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Allen Alchian

Donala Water and Sanitation District, July 20 – Board honors Judd, changes sewer billing

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

At its July meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board honored previous board member Ken Judd for his long service to the district. It launched a usage-based billing system for sewer service. General Manager Jeff Hodge detailed water sales over the last 10 years and discussed the impact of the exceptionally high rainfall seen in recent months on the district’s finances.

The board voted on two resolutions: the first committing to participation in the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA) and the second initiating planning for adding direct potable reuse (DPR) to the district’s portfolio of water assets. Hodge updated the board on water quality issues, focusing on radium removal. The regular board meeting was preceded by a workshop devoted to the Upper Monument Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF), including a tour of the facility. The regular meeting ended with an executive session.

Judd receives Water Drop

Current board President Wayne Vanderschuere presented Judd with DWSD’s Water Drop award in appreciation of his long service to the district and its customers. In May, the board passed a resolution honoring Judd for serving as the board president, working on district financing, contributing to 10 district budgets, planning mill levy override campaigns, and negotiating with surrounding districts. Previous DWSD board President Ed Houle was present to see Judd accept the award. Judd’s granddaughter from Ireland also attended the ceremony.

Above: At its July board meeting, Donala board President Wayne Vanderschuere, right, presented the coveted Water Drop award to former board member Kenneth Judd, left. Judd, who resigned in May, was honored for his long service on the board, including a stint as board president. Judd had worked on district financing, contributed to 10 district budgets, planned mill levy override campaigns, and negotiated with surrounding districts. Photo by Jackie Burhans

Usage-based sewer billing starts in July

Billing Administrator Ashley Uhrin updated the board on DWSD’s new sewer billing methodology. Beginning July 1, DWSD’s flat fee of $40.54 per month for sewer service was replaced with a base fee of $6.90 plus a consumption-based charge of $8.94 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater produced. This change affects residential customers only. The consumption-based charge is calculated once a year based on average water consumption during December, January, and February, which is assumed to be equal to the amount of wastewater produced, since no irrigation is done during those months. Snowbird customers will be billed the district average for water service during the winter months, calculated at 3,500 gallons per month.

The new charges will be on August bills, Uhrin said. In response to a question from Director Bill George, Hodge said sewer revenue is estimated to remain more or less equal to the revenue produced by the previous flat fee.

More details about the usage-based rates can be found in the Jan. 1, 2022 issue of OCN, which reported on a presentation from Roger Sams of GMS Engineering Inc. that covers the assumptions and goals of the new methodology. Sams’ presentation can be found online here: https://www.ocn.me/v22n1.htm#dwsd.

Rainy weather reduces water revenue

Hodge told the board that the high amount of rain the last few months has reduced customer demand for water and lowered DWSD’s revenue from water sales. He showed the board a graph of water usage by month for the last 10 years that showed the water usage for June 2023 to be the lowest usage in June for the last 10 years. The highest June usage was in June 2013. He said low water usage was also estimated for July and possibly for August and forecasted a $754,236 deficit in water sales from what was budgeted for 2023.

Hodge said he did not believe the district would need to use funds from its reserves to meet operating costs. He pointed out that the low demand also meant the district would have to pay Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) less to convey, treat, and deliver the district’s water to its customers, so there are some savings on the expense side.

Vanderschuere said he expected wholesale electrical costs to increase by 7% next year. He added that Hodge’s graph confirmed CSU’s prediction that the standard deviation in weather events was increasing, with higher highs and lower lows for precipitation and temperature.

Water Operator Ronny Wright told the board the rainfall had led to excess water in storage, which he was trying to sell or store somewhere other than the Pueblo Reservoir, where DWSD can store up to 499 acre-feet of water. DWSD currently is above that limit, he said. Hodge said that if DWSD had its planned aquifer storage and retrieval (ASR) technology in place, that excess water could be stored for future consumption.

Resolutions passed

The board voted unanimously to pass Resolution 2023-7, which defines how and why DWSD will participate in the EPCRLWA, a large-scale water re-use project in which DWSD partners with Cherokee Metropolitan District, the Town of Monument, and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District. Specifically:

  • DWSD will have an equal vote with the other participants.
  • EPCRLWA is in the best interest of DWSD customers.
  • EPCRLWA provides local control of rates, costs, and operations.
  • EPCRLWA is intended to provide affordable recaptured water.
  • EPCRLWA will allow DWSD to use its water rights on Fountain Creek.

