OCN Newsletter #54 – Feb. 27, 2026 – PLBOT meeting highlights, Monument actions suggest Buc-ee’s alternatives, Request event listing in OCN calendar, Stars of Tomorrow Auditions posted, Check which districts you’re in

Feb. 12: Palmer Lake Board of Trustees appoints Mike Beeson and John Marble to fill vacancies
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting Feb. 26: Community Matters to terminate planning services Mar. 13
Monument Town Council actions suggest some possible directions for the Buc-ee’s project.
AI-Generated Highlights of the Monument Town Council meeting Feb. 2, 2026
AI-Generated Highlights of the Monument Town Council meeting Feb. 17, 2026
Monument Town Council meeting, Mar. 2. March issue of OCN and Chess Tournament coming next week.
OCN Feb. 7 issue and podcasts posted
Want your event listed in our on-line and print calendar?
Uncertain about which districts you’re in?
Stars of Tomorrow Auditions posted on YouTube
Keep up with fast-moving developments in the Tri-Lakes area with the OCN app!

Feb. 12: Palmer Lake Board of Trustees appoints Mike Beeson and John Marble to fill vacancies

Below are AI-generated highlights of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees workshop and meeting Feb. 12. The timestamps in parentheses indicate the approximate points in the video of the meeting where the topics were discussed. Look for our March 7th issue for detailed coverage of this meeting.

Trustee Candidate Interviews: The workshop was dedicated to interviewing four candidates—Mike Beeson, Denaje Ferguson, John Hartzog, and John Marble—to fill two vacant seats on the Board of Trustees. Each candidate answered the same eleven questions regarding their background, vision for the town, spending priorities, and governance philosophy. (00:00:10)
Appointment of New Trustees: Following the interviews, the board appointed Mike Beeson and John Marble to fill the vacancies. Both new members were sworn in during the meeting and took their seats for the remainder of the session. (01:44:54)
Buc-ee’s Annexation Withdrawal: The Board addressed the formal withdrawal of the annexation application for Monument Ridge West (Buc-ee’s). While the application is withdrawn, the board voted to continue the item until they have legal counsel to finalize the necessary resolutions for “decoupling” and ensured no new work or expenses would be initiated for the project. (02:09:03)
Town Attorney Search Update: Staff reported that three firms responded to the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new town attorney. The board approved a motion to extend the RFP deadline to February 20th and officially cancel the search for an “interim” attorney, as several firms indicated the dual-track search was hindering the recruitment process. (02:20:15)
Professional Services and Community Matters Institute Controversy: During public comment, resident Martha Brodzik raised concerns about professional service contracts, alleging that the town paid Community Matters Institute without existing contracts and accidentally paid one invoice twice. Trustee Mosley requested a formal hearing on the matter for the next meeting to address what he described as “deceitful” actions by the contractor. (03:00:42)
Reports of Resident Harassment: Resident Gene Celestie provided a statement regarding a “direct threat” from a neighbor and an aggressive encounter involving his wife and a former trustee’s spouse. He stated he intends to pursue charges and requested the incident be formally documented as part of an ongoing pattern of intimidation. (03:18:01)
Fire Department Preparedness Events: Fire Chief Vincent announced an upcoming “Wildland Fire Preparedness Day” and a Fire Department Open House scheduled for May 2nd. The event will include training on “firewise” practices and demonstrations of personal protective equipment
and tools used in structure and wildland fire response. (01:30:10)
Police Department Vehicle Update: Interim Town Administrator and Police Chief Glenn Smith reported the purchase of a used “electric blue” staff vehicle from the State Patrol. The car will be used for supervisor assignments, while an older vehicle with 200,000 miles will be sold to save on maintenance costs. (01:27:13)
Water Main Breaks and Infrastructure: Public Works reported responding to multiple water main breaks over the last two weeks at locations including Hermosa, Starview, and South Park. These repairs contributed to significant expenditures on road base and “squeegee” materials needed to fill excavation trenches. (01:29:11)
Audit and Financial Reporting: Town Clerk Erica Romero updated the board that the FY24 audit is nearing completion, with auditors currently finishing the review of capital assets. Additionally, Trustee Mosley requested a dedicated water workshop to address compliance with Tabor requirements and better separation of water enterprise funds from the general fund. (01:31:34)

