Previous: Vol. 24 No. 11 - November 2, 2024 — Next:
Download a 49 Mbyte PDF of this issue
Download a 139 Mbyte Zip file containing all audio files for this issue
Santa and Elf visit Palmer Lake Chili Dinner, Nov. 30
Click here to view all articles in full
Nov. 5 Election Results for Monument and Palmer Lake
Town of Monument The Town of Monument elections on Nov. 5 were for councilmembers representing Districts 1, 2, and an at-large seat. In District 1, Laura Kronick ran unopposed and secured the seat with 100% of the vote (2,060 votes). In District 2, voters were tasked with choosing two representatives. Kenneth W. Kimple won one…
Continue Reading Nov. 5 Election Results for Monument and Palmer Lake
Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, Nov. 2, 6, and 20 – Training officer terminated; firefighters request district merger; 2025 budget proposes mill levy increase
By Natalie Barszcz The Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) board held a special meeting on Nov. 2 to discuss personnel matters relating to the investigation into allegations pertaining to Training Capt. Michael Torres. The board held a second special meeting on Nov. 6 to discuss the permanent fire chief position and determine an…
Monument Fire District, Nov. 13 and 27 – 2025 budget approved; mill levy certified; wage schedule increases
By Natalie Barszcz At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD) dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting on Nov. 13, the board held a public hearing for the 2025 budget and approved it and the wage and fee schedules. It awarded a contract for the remodel of Station 2 on Roller Coaster Road. A public…
Monument Town Council, Nov. 4 and 18 – Monument Council addresses budget, watershed, community initiatives
By Chris Jeub Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind opened the Nov. 4 meeting by addressing a tragic hit-and-run accident earlier that day which resulted in the loss of life. He commended the swift response of local police and fire departments in managing the situation and called for a moment of silence to honor the victim. Later,…
Monument Planning Commission, Nov. 13 – Board discusses Jackson Creek North plat; Panda Express public hearing moved to December
By Janet Sellers At its Nov. 13 meeting, the Monument Planning Commission reviewed a request for approval of the preliminary and final plat for the Jackson Creek North Planned Multi-use District (PMD) owned by CSI Development. It noted that Higby Road will be widened from 70 to 100 feet for public improvements. The discussion focused…
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Nov. 14 – 2025 budget proposed; 2024 budget amended
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At its only meeting in November, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees held a workshop and a public hearing on its proposed 2025 budget. The board also held a public hearing on amendments to its 2024 budget. That hearing was followed by a vote on a resolution to amend…
Continue Reading Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Nov. 14 – 2025 budget proposed; 2024 budget amended
D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Nov. 12 – Reports on school year calendar, safety and security, and social and emotional wellness
By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee met on Nov. 12 at the Monument Academy East Campus. The committee heard reports on the school year calendar, safety and security, and social and emotional wellness. Monument Academy presentation Monument Academy (MA) senior Audrey Hoida spoke of activities available to students at the…
Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Nov. 18 – Board reviews revision of district boundaries, approves lease/purchase agreement for Career and Innovation Center
By Harriet Halbig In her board comments at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Lewis-Palmer District 38 Board of Education, President Tiffiney Upchurch said that the D38 Education Foundation has approved several grants for district teachers, many of them involving training for teaching students with dyslexia. Upchurch said that 15% to 20% of the population…
Monument Academy School Board, Nov. 18 and 21 – Board responds to organization audit
By Jackie Burhans The Monument Academy (MA) board held two meetings in November. Its first meeting on Nov. 18 consisted solely of an executive session for legal advice regarding matters related to contract compliance, policies, and human resources matters regarding administrator roles and responsibilities of school and central office leaders. No action was taken on…
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 11 – Board considers rate increase
By James Howald At its November meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board opened two public hearings: the first on the proposed 2025 budget and the second on proposed rate increases. The board awarded a construction contract for a water storage tank near the Southern Water Treatment Facility and heard operational reports. 2025…
Continue Reading Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 11 – Board considers rate increase
Monument Sanitation District, Nov. 20 – Board approves rate increase, plans for Buc-ee’s impact
By Jackie Burhans and James Howald The Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board focused on its rates, fees, and the 2025 budget at its meeting in November. It held two public hearings: the first on its rates and fees and the second on its 2025 budget. The hearings were followed by votes on resolutions to raise…
Donala Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 21 – Board hears rate and groundwater supply studies
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At Donala Water and Sanitation District’s (DWSD) November meeting, consultants presented the results of two studies: the first addressing proposed rate increases and the second analyzing groundwater supply issues such as the status of existing wells, plans for well maintenance, how best to manage the district’s two well fields,…
El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Nov. 21 – Board approves 2025 budget
By James Howald In November, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board held two special meetings on the same day. The first special meeting consisted entirely of an executive session. The agenda for that meeting gave a very general reason for the executive session: to confer with an attorney…
Continue Reading El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Nov. 21 – Board approves 2025 budget
Triview Metropolitan District, Nov. 21 – 2025 annual budget approved; mill levies set