The board also voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 2023-8, which commits DWSD to initiating a long-term project to implement DPR technology that meets Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Regulation No. 11. DPR is defined as: “a series of processes that produce finished drinking water using a source containing treated wastewater that has not passed through an environmental buffer.” The regulation, which was recently passed by the state Legislature, includes monitoring and treatment protocols. The district’s plans for DPR are aligned with its plans to implement ASR. The next step will be to establish baseline values for DPR, Vanderschuere said. Hodge stressed that the implementation of DPR would be a long journey.

Progress on radium removal

Hodge told the board that rehabilitating three filters in the Holbein water treatment plant had reduced radium to below the state’s limit. DWSD is now in a position to ask El Paso County for American Recovery Plan Act funds to reimburse it for the costs of radium removal. DWSD is working to implement hydrous manganese oxide (HMO) treatment to further mitigate radium, and some of the required hardware should arrive in the August to September timeframe. Hodge said he expected to have the HMO treatment process in place by November.

Workshop tours treatment facility

The regular board meeting was preceded by a workshop at the UMCRWWTF that included an overview of the treatment facility operations by Hodge and a tour of the facility led by Waste Plant Operator Aaron Tolman.

Above: On July 20, the Donala Water and Sanitation District held a workshop and tour at the Upper Monument Creek Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility before its board meeting. General Manager Jeff Hodge provided a brief overview of the treatment facility operations, and Plant Operator Aaron Tolman led a tour of the facilities, including the three sequencing batch reactor basins. From left, the first basin is aerated by blowers to provide oxygen for the microorganisms that process the incoming wastewater; the second basin is in settle/decant mode, and the third basin is undergoing repairs. Photos by Jackie Burhans.

Executive session

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

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The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 17 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 Planning Commission, July 6 – Request to split Woodmoor property into four lots recommended for approval

El Paso County Planning Commission, July 6 – Request to split Woodmoor property into four lots recommended for approval

By Marlene Brown and Helen Walklett

At the July 6 meeting, the El Paso County Planning Commission heard a replat application to return a single lot property in Woodmoor to four lots. They also heard final plat applications for The Winsome and Terra Ridge North developments and a minor subdivision application for a Black Forest property. All four applications were scheduled to be heard at the El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) land use meeting on Aug. 1.

At the July 6 meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to recommend for approval a subdivision request which would see a Woodmoor property divided into four lots. The 3.81-acre property at 1384 Buckwood Lane near its intersection with Fawnwood Road is zoned RR-0.5 (residential rural) and was originally platted as four lots in 1963. The current single lot was created in 2010.

The replat would create four lots that conform to the RR-0.5 zoning. The residence on the east and central portion of the property would remain.

Property owner Tim Murphy of Murphy’s Custom Homes Inc. showed the hearing that he has written approval from the Woodmoor Improvement Association’s (WIA) Architectural Control Committee and commitment letters from the utility companies.

The application was pulled from the consent calendar for a full hearing due to neighbor objection. Chair Thomas Bailey stressed to the audience that the replat criteria outlined by staff are the only points that the commission can consider when making its recommendation and asked that public comment be specifically addressed to those criteria.

Four neighbors, representing a larger group, spoke in opposition and raised concerns about increased wildfire risk, the impact on wildlife, geological hazards, traffic and congestion, and soil and drainage issues.

Neighbor Erin Duran said they had presented on several occasions to the WIA and commented, “They (the WIA) were very forthright in saying they were going to approve it because the Board of County Commissioners makes the ultimate decision and that they did not feel that their decision would weigh in at all.”

Sarah Cole stated that the justifications put forward in 2010 for the combining of the lots are still very relevant issues in Woodmoor today. Arguments put forward at that time included that the development caused erosion in steep sloped areas, disturbed natural drainage patterns, and caused congestion on roads that were not suitable for increased traffic. It was also noted that some lots were only marginally buildable due to the slope and floodplains.

Hilary and Bill Brendemuhl also spoke, voicing concerns about the WIA’s procedures and decision-making process. Hilary Brendemuhl said, “Our board has a history, unfortunately, and it’s documented, of making arbitrary and capricious decisions.’

Bailey commented, “A lot of the concerns are something that we don’t have any authority over. A lot of your problems seem to be with your association.”

