above: Lewis-Palmer student Thomas Carter played the piano.

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.

Do not remove trail blazes/markers

You will be seeing some trail markers in Fox Run Regional Park on trees. The trail markers help protect the delicate forest ecosystem because we can stay on the trail and not damage the ecosystem underneath our feet or with bicycles or horses, etc. These are traditional trail markers, especially useful and necessary in snowy, icy weather when we cannot see the actual trail. Our high desert forest clime is dependent on its skin of soil and plants to survive. When we honor this part of the forest we cannot see, the part we can see has a better chance to thrive amid us humans, the invasive species. Please be a good citizen and help us to protect our park from unnecessary erosion. Fox Run Regional Park is heavily used and is located in a fragile ecosystem vulnerable to serious erosion when the forest duff is disturbed. Please respect and protect the park for everyone’s enjoyment by staying on marked and well established trails. A very obvious trail in the summer becomes surprisingly invisible after a moderate snowfall. In winter, a wrong turn taken by the first visitor after a snowstorm can quickly become a misleading scar on the landscape. The silver and light blue rectangles that you see attached to trees serve to identify the only trails to use in the park. Please don’t tamper with or remove trail blazes/markers as they are placed on the trees to identify and distinguish trails and help locate the trails after a snowstorm. The main loop trail uses light blue and silver rectangles. Sub-loops will eventually be marked in different colors to help visitors unfamiliar with the park to find their way and recognize which loop they are on.

Parents Helping Parents

NAMI Parent and Caregiver Support group is a no-cost, peer support program for parents, caregivers, and other family who provide care and support for youth (ages 19 and younger) who are struggling with mental health issues including depression, anxiety, school or peer pressure, substances and more. Facilitated by trained volunteers who have been in your shoes. Meeting is 2nd Monday of each month from 7:00-8:30 pm via zoom. Register online at namicoloradosprings.org. For more information, call the office at (719) 473-8477 or email info@namicos.org.

Get Help in Larkspur

Larkspur Church has a Food Bank and Care Center that offer a good variety of non-perishable food items, as well as clothing for men, women, and children, some household items available too. We’re here to help. If you are in need, or know someone who is, please reach out to Jeff at gethelp@larkspur.church. If you would like to donate contact Jeff by the same email to arrange a pick up.

Tri-Lakes Cares needs your support

Tri-Lakes Cares is the only food pantry and human services organization 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 learn 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 Mon.-Thu., 9 am-4 pm. For more information about Tri-Lakes Cares or how you can help, contact Tri-Lakes Cares at 719-481-4864 or info@tri-lakescares.org.

Palmer Lake Parking Restrictions

When there is an accumulation of two inches or more of snow, the parking restrictions are in effect. No person may stop, stand, or park any vehicle on any portion of a snow route, or leave, abandon, or permit to remain stalled any vehicle, which is stalled on any portion of a snow route and must take immediate action to park the vehicle lawfully. Parked vehicles must be removed from all streets within the town, including those which are not designated snow routes. Parking information details: www.townofpalmerlake.com/pw/page/parking-restrictions-during-snow.

Black Forest Log School needs your help

Please help preserve the historic school for another 103 years! New exterior damage was discovered. It has exceeded the budget renovation funds. Friends of the Black Forest Log School, a 501c3 corporation, appreciates your donation. Please send a check or bring cash to Black Forest Community Foundation, 6770 Shoup Rd, Black Forest Colorado 90808. www.bflogschool.com

Highway 105A Update

El Paso county construction is expected to continue into spring 2025. The project extends the four-lane section of Highway 105 just east of Jackson Creek Parkway to Lake Woodmoor Drive providing greater mobility by accommodating more traffic. The new configuration will be two lanes in each direction with left and right turn lines; the project also includes multi-use shoulders and pedestrian improvements, sidewalk connectivity, replacement of the traffic signal at Norwood Boulevard, a new underground drainage system and water quality pond, and a new roundabout at the Knollwood /Village Ridge Point intersection. The new roundabout, constructed by Monument Academy, is designed to keep traffic moving and reduce the traffic backups on Highway 105 that previously occurred in this area.

Monument Academy traffic

To ensure a smoother experience for non-school traffic, it is recommended finding an alternate route if possible that avoids this area during the school drop off pick up times Mon.-Thu. 7-8:30 am and 2:45-4 pm and Fri 7-8:30 am. and 11:30 am-1 p.m.

WMMI needs volunteers

The Museum of Mining and Industry is currently recruiting for Visitor Services Associates and Guides. Please consider sharing your time and expertise. Volunteers must be 18 and older and pass a background check. For information about volunteer opportunities, please call 719-488-0880 or email at volunteer@wmmi.org.

Looking for something fun to do?

Space Foundation Discovery Center: www.discover space.org. See ad on page < 10 >.

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.

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.

Community volunteers

Many students need volunteer hours for scouting, civics classes, clubs, or would just like to volunteer for the good of it. Friends of Fox Run Park will have some openings for student volunteers (and grownups, too) most of the year for various tasks. Besides tasks, the group offers information and skills demonstrations for each 2-3 hour session, and celebrates volunteers at the park with annual community events. The Tri Lakes Cares on-site garden in Monument also needs volunteers in Fall, Spring and Summer. Gardening tasks include preparing garden beds, weeding, sowing seeds, and developing the compost. Bring gardening gloves, some tools will be provided on the workdays. Contact Janet Sellers at JanetSellers@ocn.me or Marlene Brown at MarleneBrown@ocn.me for more information.

Can you volunteer today?

  • 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 rely on the hard work of individuals like you. 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.

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

  • Academy Water and Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Mar. 19, 6 pm. Usually meets third Wed. Public can join the Skype meeting: Check the website for a link: monthly board meeting is on Skype at this link https://join.skype.com/OfBkDyhucmep, info: Info: Steve Callicott (President) 719-325-9039, http://www.academywsdco.gov/
  • Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District board meeting in person or via Zoom. Wed., Mar. 19. 7 pm. Usually meets third Wed., Visit http://www.bffire.org for updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes or contact 719-494-4300.
  • Donala Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Thu., Mar. 27, 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.
  • El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regular meeting, usually every Tue., 9 am. View agendas and meetings at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Please note there is no meeting on Mar. 4. Meetings are held at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Info: 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1pm Centennial Hall.
  • El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, Thu., Mar. 6 & 20, 9 am. Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News & Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Normally meets first & third Thu. (as required). Info: 719-520-6300, https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2025-hearings-schedule/
  • El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority meeting, Thu., Mar. 20, 9 am, Monument Town Hall Boardroom, 645 Beacon Lite Rd. Normally meets third Thu. Info: 719-488-3603. www.loopwater.org.
  • Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines Metropolitan Districts 1, 2 & 3 board meetings, usually meets quarterly on the first Mon., 4 p.m., via teleconference only. For dial in access and updates, visit www.forestlakesmetrodistrict.com.
  • Lewis-Palmer School District 38 board meeting, Mon., Mar. 17, 6-10 pm, 146 N Jefferson St, Monument. Meets during the school year on 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: www.lewispalmer.org.
  • Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee meeting (now PCAC, formerly DAAC), Meets six times a year. Usually meets monthly, second Tue., They will meet in October, November, January, February and April. Contact info: tmckee@lewispalmer.org.
  • Monument Academy School Board meeting, Thu. Mar. 13, 6:30 pm, East Campus gym, 4303 Pinehurst Circle. Usually meets the second Thu. Info: 719-431-8001, www.monumentacademy.net/school-board.
  • Monument Fire District board meeting, in person or via Microsoft Teams. Wed., Mar. 26, 4:30 pm, Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For up-to-date meeting information, visit www.monumentfire.org for updates and the agenda listing the Microsoft Teams joining codes, or contact 719-488-0911.
  • Monument Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Mar. 12, 6 pm Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Usually meets the 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.
  • Monument Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Mar. 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.
  • Monument Town Council meeting, Mon., Mar. 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 meeting, Tue., Mar. 4, 5 pm, 28 Valley Crescent St., Palmer Lake. Normally meets first Tue., as needed.
  • Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting, Thu., Mar. 13 & 27, 6 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Usually meets second and fourth Thu. Info: 719-481-2953. www.townofpalmerlake.com.
  • Palmer Lake Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Mar. 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.
  • Palmer Lake Town Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Mar. 19, 6 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-2953, www.townofpalmerlake.com.
  • Tri-Lakes Wastewater Facility Joint Use Committee meeting, Tue., Mar. 11, 10 am , 16510 Mitchell Ave. Meets second Tue. Info: See tlwastewater.com/index.html.
  • Triview Metropolitan District board meeting, in person or via Zoom, special meeting Mon., Mar. 3, 5:30 p.m. The regular meeting is scheduled for Thu., Mar. 20, 5:30 p.m., at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302, Monument. Usually meets third Thu. Visit http://www.triviewmetro.com for updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes or contact 719-
  • Village Center Metropolitan District Board Meeting. Tue., Mar. 18, 4 pm, Serranos Coffee Shop, Normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month at. If the meeting time/location changes, it will be updated on the District’s website: https://wsdistricts.co/village-center-metropolitan-district/
  • Woodmoor Improvement Association Board Meeting, Wed., Mar. 26, 7 pm, Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. Usually meets fourth Wed. Info: 719-488-2693, www.woodmoor.org.
  • Woodmoor Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Mon., Mar. 10, 1 pm, 1845 Woodmoor Dr., Monument. Normally meets second Mon. Info: 719-488-2525, www.woodmoorwater.com.

WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS

  • AARP Black Forest #1100, second Wed., noon. In-person Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd. All ages welcome. Info: www.aarpchapter1100blackforest.weekly.com.
  • AARP Local Senior Social, fourth Wed. In-person Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd. Info: www.aarpchapter1100blackforest.weekly.com.
  • 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#.
  • Alcoholics Anonymous, every Tue. & Thu., 7:30 p.m. Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. AA is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Join us with your questions. Info: bflc@bflchurch.org.
  • Al-Anon for family and friends of alcoholics, every Tue. & Thu., 7:30 p.m. Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. Al-Anon members are people, just like you, who are worried about someone with a drinking problem. Join us with your questions. Info: bflc@bflchurch.org.
  • Al-Anon Zoom Meeting, Just for Today Online, every Mon., 9-10 am Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4142 7446, Password 349309.
  • 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.
  • Al-anon Meeting: Monument, every Thu., 7-8 pm, Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. Info: MonumentSerenity@gmail.com.
  • Amateur Ham Radio WØTLM (Tri-Lakes Monument ham radio Association), third Mon. (except December). All amateur ham radio operators or those interested in becoming one are welcome. Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Building, 166 2nd Street, Monument. For details, contact Bob Witte, bob@k0nr.com or www.W0TLM.com.
  • American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11, second Wed., 6:30pm, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Community Meeting House, 300 CO Hwy 105, Monument. New members welcome. Info: Visit website at www.trilakespost9-11.org.
  • Art: Open Studio painting, first Wed., 9:30-noon. Donations welcome, Tri Lakes Senior Center, 66 Jefferson St., Monument.
  • Benet Hill Monastery: Let us pray with you, walk in the forest, walk the labyrinth, come and visit prayer sites, Group retreats. Every Sun. 10:15 am worship service, 3190 Benet Lane, 80921. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Bingo night, American Legion post 9-11 Tri-Lakes, 2nd and 4th Sat., 6-9 pm, Kings Deer Golf Club, 19255 Royal Troon Dr, Monument.
  • 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).
  • Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild Listening Club, third Wed. Free virtual event. Maestro Wilson will conduct monthly hour-long programs. RSVP at www.cspguild.org.
  • 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.
  • Essential Tremor Support Group. Meets quarterly at Colorado Springs Public Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920. For details, contact: Jim Sanchez, 719-660-7275; jimdjs22@gmail.com.
  • Fellowship of Christ Church, every Sun., 9 am. Monument Academy East Campus, 4303 Pinehurst Circle 80908.
  • Friends of Fox Run Park, Zoom meeting, fourth Thu., 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. Special events and more, stay tuned! Info: friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com.
  • Fuel Church Sunday Service, every Sun. Service times, 11am live service, streaming service at www.fuelchurch.org at 11 am. 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 >.
  • Gleneagle Sertoma, first and third Wed., 11:45 am to 1 pm. Gleneagle Sertoma is the longest continuously active civic service organization in northern El Paso County. Our regular program presenters address local topics of interest to include local developments, community planning and projects, as well as opportunities to serve your community. Contact Harvey LeCato for meeting location and club information at mbca@comcast.net or 719-331-1212.
  • Gleneagle Women’s Club, membership luncheon, third Fri., (Sep.-June), various venues, 12 activity groups, i.e., hiking, bridge, etc. Guests welcome. For information contact Bev Selby, 719-600-1451.
  • La Leche League breastfeeding support group, second Thu., 12:30 pm. Partners and helpers welcome (and babies and kids, too) so we can meet our breastfeeding goals together. Homestead Direct Primary Care Clinic, 15455 Gleneagle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. For more information, contact RachelKLangley@gmail.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.
  • 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.
  • Monument Homemakers, bring a dish to share and your own table service, meet at Chamber of Commerce building, noon. 166 2nd St. Monument. Info and more about the club: Linda Case, 719-354-6575 for reservations.
  • 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/.
  • 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.
  • Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), Sat., Mar. 8, 10 am–12 pm., Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. Members of local HOAs are welcome. Usually meets bi-monthly (Jan., Mar., June, July, Sep., Nov.) on the second Sat. of the month. www.nepco.org.
  • Palmer Divide Quiltmakers, first Thu., 6:30-8:30 pm at Monument Chamber of Commerce building, 166 2nd St, Monument, CO.
  • Palmer Lake Art Group, Guests welcome; second Sat. for art programs, social gathering and business meeting. 300 Hwy 105, NE corner of I-25 and 105. 9:30 am. Info: 719-460-4179, www.palmerlakeartgroup.co.
  • Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Mar. 20, 7-8 pm (doors open at 6:30), Palmer Lake Townhall, 42 Valley Crescent. Guest speakers. Meets third Thu. of the month. Info: Kokesdm@yahoo.com. or visit palmerdividehistory.org.
  • Pikes Peak Genealogical Society meeting, Wed., Mar. 12, Hangout 6:30pm, Meeting begins at 7:00pm. Program: Thomas McEntee, an author & educator, will talk about AI “Exploring ChatGPTs created for Genealogy.” ZOOM Meeting details: President@PPGS.org.
  • Ridgeview Baptist Church, meets 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 >.
  • Senior Bingo, third Wed. Silver Key Senior Services, Space is limited to 16. participants. RSVP & info: info@silverkey.org
  • Senior Book Club, second Fri., 11 am-noon, Silver Key Senior Services, all are welcome. Coffee & snacks. RSVP & info: info@silverkey.org
  • Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church, every Sun., Contemporary 9 am; Traditional 10:30 am. 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.
  • 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: tl-cruisers.weebly.com.
  • Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Networking breakfast, first and third Thu., in person or via Zoom 166 2nd Street Monument 7:30-9 am free registration at www.TriLakeschamber.com .
  • Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club meeting, first and third Thu. 6 pm-8 pm. First Thursday via zoom and third Thursday in person at the Chamber of Commerce, 166 2nd St., Monument. Details: www.tlrotary.com, Trilakesdynamicrotary@gmail.com. Guests welcome. We are a service club serving Tri-Lakes. Memberships open to the public. Info: www.tlrotary.com.
  • 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.
  • Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) monthly meeting, third Fri., 11:30 am. Eisenhower Golf Club, USAFA. 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.
  • 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.
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 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 p.m. Meets at Victory Baptist Church, 325 2nd Street, Suite X, Monument. Guests are welcome to join; if you are a relative of a veteran who served on foreign soil during war or other military actions, you would be eligible. For more information please contact Kathy Carlson, 719-488-1902, carlsonmkc@gmail.com or Linda Lyons, 303-579-8114, lindalyons7829@gmail.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS

  • VOLUNTEER TODAY! Our Community News: volunteer mailing days, Thu., Feb. 27 & Apr. 3, approx. 7-8:30 am. 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 or (719) 488-3455.
  • School district 38 Chess Tournament, Sat., Mar. 8, Bear Creek elementary School. Pre-register each student at: https://tinyurl.com/mtscjsfd. Chess sets provided. Children should bring their own snacks, some refreshments will be for sale. Details: Steve Waldmann, Tournament Director/ Bear Creek Elementary Chess Club Coach, at huskerco@gmail.com; interested adults who would like to be one of our Tournament Referees contact Mr. Waldmann.
  • Roundabout Public Open House for Woodmoor Dr. / Lake Woodmoor Dr., Wed., Mar. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. Presentation at 6 p.m. Q&A at 6:30 p.m. Palmer Ridge High School Auditorium 19255 Frontage Rd. Monument, CO 80132.
  • MVEA board nominations, questionnaire due, Thu., Mar. 13. To be nominated please contact the MVEA board nomination information line at 719-494-2528.
  • McCords garden center opens, Sat., Mar. 15, special offers. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Kiwanis: Stars of Tomorrow talent show, Sun. Mar. 16. 2-6 pm, Palmer ridge high School. See ad on page < 9 >. Also see the audition photos on page < 17 >.
  • UPDATED Monument Cemetery History talk. Fri., Mar. 21, 11-12:30pm, presentation of the revamped talk and recently published book about the Monument cemetery by Michael Weinfeld and John Howe. All are welcome, hosted by Silver Key Senior Center, Grace Best Education Center, 66 Jefferson St.
  • Covered Treasures Bookstore, Sat. Mar. 22, 1-3, author John Rabins signing his book, Spiritual Musings from the Headlines of a Newspaper. Sat., Apr 5, 1-3, kick-off to National Poetry Month with poets Michael Johnson and Kathryn Winograd signing their poetry collections. Poetry activities as well. 105 Second St., Monument.
  • Spring STEAM Camp at the Western museum of Mining and Industry, Tue.-Thu., Mar. 25-27. See ad on page < 10 >.
  • Affordable Flooring Connection, special offers. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Borders decks, special offers, see ad on page < 7 >.
  • Drip coffee house March madness, special offer. See ad on page < 20 >.
  • Eagle Wine & Spirits, special offers. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Mesa Health and Aesthetics, special offers. See ad on page < 2 >.
  • Mile High canine massage, special offers. See ad on page < 4 >.
  • Monument Cleaners, special offers. see ad on page < 5 >.
  • Monumental Med Spa, special offers. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • Noel Relief Centers, special offers. See ad on page < 7 >.
  • PeakView Windows, special offers. See ad on page < 20 >.
  • Paul’s asphalt service winter specials. See ad on page < 6 >, 14, and 19.
  • Plumb Smart plumbing services, special offers. See ad on page < 3 >.
  • Routes Outfitter: ski and bike service, special offers. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Sootbusters chimney sweeps. special offer. See ad on page < 6 >.
  • Stubby’s dog wash and grooming salon, special offers, see ad on page < 2 >.
  • Tri-Lakes Collision and Auto Service Center, special offers. See ad on page < 5 >.
  • Tri-Lakes Paint Company, special offers. See ad on page < 4 >.
  • D38 Art Show, Elementary School Students: Apr. 1-4, 4-7 pm, Apr. 5-6, 11 am-3 pm. Opening celebration Apr. 4, 5-7 pm. Middle and High School Students: Apr. 8-11, 4-7 pm, Apr. 12-13, 11 am-3 pm. Opening celebration Apr. 11, 5-7 pm. Lolly’s Event Center, 174 Washington St. Downtown Monument. Info: amatisek@lewispalmer.org.
  • Space Foundation National Space Day, save the date May 3. See ad on page < 10 >.
  • Taste of Tri-Lakes Cares, Wed., May 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Spruce Mountain Events, 14771 S. Spruce Mountain Rd. Larkspur, CO 80118. Ticket prices range from $50-$60, with early bird pricing through April 1. Info and tickets: https://tri-lakescares.org/events/taste-of-tri-lakes-cares/. No tickets will be sold at the door.

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, Jan. 21 – Superintendent resigns; Grace Best School to be demolished

By Jackie Burhans

At its Jan. 21 meeting, the Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education accepted the superintendent’s resignation, voted to demolish Grace Best Education Center, and accepted a letter of intent from Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC) to purchase land from the district. The board also recognized two students and a community partner. The district’s principals recognized the board.

Superintendent resigns

Board Treasurer Ron Schwarz, saying he intended to vote yes, asked that the consent item agenda relating to Superintendent Stacie Datteri’s resignation be pulled out for discussion. He commented that Datteri did the consummately professional thing upon reaching an impasse and put the students first. Board President Tiffiney Upchurch said she was grateful for Datteri’s contributions and that the next step would be discussed at the February work session. She noted that some working relationships had not developed as hoped.

The board voted unanimously to accept Datteri’s resignation. Her resignation letter and separation agreement were posted in Boarddocs here: https://bit.ly/d38-supt-resign. According to the agreement, Datteri will receive a severance payment of $225,000, equal to one year’s salary.

Photo Caption: Dr. Stacie Datteri

Grace Best decision

Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway and Director of Planning, Facilities and Grounds Melissa Andrews presented the agenda item regarding the future of Grace Best Education Center (GBEC). They noted that the same presentation was discussed at a good community Engage and Elevate meeting on Jan. 16.

Ridgway clarified that the goal is to upgrade from the current physical situation while maintaining continuity for the Home School Enrichment Academy (HSEA) and Transitions programs. He said the programs are important to the district, and the current space is not a viable long-term solution. Ridgway indicated that the district would identify temporary space for these programs by Feb. 28 and either identify or construct a permanent facility that meets or exceeds the needs determined by the program sponsors in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

GBEC has a long history, as shown in the presentation on Boarddocs at https://bit.ly/gbec-final-summary. Parts of the building date back to 1957 and newer portions were added in 1979 and 1988. It has served as a high school and elementary school and, most recently, as the home for HSEA and Transitions, as well as for the Bearbotics program, the Silver Key Tri-Lakes Senior Center, and community events. Several community meetings and teams have discussed the future of GBEC, including, in 2021, a discussion of converting it to an innovation center.

The age and condition of the building, updated code requirements, and a lack of funding have stymied efforts to determine a solution. Recent legislation has freed up reserves on a one-time basis, and a Career and Innovation Center (CIC) is being created by remodeling a nearby facility.

During the Oct. 1 work session, the board discussed GBEC, noting that the Monument Fire Department’s annual inspection found the building unsuitable for students or programs and required the district to come up with a plan within a year to address concerns.

