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Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – Thank you to the outgoing board members

Over the past eight years, Triview Metropolitan District has been transformed from a region facing critical water shortages with limited preparation for the future to one with sufficient renewable and reuseable water resources for our grandchildren and beyond. This would not have been possible without the leadership and vision of the outgoing members of the Triview Board of Directors: President Mark Melville, Vice President Anthony Sexton, and Secretary/Treasurer James Barnhart.

Their hard work led to the purchase of more than 2,100 acre-feet of renewable water resources, covering 95% of Triview’s future water needs. In collaboration with Colorado Springs Utilities and Forest Lakes, Triview developed the Northern Delivery System to deliver water from as far away as Buena Vista and Pueblo to Triview customers. Triview can also develop two reservoirs which will enable us to store 19,500 acre-feet of water, making Triview drought resistant and an excellent partner for other municipalities.

They foresaw the need to improve Triview’s roads. In 2019 they directed the widening of Jackson Creek Parkway. It would cost twice as much to build today. This award-winning improvement anticipated the arrival of new commercial partners to provide services and reduce the tax burden on Triview’s homeowners. They led the charge to widen Higby Road, which will result in safety improvements around Lewis-Palmer High School and ease emergency response and community evacuation in case of wildfires.

Mark, Anthony, and James, thank you for setting Triview up for success. And to our friends and neighbors, if you see Mark, Anthony, or James, please give them a big thank you. The investment you have made in your home and community is more secure due to their efforts.

Amanda Carlton, Erik Demkowicz, John Gibbons, Jason Gross, and Anne-Marie Jojola Triview Board of Directors

Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. Guidelines for letters are found here. 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.

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Letters to Our Community – Tri-Lakes Women’s Club gets thanks

Thank you to the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club for granting the money to purchase a box set of 10 Bouncy Bands. The Bouncy Band chair bands slide onto the legs of student desks or chairs and allow students to fidget quietly using their feet and stay focused without distracting other students. Studies have shown that students stay on task nearly 10% longer with the chair bands! I am so grateful to have the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club’s support. Having chair bands helps students focus and relieve stress. I currently have some chair bands, but not enough for every student’s desk, and my students have been begging for all of my chairs to have their own Bouncy Bands! My students love having a Bouncy Band on their desk, and now everyone will have their own, thanks to the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club! My students and I are very grateful for your support!

Mrs. Molly Ketchell, LPHS math teacher

Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. Guidelines for letters are found here. 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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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Letters to Our Community – Thanks to OCN for its support

As we reflect on the wonderful turnout for our recent book signing of Shootouts, Killings, and War Heroes: The History Hidden in Monument’s Cemetery, we wish to express our gratitude to OCN for its coverage as we presented our research and photos to local community groups prior to the printing of the book. Folks at Covered Treasures Bookstore were amazed when they saw 70 books were sold in two hours of the November book signing. Our thanks to OCN and all who came to congratulate us on our endeavor as well as to purchase the book.

John Howe and Michael Weinfeld
Authors

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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.

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Letters to Our Community – Wildfire call to action

As I have watched the events of the last several days unfold in Southern California, I have been reflecting on what more we can do as a community with our wildfire preparedness and mitigation efforts. A wildland-urban interface conflagration is the greatest threat to lives and property within our jurisdiction. We need only look back to 2021 to recall the devastation wrought by the Marshall Fire in Boulder County that killed two people and destroyed 991 structures, becoming the most destructive fire in Colorado history.

In recent years, Monument Fire District (MFD) has proactively been doing the following:

  • Hiring firefighters.
  • Purchasing wildfire-specific fire apparatus.
  • Developing wildfire preplans.
  • Partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to conduct a prescribed burn.
  • Writing a grant-funded community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) to include a partnership with the Town of Monument on a wildfire mitigation demonstration area adjacent to Monument Lake.
  • Free wildfire home inspection program.
  • Expanding our chipping/mitigation efforts with 23 homeowners associations.
  • Utilizing state of the art technology/software for real-time incident notification/evacuation.

And yet, I think we need to do more.