Commissioner Christopher Whitney said, “Obviously you have a beef with your HOA (Homeowners Association), and whether the HOA behaved correctly is between you and them.”

Vessey Road minor subdivision

The commissioners heard a minor subdivision request to create three single-family lots on a 14-acre Black Forest property west of the intersection of Vessey Road and Black Forest Road and south of the intersection of Vessey Road and Pine Crest Drive. The application was unanimously recommended for approval as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion.

The property was rezoned from RR-5 to RR-2.5 by the BOCC in June. See www.ocn.me/v23n7.htm#epbocc

Terra Ridge North final plat

The commissioners voted unanimously to recommend for approval a final plat application by Phillip Miles for 11 single-family residential lots. The Terra Ridge North application includes a replat of two existing single-family residential lots to provide access to the new lots. The 51.65-acre property is south of the intersection of Black Forest Road and Hodgen Road.

The land was rezoned from RR-5 to RR-2.5 in 2022. Neighbors spoke to voice objections at both the Planning Commission and BOCC hearings at that time. See www.ocn.me/v22n9.htm#epcpc and www.ocn.me/v22n10.htm#epbocc.

The final plat application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It could have been pulled for a full hearing if any member of the public had wished to address the commission about it.

Winsome final plat

The commissioners heard a final plat application for Winsome Filing No. 3 to create 38 single-family residential lots and five tracts on the 349.47-acre property zoned RR-5 at the northwest corner of Hodgen Road and Meridian Road.

The BOCC approved the Winsome preliminary plan in July 2019. The development encompasses 766.66 acres and consists of 143 residential lots, one commercial lot, open space, drainage tracts, and public rights-of-way. The plan was amended in 2021 to increase the lots to 146. These three additional lots are located within Filing No. 3.

Ahead of the vote, Commissioner Christopher Whitney voiced his concern about findings of water sufficiency in general when no one really knows how long water may be available in the Denver Basin, saying “I guess I just want to express for the record that it troubles me that we’re basically saying to people, “Yep, there’s adequate water today but be careful because we can’t tell you what will happen tomorrow” and I don’t know what the solution to that is but it’s worrisome.”

The vote to recommend the application for approval was unanimous.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 17. Normally EPCPC meets on the first and third Thursdays at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colorado Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News & Information Channel at https://www.elpasoco.com/news-information channel. For more information, see https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com.

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

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

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, June 27, July 11 and 18 – Board receives Monument annexation impact report

By Marlene Brown and Helen Walklett

At the July 11 El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, the commissioners received an annexation impact report from the Town of Monument concerning land south of County Line Road.

Monument Ridge East and West annexation

An annexation impact report from the Town of Monument was received by the commissioners at their July 11 meeting. The BOCC cannot approve or deny an annexation report; it serves to notify it of the annexation request and sets out potential impacts in general terms. The Monument Ridge East and West annexation concerns 160 acres of land south of and abutting County Line Road between Beacon Lite Road on the west and Misty Acres Boulevard on the east.

Accepting the report, the commissioners directed staff to comment that the BOCC expects the Town of Monument to annex Beacon Lite Road once the planned improvements to it are completed.

The annexation was scheduled to be heard by the Monument Town Council in July. See the Monument Town Council article on page < 1 >.

Support for Monument pumpkin patch business

Local resident Bill Denim spoke in the public comment period of the June 27 meeting in support the Colorado Pumpkin Patch, a Monument business. He said it was his understanding that the business is being threatened by a complaint about the traffic it generates. It’s located on a working farm off Highway 105 and operates for about six weeks every year.

Denim said the business has tremendous value and it brings in a lot of money for the county, provides families with a fun fall activity, and operates a nonprofit allowing families with special needs children to enjoy the pumpkin patch for free. He urged the commissioners to support it.

New property assessments

At the July 18 meeting, Mark Flutcher, county assessor, spoke about new property assessments. There have been 33,724 appeals in El Paso County, which is about 12 percent of total real property assessments that went out to the property owners. About 16,467 assessments were adjusted, for a total of about $1.9 billion reduced. About 6.7 percent of the total bills were reduced, which Flutcher stated “is in line with past years’ average.”

Flutcher said his office has been working with the state and is in line with the statutes that were put in place this year, and it does not have the authority to cap reassessments. Flutcher had gone to the state capitol to support a bill to cap assessment increases at 10 percent, but that bill was shot down in committee. Preliminary audit results could not be shared until the State Equalization Board approved the audit.