The presentation shown at both the community meeting and the board meeting presents five options along with associated costs:

  1. Remediation of Critical Findings $18.22 million
  2. Raze and Rebuild $46.25 million
  3. Demolish only $1.30 million
  4. Keep 1988 addition only $11.22 million
  5. Do nothing $250,000 per year

These options included information on the funding sources that were or might be available and the impact on the programs currently housed at GBEC.

The board unanimously voted to demolish GBEC and communicate to the community plans for housing HSEA and Transitions in the 2025-26 school year and beyond. The board expressed that this was a tough decision that would not make everyone happy, but it is the best decision and helps to avoid an emergency such as that seen at Jenkins Middle School in District 11.

See the GBEC presentation at: https://bit.ly/gbec-final-summary. Search for “Grace Best” on the ocn.me webpage for previous articles about GBEC.

Above: Grace Best Elementary School in downtown Monument as it appeared in 2010 prior to its closure. Photo by Mike Wicklund.

Letter of intent to purchase district land

Ridgway noted that when he first came to the district, the issue of what to do with the land it owns in downtown Monument, which he called the administrative complex, was raised. His first observation was that the district needed to work toward subdividing the complex, and they worked with surveyors to do so last June. The district subsequently conversed with TLC, which expressed the need for a parcel that was different from its current location. Ridgway said he now had a formal letter of intent (LOI) from TLC to purchase about three acres of land along Beacon Lite Road just south of Bethesda Senior Center.

TLC board President Rich Schur thanked the board and said that, with 8,000 square feet, TLC has staff in closets and food stored in hallways, and it is out of space. Research shows that TLC needs two or three acres, he said, with geographic limitations to serve people without good transportation. The conversation, he said, is to partner with the district to ensure this is a community asset, with TLC sharing space with other organizations, including the district and Silver Key. He said there are many details to work out, but the entire community could benefit.

Ridgway said the district would work with TLC over the next 90 days to pursue steps to formalize the property’s definition and then bring a contract back to the board. The board unanimously voted that D38 accept the LOI, proceed with actions, and bring back a contract when conditions are met.

Recognitions

The board recognized two students, Lewis-Palmer High School (LPHS) junior Nicholas Berthelotte and Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS) junior Rhett Jones, for achieving perfect scores of 1520 on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Principals Bridget O’Connor and Dr. Adam Frank spoke about the students. Jones was unable to attend due to a college visit. The board presented a commemorative plaque and took photos.

Above: The D38 board recognized two students who achieved perfect scores of 1520 on the PSAT/NSMQT: Nicholas Berthelotte of Lewis-Pamer High School and Rhett Jones of Palmer Ridge High School. Principals from their respective schools, Bridget O’Connor and Dr. Adam Frank, spoke highly of the students as being well-rounded and humble. Jones was unable to attend the board meeting due to a college visit but Frank accepted the plaque on his behalf. From left are board President Tiffiney Upchurch, board member Todd Brown, Nicholas’ father Joseph Berthelotte, Berthelotte, O’Connor, Nicholas’ mom Marcella Berthelotte, and board members Kris Norris, Dr. Patti Shank, and Ron Schwarz. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

The board also recognized TLC as a long-standing community partner. For many years, TLC has supported D38 students and families through its mission to “provide a compassionate community safety net to ensure everyone has the support they need.” Communications Director Amy Matisek noted that TLC had helped supplement food the district had gathered for a family.

Executive Director Haley Chapin said it was an honor to partner with and help the community, noting that TLC provides school snack packs and that D38 students come to TLC for various projects. Schur thanked the board for its recognition.

Above: The D38 board recognized Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC) as a long-time community partner in the district for supporting and partnering with D38 students and families. From left are board member Dr. Patti Shank, President Tiffiney Upchurch, Todd Brown, Tri-Lakes Cares Executive Director Haley Chapin, board member Kris Norris, Tri-Lakes Cares board President Rich Schur, and board Treasurer Ron Schwarz. Photo by Jackie Burhans.Patti Shank, and Ron Schwarz. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Matisek, noting that it was National School Board Recognition Month, thanked the board for all it does and introduced two school principals to share their remarks and words of gratitude. Davonne Johnson, principal at Lewis-Palmer Elementary School (LPES), thanked the board on behalf of the whole elementary team. Referring to the LPES theme of “Keeping on Track,” she welcomed them aboard.

O’Connor represented the secondary school team, which focuses on families, noting its gift of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. She said this book means different things to different people, with the tree giving unselfishly to a boy who is not always grateful. She said that the board is a role model for students by volunteering at a high level and giving in ways that don’t always get recognition.

Above: At the Jan. 31 D38 board meeting, school principals expressed their gratitude to the board in honor of School Board Recognition Month. Lewis-Palmer Elementary School Principal Davonne Johnson and Lewis-Palmer High School Principal Bridget O’Connor expressed the appreciation of the elementary and secondary principals, respectively. Principals from across the district gathered for a group photo with the board. From left in the back are board member Todd Brown, Palmer Lake Elementary School Principal Kim Briding, Johnson, O’Connor, Ray Kilmer Elementary School Principal Greg Saunders, and Bear Creek Elementary School Principal Donnell Potter. From left in the front are board members Kris Norris, Dr. Patti Shank, President Tiffiney Upchurch, Treasurer Ron Schwarz, Prairie Winds Elementary School Principal Rachel Sellers, and Palmer Ridge High School Principal Dr. Adam Frank. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

  • During public comments, Jason DeaBueno, CEO and president of Silver Key, gave its organizational history, noting that two agenda items would impact it. He said the Tri-Lakes Senior Services’ space in Grace Best allowed it to build intergenerational connections with students. He noted that Silver Key had been in talks with TLC about solving the needs of both organizations utilizing the three acres of land. Silver Key is committed and has developed reserves to invest in this community, he said, and wants to work with TLC and supports the purchase of the land.
  • Melinda Reichal commented that she thought Datteri could have worked out if given time and expressed concerns that any future superintendent may hesitate to come to the district.
  • LPHS students Aaron Weeks and Anna Hacker presented on Student Council activities and goals.
  • Matisek presented an update on strategic priority six: Relationships and Communication, reviewing outcome measures and action steps to help increase the net promoter score for district staff and parents and increase community partnerships. Action steps include launching the BOE Recap, LP Leadership Link, and Building Connections newsletters, integrating staff spotlights and kudos and mentioning the Elevate 38 awards into e-newsletters. D38 is collaborating with schools to define and populate an initial database of partnerships.
  • Assistant Superintendent Amber Whetstine and Director of Innovative Programs Jessica McAllister presented an update on the CIC. McAllister showed an updated timeline and a fly-through simulation of what the building would look like once completed. She also reported on marketing efforts, student interest, and progress on partnerships. Weeks expressed excitement for the CIC, saying that graduating robotics students expressed greater interest in returning to mentor in the new building.
  • The board unanimously approved changes to instruction policies, including curriculum development, home schooling, primary education, academic achievement, early literacy and reading comprehension, and flag displays. The changes align with the Colorado Association of School Boards recommendations and do not significantly impact district operations.
  • The board unanimously approved repealing policies on school volunteers and early graduation, noting that the policies are not required and are covered in handbooks.
  • The board unanimously approved a new policy IHDB Equivalence of Service as required by federal law.
  • The board unanimously approved the amended budget for 2024-25 as presented by Ridgway. Ridgway said this lets the district account for the final per-pupil revenue and student count. The amended budget details the CIC work.

**********

The Lewis-Palmer D 38 Board of Education generally meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of the month in the district’s learning center, 146 Jefferson St., Monument. The next meeting will be held on Feb. 17. For information, contact vwood@lewispalmer.org

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

Other D38 Board of Education articles

Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Jan. 9 and 23 – Lakeview Heights development raises safety concerns

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

At its first meeting in January, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees held a public hearing on an application for a master plan re-subdivision of Lakeview Heights, a proposed development that would consist of 100 lots just east of the New Santa Fe Regional Trail and southeast of Star View Circle. The hearing was followed by a vote to continue the matter and allow Eric Sepp, the developer, to address issues raised during the hearing.

At the second meeting, Reid Wiecks, chair of the Parks and Trails Commission, presented the vision he and the commission have developed for the future of the Elephant Rock property. Glen Smith, the new police chief, and Judge John Ciccolella were sworn in.

In her administrative report, Town Administrator Dawn Collins reported on her efforts to fill open positions on the town staff.

Both meetings included executive sessions.

Fire safety the focus of subdivision hearing

Mayor Glant Havenar opened the hearing on the Lakeview Heights development with a plea for respectful dialogue.

Town Administrator Dawn Collins reviewed the complicated history of the subdivision request, which was originally submitted in 2023. The plan before the board was a re-subdivision of a previously approved, platted subdivision that was never completed by the developer, Collins said. She pointed out the building code had changed significantly since the original approval and the proposed lot size had changed from 5,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet. She said the developer does not own all the lots in the subdivision, and the plans previously submitted had two access points whereas the current plan had only one.

Trustee Amy Hutson owns an adjacent property and recused herself from voting on the proposed development. Town Attorney Scott Krob said Hutson could comment on the proposal as a private citizen.

Andrea Barlow, of N.E.S. Inc., a planning and landscaping architecture company, presented the project to the board on behalf of Sepp. She addressed issues that had been raised by the Planning Commission, including a requirement that existing homes within the development’s boundaries install sprinklers. She said Sepp would resubmit a traffic study. Barlow said a second access point to the development was not possible since Ben Lomand Mountain was to the north, the railroad tracks were to the south and a privately owned nature conservancy was to the east. She said the property was not covered with trees and was a moderate wildfire risk.

Barlow argued that, although the fire code requires two access points for emergency vehicles when there are more than 30 dwellings on a single access road, there were exceptions that applied in the case of Lakeview Heights. Because the planned roads are looped, the single access road constraint does not apply, she said. If necessary, residents could evacuate via Lake Avenue while emergency vehicles could get to the property by using the New Santa Fe Regional Trail. Barlow said El Paso County Parks and Recreation had verified that the trail could be used by emergency vehicles.

Barlow ended her presentation by arguing that the Master Plan for the Lakeview Heights development meets the Palmer Lake town code, the proposed lot configuration meets the R-10,000 zoning requirements, the proposal complies with state, county and town regulations, and it is consistent with the Palmer Lake Community Master Plan.

Following Barlow’s presentation, Trustee Shana Ball asked if any tests had been done to determine if the town’s fire engine could navigate the trail. Fire Chief John Vincent said there had been no test but the Fire Department’s vehicles had used the trail. Trustee Tim Caves asked if Barlow had discussed with the railroad whether emergency vehicles could cross their tracks. Barlow said she believed, based on previous discussions with the railroad, that it would not allow access via its tracks.

Havenar and Krob discussed the language in the fire code that requires, if more than 30 homes on a single access road are present, all homes must have sprinkler systems installed. Havenar pointed out that 50 homes within the boundaries of the development have already been built without sprinklers. Krob said the town could not require those homes to be retrofitted with sprinklers and therefore the requirement for all homes to have sprinklers could not be met.

Mark Morton, of GMS Inc., the town’s consulting engineers, argued that the roads platted for the development were looped, and so did not meet the legal definition of a dead-end street. The limitations imposed by a single point of access did not apply, he said.