I understand that the ponderosa pine and vegetation are, in part, what attracted all of us to live in North El Paso County. However, fuels thinning and removal, planting fire-resistive fuels, and use fire-resistive materials in our home construction will make our community more resilient to wildfire. Today is a call to action to join our efforts to help prevent another Marshall Fire, Black Forest Fire, Waldo Canyon Fire, and what we have witnessed this week in Southern California.

I am asking each of you to help by establishing a chipping program in your community, become a FireWise community, mitigate your personal property, building or remodeling your home with fire-resistive materials in mind, have a free home inspection performed by MFD personnel, signing up for Peak Alerts, support removing vegetation from rights of way, and advocating wildfire preparedness to your neighbors.

We cannot do it without you! Please visit www.monumentfire.org or call 719-484-0911 to learn how to get involved.

Andy Kovacs
Fire Chief, Monument Fire District

Click here for 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.

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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, road maintenance including the flagpole, and; most importantly utilities; greatly enhancing the original value of the property.

The flagpole consists in most cases of including a road to and past the property. Then the object is to get a municipality to annex the property and the roads, thereby satisfying the requirement that one-sixth of the property is next to the Town of Palmer lake. The essence of the planning requirement is that annexation should be an organic part of natural expansion. This is, of course, not the case requiring the gimmick of flagpole annexing half of the Palmer Divide Road that is in El Paso County and Beacon Lite Road. The method is obviously to skirt annexation requirements described in Item 2 of the Annexation Ordinance that endeavor to provide orderly growth; questionable at best but certainly dishonest. I also don’t see compliance with Item 8 stating that all of a street must be annexed.

Anyone paying attention knows that Colorado Springs and Monument have each rejected flagpoles!

A Buc-ee’s representative, Mr. Beard, states that impact to Palmer Lake would be non-existent, offering up neighbors next to the behemoth as sacrificial lambs.

Donn Hume

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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 in James’ letter) and used for discussion.
  • Paragraph 2 suggests that the police budget was to be raided to compensate for shortfalls. The Police Fund is composed of two components, General Fund plus 2F dollars that can only be spent for what the ballot initiative outlined. Neither of these sources was or is in jeopardy and there was never any conversation to that effect. Ask the police chief.
  • Paragraph 3 says that Council (previous Trustees) only recently has the right to make monetary changes only when that does not violate previously approved ballot initiatives (2A Water Fund and 2F Police Fund are restricted). No, the Council can not defund the police nor do they wish to do so.
  • This year’s ballot initiative (2A) was a lodging tax earmarked exclusively for previously unfunded parks with the tax paid only when lodging occurred. The current Council budgeted substantial dollars for the improvements made to Limbach. Spend a few minutes watching the children (of all abilities) play on the new equipment. This was the lodging tax destination.
  • There was no shell game and never any intent to deceive; however, “Warren James” is spewing untruths and, unfortunately, it must have worked because the measure was defeated—too bad for Monument children.

In the future, suggest if they/them want the facts, they/them consider attending meetings and/or listening to the recordings and/or asking questions of staff and/or Council directly rather than lurking in the shadows with a poison pen to punish the innocent.

Laura Kronick
Monument councilmember

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Letters to Our Community – Tax, spend, and tax some more

The Town of Monument is at it again. In the October 2024 OCN, the Monument Town Council (MTC) talked about how to make up a $2.663 million budget deficit. That’s 22.8% of the town’s budget unpaid for by projected revenues.

Part of where they want to cover that deficit is by raiding the Police Department’s budget. This is the same PD budget that voters approved a tax increase for three years ago that would add to the existing PD budget, not replace the PD budget.

But what MTC doesn’t want you to know is that the new Town Charter gives them the right to move that money wherever they want. No matter what promises were made in the past, or in the language of the ballot initiative, they can defund the PD without voter approval.

Now with Ballot Initiative 2A, they want to increase your taxes so that they can “fund the town’s parks.”

We’ve seen that shell game before. We’re seeing it right now.

Tell MTC that they need to get their budget in order and stop lying to the us about what they’re doing with our tax dollars.

Vote no on 2A.

Warren James

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – Vote no on Prop. 127

 Science as the basis for wildlife management decisions is a core tenet of the North American model of wildlife conservation. This hunting ban runs counter to science. Mountain lion populations are not biologically threatened. They range from northern Canada to the southern extent of South America, the largest latitudinal range of any mammal in the Western Hemisphere.

Likewise, bobcats are widespread across the U.S. and are not biologically threatened. They are the most common North American wild cat species. Also, trophy hunting is already illegal in Colorado, and lynx are protected from harvest thanks to existing state and federal law.

Be an informed voter. Read about the long history of successful species and ecosystem restoration and Colorado’s healthy wild cat populations from the experts at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The out-of-state extremists pushing this ban claim that lions reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), but there is no peer-reviewed science that shows lions target CWD-infected deer, and even if they do, the prions are still on the landscape and spread around the landscape by other scavengers.

Lastly, trophy hunting is already illegal in Colorado, and lynx are protected from harvest thanks to existing state and federal law. Supporters of Prop. 127 are using intentionally deceptive language to pass a statewide ban on regulated hunting. Colorado’s wildlife professionals are the experts. Leave the big cat management to them, not out-of-state extremists. Vote no on 127.

Nathan Kettner

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – Back to school

The time of year has finally come for many students to return to school and get back to their studying. With the return of school, stress levels can rise for many students as they are uncertain of what the new school year will hold. These concerns are important to address with your child and will help better prepare them for the school year ahead.

One way you can ease the stress is to talk to your student about their concerns and then discuss possible ways to eliminate those concerns. If that doesn’t work, you could also try to talk to their friends and make sure they are doing well socially and academically. It could be a learning experience for you both. It is also very important to make sure they maintain the fun activities they have been doing over the summer.

In conclusion, I would encourage all parents to make sure their child is ready for the more difficult school year ahead and to allow them to grow and develop on their own as well. I personally believe school is not so bad once you make friends, engage in your classes, and maintain a positive attitude. Finally, I would like to say that school is not just a place to learn but a place to grow and find new opportunities for yourself and others.

Thank you for consideration,

Luke Carter

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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.

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Letters to Our Community – Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech

A social media troll shares unwelcome content within an online conversation to purposefully instigate an argument with one or more people. It is dangerous to young and old alike, and we see it every day.

It is not always protected by the First Amendment freedom of speech, as some would have you believe; it is fair in politics and elections particularly.

Examples of speech that may be limited: true threats, incitement, unlawful conduct: such as advocating violations of private life, defamation, hate speech, obscenity, pornography, public order, national security, classified information, trade secrets, or copyright violations.

Our national elections are coming, and trolling is rising to an epidemic level. Please vote and consider as a factor in your ballot decisions the honor, integrity, and ethics of each candidate and issue, no matter the level of trolling we are exposed to.

Thanks for your consideration.

Gordon Reichal

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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.

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Letters to Our Community – Remembering and honoring those who fought for our freedoms

Many thanks to those Monument and northern El Paso County community members who showed up to honor our fallen veterans on a beautiful sunny day on Memorial Day 2024. We all could have been elsewhere relaxing, preparing for a barbecue, shopping, hiking, etc. But each person took the time, mostly to honor people we never knew, and to remind the world that those veterans made a difference for our country.

OCN reported the crowd at hundreds, but it would have been nice to see thousands. Even in a highly concentrated military community, as we drift farther away from U.S. military engagements overseas, there seems to be less interest in remembering those who achieved those freedoms. That saddens me. In my father’s generation, “The Greatest Generation,” and himself a proud WWII Marine, 14 of 14 of my family’s male members served in the military. In our next generation, Baby Boomers, it was only 1 of 40. Of the Millennial children of my immediate family, so far only 2 of 18. Service to our country makes a huge difference in how someone views our nation, the world, and the values and truths enshrined in our Constitution.

If you look at the stats, the vast majority of our fallen soldiers were very young, probably averaging in their early 20s. They had their entire lives in front of them, yet most chose to voluntarily put their life in danger to fight for freedoms of religion, speech, press, to gather, and not just for our country but for others around the globe. After the ceremony, I walked throughout Monument Cemetery and was amazed to see the faded and simple gravestones from Civil War veterans who were buried there. Soldiers from Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, and other states. They each fought in our internal conflict over 160 years ago. I was proud to be among those who, in less than an hour, honored the memory of young heroes who lost decades of their lives for me.

Patrick Kiernan

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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.

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Letters to Our Community – LPHS After Prom thanks

Thanks to our great community of parents, LP staff, and students, After Prom 2024 was a huge success! We had approximately 450+ students attend the event themed “Around the World in 80 Days.

Many school districts do not offer an After Prom, as the planning and coordination involve a substantial amount of time and money. Both District 38 high schools have such a dedicated group of staff, parents, and community patrons that we have been able to make After Prom a yearly tradition.

Much of the financial support comes from family, community, and local business donations. We would like to recognize the following: Tri-Lakes Printing, Something New Boutique, Arlene’s Beans, Horseshoe Donuts, Broadmoor World Arena, Chick-fil-A Northgate , Mountain High Kettle Corn, Chipotle, City Rock, Costa Vida, Crumbl Cookies, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Glowgolf, IHOP InterQuest, Jeff Schmidt—State Farm, Jennifer Clinard Realtor—Front Range Real Estate Professionals, Josh & John’s Ice Cream , Kendra Scott, Lost Island Miniature Golf & Adventure Park, Main Event, Michelle Provencio, Realtor, The Cutting Edge, Realtors, MOD Pizza, Only One You, Overdrive Raceway, PF Chang’s, Qdoba, Raising Cane’s, Scheels, Slim Chickens, Snarf’s sandwiches ,Texas Roadhouse, Top Golf, Torchy’s Tacos, Vibes Baseball, Water World.

We had over 100 volunteers who helped with duties including purchasing prizes, mailing invitations, organizing/transporting/providing food, decorating, working on the night of the event, and cleaning up the day after.

A special thank you goes to the After Prom committee: Lori Benton, Liz Scott, Jenn Clinard, Michelle Provencio, Nicole Pritchard, and Liz Meggett. Many thanks also to our amazing LP Staff led by Principal Bridget O’Connor, Coach Tupper, and

Paul Lugauer.
Michelle Oliger
After Prom Chair, Lewis-Palmer High School

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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.

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Letters to Our Community – Protect Fox Run Park from development

The El Paso County Parks and Recreation Department’s decision to construct a multi-million-dollar nature center facility in a remote section of Fox Run Park, with a tower and canopy walk, event room, and a 60-car parking area, will destroy the very qualities that make this small, forested park so special. A news release on the website even says the structure is envisioned as a hub for tourism. The county claims to have done public outreach but made zero effort to include locals who are most directly impacted. If you study the reports on its website, it is obvious that it began with this goal and worked backward to justify it; all decisions were made privately by park and nature center staff/volunteers and its hired design/architecture team.

The feasibility study doesn’t even consider any environmental or wildlife impacts, and the traffic study incredibly claims that there will be no impact on surrounding neighborhoods. All its “public meetings” are just fundraisers, like the one in March at a brewery; a meeting was hurriedly called in February because of local residents’ complaints at having this sprung on us with zero notice or input, but it was clear they had no interest in actually addressing any of our concerns and intended to proceed with this project. Once again, the county commissioners and agencies refuse to listen to citizens who disagree with their zeal to develop all of our increasingly scarce natural resources. If you agree that funding would be better spent on fixing the ponds/gazebo area and existing trails, and that this park should be protected, not developed, please let the county know about your concerns by contacting your county commissioner and parks@elpasoco.com.

Michelle Satterlee

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Letters to Our Community – Environmental disaster looming at Colorado Pumpkin Patch?

An estimated 500 cubic yards of finely ground asphalt millings from the surface of public roads are piled up at the Colorado Pumpkin Patch LLC property on 40 acres of residential-zoned land next to Highway 105 west of Highway 83. These asphalt granules contain cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and likely heavy metals as well as accumulated tire and vehicle brake wear residue and engine exhaust artifacts from years of road use. The asphalt paving industry recycles almost all asphalt millings into new hot rolled asphalt which seals in the contaminants. Unbound (loose) asphalt millings have an incredibly high total surface area through which rain and snow melt percolates, leaching contaminants into the aquifer below. The Pumpkin Patch is surrounded by residences which obtain drinking water from their private wells.

Asphalt piles on residential property
Above: Graphic provided by Dave Ellis.

El Paso County stipulated these asphalt millings are to be spread over acres of virgin pastureland on which hundreds of Pumpkin Patch client vehicles park as well as over one mile of the Patch’s interior dirt roads. This spreading of the asphalt millings, which the county specifies must be done by April 15, 2024, will only accelerate the leaching of contaminants which are ground down to dust size particles by vehicle traffic.

Enlightened jurisdictions strictly prohibit the use of loose asphalt millings as a roadway surface due to its recognized hazards to human health and the environment. Without a paved top surface, its small particles will leach contaminants as well as migrate through the actions of water, wind, and physical displacement. The El Paso County Environmental Health office, in its apparent environmental ignorance, incredibly responded to my complaints in this matter by saying, “No disturbance of the land is taking place.”

Dave Ellis

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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.

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Letters to Our Community – Little Log Church celebrates 100 years

For 100 years, the Little Log Church has stood in Palmer Lake. It is a humble, log structure that has survived various congregations and generations. It has been embraced and loved by many, ig- nored by some, and disliked by others. Regardless of the community’s feelings about the church, it continues to stand firmly here.

What purpose does Little Log Church have? Well, its purpose is to show God’s faithfulness to all who live here—to assure broken, weary, sinful, defeated, seekers of God that God has a presence here. God’s glory is clearly displayed in the beautiful surround- ings, but He is also in the people who seek Him here. We are grateful for the community of people at Little Log Church and for those in our wider com- munity of churches who acknowledge that God has a future and hope for us.

Little Log Church is more than just a historical site celebrating its longevity. It is evidence that God continues to show His mercy and protection in Palmer Lake. The people of Little Log Church are not perfect in carrying out God’s purpose. We are simply a group of broken and sinful pilgrims who seek God’s truth, mercy, and guidance for our own journey, for this town, and for this world. We are evidence that God doesn’t leave us to our own under- standing but is faithfully here for generations to light our way and guide us through every season. We love and pray for the people of this town and welcome anyone to seek God’s truth and way alongside us. We are grateful to be a part of Palmer Lake.

Delinda Story

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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.

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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 project was never directed at neighborhoods directly adjacent to the park—it came only through local citizen efforts. About 75 citizens showed up at a meeting held 20 minutes away on a snowy, icy night to discuss concerns about the project. Despite the expressed intention of the meeting, at least one attendee left questioning the true purpose.

There are legitimate traffic safety issues by those living on the residential streets around the park, not to mention other worthy considerations. In one person’s attempt to explain issues documented in a 161-page speeding report on Becky Drive and urge the exploration of relocation of the center to a direct entrance off of Roller Coaster Road, the response was that said person needed “to have an open mind” to the current plan. While many attended the meeting with a perhaps naive expectation on its expressed goal to gain input, it felt to many that the intent was to defend “the plan” and to appease the concerned.

Unfortunately, the Fox Run Nature Center will likely become another example of the strong arm of public servants to further projects with little disruption, despite negative impact on local citizens. However, the attempts to force alternative considerations that appropriately protect the Fox Run area are noble and in line with our societal foundations. The next opportunity for discussion is an open house to be held on March 14, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. at Pikes Peak Brewery, 1756 Lake Woodmoor Drive in Monument.

Kelly Bane

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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.

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Letters to Our Community – Thank you

From those of us who walk around Monument for exercise, to shop, etc., thank you to the churches, businesses, and individuals who clear their sidewalks after snow events. It is a safety issue and keeps us from having to walk in the streets. A special thanks to St. Peter Catholic Church for completely clearing the sidewalks around its buildings and property immediately after snow events. It is very much appreciated.