All the commissioners except Vice Chair Carrie Geitner attended National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference & Expo in Austin, Texas on July 21-24. The conference is the largest meeting of county elected and appointed officials in the country. NACo helps to shape federal policy and share proven practices and learn about the latest trends in county government roles.

The meeting was adjourned after 25 minutes.

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The next BOCC meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 8. View agendas and meetings at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Meetings are held at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave, Suite 150, Colorado Springs.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me. Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioner articles

Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations, July 22 – NEPCO hears about renewable water projects

By Jackie Burhans

The Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations (NEPCO) held its general membership bi-monthly meeting on July 22 at the Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) Barn community center. NEPCO has 49 member associations representing over 10,000 homes and 20,000 registered voters within its focus area, which extends from the foothills to the west to just past Highway 83 on the east and from County Line Road on the north of El Paso County to Shoup Road on the south. NEPCO also has two individual members, two business members, and six honorary associate members, including Our Community News.

NEPCO’s purpose is to protect property rights; encourage beautification, planned development, and maintenance by government agencies; provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas; and serve as an area-wide point of contact regarding land use matters.

NEPCO conducted board business and heard committee reports, reported on the Monument Ridge annexation, and heard presentations on “Water Issues and Future Renewable Water in the NEPCO Region,” followed by a panel discussion.

Board business and committee reports

President Mike Aspenson announced that Bob Mooney, chair of the Transportation and Land Use Committee, would be retiring soon. He asked that anyone interested in the leadership position to contact any board member by their position (e.g., president@nepco.org) or contact Mooney at bobmooney01@msn.com or at 719-930-9735. No experience is necessary as NEPCO will provide guidance and training, he said.

Vice President Bob Swedenburg noted that homeowners associations (HOAs) are struggling with the increase in HOA insurance costs for their boards. He found an insurance company with good rates that is reaching out to HOAs and recommended contacting Dwayne Thomas of American Family Insurance.

Monument Ridge annexation update

Harold Larson, member at large, reported that in 2017, the Town of Monument made a comprehensive plan that looked at contiguous areas it might annex if they met some minimum prerequisites. Larson said he reached out to the developer of the Monument Ridge parcels that are south of County Line Road on either side of I-25. He noted that this area is a beautiful point of entry to El Paso County, and Monument Ridge East is near his backyard.

The developer’s plan showed a high-density, “worst case” scenario, he said, with a lack of definition regarding trees, trails, wildlife, and impact on nearby property values. There was a lot of community input during the Monument Planning Commission meeting, and the commission voted to recommend the annexation but stipulated that it would be zoned for 2.5-acre lots.

The Monument Ridge West parcel has many of the same issues, planning for high density, with the county paving and expanding Beacon Lite Road and lanes to enter and exit on County Line Road. This parcel also had a significant issue with insufficient available water to support the desired density. At the recent Monument Town Council meeting, after two hours of public comment, the council voted no with a 5-2 vote. Larson expressed disappointment that the town and developer could not reach a compromise. The next step, he said, was for the developer to take its plans to the county, who will be the governing body. He requested that the community remain active. Mayor Pro Tem Steve King, who was in attendance, noted that this area is not open space; it is undeveloped land. The developer has some rights, he explained, noting that the town would like to annex the property under its guidelines. The Monument Town Council would like to bring it in under Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning, respecting the land and preserving the trees. Voting no is not the end, he said, and the town is actively working on the next steps.

For more on the Monument Ridge annexation, see the article on the Monument Town Council meeting on page < 1 > and the Monument Planning Commission meeting on page < 4 >.

Renewable water projects

Secretary Roy Martinez, who is also a board member at Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) with an extensive background in water, noted that water is a big topic with many challenges, such as supply, availability, draining reservoirs, lowering aquifers, water quality, and contaminants of concern such as pharmaceuticals and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals.” Aging infrastructure and workforce are a concern, as well as indirect and direct potable reuse (IPR and DPR). He said that many don’t realize that water is a high-tech industry but also needs accountants and MBAs. When you turn on the tap, he said, good quality water is always there due to the fabulous job done by local agencies. He referenced a document he had sent around by the American Water Works Association, called the State of the Water Industry report, which listed top issues as aging infrastructure, long-term water supply, the public value of water resources, water source protection, and aging workforce.