By Natalie Barszcz At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on Nov. 21, the board approved the 2025 annual budget and certified the district’s mill levy. The board approved the fourth amendment to the agreement for contract operations services between Forest Lakes Metropolitan District (FLMD) and TMD, an audit engagement letter for the district’s 2024…
El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Nov. 5 and 14 – Approval of two Tri-Lakes developments
By Helen Walklett During November, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved development requests for the Waterside at Lake Woodmoor development off Woodmoor Drive and the final portion of the Settlers Ranch development north of Hodgen Road. Waterside at Lake Woodmoor At the Nov. 14 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously…
El Paso County Planning Commission, Nov. 7 and 21 – Housing density, compatibility concerns raised with proposed Monument Ridge development
By Helen Walklett During November, the commissioners heard requests relating to the proposed Monument Ridge development south of County Line Road and directly east of I-25. They also recommended for approval a final plat in Black Forest that would create six single-family lots. Monument Ridge At their Nov. 21 meeting, the commissioners heard requests for…
Gleneagle Civic Association annual member meeting, Nov. 14 – Leaders urged to oppose noise variance renewal
By David Futey On Nov. 14, the Gleneagle Civic Association (GCA) held its annual meeting online. The meeting was originally scheduled for Nov. 6 but was cancelled due to bad weather, and then technical difficulties occurred when it was attempted online that evening. During the meeting, the board heard calls for it to show support…
Woodmoor Improvement Association, Nov. 20 – Board hears resident request for letter on Buc-ee’s
By Jackie Burhans At its regular board meeting on Nov. 23, the Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) discussed an email from a resident who requested the board weigh in on the potential Buc-ee’s development at the southwest corner of I 25 and County Line Road. The board also heard director reports. Buc-ee’s development opposition requested President…
November Weather Wrap
By Bill Kappel November was one for the record books in terms of snowfall, and the good news is that the above average snowfall occurred over both mountains and plains regions. High temperatures were well below normal for the month, while low temperatures were right at normal. There were no significant Arctic air outbreaks, but…
Letters to Our Community – Opposed to proposed Buc-ee’s
Concerning the proposed annexation of acreage southeast of Beacon Lite Road and Palmer Divide Road: “Flagpole” annexation is a device used by speculators to purchase undeveloped rural land at the value of raw land and then get a municipality to “annex” the property to provide services to said property; not limited to a police, fire,…
Continue Reading Letters to Our Community – Opposed to proposed Buc-ee’s
Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal
Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal In the November issue of OCN, a Letter to Our Community was printed from “Warren James” containing only uninformed, untrue statements. Here are the facts: Paragraph 1 presented figures from Sept. 3. These were projected numbers presented in advance of anything catastrophic (contrary to the implications…
Continue Reading Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal
Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Great gift ideas
By the staff at Covered Treasures “Kindness is like snow—it beautifies everything it covers”—Kahlil Gibran Here are some books that would make wonderful winter reading (or a gift) for yourself or someone else! Confronting the Presidents: No Spin Assessment from Washington to Biden By Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard (St. Martin’s Press) $35 From Washington…
Continue Reading Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Great gift ideas
December Library Events – Adult discussion group, children’s programs, schedule changes
By Harriet Halbig Many Monument Library programs for all ages will continue during December. Please come to participate and feel free to bring out-of-town guests. A conversation group for intermediate and advanced German speakers meets each Monday from 1:30 to 3:30 at the Monument Library. Registration is not required. Socrates Café is an adult discussion…
Palmer Lake Historical Society, Nov. 21 – Life of town hero explored
By Marlene Brown The Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) held its monthly membership meeting at the Palmer Lake Town Hall on Nov. 21. The program was presented by Jim Sawatzki, past president of PLHS and author and filmmaker through his company Palmer Divide Productions. He is producer and director of several historical documentaries including General…
Continue Reading Palmer Lake Historical Society, Nov. 21 – Life of town hero explored
High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Winter, our backyards, and forests
By Janet Sellers With snow on the ground and ice in the shadows, it’s hard to think about our gardens growing. We hunker down with a good book and some hot tea, staying cozy and comfortable indoors. Outdoors, our fallen leaves and pine needles are doing the same thing for plants as a mulch, keeping…
Continue Reading High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Winter, our backyards, and forests
Art Matters – How does art make people feel good?
By Janet Sellers Experiencing art, whether we’re making it or consuming it, allows us to reach varying degrees of euphoria and catharsis or neutrality and inner peace. Unlike movies and music, wall art allows us to involve ourselves at our own pace and create our own personal responses and connection to the art experience. We…
Continue Reading Art Matters – How does art make people feel good?
Snapshots of Our Community
Santa and Elf visit Palmer Lake Chili Dinner, Nov. 30 Above: On Nov. 30, Santa Claus and his elf arrived in style, trading in his magical sleigh for a Palmer Lake fire truck with lights flashing and sirens sounding. Children were able to visit with Santa and share their wishes for the holidays. The 89th…
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…
Our Community Calendar
By Janet Sellers Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the info number for that event. Please contact calendar@ocn.me with changes and additions. GOVERNMENTAL BODIES Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines…