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Planned Fox Run Nature Center raises concerns
Monument Town Council, Feb. 5 and 20 – Monument discusses Loop water system, non-sanctuary status, traffic studies
By Chris Jeub Two town hall meetings were held on Feb. 5 and 20, during which updates and discussions were provided on a range of topics. The meetings covered progress reports on various projects and initiatives, including water management, infrastructure development, sales tax solutions, and immigration policies. Tensions arose during discussions on traffic concerning development…
Monument Academy School Board, Feb. 8 and 22 – Board passes parental rights policy 6-1; member resigns
By Jackie Burhans Monument Academy (MA) held its regular meeting on Feb. 8 where it passed a parental rights policy after much discussion. It held a special meeting on Feb. 22 to reorganize after a board member’s resignation. In addition, MA reviewed its Q2 academic dashboard, approved moving forward with its homeschool program, heard administrative…
D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee, Feb. 13 – Committee receives leadership hiring and superintendent search update
By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer D38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) met on Feb. 13 at Prairie Winds Elementary School to discuss such topics as hiring for leadership positions, a search for a new superintendent, and priority 5 of the district’s strategic plan referring to fiscal stewardship. Prairie Winds presentation Interim Principal Aileen Finnegan…
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Feb. 8 and 22 – Ben Lomand property eligible for annexation; stance on migrants debated
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At its meeting on Feb. 22, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) held a public hearing to decide if the property owned by the United Congregational Church was eligible for annexation by the town. Mayor Glant Havenar asked the board to approve a resolution declaring Palmer Lake to…
El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Jan. 30 and Feb. 22 – Palmer Lake annexation impact report received
By Helen Walklett During February, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) considered an annexation impact report for land west of the Town of Palmer Lake. The commissioners also heard concerns about safety on Vollmer Road near the School in the Woods site at the end of January. Palmer Lake annexation The proposed Ben…
El Paso County Planning Commission, Feb. 1 – Positive feedback from county commissioners
By Helen Walklett At the Feb. 1 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, Chair Tom Bailey reported that he and Commissioner Jay Carlson had met with County Commissioners Stan VanderWerf and Cammie Bremer to work toward a meeting between the full Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the Planning Commission. Bailey said, “They’re very happy…
Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, Feb. 21 – New tender truck issues discussed; properties included
By Janet Sellers NOTE: This reporter was unable to make a recording or attend in person and attended via an online Zoom meeting. This article was based on the agenda available online at www.BFFire.org and her notes from the meeting. This reporter was unable to enter the Zoom meeting until 20 minutes had passed, and…
Monument Fire District, Feb. 28 – Board meeting held after OCN went to press
By Natalie Barszcz The Monument Fire District (MFD) board met on Feb. 28, which was after this issue of Our Community News had gone to press. Coverage of that meeting will be included in our April 6 issue. ********** Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. A special meeting/public hearing for…
Continue Reading,,, Monument Fire District, Feb. 28 – Board meeting held after OCN went to press
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan 8 – Safe Routes to School trail approved
By James Howald In February, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board discussed and approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Lewis-Palmer School District 38 (LPSD). The board allocated additional funds to the Highway 105 construction project. It also heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session. Walking trail for students approved District…
Donala Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 15 – Board considers request to extend service area
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At its February meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board discussed a request to extend its service area to include a portion of the Falcon Commerce Center. It extended an existing water lease. The board also heard operational reports. Request for sewer service raises questions General Manager…
El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Feb. 15 – Board debates relationship with CSU
By James Howald At its February meeting, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board continued its discussion of how to work with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU), particularly how the Loop might lower construction costs by making use of CSU’s Edward Bailey Water Treatment Plant (EBWTP) rather than building its…