Martinez introduced Jim McGrady, who has worked as a district manager for 22 years and is the current general manager of Triview Metropolitan District (TMD). McGrady, who has been with TMD for six years, has advanced the ball down the field quite a way for renewable water, Martinez said, noting that the pipeline installation on Roller Coaster Road for the Northern Delivery System (NDS) is about 50% done.

TMD provides water, wastewater, stormwater, park and open space management, and road service on the east side of Monument. TMD serves 2,697 single-family equivalents, which include 78 commercial properties and 53 irrigation customers. TMD is located entirely within the Arkansas River Basin, and its current water supply is 100% Denver Basin groundwater (DBG). Given the concerns with depleting aquifers, TMD felt that if it could get renewable water in place, it could help preserve the DBG. Toward that end, TMD has acquired various renewable water rights and contracts as well as storage space to manage the variability and to recapture reusable return flows.

TMD has focused on partnerships to allow it to avoid construction, such as making use of the Southern Delivery System (SDS) infrastructure and contracting with Colorado Springs Utilities to convey, treat, and deliver water. TMD will use a reclaimed gravel pit for water storage in what is now called the Stonewall Springs South Reservoir complex. The NDS, which is expected to deliver water to TMD by 2024, is being funded through tap fees and renewable water fees.

For more information on TMD, see http://triviewmetro.com. For more information on the NDS project, see https://triviewnds.org.

Martinez then introduced Jessie Shaffer, district manager for WWSD, who is a Colorado native who graduated with a bachelor’s in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a master’s in business administration from Colorado Christian University. Shaffer has 21 years of experience as a design professional focusing exclusively on water and wastewater. He has been the district manager of WWSD for 15 years and is currently focused on redundancy, resiliency, and sustainability. Shaffer also serves as the president of the board for the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA).

Shaffer said that the Town of Monument, Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD), Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD), and WWSD have come together over the past two years to form a new water authority through an intergovernmental agreement. The goal is to pool and share resources and leverage all their assets to build infrastructure that would allow water, including treated effluent, that is flowing south in Monument and Fountain Creeks to be stored at Calhan Reservoir at Woodmoor Ranch and then pumped back north to be used by customers of the participating districts.

The concept is not new, Shaffer said, with studies having been done as far back as 2011 when WWSD purchased what was then called JV Ranch, which came with very senior water rights and a reservoir. One of the studies looked at options on how to capture reusable water, some of which is reusable to extinction. He noted that half of the water delivered to customers is irrigated outdoors and evaporates while the other half gets captured in the wastewater treatment system. He noted that many water districts have or will soon have plans for IPR and/or DPR. The game plan is to construct a treatment plant by the reservoir for water diverted by the Chilcott Ditch and pump it up north via a pipeline owned by CMD, along with some additional construction of pipeline into the northern part of the Loop area. One possible future option would be to use the Upper Black Squirrel Designated Groundwater Basin, a shallow aquifer for non-evaporative storage.

By pooling resources, the Loop could achieve economies of scale, lowering costs and increasing efficiency, redundancies, and resilience. The Loop can capture most of its participating entities’ return flows and Fountain Creek water supplies. The Loop would enable regional well field management and storage with opportunities to reduce evaporation and streamflow losses by piping the Chilcott Ditch and covering the Calhan reservoir in the future, Shaffer said. In 2022, the authority was formed via an IGA and was awarded $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund grant dollars to evaluate and move forward with the project.

In 2023, EPCRLWA has been refining the cost-sharing and business models, will study the operations and maintenance costs, and begin the schematic design to improve cost estimate accuracy. Shaffer expects the authority to develop and implement a public relations plan once it knows the costs and to begin engineering design by Q1 2024. From 2024 to 2025, the authority would complete the engineering design and develop and execute the financing strategy. From 2025 to 2026, he expects construction to begin. Shaffer noted that Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) had its own reuse study but that EPCRLWA had calculated that while initial construction costs would be lower, the associated annual fees mean that after nine years, the Loop would be cheaper for customers in the long run.

Shaffer answered a question about the purity of treated wastewater delivered to homes by saying that there are a number of treatment options used, that every stream nationwide has treated wastewater going into it and that he was very confident that it would make customers’ water very pure. He said that he could not say that it would taste the same as water from the Denver Basin; noting that WWSD is already delivering surface water in parts of the year from Lake Woodmoor, which has a different taste than groundwater.