Trustee Atis Jurka asked Barlow if the developer would dedicate 20% of the land for use as trails. Barlow said that obligation would be met with a financial donation in lieu of land.

After the discussion by the trustees, residents made comments. None was in favor of the proposed development.

  • Roger Moseley said Lake Avenue was in fact a dead end. He argued that sprinkler systems would be ineffective in the case of a wind-driven fire.
  • Martha Brodzik discussed the Planning Commission’s assessment of the project.
  • Mike Beeson questioned the validity of the memo Vincent had written concerning the project, which he felt downplayed the fire danger.
  • Jennifer Rausch also claimed Vincent had changed his positions about the fire danger and asked for an independent analysis and an evacuation plan. She argued a second access point was needed.
  • Pete Tomitsch said a fire involving 150 homes with a single point of access could not be fought; it would only be possible to evacuate residents. He argued the developer should pay for a second access point, whatever the cost.
  • Jeff Hatcher questioned the availability of an adequate water supply, especially if the Buc-ee’s travel center moves forward.
  • Kurt Stevens felt the development had not been properly analyzed and the developer should go back to the Planning Commission.
  • Kip Murray threatened to sue the developer because the evacuation plan was a threat to his family.
  • Angela Dawson felt the development would increase the traffic on Oakdale Drive and asked the developer to put in curbs and gutters.
  • Reid Wiecks said the development did not meet the requirements of the Community Wildfire Plan, which has been in place for 16 years. He argued the development should have at least four access points.
  • Amy Hutson said the subdivision would prevent her from accessing her property.
  • Bill Dandino said he had difficulty finding homeowner’s insurance for his property on Oakdale Drive and a development with one access point would spook insurance companies.
  • Phil Tedeschi, another Oakdale Drive resident, recalled fires that had been started by sparks from a train and by cars. He pointed out that the train would block emergency services.
  • Marilyn Stuhr said she owned two lots in the area and she wanted assurance that Sepp would not take over her property.
  • Patti Brooks asked the board to require a second access point. She questioned whether the Planning Commission had approved the development.
  • Trina Shook commented on the relationship between the development and the town’s Sanitation District.

Barlow responded to the comments from residents. She said Sepp was trying to find a second point of access in addition to the Santa Fe Trail and reiterated that Sepp had the permission of El Paso County Parks and Recreation to use the trail, which is built to a robust standard, in an emergency. Lakeview Heights will be a FireWise community, she said, with little vegetation, to minimize the risk of fire. The project must go through the subdivision plat process, a more detailed process where it will have to prove it has the necessary water and sewer taps. She asked the board to approve the current request so the project can go on to the next more detailed stage. She pointed out a previous version of the plan had 280 lots; that number was reduced to 100 in the current version. The roads are already platted. Curbs and gutters would be provided on Oakdale Drive, she said.

Havenar closed the hearing and the board took up Resolution 8-2025, which would approve the Lakeview Heights masterplan, with a number of conditions concerning ownership of lots, rights of way, consent of the owners of lots not included in the application, dedication of land for trails or payment in lieu of land, stormwater drainage and other issues. Following discussion by the trustees, Havenar made a motion requiring Sepp to return to a future meeting with a more detailed evacuation plan, a memo of understanding with El Paso County and answers to issues about the ownership of lots and about the requirement for all homes to have sprinkler systems. The motion passed, with Trustees Ball, Caves, Hutson Jurka and Dennis Stern voting yes, along with Havenar. Trustee Kevin Dreher voted no.

Above: At the Jan. 9 Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting, the board held a public hearing on the proposed re-subdivision and Lakeview Heights development east of the New Santa Fe Trail and southeast of Star Circle Drive. Map courtesy of the Town of Palmer Lake.

Elephant Rock property to be “passive park”

Wiecks presented an Open Space Master Plan for the Elephant Rock property. Wiecks said he and the other members of the Parks and Trails Commission had defined five use and maintenance zones and had applied them to the 26-acre property:

  • Zone 0 will be closed to the public and will serve as a wildlife refuge. Two thin strips west of Monument Creek are designated Zone 0.
  • Zone 1 will allow public use limited to designated trails and benches. A large portion of the property just west of Highway 105 falls into this usage zone, as well as the northwestern and southern corners of the property.
  • Zone 2 will allow moderate public use for off-trail access. The portion of the property immediately to the west of the lodge is designated Zone 2.
  • Zone 3 will be a passive recreation area, moderately to actively used by the public, with picnic areas, a pavilion, benches and trails. An area east of Monument Creek is categorized as Zone 3.
  • Zone 4, an area on the south side of the property, is reserved for a sports field

The portions of the property reserved for a future Public Safety building and the Eco Spa to be developed by the Willens were not included in the plan developed by the Parks and Trail Commission, Wiecks said.

Parking at the property will consist of four small “satellite” parking lots scattered around the middle of the property and one large lot dedicated to the Public Safety building, which is planned to be just west of the main entrance to the property from Highway 105.

Wiecks said he wanted the Elephant Rock property to be a “passive park and open space environment with no large-scale events and no new building construction.” He said the Parks and Trail Commission wanted to see the property designated as a park so that its maintenance could be funded by the Conservation Trust Fund money the town receives annually from the state lottery.

Collins asked the board to give Wiecks direction about how to proceed with his vison for the Elephant Rock property. Ball asked Wiecks to make sure signs were put in place asking visitors not to feed the livestock on adjacent properties. Havenar said she agreed that the land should be designated as a park to prevent future development.

Collins warned the board about taking a piecemeal approach to transitioning the land to park status. She reminded the board that the property was not yet open to the public.

Havenar suggested a workshop to continue the discussion.

Above: Reid Wiecks, chairman of the Palmer Lake Parks and Trails Commission, presented a proposal to the Board of Trustees at its Jan. 23 meeting to divide a large portion of the Elephant Rock property into use zones. He proposed that those zones be declared a passive park so that Conservation Trust Funds from the state lottery could be used for its management. Map courtesy of the Town of Palmer Lake.

Police chief and judge sworn in

At the Jan. 23 meeting, Collins administered the oath of office to newly hired Police Chief Glen Smith and Judge John Ciccolella. Ciccolella has served as Palmer Lake municipal judge for 30 years.

Collins said a feasibility study of the proposed Public Safety building at the Elephant Rock property had been funded by a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

Havenar acknowledged Ms. Olivia Hayes for having been chosen Miss Palmer Lake. Hayes will compete in the Miss Colorado pageant later this year.

Above: Town Administrator Dawn Collins administers the oath of office to newly hired Police Chief Glen Smith. From left are Collins and Smith. Photo by James Howald.
Above: At the Jan. 23 Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting, municipal Judge John Cicolella presented on the state of the Municipal Court, which is the lowest court level. He explained his practices and procedures and discussed some of his cases and other municipalities he has served. He noted that it was a requirement that he be sworn in. Town Administrator Dawn Collins administered the oath of office. From left are Collins and Cicolella. Photo by Jackie Burhans.
Above: Mayor Glant Havenar congratulates Miss Palmer Lake Olivia Hayes, who will be competing for Miss Colorado. From left are Havenar and Hayes. Photo by James Howald.

Staff positions filled

Collins told the board Kathy Neal had been hired as an accounting clerk and Erica Romero as a deputy town clerk. A water operator position is open and is being advertised, she said.

Executive sessions

The Jan. 9 meeting included an executive session to determine negotiating positions regarding the lease for the EcoSpa at the Elephant Rock property and to receive legal advice regarding a complaint against the town filed with the Colorado Attorney General and concerns that have been raised about the board’s eligibility for annexation decisions.

The Jan. 23 meeting included an executive session to confer with the town attorney about the EcoSpa lease, the board’s eligibility for annexation decisions and a lawsuit against the town filed by Integrity Matters.

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The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13. Meetings are held at the Town Hall. 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 Fire District, Jan. 22 – Wildfire Mitigation remains top priority

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting on Jan. 22, the board heard about the district’s desire to step up mitigation efforts in light of the recent fires in Southern California, efforts to stabilize revenue for special fire districts, accepted a petition of inclusion, and set a public hearing for a 106.6-acre parcel of land in the eastern portion of the district. The board approved the 2025 board director election, and received multiple updates, to include staffing and apparatus.

Director Randall Estes and Mark Gunderman were excused.

Mitigation effort requested

Fire Chief Andy Kovacs said after witnessing the multiple fires over the past several weeks in Southern California, and having worked in that region for almost 30 years and knowing some of the people that responded to those incidents, it gave him pause for thought on what the district has accomplished over the past four years, but there is a lot more work to be done.

Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction Jonathan Bradley has received many phone calls and emails from concerned citizens trying to find ways to get actively involved in mitigation efforts. It prompted an open letter to the community via this publication and although this community may never see fires of the magnitude seen in California, locally it has happened before with the Waldo Canyon Fire, the Black Forest Fire, and the Marshall Fire in Boulder County, said Kovacs. See letter on page < 16 >.

Bradley said a new Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code is expected to become law later this year, based on the International Code Council, the WUI code, along with several others, and using insurance codes for reference. The law will mandate the use of limited combustible and non-combustible building materials and meet a vegetation management plan for all new construction, remodels, and refits over a set percentage located in the WUI. There will also be some changes regarding building code/fire marshal officials that could create another layer for the district, said Bradley. See htps://www.dfpc.colorado.gov and NEPCO article on page < 15 > and letter on page < 16 >.

Revenue stabilization

Kovacs said he is a member of one of three committees the State of Colorado identified to discuss revenue stabilization for special districts and special fire districts. Gov. Jared Polis indicated in a recent visit to southern Colorado that public safety is a priority. The district has sent a letter to the legislative aides expressing the district’s concerns about property taxes and how that impacts special districts. The Legislature is back in session, and 10 bills regarding fire districts will be considered. The state fire chiefs were set to attend on Jan. 23. The intent is to work with the authors of the legislation “so we are off to the races again with all of that” with the goal of adopting the state WUI code, and the single staircase for large buildings, five floors or less, that is being driven by developers in large municipalities to maintain a smaller footprint and allow infill within cities for affordable housing. It would have less concern for small municipalities such as MFD, but it is a step backward from a life safety perspective, said Kovacs.

Petition for inclusion

The board accepted a petition for inclusion and set a public hearing for Feb. 26 at 4:30 p.m. for 106.6 acres of real property off Gambler Place, Colorado Springs, owned by Thaddeus J. Jarosz to be developed into 10 single-family dwellings that will be included into the district for services.

2025 board director election

Kovacs said the district will hold an election on May 6 to fill the Board of Directors positions currently held by Duane Garrett, Mark Gunderman, John Hildebrandt, Tom Kelly, and Mike Smaldino. Three seats will be for four-year terms and two seats will be for two-year terms. Any eligible elector of the special district who desires to be a candidate for the office of special district director must file a self-nomination and acceptance form with the designated election official at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 102, Monument, no later than close of business on Feb. 28. The district does not maintain term limitations for board directors, and if the district does not receive additional electors the election will be cancelled.

In a 5-0 vote, the board approved Resolution 2025-02 calling for the 2025 regular district election and appointing Kovacs as the designated election official, setting the precinct and polling place location, delegating to the designated election official the authority to appoint judges of the election, and setting the compensation of the appointed election judges at $14.42 per hour.

The board also approved the electronic posting of notices on the district website.

Kovacs said the district is no longer legally required to post notices in hard copy at the fire stations, but besides the district website, meeting information will continue to be posted in both places.

Staffing update

Kovacs said that Battalion Chief Micah Coyle had returned to his previous role as shift battalion chief, and he thanked Coyle for his one-year administrative duty as executive battalion chief. Battalion Chief Janaka Branden has replaced Coyle as the executive battalion chief for 2025.

Paramedic Stephanie Botkin is attending the Pikes Peak State College Recruit Fire Academy with two recently hired paramedics. Firefighter/Paramedic Rachael Peters accepted the EMS coordinator position, while Botkin attends the academy through May. Two paramedics accepted jobs in Adams County and South Metro Fire Rescue, to be geographically closer to home. Paramedics Andrew Dore and Taylor Lindsey were sworn in at a ceremony after the meeting, said Kovacs.

Apparatus update

Kovacs said the district had taken possession of a new ladder truck and the staff training is complete. The process of outfitting the apparatus has begun. The district anticipates receiving two engines (approved about two years ago) in early 2026, a year early than expected. The district expects to receive two ambulances in late 2025, has a Type 6 chassis ready for assembly at Boise Mobile Equipment, Boise, Idaho and is expected by mid-year. A water tender purchase will be included in the 2026 budget, said Kovacs.

The chief’s report and the November and December financial reports can be found at www.monumentfire.org.

The meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday every month. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 26 at 4:30 p.m. at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For Microsoft Teams virtual 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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Monument Academy School Board, Jan. 6 and 9 – Board hears bond refinancing, action plan

By Jackie Burhans

Monument Academy (MA) held a work session on Jan. 6 where it discussed bond refinancing, the proposed high-performance program, and board bylaws. At the Monument Academy (MA) regular meeting on Jan. 9, the board voted on the High-Performance Program (HPP) and heard from the executive director about his action plan.

Bond refinancing discussed

At its Jan. 6 work session, Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson reminded the board that MA has a $27.7 million balloon payment or “bullet” coming due in April 2026 for its 2019 bonds for the East Campus and that it would have to refinance that debt. Although he was initially very critical of this financing, bond underwriters told him it was a very common structure because entities are reluctant to issue 30-year bonds when unsure if a school will succeed. He said this financing structure was an industry norm, although no one anticipated that the market would go from low to high interest as it has.

Gustafson noted that the 2014 bonds cover the West Campus while the 2019 bonds cover the East Campus, and MA is required to account for them separately. Each school is responsible for its own bond. He noted that MA has a couple of alternatives.

MA could pay off the 2019 bond with a longer-term issue of up to 40 years to lower debt service. However, this would not yield much in the way of construction funds. Gustafson noted that MA’s West Campus has a lot of equity. MA could cross-collateralize and use that equity to subsidize the East Campus. MA would not have two sets of bond compliance rules, as only one bond issue would exist. He liked that idea because it fits the “One MA” notion.

MA asked the firm that initially built the East Campus to cost out a new academic wing, athletic facilities, fine arts facilities, and additional cafeteria space. Gustafson noted that the total cost would depend on what MA picked but that it could not afford everything. He said that once MA issued bonds it was locked in for 10 years and could not go back to the market for more money.

Timing-wise, Gustafson said MA was in a high-stakes game of poker and needed to hit its bond ratios as of June 30. He said MA had always had the required 45 days of cash on hand but had never hit its debt service ratios based on the East Campus’s net income. He said that the finance team has been targeting these two ratios and was on track, but MA can’t spend more money. He said it is a pass/fail test, and the budget is built to achieve that depending on the amount of fundraising from the gala and other efforts. The better MA’s financial position, the lower the interest rates would be, he said. Although the state has a moral obligation program that would guarantee the loan, MA’s finances would have to be much better to qualify.

Gustafson referred to the packet that analyzed eight scenarios with various interest rates and terms, the impact on debt service, and the number of students MA would need to add to pay the debt service. He noted that the board would have the moral obligation to pay the bondholders whether or not they have the students, even if they have to cut staff or pay. If MA were to default on the bond, he said, they would never again be able to issue bonds. He noted that MA needs 12 more kids at the West Campus, which should be no problem. He said that, depending on the amortization schedule, MA might be able to raise $25 million for construction, but its capital plan is $32 million, so it would need to come up with grants or fundraising. If MA could raise $25 million, it would need to add 213 kids to East Campus. He said the new facilities could attract kids, and they would have to do a lot of marketing. The proposed HPP could help to add kids, but they would be counted as 0.7 full-time equivalent students.

Gustafson said MA had about 13 months to pull the trigger. Interest rates should fall in the spring, and the fall audit would show whether MA had met its bond ratios. This timing would allow MA to issue bonds and begin construction to open the new facilities in August 2027, he said.

High-Performance Plan revisited

At the Jan. 6 work session, the board returned to the proposed HPP they had discussed in November. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n12d38ma. The HPP is a program to educate students developing athletic and creative skills at the highest levels who need more flexibility.

Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov, the program’s founder, returned to provide additional information and answer questions. He felt the timing was perfect and could generate numbers to offset the additional students needed. He offered to commit to between 50 and 75 kids, depending on how committed MA is to making the program grow.

The board discussed the size of the pool of students who might be interested, the concern that this might distract from MA’s efforts to return to its charter, and the impact on teachers, among other concerns. Izboinikov said the pool was smaller than Denver but not too small. Executive Director Collin Vinchattle noted that his action plan focused on the academic vision and the curriculum, which would be the same for HPP with some added flexibility. Izboinikov said there would be a learning curve, but he didn’t see a huge spike in what teachers must do. Vinchattle said MA had foundational pieces in place and that teachers already work with the Canvas system that HPP uses and already are flexible with students who take long vacations or miss classes for athletics.

After additional discussion about whether equipment would be needed, getting feedback from teachers, the need for more portables, and adjusting the proposed agreement, the board directed Vinchattle to bring the topic back to the regular meeting with the requested information.

At the Jan. 9 regular meeting, Vinchattle said he was in favor of HPP, feeling that it would be beneficial to MA and aligned with its vision by providing a high level of education to marginalized students who, because they were pursuing their skill in one area were being limited in their education. He reported that he spoke to high school teachers who said it was work they do for all students who miss class and thought it was a neat program. They did express that science labs might take more work, as would Socratic discussions, but teachers felt they could make it work. Vinchattle noted that the program would have a liaison, and that MA would dictate how the program was structured. He said that MA would create an oversight committee and asked the board to provide direction to proceed with building the program model.

The board unanimously voted to approve the HPP direction and creation of an oversight committee.

Action plan

At its Jan. 6 work session and again on Jan. 9, the board heard from Vinchattle about his action plan to address issues raised by MA’s organizational audit. See previous articles at https://wp.ocn.me/v24n11d38ma/ and https://wp.ocn.me/v24n12d38ma.

Board President Ryan Graham said this had been in the works and had been created by Vinchattle and the leadership forum. Vinchattle noted that the leadership forum came together after the organization audit performed by Lis Richard and created an action plan with action steps. Graham said the board had discussed using this as the strategic plan and asked if it would be uploaded to the website. Vinchattle said it would be uploaded to the board page.

The board unanimously voted to approve the action plan as presented to be the strategic plan.

The strategic plan and action steps can be found https://www.monumentacademy.net/school-board/.

Highlights

Board meeting highlights include:

  • Board member Jilinda Dygert reported that the School Accountability and Advisory Committee for East Campus met on Dec. 16 and discussed the parent survey, which closed on Jan. 21. The next meeting on Feb. 3 will focus on survey results and teacher evaluations. Dr. Michael Brom, Lewis-Palmer District 38 Coordinator of Assessment and Accountability, presented on Jan. 28 about the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS).
  • The board unanimously approved minor edits to its bylaws to update the title of chief operating officer to executive director and to add the Simbli platform where MA hosts its board documents as a location for record storage. MA board documents can be found at https://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.
  • The board unanimously voted to change the number of voting directors from 7 to 5, which means the board election will have one position to fill.
  • The board modified its calendar to remove a proposed retreat on Jan. 17 and set 6 p.m. as its start time for the work session on Feb. 27 at the East Campus. Board Vice President Lindsay Clinton said she would start pushing out information about eligibility requirement and the application deadline.

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The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe;; for the agenda and packet, see https://bit.ly/ma-boarddocs.

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

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Monument Town Council, Jan. 6 and 21 – Monument enters new year with Legislative Platform, Buc-ee’s opposition

By Chris Jeub

Community members urged the Monument Town Council (MTC) to oppose Palmer Lake’s proposed annexation for a Buc-ee’s development during heated public comments at January’s meetings. Meanwhile, the council reviewed updates on the Falcon Commerce Center and approved new Planning Commission appointments, a Vision Statement for the town, and resolutions related to infrastructure improvements.

Oaths of office

At the first MTC meeting of 2025, the swearing-in of returning officials highlighted the evening. Incumbents Marco Fiorito, Kenneth Kimple, Laura Kronick, and Jim Romanello renewed their oaths of office. The council also reaffirmed Steve King as mayor pro tem, continuing his leadership alongside Mayor Mitch LaKind. The council’s current governance remains unchanged, with LaKind, elected in 2022, continuing as mayor, and councilmembers Sana Abbott, King, and the re-elected members representing their respective districts and at-large positions.

Later the council gave attention to appointing members of the Planning Commission. Resolution No. 05-2025 was unanimously approved, officially naming Martin Trujillo, Daniel Ours, Ray Egley, and Donna Hatch to the commission. Additionally, the Town of Monument announced two open alternate seats on the commission, inviting community members to apply and contribute to the town’s planning initiatives.

Legislative Platform

The town presented a new item called the “2025 Legislative Platform,” something Mayor LaKind said was never done before. The platform outlines the town’s priorities and advocacy positions for the upcoming year. It focuses on empowering local governance, protecting Monument’s autonomy, and advocating for the town’s interests at state and federal levels. Key priorities include transportation improvements, support for local law enforcement, maintaining municipal control over land-use decisions, and ensuring equitable access to resources.

The platform opposes unfunded mandates, burdensome regulations, and legislation that diminishes municipal authority, while promoting infrastructure upgrades, affordable housing initiatives, and cybersecurity advancements.

LaKind expressed reservations about the town becoming an internet service provider, citing examples like Fort Collins where similar ventures resulted in significant financial losses. He emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary risks to the town’s fiscal stability. Additionally, both the mayor and Abbott raised concerns about the inclusion of artificial intelligence in town operations, pointing to its lack of regulation and the potential challenges it could pose. The plan was presented in draft form by the town staff in the Jan. 6 meeting and ratified in the Jan. 21 meeting.

Buc-ee’s opposition seeks Monument support

At the Jan. 6 meeting, members of Integrity Matters, a local nonprofit, led an organized appeal urging the town to oppose Palmer Lake’s proposed annexation of land at the southwest corner of I-25 and County Line Road for a Buc-ee’s development. During public comment, Katherine Gayle, chief legal counsel for the group, emphasized their action against Palmer Lake, claiming that Buc-ee’s would harm local businesses, disrupt Monument’s small-town character, and drain critical resources like water. Citizens echoed these concerns, highlighting issues such as traffic congestion, light pollution, wildlife displacement, and potential declines in property value. Many in the packed room voiced similar fears about the annexation’s long-term impact on the community.