Monument Sanitation District, Feb. 21 – Federal dollars help fund sewer line replacement
By Jackie Burhans and James Howald At its February meeting, the Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board approved a notice of award for replacing a sewer line, funded primarily by the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA). The board also heard an operational report from District Manager Mark Parker. ARPA provides $900,000 of $1.4 million needed for…
Triview Metropolitan District, Feb. 22 – Renewable water supply increases; CSU ties into NDS
By Natalie Barszcz At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on Feb. 22, the board heard about an increase in the municipal renewable water supply and the tie-in of Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to the Northern Delivery System (NDS). The board also discussed informing the residents about the district’s path to becoming an 80% renewable…
Woodmoor Improvement Association, Jan. 29, 31 – Annual meeting and reorganization
By Jackie Burhans The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board met on Jan. 29 for its annual meeting to elect new board members, review 2023 accomplishments, state 2024 goals, and recognize good neighbors. The board met on Jan. 31 to certify the election, reorganize its positions, and approve operational procedures. The regular February meeting was held…
February Weather Wrap
By Bill Kappel February was warm and wet, with overall moisture values coming in greater than the 100-year recurrence interval. In other words, there was less than a 1% chance in any given February that we would receive as much moisture as we did last month. These higher levels of moisture available also meant temperatures…
Letters to Our Community – Caught by Surprise
The local community around Fox Run Park was largely caught by surprise recently at the plans of El Paso County to build a nature center in the more remote, wooded section of Fox Run Park, clearing trees to construct a building, a tower that rises above tree line, and 60 parking spots. Notification of the…
Continue Reading,,, Letters to Our Community – Caught by Surprise
Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – March mystery madness
By the staff at Covered Treasures “Mysteries abound where most we seek the answers.”—Ray Bradbury March is a month of crazy weather, basketball and spring break. It’s also a great time to hunker down with some good mysteries. End of Story By A.J. Finn “I’ll be dead in three months. Come tell my story,” writes…
Continue Reading,,, Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – March mystery madness
March Library Events – Adult Reading Program continues; tax preparation aid available
By Harriet Halbig The Winter Adult Reading Program continues through March 31. Read for at least 30 minutes a day or participate in a list of library programs for a total of 30 days and receive a Winter Adult Reading Program mug and a certificate for a free piece of chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate…
Palmer Lake Historical Society, Feb. 15 – Union Printers Home: past, present, and future
By Marlene Brown The monthly meeting of The Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) held at the Palmer Lake Townhall on Feb. 15 was a PowerPoint presentation by Ellie Hinkle, director of History and Archives for the Union Printers Home (UPH). Located in Colorado Springs on Union Boulevard near Memorial Park, it has been dubbed “The…
On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Palmer Lake Reservoir hike
By Steve Pate On a hike up Palmer Lake Reservoir Road to the upper Palmer Lake Reservoir on Feb. 20, the trail conditions were snow/slush with some ice and still over a foot of snow off-trail. I did not use micro spikes but always carry them on hikes this time of year, along with winter-preparedness…
Continue Reading,,, On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Palmer Lake Reservoir hike
High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – This month in the garden: soil, bird songs, and hummingbirds
By Janet Sellers Tie a red ribbon for hummingbirds Hummingbird scouts return this month and are attracted to red, orange, pink, and yellow colors. Before we have our full-bloom colorful gardens outdoors (which can take until June or later some years) we can attract hummingbirds to our gardens with simple red ribbons tied near food…
Art Matters – Fine art offers valuable returns
By Janet Sellers Imagination is available at all times; using it to be creative and make something is a highly developed and valued skill. Art has an effect on viewers and collectors, and they seek to revisit the realms the artist brings as a kind of portal for them. We all experience this kind of…
Continue Reading,,, Art Matters – Fine art offers valuable returns
Snapshots of Our Community
Lions assist eyeglass project Above: Members of the Tri-Lakes Lions Club and Knights of Sight gathered Jan. 14 to process over 60 pounds of recyclable eyeglasses donated by area residents. The glasses were sent to the Colorado Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center in Denver for further processing. Lions International vision centers will provide the glasses for…
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. Tax preparation help VITA…
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…