Martinez then hosted the panel, taking questions from the audience. McGrady answered a question, saying that the NDS has no plans at this time to provide service to neighborhoods on individual wells. A resident asked why medians were being watered in Northgate, and Shaffer noted that heavy-handed conservation conflicts with land use and that WWSD is not a land use organization but does have mandatory conservation restrictions every year. King noted that the Town of Monument is looking at the issue and expects to develop more restrictive water conservation moving forward.

Residents noted that the Loop and NDS sounded similar and wondered why they did not join forces. McGrady answered that NDS had originally expected to have five to six participants but that, reviewing CSU’s permits for SDS, they found an “over the divide issue” where SDS was not allowed to serve water out of Division 2 in the Arkansas watershed into Division 1 in the South Platte watershed (see https://waterknowledge.colostate.edu/water-management-administration/water-rights/administration-of-water-rights/..) That precluded some of the WWSD service area which extends into Division 1. Shaffer said it would be problematic to re-open the SDS permit. King added that one of the concerns with the Monument Ridge West annexation was that it would preclude the town from using the NDS.

For more information on WWSD, see https://woodmoorwater.org;; for more information on EPCLRWA, see https://www.loopauthority.org.

Presentations and resources from the NEPCO meeting can be found in the member area of the NEPCO website. Contact your HOA for information on how to access the member area.

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NEPCO meetings are usually held on the second Saturday of every other month at the Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr., 10 a.m. to noon. The next meeting is Sept. 9 with the topic of Town of Monument Land Use Planning. All members of HOAs are welcome. For more information, see https://nepco.org.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackie.burhans@ocn.me.

Other NEPCO articles

Woodmoor Improvement Association, July 5 and 26 – Board questioned by residents, hears input on common areas

By Jackie Burhans

At its July 5 meeting, the Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board president, Brian Bush apologized for rescheduling its June meeting, explaining that there had not been enough board members to form a quorum. In addition to directors’ reports, the board addressed a resident’s concern about its operations. At its July 26 meeting, the board heard input from residents of the South Woodmoor Preserve.

Resident questions board operations

South Woodmoor resident Jennifer Davis expressed her concerns that the board’s executive sessions are not being held in accordance with the law. The public board meeting, generally held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, is usually preceded by an executive session that is not open to the public. Davis handed the board a copy of the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA, pronounced “Kiowa”), referring to section 308 regarding executive sessions. Davis asserted that the board must open its public meeting first and then go into executive session and that the minutes are supposed to indicate the purpose of the board meeting. She further noted that CCIOA limits the purpose of executive sessions to six specific reasons.

Davis also noted that there had been some concerns raised on the NextDoor platform, indicating people felt disconnected. She said the board’s agenda was not posted and recommended it do so on its website. Her own concerns revolved around issues with WOSC LLC, and she asserted that it was possible that, in a court of law, a judge could deem the board’s actions null and void if they were not conducting their meetings in accordance with the law. WOSC LLC was formed to purchase open space in south Woodmoor and donate it to WIA.

Board President Brian Bush noted that the association is not governed by CCIOA but that her concerns were valid and that the board would discuss them. CCIOA, which is part of the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS 38-33.3-101 to -401), is a set of laws that govern the formation, management, powers, and operation of common interest communities, also known as homeowners associations (HOAs). According to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website, some provisions apply only to communities created after July 1, 1992, while others are limited based on the annual assessment and size of the planned community. WIA was established in 1971 and has an annual assessment of under $300. For more information, see https://dre.colorado.gov/ccioa-and-other-state-local-and-federal-laws.

HOA Administrator Denise Cagliaro noted that the board agendas are posted on the website at https://woodmoor.org/meeting-agendas/

Resident input on common area improvements

At its July 26 meeting, the board invited community members to provide input on common area improvements, focusing primarily on the South Woodmoor Preserve that the board had accepted in June 2022 from WOSC LLC. See article at https://www.ocn.me/v22n7.htm#wia. About 25 people attended the meeting.

Bush noted that the board constantly tries to improve the common areas but thought it would be good to solicit input from the community to consider as it develops budgets and makes maintenance and management plans. He noted that, as part of the acceptance, WIA had agreed with WOSC LLC on specific improvements it would make at the preserve. He also said the board is committed to treating the preserve like its other open spaces. He also reminded attendees that, as a nonprofit entity, WIA cannot prevent members of the public from accessing its open spaces.