Not everyone in attendance opposed the development, however. One remote participant reminded the council of the “unintended consequences” of rejecting past annexation opportunities for the property. Noting prior protests against residential development ultimately left the landowner with limited options, leading to the current proposal with Palmer Lake. Monument now has less control over the outcome, she claimed.

In response to the public input, councilmembers expressed support for Integrity Matters and residents’ concerns. Councilmember Kenneth Kimple proposed drafting a letter of opposition, citing 88 emails he had received against the project. Mayor Pro Tem Steve King encouraged strong community turnout at future meetings to amplify opposition, while Councilmember Laura Kronick urged residents to continue voicing their concerns.

Higby Road

At the Jan. 6 meeting, James McGrady of the Triview Metropolitan District presented a detailed plan for the Higby Road Widening Project, which aims to address congestion and improve safety from Jackson Creek Parkway to Harness Road. The project, with an estimated cost of $12.6 million, will be executed in two phases: the first phase extending from Bowstring Road to Harness Road and the second phase from Jackson Creek Parkway to Bowstring. McGrady emphasized the need for the improvements, citing the growing traffic volumes from Lewis-Palmer High School and surrounding neighborhoods. Key elements include widening the road, constructing new roundabouts, adding sidewalks and multi-use paths, and improving ingress and egress in the event of emergencies.

McGrady highlighted the safety benefits of roundabouts, which reduce crash rates and improve traffic flow compared to traditional intersections. Additionally, the plan incorporates a multi-use path along the south side of Higby Road to support pedestrian and bicyclist access, with specific attention to student crossings near Lewis-Palmer High School. The project will include center medians, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes to accommodate multimodal transportation.

The project’s funding relies on a mix of general obligation bonds, developer contributions, and a portion of the district’s mill levy and sales tax revenue. McGrady explained that the road was previously mismanaged before its annexation by the Town of Monument, which initiated efforts to modernize the infrastructure. McGrady emphasized the importance of moving forward to support the growing needs of the community and enhance road safety for all users.

Town’s new Vision Statement approved

At the Jan. 6 meeting, a strategic planner presented a draft Vision Statement as part of the town’s 2026-28 Strategic Plan. The Vision Statement emphasizes Monument’s commitment to being a “safe, welcoming, and productive community” that empowers individuals and families to thrive while preserving the town’s small-town charm and natural beauty. It acknowledges Monument’s growth as a gateway to the Pikes Peak region and stresses a balance between responsible development and maintaining the community’s unique character. The Vision Statement also outlines key commitments, including fostering transparency in governance, delivering high-quality town services, protecting natural resources, and supporting thoughtfully planned growth.

A slide comparison of the Vision Statement revisions showcased minor adjustments to language, enhancing clarity and focus. LaKind expressed support for the edits, stating they better reflected the community’s values. Councilmembers Kimple, Abbott, and Kronick echoed his approval, highlighting the importance of preserving Monument’s small-town appeal while accommodating growth. The council unanimously approved the Vision Statement, setting the foundation for the Strategic Plan.

Situated at the gateway to the Pikes Peak region, the Town of Monument stands out as a friendly, close-knit community that offers both a sense of small town charm and access to the conveniences and amenities of modern living. In recent years, the popularity and opportunities available in this area of Colorado, including Monument, have resulted in significant growth and development. Amidst this change, the vision and commitment of the Town of Monument remains steady: To ensure a safe, welcoming and productive community that empowers individuals and families to prosper together and enjoy the quality lifestyle that they desire. Forecasting into the future, Monument will remain prepared and capable of balancing responsible growth and development while continually meeting the needs of its residents and preserving its unique small town character all have come to admire and appreciate, including protecting the inspiring natural surroundings which the community values and respects.

The strategic planner concluded the presentation by outlining the next steps in the planning process, which include identifying strategic priorities that will guide policy and initiatives in the coming years. This Vision Statement serves as the cornerstone for the plan, shaping the town’s goals and ensuring alignment with the community’s aspirations for the future.

Falcon Commerce Center Final PUD approved

At the Jan. 6 meeting, representatives from NES and the developers of Falcon Commerce Center presented updates on the multi-phase project, detailing the planned industrial and commercial development. The project, spanning 214 acres, includes areas for civic, industrial, medical, and office uses. Key infrastructure improvements, such as the extension of Terrazzo Drive, were highlighted, with NES contributing $480,000 toward traffic signal enhancements.

Despite these efforts, councilmembers raised concerns. King expressed unease about contaminants in the stormwater basin, while Kimple criticized the traffic situation and suggested that the development would worsen congestion on the west side. Kimple also objected to the proposed building colors, preferring earth tones over U.S. Air Force Academy-inspired designs.

King and Fiorito underscored the growing traffic issues, with Fiorito noting that even in “perfect weather,” congestion remains a problem, and 18-wheel trucks would exacerbate the issue. King described the situation as “a giant mess,” while Kimple questioned the overall impact on Terrazzo Road, pointing out that decisions made by CDOT to add a roundabout have not resolved the core challenges. Councilmember Romanello countered the concerns, calling the extended delays “ridiculous,” demanding a vote to move forward.

Though concerns remained prominent, the council ultimately voted 7-0 to approve the updated plans. Fiorito and Kimple reiterated their reservations about the traffic implications and building aesthetics, with Fiorito stating he would like something other than “big white buildings.” Despite the unanimous approval, the council acknowledged the need for ongoing diligence in addressing traffic flow, environmental impacts, and design standards as the project progresses.

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The Monument Town 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 meetings are scheduled for Monday, Feb. 3 and Tuesday, Feb. 18 (Monday, Feb. 17 is Presidents’ Day). For more information, call 719-884-8014 or visit www.townofmonument.org. To view upcoming agendas, complete board packets, or download audio recordings of past meetings, visit http://monumenttownco.minutesondemand.com and click on “Town Council.”

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

Other Monument Town Council articles

Monument Planning Commission, Jan. 8 – Commission elects Trehill as chair, hears concerns about traffic and access for Woodmoor Placer Replat B

By Janet Sellers

At the Jan. 8 meeting, the Monument Planning Commission elected Martin Trehill as chair and Chad Smith as vice chair.

At the first public hearing for the Woodmoor Placer Replat B final plat, the project was approved, with concerns about traffic and access addressed. The second hearing approved the final plat for Falcon Commerce Center Park and Signage. The third hearing for Connexus Lot 2 was continued to Feb. 12. The meeting concluded with updates on the Comprehensive Plan and a development impact fee study, emphasizing community and developer outreach. Apologies were made for technical and other errors in the meeting.

The commissioners look to provide a calendar and schedule for the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update process, including opportunities for Planning Commission involvement. The commissioners also expressed frustration about the lack of detail in the minutes regarding split votes and discussed the importance of including detailed findings of fact in the minutes, given that there had been considerable discussion regarding the various significant issues brought forth in the December meeting resulting in a split vote.

As reported in the January issue of OCN, the commission had approved recommendations in a Dec. 11 meeting for the sketch plan for the Woodmoor Placer Replat B, a commercial subdivision along Jackson Creek Parkway. This is awaiting approval from the Monument Town Council. This development, aimed at accommodating growing community needs, includes six lots and will focus on shared access roads, pedestrian pathways, and utility easements. The commissioners emphasized their desire to ensure the architecture of the Woodmoor Placer Replat B development is compatible with the surrounding area during the site plan review process.

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The Planning Commission usually meets on the second Wednesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12. For further information on Planning Commission meetings, please visit www.townofmonument.org/263/planning-commission-board-of-adjustment or contact 719-884-8028.

Janet Sellers can be reached at JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Other Monument Planning Commission articles

Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, Jan. 15: Board pursues study and citizen input to determine future

By Natalie Barszcz

The Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) Board of Directors held a workshop on Jan. 4 to discuss alternative service delivery models, and the steps needed to consider formal solicitation of alternative delivery models, and the status of the fire chief solicitation. The board received an informational briefing from retired Oregon Fire Chief Dan Patterson, a consultant representing AP Triton LLC. Vice President John Hildebrandt, Director Mark Gunderman, Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction Jonathan Bradley of Monument Fire District, and Fire Chief Andrew York of Cimarron Hills Fire Department (CHFD), offered advice to the board about their past experience with fire department mergers.

At the Jan. 15 meeting, the board approved the hiring of a consultant to perform the district needs analysis study, discussed command staffing models to fill gaps within the executive staff branch, and discussed advertising for a fire chief.

This reporter attended the meetings virtually via Zoom technology.

District needs analysis

At the regular meeting on Jan. 15, the board entered into a lengthy discussion about conducting a short study to determine the needs of the district and the potential for a different service model. The board ultimately agreed to hold several public meetings to gather information, with Patterson in attendance before the study could begin. The meetings are scheduled as follows:

  • Friday, Feb. 24—open community meeting (time TBD.
  • Thursday, Feb. 27—Workshop with community participation (time TBD).
  • Friday, Feb. 28 from 3 until 9 p.m.—Board workshop.

The board unanimously approved up to $15,000 for Patterson to complete the district’s needs analysis study.

Note: Please check the website for updates before attending the meetings. The information contained under Transparency on the district website at https://bffire.org was not up to date when this article was published. Under normal circumstances and in compliance with the Special District Association and the Department of Local Affairs, the district is required by law to post the most current audit, budget, and transparency notice stating the mill levy to be collected in 2025, a board meeting schedule, and the fees schedule.

This reporter reached out to three executive staff to request a board packet and other information from the Jan. 15 meeting but received no response. The board packets containing the financial report and previous meeting minutes were missing for December and January at the time this article was written.

Command staff models

Interim Fire Chief Josh Bartlett said the department needed to fill two or three positions with existing staff with temporary acting captains to assist the department with administrative work to help with plan reviews and inspections, a firefighter and full rescue training officer, and an EMS coordinator to help with billing, training, and continued education. The opportunity would allow the staff to build a resume and allow staff to make more money. If the department moves to an alternative delivery service, the staff would laterally transfer in the permanent rank, said Bartlett.

The discussion paused and resumed after the lengthy discussion about advertising for the fire chief position advertisement.

The board asked about shift hours and other details.

Bartlett said the budget allowed for funding the three positions, and no decision from the board was necessary.

Fire chief position advertisement

Treasurer Jack Hinton said, “For two meetings and a work session we sat down and busted our ass trying to formulate the right wording for a job description with the qualifications necessary for hiring a permanent fire chief. Given the time frame to work everything out with the study, we are prolonging the misery. The department does not have a clear direction until the study is complete and it is making me insane, and the taxpayers deserve better,” he said. Hinton made a motion to conduct a search for a permanent fire chief, with a statement that the position could be temporary.

Chair Nate Dowden seconded the motion. Vice Chair Kiersten Tarvainen said she disagreed with the motion, and the firefighter survey indicated no urgent need to hire a fire chief, it was the last option stated by the firefighters. The board needs better direction, and waiting until the study is completed will show where we need to go, whether it is a different service model, said Tarvainen.

Director Jim Abendschan said he agreed with Tarvainen and “hiring a fire chief right now is just muddying the water and will add to the problems further down the road. We should wait for Patterson’s analysis that will give the board direction to take a methodical approach toward the future,” said Abendschan.

Director Chad Behnken said he recognized all the work done by Bartlett and Battalion Chief David Rocco to “right the ship” and uncover a lot of the issues the board did not see. “Although it feels like the board is kicking the can down the road, it is imperative to complete the study and maintain the status quo until the report is received,” said Behnken.

Hinton said we could solicit for resumes and have them ready when the study is complete.

Tarvainen said the district is still uncovering information and it is operational with Bartlett and Rocco and coverage from Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) and Monument Fire District.

Dowden said that regardless of which model the board pursues, he is skeptical that if a contract for services is chosen, that it could be expedited in less than six to nine months. “Do we still want to continue with a dual interim fire chief model?” he asked.

Bartlett said the board has the option to fill the fire chief position from the department immediately with a full-time 40-hour week interim position.

Patterson said reaching out to a narrow field would be confusing for candidates given the uncertain future of the department. Either you are looking for an interim or a permanent fire chief, and maybe a fire chief could be detailed and contracted full time from CSFD. Patterson, having spent the last year working with South Metro Rescue District on a large organization’s search for a fire chief, said it took a year. The pool was large but narrowed down quickly in a department that knew exactly what it wanted.

Candidates will not be quick to apply if the future is uncertain unless they are running from somewhere else, Patterson said. “Keep it simple and pursue one of the enrolled interim battalion chiefs for a true, full-time 40-hour-a-week interim fire chief position that would return back to CSFD (Bartlett and Rocco are also maintaining battalion chief positions at CSFD and assisting at BFFRPD). Hiring one battalion chief might give the district more stability during the decision-making process, and I can feel your pain on the leadership part,” said Patterson.

A line staff member in the audience said, “I have seen it, and know exactly what you are going through, because I watched it the last time. The board made the mistake of hiring somebody they should not have, and it ended up costing the department hundreds and thousands of dollars in lawsuits, because they wanted to put somebody into that role. I know you want to help the line staff out and it is appreciated, but you need to do what is right and not get someone into that role right away. The person hired was because the board were desperate. If you solicit for an interim role for a year, it would unlikely be a quality individual that the firefighters want to follow; we need strong leadership, and I do not want to follow someone who should not be there,” he said.

Several line staff with previous experience in executive roles threw their hats in the ring to be part of the executive team.

The motion to advertise the fire chief position failed in a 2-3 vote with Abendschan, Behnken, and Tarvainen voting nay.

Note: At the Dec. 4 meeting, after another lengthy discussion regarding the minimum level of education and the amount of progressive fire service experience needed, the board unanimously approved a job specification and a posting to invite people to apply for the fire chief position, but downgraded the minimum college level of education from a bachelor’s to an associate’s degree. However, the board did not approve advertising the position.

The meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.

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Correction

In the January edition of OCN, in the BFFRPD article, the sentence at the end of paragraph six under the heading “Future operations explored” should have read “and actually, doing less than what I am doing, said Herdt” instead of …”and end up doing less, said Herdt.” OCN regrets the error.

Note: Herdt has additional responsibilities as an acting captain at BFFRPD.

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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, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. For joining instructions, updates, agendas, minutes, and reports, visit www.bffire.org or contact 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

Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 13 – Board prepares for election, passes administrative resolution

By James Howald

At its January meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board passed two resolutions: the first regarding an upcoming election for board members and the second covering administrative issues. The board heard financial and operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Four seats up for election

District lawyer Erin Smith asked the board to consider Resolution 25-02, which calls for a regular election to be held on May 6.

Smith said four seats will be up for election in May. The four-year terms of Directors Daniel Beley, Bill Clewe, and Tom Roddam are expiring and board President Brian Bush’s two-year term will also expire. Bush’s term is two years because he was appointed, Smith said.

Friday, Feb. 28 is the deadline for self-nomination, Smith explained. Nomination forms can be obtained from the district’s Office Manager Cory Lynch. Once a candidate completes the nomination form, they must send it to the election’s Designated Election Official Mandi Kirk, of Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel LLC. Kirk’s address is Mandi Kirk, 600 17th St., Ste. 2150S, Denver, CO 80202. Her email address is MKirk@mbssllp.com. Kirk’s phone number is (303) 292-6400. Nomination forms must be witnessed by a valid Colorado elector, Smith said.

The Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr., will be the polling place and votes can be cast between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on May 6.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.

Administrative resolution

The board unanimously approved an annual administrative resolution that specifies compliance requirements and defines the rules by which the district will operate, including:

  • An accurate map of the district’s service area will be prepared.
  • The timeline by which the district budget will be prepared, submitted to the state and possibly amended.
  • The Tri-Lakes Tribune or The Gazette will be the newspapers of general circulation for publication of legal notices.
  • Meeting notices will be posted on the district’s website at https://www.woodmoorwater.com and at the district’s offices at 1845 Woodmoor Dr., Monument.
  • Meetings will be held on the second Monday of every month at the district’s offices.

Financial report

Treasurer Roy Martinez told the board the financial report for January was a draft because some invoices from 2024 are still outstanding. Water sales were 102% of the budgeted amount and wastewater expenses were close to the estimate.

The board voted to approve Martinez’s report.

Manager’s report

District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board that Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) was leading a study of indirect potable reuse (IPR). IPR systems direct treated wastewater through an environmental buffer, such as a lake or river, before it is delivered to customers for consumption. CSU has asked neighboring water districts to participate in its study, Shaffer said. He said CSU’s approach was like the Loop’s, but on a larger scale. Shaffer said WWSD would benefit from participating in the study because CSU’s plan includes use of the Chilcott Ditch, in which WWSD is a major shareholder and participation could open the door to other partnerships with CSU, possibly giving the district access to CSU’s water supply.

Shaffer also updated the board on the progress of the Loop’s water re-use project. He said the Loop was preparing a request for proposal that will go to consulting and engineering firms asking them to design water treatment facilities that will bring Fountain Creek water to drinking water standards and to pilot test their designs. He said that the Loop was continuing to work with the Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD) even though CMD had decided to withdraw from the Loop. The Loop and CMD were discussing the future of the Sundance pipeline, which is owned by CMD, and whether the Loop would access the pipeline, buy it from CMD, or move to a different option to convey its water, Shaffer said. He emphasized that the Loop and CMD were still on good terms despite CMD’s withdrawal.

Operational report

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine reported two shears, or pipe breaks, in December.

He discussed how WWSD is working to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s requirements for monitoring PFAS chemicals and lithium. He reported that currently the water WWSD delivers to its customers has undetectable levels of PFAS. The standard for lithium is unclear, he said, since the agency has not defined a minimum contaminant level for it. Board President Brian Bush said the rules for PFAS and lithium may change with Donald Trump as president. Bush also pointed out that WWSD’s PFAS levels will likely increase after it begins receiving water for the Loop.

In response to a comment from Roddam, LaFontaine updated the board on the district’s efforts to prevent cyberattacks on its facilities. He said new security software had been implemented in 2024. The district’s treatment plants are not connected to the internet, he said, and anyone trying to sabotage their operations would have to be physically present at the plants.

Engineering report

District Engineer Cydney Saelens gave a status report on the projects she is working on.

She said two bids to rehabilitate the district’s main lift station had been much higher than expected. She said she would discuss the bids with JVA Inc., the engineering company that provided consulting on the project. Shaffer said the bid might be resubmitted or the project redesigned.

Saelens said the district’s new Dawson aquifer well was yielding over 40 gallons per minute.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to determine negotiating positions and to confer with legal counsel on potential agreements with the Loop.

No actions were taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is on Feb. 10 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 articles

Monument Sanitation District, Jan. 15 – Board passes administrative resolution

By Jackie Burhans and James Howald

At a brief meeting in January, the Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board passed its annual administrative resolution and heard an operational report from District Manager Mark Parker. Resident and Monument Town Council member Laura Kronick clarified her remarks at the board’s previous meeting.

Administrative Resolution sets rules, regulations

The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 01152025-1, which specifies how the board will do its work in 2025. A similar resolution is passed at the beginning of each year.

The resolution states, in part:

  • Directors will be compensated for their work on the board.
  • The Colorado Springs Gazette will be the paper in which the district’s legal notices are published. Notices will also be posted on the district’s web page at https://monumentsanitationdistrict.org.
  • Meetings will be held in the district’s community room at 130 Second St. at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.
  • The district manager will also serve as the budget officer and will propose a budget to the board by Oct. 15, will schedule a public hearing on that proposed budget, will prepare a final budget, amend it as necessary, and submit it to the state by Dec. 15.
  • Kara Winters, of Collins Cole Winn & Ulmer PLLC, will serve as the designated election official for any elections to be held in 2025.
  • The MSD community room will be the polling place for all elections in 2025.
  • Collins Cole Winn & Ulmer will be the district’s general counsel, GMS Inc. will provide engineering services, and Haynie & Co. will provide accounting services.

Manager’s report

Parker told the board Alphalete Plumbing had replaced a temperature and pressure relief valve at the district headquarters building. He said return envelopes would no longer be included in the district’s monthly statements to customers as a cost-saving measure and to encourage customers to use Electronic Funds Transfer instead of checks. The district is still working with representatives of the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center to get estimated wastewater flow projections.

Kronick clarifies remarks on pay increases

At the previous board meeting, Kronick told the board that while the board had discussed giving district employees a 5% salary increase (3% for cost of living and 2% for merit), the final budget listed a 14% increase for salaries. The difference caused a perception problem, she said.

During the public comments portion of the January meeting, Kronick emphasized that the issue was one of perception only. She asked that the minutes for the previous meeting be amended, with the words “rate increase” being replaced with “pay increase.”

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Monument Sanitation District meetings are 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 Feb. 19. See https://MonumentSanitationDistrict.org. For a district service map, see https://MonumentSanitationDistrict.org/district-map. Information: 719-481-4886.

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

Donala Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 16 – Board passes housekeeping resolution

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

In January, the Donala Water and Sanitation District’s (DWSD) board passed an administrative resolution and set their calendar of meetings for 2025. It elected a backup representative to the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, also known as the “Loop”). Finally, the board heard financial and operational reports.

Administrative resolution

Resolution 2025-1 specifies how DWSD will comply with state laws; a similar resolution is passed every year. It includes, in part:

  • The timeline governing when a budget will be proposed, amended if necessary and filed with the state.
  • The Gazette or the Tri-Lakes Tribune will be the papers of general circulation in which legal notices will be published.
  • Notices will also be posted on the district’s webpage, www.donalawater.org, and at the district’s offices at 1580 Holbein Dr.
  • Regular meetings will be on the third Thursday of every month at 1:30 p.m. at the district’s offices.

Meeting schedule for 2025

The board set its meeting schedule for 2025. The schedule can be found here: https://www.donalawater.org/files/8c7aa8899/Annual+Board+Meeting+Schedule+2025.pdf.

Backup representatives named

General Manager Jeff Hodge asked the board to approve Resolution 2025-2, which names Accounts Payable Specialist Christina Hawker and Water Operator Cade Pennington as the district’s alternative representatives on the Loop board. They will represent DWSD if Hodge is unable to attend a Loop meeting. The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

Financial report and operational reports

In a brief financial report, Hawker said the district ended its 2024 budget year with water sales $30,000 over its estimate and expenses just under its estimate. The expenses for the Upper Monument Creek Waste Wastewater Treatment Facility (UMCWWTF), which DWSD operates jointly with Academy Water and Sanitation District, Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, and Triview Metropolitan District, were spot on, she said. The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.