Watch the Feb. 12, 2026 meeting

Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting Feb. 26: Community Matters to terminate planning services Mar. 13

The February 26, 2026, Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting was marked by updates on legal proceedings, significant staff changes, and heated debates regarding town financial management. Below are 12 AI-generated highlights from the meeting. The timestamps in parentheses indicate the approximate points in the audio recording of the meeting where the topics were discussed. Look for our March 7th issue for detailed coverage of this meeting.

Mayor Stern’s Legal Update: Mayor Stern reported that a court recently dismissed a motion for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction related to a lawsuit challenging his appointment to the Board. (00:04:22)
Clarification of Questioned Records: Town Clerk Erica Romero provided a detailed follow-up on financial concerns from the previous meeting, explaining that a sequence of voided checks was due to a printing error and confirming that a payment to Buc-ee’s was a standard refund for overpayment. (00:08:04)
2024 Town Audit Progress: The Board was informed that the 2024 audit is nearing completion and is expected to be available for review in draft form by March 6, 2026, with the auditor attending the following meeting in person. (00:10:12)
Resumption of Town Administrator Search: Following discussion on community stability, the Board reached a consensus to re-engage with Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to restart the recruitment process for a permanent Town Administrator. (00:58:01)
Parks and Trails Commission Appointment: The Board unanimously approved the appointment of Denaje Ferguson to fill a vacancy on the Parks and Trails Commission for a term ending in 2028. (01:07:31)
Town Attorney RFP Selection Process: Staff confirmed that three law firms submitted complete proposals for the Town Attorney position; each firm is scheduled to give a formal presentation during a workshop on March 12, 2026. (01:09:50)
Monument Ridge West (Buc-ee’s) Unwinding Update: Special counsel provided an update on the ongoing legal process of systematically
“undoing” the Monument Ridge West annexation applications and agreements following the developer’s withdrawal. (01:28:40)
Resignation of Community Matters Institute (CMI): CMI submitted a formal notice of termination, stating they will cease all planning services on March 13, 2026, citing a “lack of trust among certain Town Officials”. (01:34:57)
Allegations of Contract Overruns: Trustee Roger Moseley alleged that the town has exceeded “not to exceed” contract limits for several professional service vendors by approximately $35,000. (01:59:04)
Uncollected Developer Fee Concerns: Trustee Moseley further claimed that the town has failed to collect roughly $63,000 in reimbursable fees from developers for work already performed by town contractors. (02:09:04)
Town Clerk Defense of Staff Integrity: Erica Romero defended the town’s financial and record-keeping processes, urging the Board to trust the established staff and systems rather than relying on interpretations of public records without professional context. (02:18:11)
Interim Administrator’s Challenge to the Board: Responding to criticisms of his performance, Interim Administrator and Police Chief Glen Smith requested that any trustees wishing to remove him from his position provide formal “cause” in writing by the next Board meeting. (02:45:19)

Listen to the Feb. 26, 2026 meeting

Monument Town Council actions suggest some possible directions for the Buc-ee’s project.

At their Feb. 2 meeting, the Monument Town Council approved a resolution initiating annexation of the town-owned water tank site on Beacon Lite Road. The property proposed for annexation is adjacent to the southern edge of the parcel proposed for combination with the Buc-ee’s travel center parcel. If the town completes the annexation of the water tank site and El Paso County approves the combination of the parcels, it raises the possibility that the Buc-ee’s developer might apply to the Town of Monument for annexation. Failing that, the Buc-ee’s developer might seek to purchase water from the Town of Monument.