The following input was given regarding the South Woodmoor Preserve:

  • The ability of first responders to locate people on its unnamed trails.
  • Opposition to dog waste stations, questions about the cost, and input on locations.
  • Approval of the new trail base and concern about its width.
  • Reconsideration of a fence to keep others’ dogs out of a private yard.
  • Concern about the possible addition of parking around the South Woodmoor Preserve
  • Concerns about prairie dogs, the raptor poles previously installed, and a request for collaboration with WIA.
  • Concern over loose dogs on the trail and a request for signs reminding users of state leash laws.
  • The procedure for requesting access over the trails to deliver landscape rocks.
  • Whether WOSC LLC could change the agreement that was made, removing some of its provisions.

Bush thanked the residents for their input, which the board would consider, he said. In responding to specific input, Safety Director Brad Gleason said a cell phone would help responders home in to within three to five meters of a call. Bush said previous surveys indicated residents want waste stations, of which 10 are already installed in other open spaces; they cost $250 to install and are maintained by a contractor for $70 per month. Common Areas Administrator Bob Pearsall said the width of the trail and the denial of the fence were related to the need for easement access by both WIA and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District. Bush suggested the resident work with Pearsall to reconsider the fencing.

Noting the cost of installation and maintenance, Bush said the board has no plans to install parking at this time, He said the board was in “wait and see” mode on both parking and prairie dog concerns, given the extremely active construction in the area. The raptor poles previously installed were to encourage natural mitigation of prairie dogs and avoid the need for pesticides. Some of the poles have blown down due to high winds and will be removed, and the board will determine later whether to install more sturdy poles or what other actions to take. For the resident working with a wildlife company to control prairie dogs on their property, Bush directed them to work with Steve Cutler, director of common areas, on any possible collaboration on the nearby common area space.

Gleason suggested residents call Woodmoor Public Safety (WPS) or the Pikes Peak Humane Society (PPHS) animal enforcement division and take photos or videos to help identify people with loose dogs. WPS can only cite residents, he said, while PPHS has additional resources. Bush said an email could be sent out on leash laws but noted that WIA has email addresses for only about half of its residents. He also noted that none of the open spaces has extensive signs. Bush suggested that the resident who wanted to access their yard over the trail work with WIA staff.

Finally, on the matter of WOSC LLC changing its requirements, Bush noted that the commitment was recorded by the clerk and recorder and was legally binding. Tish Norman, former president of WOSC LLC, noted that it had worked with WIA and reached a compromise agreement that would not please everyone. She also noted that as of June 1, WOSC LLC had been disbanded, and she would send out her last update the following weekend.

Other concerns unrelated to the South Woodmoor Preserve included the possibility of a trail on the median in the middle of Fairplay Drive, guidelines for donations to WPS for vacation checks, and questions about the mowing of open spaces. Bush noted that the county was responsible for Fairplay Drive itself and wouldn’t let WIA create a trail due to the cost of installing needed crosswalks. He suggested that residents contact the county. WPS Chief Kevin Nielsen said donations were voluntary, so no guidelines were available, but any contribution would be gratefully received. Pearsall noted that open spaces are mowed twice a year, and those that were accessible had been mowed recently and would be mowed again in October. He said the increased rainfall has caused the grass to grow exponentially; Bush asked that residents mow tall grass on their property so it would not dry up and become a fire hazard.

Board highlights

  • Homeowners Association manager Denise Cagliaro reported that WIA was still working with IT to get the insurance company to replace the newly ordered computers that were damaged in storage.
  • Director of Community Outreach Brain DePaiva reported that a Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations (NEPCO) meeting was held on July 22 at the Barn covering the recent annexation request by Monument Ridge and presentations by Triview Metropolitan District and the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA). For more on NEPCO, see the article on page < 18 >.
  • The board unanimously approved spending $1,150 to replace batteries for WPS’ Motorola radios.
  • Nielsen reported that WPS will no longer provide traffic control for Lewis-Palmer Middle School and Palmer Ridge High School due to risk and liability issues. He asked that residents drive carefully and watch for kids as school starts back up.

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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 Aug. 23.

The WIA calendar can be found at www.woodmoor.org/wia-calendar/. WIA board meeting minutes can be found at www.woodmoor.org/meeting-minutes/ once approved and posted.

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

Other Woodmoor Improvement Association articles