In his manager’s report, Hodge told the board the district is moving ahead with its plans to redrill Well 7D. He said he had met with the district’s water lawyers and with engineers, who estimated the redrilled well could produce 200 gallons per minute. Hodge said he was concerned that the pipeline adjacent to Baptist Road could fail but the wells near the Holbein treatment plant can supply the plant without using the pipeline. He said he was also considering the future of Well 14A, currently unused due to radium levels, but which could be viable with the radium remediation technology that the district has in place.

Rehabilitation of the district’s storage tanks is continuing, Hodge said, adding he was dusting off the plans to keep the district’s UMCWWTF safe in case of fire. The district should consider investing in an on-site generator or in battery backup, he said.

Superintendent of Water Operations Ronny Wright told the board he was investigating Barricade fire blocking gel and Phos-Chek as methods to protect the UMCWWTF from fire damage.

Waste Plant Operator Aaron Tolman reported E. coli in the UMCWWTF’s effluent is well under the maximum allowed. The plant processed 28 million gallons of wastewater in December, Tolman said.

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The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20 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.

Other Donala Water and Sanitation District articles

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Jan. 16 – Board moves forward with RFP for water treatment design

By James Howald

At its January meeting, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) heard from John Kuosman, the Loop’s workflow manager, regarding a request for proposal (RFP) to design the project’s water treatment process. The board heard a financial report from Corbin Fromm, of Fromm and Co. LLC, the Loop’s accounting firm, and a brief legal report from Nicole Peykov of SpencerFane, the Loop’s legal firm.

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss negotiating positions regarding access to water rights.

Treatment RFP requires confidentiality

Kuosman told the board that the consultants with whom he had discussed the project’s water treatment requirements had requested that meetings with him be proprietary, so that their design suggestions would remain confidential. The consultants also requested access to specific drawings. Kuosman said he planned to issue the RFP on Monday, Jan. 20 and responses from consultants would be due by Feb. 27. He proposed scheduling interviews with a short list of consultants around March 10 and said he would recommend which consultant should be awarded the water treatment design work to the board at its March 20 meeting. He asked the board to agree to the release of the information requested and to agree that the meetings be held in a proprietary manner.

Board President Jessie Shaffer pointed out that the Loop board could not meet with the consultants and asked if they would need six weeks to put together their proposals. Kuosman said based on his experience, six weeks was appropriate to get well-developed proposals. Shaffer and board Secretary Jeff Hodge authorized Kuosman to release the information and hold the meetings as he requested.

Kuosman said questions he had received from the board about Colorado’s 1041 regulations, which concern the site selection and construction of major water treatment systems, would be incorporated into the RFP.

Kuosman told the board he had discussed the Cherokee Metropolitan District’s withdrawal from the Loop with Jenny Bishop of Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU). CSU has its own consultant working on the transmission and storage of re-used water, Kuosman said, and said it was glad the Loop was working on treatment issues. CSU was willing to participate in a water treatment pilot project, Kuosman said, and would consider donating staff and facilities.

Kuosman mentioned he had met with entities that were interested in water supplies owned by the Loop and one had made a formal request for additional information.

Financial report

Fromm told the board there was $25,000 in outstanding invoices for December, and the board voted to pay the claims. Fromm also said he believed the El Paso Board of County Commissioners would expedite the Loop’s request for $4 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds, and the Loop would receive that money possibly by the end of January.

Peykov reminded the board that, due to the withdrawal of the Cherokee Metropolitan District from the project, it took only two Loop board members to make a quorum. A discussion between two board members would therefore be a public meeting that would need to be announced to the public with a minimum 24-hour notice, she said.

Executive session

Following the executive session, the board reconvened into open session and directed Kuosman to finalize and issue an RFP to address advanced water treatment plant services for the Loop.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are 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 the first Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall. 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 Loop articles

Triview Metropolitan District, Jan. 23 – 2025 water and wastewater rates and fees increase approved

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on Jan. 23, the board held a public hearing before approving the 2025 water and wastewater rate and fee increases. Monument Town Councilor/former board Director Marco Fiorito discussed relationship building with the district. The board received an update on the Higby Road improvement project.

The board held an executive session to discuss the acquisition or sale of water/land and to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, to develop strategies for negotiations, and to instruct negotiators in the potential participation in the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) pipeline, to develop incentives, and intergovernmental agreements.

Treasurer/Secretary James Barnhart and Director Amanda Carlton were excused.

2025 water and wastewater rate and fee increase

President Mark Melville opened a public hearing on the 2025 water and wastewater rate and fee increases proposed for implementation on Feb. 1, 2025. See https://wp.ocn.me/v25.n1tmd/. The hearing was posted in the appropriate places and no public comments were received before or during the meeting.

Background: At the December meeting, financial consultants Andrew Rheem and Theresa Jurotich of Raftelis presented their findings that capture the funding necessary for the district to remain solvent over the next 10 years. The study noted the 12% price increase in 2025 from Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to convey, treat and delivery the district’s water via the Northern Delivery System (NDS), additional district water that will be received via the NDS in the future, and a 6.5% increase identified per year over the next four years. The district anticipates other costs for ongoing repairs and replacement, change cases to obtain the district’s water rights, and other projects to increase in cost. The rate increases are small, frequent adjustments that will be level and not bounce around over the next 10 years. For example, the typical residential customer with a three-quarter-inch meter using about 8,000 gallons per month in 2024 would be billed $117 per month for the water portion only, and with the rate applied in 2025 it would be about $129.

At the January meeting, Rheem presented two residential water rate table options to the board and said the presentation was a follow on from the December presentation and included water financial plan drivers, the NDS completion, purchased water cost increases, district inflationary costs for Operations and Maintenance, and capital for ongoing annual repairs and replacement.

Option 1 follows the existing gallon usage tier system. The board agreed that customers would have more flexibility to remain within the Tier 1 bracket if the previous volume rates were maintained with increases. See table below:

  • The water base rate per month (renewable water fee) $45.00 (previously $40.00)
  • Metering and billing charge per month $6.00 (previously $5.00)

Volume rates per 1,000 gallons

  • Tier 1 0 to 8,000 $9.70 (previously $9)
  • Tier 2 8,001 to 20,000 $14.55 (previously $13.50)
  • Tier 3 20.001 to 30,000 $21.56 (previously $20.00)
  • Tier 4 30,001 and above $32.33 (previously $30.00)

Wastewater base rate per month $62.87 (previously $57.68)

Average November-February volume use uniform rate $6.20 (previously $5.69)

The commercial- and irrigation-only rates can be found at: www.triviewmetrodistrict.com.

The board decided to omit Tier 5 from Option 1, for 40,000 gallons and above at a rate of $43.11, after District Administrator Sara Lamb said few customers use that much water, and when a high bill occurs it is usually due to an accidental leak. Those customers with unusually large bills due to leaks are charged at a lower tier rate.

In a 3-0 vote, the board approved Resolution 2025-01 establishing the rate and fee increase for 2025, using the rates noted above.

Director Jason Gross said, “Although the rates for the district are higher than neighboring communities, the district is providing a service that other districts have not yet made available to their customers. TMD customers are receiving 100% renewable water.”

Melville said, “At some point all neighboring districts will have to do the same, but at greater cost.”

Vice President Anthony Sexton said, “As easy as it is to sit at the table and delay, TMD forged ahead with purchasing water rights and building the NDS pipeline, and it pains me to see the higher rate, but it would be different if the district still had to begin the NDS project.”

Option 2 was not adopted. The tier structure would have reduced gallon usage per tier as follows:

Volume rates per 1,000 gallons

  • Tier 1 0 to 4,000 $9.50
  • Tier 2 4,001 to 10,000 $11.40
  • Tier 3 10,001 to 25,000 $16.65
  • Tier 4 Over 25,000 $23.75

Councilors offer support

Fiorito said the development of the Home Rule Charter for the Town of Monument created two districts, east and west Monument, and he and Councilor Kenneth Kimple both represent the TMD voters and will support the district. The Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) is a point of interest, along with the commercial development within the district, now that plenty of residential rooftops exist, said Fiorito.

Melville said a letter was drafted by district counsel George Rowley in September and sent to the Town of Monument (TOM) Interim Town Manager Madeline VanDenHoek requesting the town include the district’s road miles to give the district access to HUTF benefits. “Money is being left on the table, now the 2025 deadline has been missed, leaving about a $1 million delta for the district’s annual revenue,” said Melville.

District Manager James McGrady said he had a scheduled meeting with VanDenHoek to discuss HUTF, and Gross would represent the district on the TOM Stakeholder Planning Committee.

Gross suggested the Town Council and the board engage in a work session, and he would seek the TMD Board of Directors’ opinion after attending the Stakeholder Planning Committee meetings.

Higby Road update

McGrady said the Town Council had stated the Thompson Thrift and Zeal for Living apartments could not begin construction until funding for the Higby Road improvement project had been secured. A special meeting is planned for March 3 to approve ballot language regarding the bond for the mail-in election on May 6. The next customer newsletter will contain detailed information about the Higby Road improvement project, and information is available on the district website, said McGrady. See https://triviewmetro.com and Monument Town Council article on page < 9 >.

Note: A brief community survey can be found at htpps://triviewmetrodistrict.com or https://www.research.net/r/TMD_WEB_DEC?ID=[ID_value]] The survey allows customers to provide feedback to the district, to help gauge the appetite for a bond question which, should it pass, will allow the district to issue about $12.6 million for the widening of Higby Road and other capital improvements. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n11tmd/.

Financial update

The board accepted the December 2024 financial report as presented and approved 17 checks from December and seven for January over $5,000, totaling about $913,506. The payment to CSU for the conveyance, treatment and delivery of the district’s residential and commercial water for December was about $127,449, and of note in January was $312,978 to T-Bone Construction for water improvements to the district’s Arkansas Valley Irrigation Canal Company Augmentation Station.

The district received a total of about $2.4 million in sales tax revenue from the TOM for 2024. It was better than 2023, said McGrady.

Executive session

The board moved into an executive session at 8:15 p.m., pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) section 24-6-402(4)(a), to discuss the acquisition or sale of water/land, and CRS 24-6-402(4)(e), to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategies for negotiations, and instructing negotiators as it relates to potential participation in the NMCI, development incentives, and intergovernmental agreements.

Sheffield confirmed to this reporter that after the meeting returned to the regular session at 9:16 p.m. no action was taken and the meeting promptly adjourned.

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Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month at the district office located at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 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.

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Jan. 14 – Three commissioners sworn into office; chair and vice chair appointed

By Helen Walklett

At their first meeting of the year on Jan. 14, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to appoint its chair and vice chair for 2025. Three commissioners also took the oath of office, two for the first time.

Chair and vice chair appointed

The commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Carrie Geitner as chair. Commissioner Holly Williams was appointed as vice chair. Geitner has held the chair since October 2024 when Commissioner Cami Bremer stepped down to transition into her role as CEO of Pikes Peak United Way. She remains a commissioner.

Commissioners sworn in

The Jan. 14 meeting was halted part way through its agenda to allow for the swearing in ceremony for new and returning commissioners. Geitner, representing District 2, has been re-elected to another four-year term in office. Newly elected Commissioners Cory Applegate and Bill Wysong also took the oath of office. Wysong replaces former Commissioner Stan VanderWerf, and his district includes the towns of Palmer Lake and Monument.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me

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