At the Feb. 17 meeting, the Monument Town Council approved an ordinance which prohibits the town from providing water service to properties located north of the Palmer Divide. Although some people may see this as blocking Buc-ee’s from obtaining town water, since the high point of the Palmer Divide is Bald Mountain in southern Douglas County, depending on the exact path of the Palmer Divide, it is possible that the Buc-ee’s site is south of the Palmer Divide and therefore not prevented by the ordinance from purchasing water from the town.

The timing of these actions by the Monument Town Council is interesting given residents’ intense interest in the Buc-ee’s developer’s plans.

AI-Generated Highlights of the Monument Town Council meeting Feb. 2, 2026

The timestamps indicate approximately where the topic was addressed in the video of the meeting.

Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) 2025 Report: Greg from the PPRBD reported that while single-family home construction in Monument dropped 27% in 2025, there was a major boom in commercial construction, with new apartment completions more than tripling across the region. The department also noted that they continue to perform manual roof inspections rather than using drones to ensure they can physically check for proper shingle installation. (00:02:11)
Annexation of Beacon Light Road Water Tank Site: The Council approved Resolution 08-2026, initiating annexation proceedings for the town-owned water tank site and a portion of Beacon Light Road. This “flagpole annexation” is similar to the process used for Old Denver Road, and a public hearing has been set for March 16, 2026. (00:22:38)
Proposed Restriction on Water Flow North of the Palmer Divide: Council discussed a draft ordinance that would prohibit municipal water from being provided to developments north of the Palmer Divide. This proactive measure is intended to protect the town’s renewable water sources and avoid the expensive and time-consuming 1041 permit process required to move water into the South Platte River basin from the Arkansas River Basin. (00:30:38)
Resident Complaint Regarding Above-Ground Electric Fence: During public comment, a resident reported that a neighbor had installed two layers of above-ground electric fencing on his property line. Town staff acknowledged the complaint and noted that a new code enforcement officer would be starting within the week to investigate the matter. (00:39:56)
Regional Training for Elected Officials: Council discussed an initiative to host a regional mixer and educational sessions for elected officials and clerks from El Paso, Teller, and Fremont counties. The first event, a mixer in Colorado Springs, is being targeted for late March to foster better inter-municipal cooperation. (00:44:03)
Q4 Financial Performance: The quarterly budget report revealed that the town ended 2025 with total expenditures at 83% of the budgeted amount. While sales tax remains the town’s primary revenue source, planning fees were lower than anticipated, leading the town to seek a third-party evaluation of its fee schedule. (00:48:37)
2025 Investment Returns: The town reported earning nearly $1.5 million in total investment income for 2025. The Council plans to review and update the town’s investment policy in the coming months to ensure it remains current with market conditions. (00:54:43)
Sales Tax Delinquency Enforcement: Finance staff reported record sales tax collections for December filings, yet noted that three local businesses have been issued notices of final determination due to repeated failure to remit collected taxes. One business has reportedly failed to file since 2021, and the town is prepared to take further legal action or close businesses that remain non-compliant. (01:00:41)
Condolences for Mayor Teresa Howard: The Council formally expressed its condolences following the unexpected passing of Teresa
Howard, the Mayor of Kiowa, Colorado. (01:06:06)
Executive Session on Elite Cranes: The Council voted 7-0 to enter into an executive session to receive legal advice from the town attorney regarding a zoning enforcement matter involving Elite Cranes. (01:07:41)

Watch the Feb 2, 2026 meeting

AI-Generated Highlights of the Monument Town Council meeting Feb. 17, 2026

The timestamps indicate approximately where the topic was addressed in the video of the meeting.

New Wildlife Resiliency and Fire Codes: The Council reviewed a presentation regarding the adoption of the 2021 International Fire Code and the Colorado Wildlife Resiliency Code, which aims to align local fire standards with regional building codes to address extreme wildfire losses. The new wildlife code includes requirements for non-combustible fencing within 8 feet of a home and the removal of vegetation within a 5-foot “defensible space” for new constructions. (00:01:51)
Police Impact Fee Recommendation: An impact fee study conducted by EPS recommended implementing a new police impact fee of approximately $800 per single-family home. This fee is designed to maintain current service levels by funding capital assets such as patrol vehicles and gear as the town grows. (00:29:41)
Restriction of Water Service North of Palmer Divide: The Council approved Ordinance 02-2026, which prohibits the town from providing water service to properties located north of the
Palmer Divide. This is a proactive measure to avoid expensive 1041 permitting processes and potential conflicts with water decrees from neighboring counties. (01:02:34)
Jackson Creek Parkway (JCP) Widening Strategy: Because the total project cost of $17 million exceeds current funding, the town will proceed with a value-engineered “first part” focused exclusively on the northbound lanes and a swale median. This $7.5 million portion utilizes already-secured grants that must be spent promptly to avoid redistribution by state agencies. (01:07:24)
Federal BUILD Grant Application: The Council authorized Resolution 09-2026 to apply for a federal BUILD grant to fund the remaining southbound lanes, estimated at $5 million. To increase the town’s chances of winning the grant, the Council committed to a 30% local matching fund. (01:13:16)
Master Transportation Plan Grant: The Council approved applying for a $200,000 DOLA grant (Resolution 13-2026) to develop a Master Transportation Plan. This plan is a critical prerequisite for the town to remain eligible for future state transportation grants and will provide detailed data to help prioritize road improvements. (01:31:09)
Significant Increase in Water Rights Fees: Under Resolution 11-2026, the Council raised the “fee in lieu of water rights” for developers from 10,000 to 30,000 per acre-foot”. This update brings the town’s fees in line with current market values for renewable water portfolio assets. (01:39:37)
Formal Policy for Accepting Groundwater: The Council adopted a formal procedure (Resolution 12-2026) for evaluating and accepting groundwater from new developments, specifically addressing “not non-tributary” water. This policy protects the town’s water portfolio by requiring developers to pay a fee of
roughly $40,000 per acre-foot for water that requires future court adjudication. (01:51:40)
Controversial Chamber of Commerce Lease: In a 5-2 vote, the Council approved a short-term, one-year lease with the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce for $1 per year. While supporters viewed it as a transition year to allow the Chamber to prepare for future rent, dissenting members expressed a desire to sell the property or generate revenue from the town asset. (02:01:34)
Maintenance Liability Concerns: During the Chamber of Commerce lease discussion, Council members questioned why the town remains responsible for major building repairs exceeding $5,000. Staff clarified that the lease includes a provision allowing the town to terminate the agreement rather than paying for such significant improvements. (02:05:16)
Objections to Buc-ee’s/County Referral: Following an executive session, the Council directed staff to submit formal comments to El Paso County opposing an administrative lot line adjustment for the property associated with the proposed Buc-ee’s project. The Council argued that such changes should not be administrative and instead require public hearings and greater scrutiny. (02:28:33)

Watch the Feb 17, 2026 meeting

Monument Town Council meeting, Mar. 2. March issue of OCN and Chess Tournament coming next week.

Readers should assume that event information published in this newsletter is subject to change and information should be confirmed a day or two before the event by calling the information number or checking the organization’s website. See page < 22 > and page < 23 > or check wp.ocn.me/events for event locations and other details of these and many other local events.

Silver Key Tri-Lakes – Powerful Tools for Caregivers, Sat., Feb. 28, Mar. 7 & 14, 10 am-11:30 am
Monument Town Council meeting, Mon., Mar. 2, 6:30 pm
OCN mailing days, Thu., Mar. 5, approx. 7-8:30 am. If you can help, even for an hour or two,
getting the papers ready to mail, contact AllenAlchian@ocn.me or (719) 488-3455.
OCN Publication, Sat., Mar. 7
District 38 19th Annual Chess Tournament, Sat., Mar. 7, 7:30 am-2 pm
Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary and Trinity Lutheran Church – Annual Bunco Night, Sat., Mar. 7, 5 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church Presentation of the Film “1946 The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture”, Sun. Mar. 8 & 15. Two parts.
Charlotte’s Web, Fri., Mar. 13, 6:30 pm-8 pm, Sat., Mar. 14, 2 pm-4 pm and 6:30 pm-8 pm
Monument Hill Kiwanis Club – Stars of Tomorrow, Dress Rehearsal, Sat., Mar. 14, 11 am-4 pm. Performance, Sun., Mar. 15, 2 pm-5 pm
Monumental Impact – Networking Night, Thu., Mar. 19, 5:30 pm-7 pm
Monumental Impact – Orientation, Sat., Mar. 21, 2 pm-3 pm
WMMI Spring Break Camp, Tue.-Thu., Mar. 24-25, 9 am-12 pm or 1 pm – 4 pm

With our new on-line calendar, you can easily search for your favorite events, view upcoming events in a variety of formats (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) and add events of interest to the calendar on your mobile device or computer.

Check out our On-Line Calendar

OCN Feb. 7 issue and podcasts posted

Over 23,000 copies of our Feb. 7th issue were mailed Thu., Feb. 5th.

All the articles, letters, columns, snapshots, notices, and community calendar events have been posted at www.ocn.me. The audio files have be posted for all the articles and the audio highlights and audio articles podcasts have been broadcast to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Pandora and posted on our YouTube channel.

Feb. Issue Audio Highlights Podcast

Feb. Issue Audio Highlights Transcript

Feb. Issue Audio Articles Podcast

Read Our Feb. Issue

Read Our On-Line E-Editions

Feb. Issue PDF

Feb. Issue Photo Collection

Want your event listed in our on-line and print calendar?

Our Community Calendar carries listings 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. Complimentary calendar listings are included, when requested, for events advertised in the current issue. Click the button below to request listing of your events.

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Stars of Tomorrow Auditions posted on YouTube

Kiwanis Stars of Tomorrow Auditions, Feb. 21 & 22
Feb. Issue Audio Highlights Podcast (31 min.)
Feb. Issue Audio Article Podcast (2 hr. 16 min.)
Palmer Lake Outdoor Classic, Jan. 17
Jan. Issue Audio Highlights Podcast (28 min.)
Jan. Issue Audio Article Podcast (1 hr. 46 min.)
Monument Wreaths Across America
Monument Tree Lighting
Dec. Issue Audio Highlights Podcast (44 min.)
Dec. Issue Audio Articles Podcast (2 hr. 10 min.)
Interview with Covered Treasures Bookstore owner Tommie Plank at the store on May 26, 2019.
Monument Restroom Ribbon-Cutting, Nov. 2
OCN Nov Issue Audio Highlights Podcast(35 min.)
OCN Nov. Issue Audio Articles Podcast(2 hr. 49 min.)
Annual Ride for Tim
Palmer Lake 0.5k
D38 Candidate Forum
Trinity Park Expands
Restroom Installation at Monument Lake
Palmer Lake Library Concert Series 2025
Opening of the Tri-Lakes Activity Center (formerly the Senior Center)
Lang Investment Services Pig Roast, Aug. 8
July 4th Monument Parade and Street Fair and Palmer Lake fireworks
Silver Key moves to the Presbyterian Church
Interview with Sam DeFelice (40 min.)
Interview with Jim Maguire (55 min.)
Art Hop – Short interview with artist Darcy Muncey
WMMI History Day
Cops and Bobbers
Chad Smith sworn in as Monument Town Council member
Jim Maguire Celebration of Life
Palmer Lake Fishing Derby
P51 Statute Dedication at Monument Town Hall

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The OCN app alerts you to upcoming events you don’t want to miss, lists the latest articles, podcasts, photo collections, comments, etc. It updates automatically to keep you informed.

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In the screenshot below, the app is reporting 10 new upcoming events including a car show, farmers’ market, D38 school board meeting, and Monument Town Council meeting.

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