Joyce Lash

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Letters to Our Community – Bell ringers help the needy

It has been my honor to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army (SA) at Safeway in Monument to greet the wonderful, generous Tri-Lakes community. There were smiles and stories shared perhaps because of my patter as I welcomed folks with “Young lady (under 80) you look terrific today; I thought the sun was bright but your halo is blinding me.” A time or two my “Merry Christmas young man” was corrected by “I’m 85” or “I’m 91.” Had my 82 beat! The outpouring of cash donations was heartwarming as was noted by the downtown SA staff. The volunteers of the three sites in this area should be proud of the community response.

John Howe

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – D38 school board elections

It’s a shame that Todd Brown ran unopposed to the D38 school board. I say that because of my personal interactions with Todd. I was on a tour of Lewis-Palmer Middle School a few years ago with Todd. He was disinterested in education and learning about kids and how they learn. As soon as the topic turned to curriculum, he left. He certainly has no knowledge or concerns regarding kids with special needs, gifted kids, or twice exceptional kids. Todd wants to be on the board because he is sure that the board is “hiding” money or spending it on exorbitant salaries. Some of his animosity comes from events that occurred 20 years ago when he didn’t even live here. He listens to the malcontents.

Todd was the administrator of the LP Parents Facebook page, which is simply a propaganda machine for those who want to destroy public education. He allowed others on the LP Parents site to debase and slander people personally and professionally. He especially let Derek Araje attack people for their opinions. But if you said something back to Derek, then you were “admonished” by Todd on the LP Parents page. When asked why Derek wasn’t “admonished,” Todd said he handled Derek privately. LOL!

If you are concerned about your child’s education, I suggest you keep an eye on Todd Brown. I believe he will only bring animosity to the board and the district. District money will not be spent on what is best for kids, nor on teachers. As a fiscal conservative, and the principal of LPMS for seven years (two consecutive years as a John Irwin School of Excellence), and who returned money back to the district every year from my budget for 32 years, I am dismayed at Todd’s approach to education.

Terry Miller

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – Appalled at MA’s gender transition policy

Once again, I am appalled and disgusted by Monument Academy’s new gender transition policy! Not only is it discriminatory in nature, it blatantly states it’s going against state and federal law. Another portion states the administration can notify the community, these students are minors, what gives you the right to disclose anything about them? You also talk about 4th Amendment rights; you have removed any rights of these students!

I am also curious if District 38 is sanctioning this illegal policy and will they pay for the lawsuits that will certainly ensue! (MA has already received a letter from the ACLU.) If MA is depending on parents to foot the bill, then I hope they have deep pockets!

Finally, I resent any of my tax dollars going to this dysfunctional institution!

Claudia Swenson

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – It’s time for Monument to move forward

Monument is the jewel of the Front Range. We are uniquely situated geographically to capture the beauty and serenity around us. To our north are 36,000 acres of designated open space. The national forest is to our east, and the AFA is to our south. We should be grateful to live here with these protections.

It’s no secret there has been negative press coming from a few contentious individuals this past year trying to create a community of hostility and showcase Monument in the media as just another politically crazy town.

This small group of former political operatives wants to change the narrative in Monument, for reasons only they can state. They seem to prefer chaos, or simply wish to have lost power restored. Most citizens just want to focus on maintaining a sense of community.

Most people live here because of the good that is Monument, and its citizens, albeit resilient, wish to move forward, keeping our town as beautiful as it can be, and as vibrant as it can be.

Citizens are permitted due process and input on how our government functions, especially since we are a Home Rule municipality, which controls how our community is governed. These misguided former leaders think otherwise.

Our founders created this country based upon citizen government and citizen participation. The Bill of Rights was intended for the citizens to maintain power. The government is you, not a few elitists who lost their status.

Negativity from these few is just noise. Monument is our home and it is up to us collectively to create the roadmap its residents desire for the future, starting with a new upcoming Comprehensive Plan that will offer extensive citizen input and move us toward creating a positive future.

Steve King

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – A question about fatal consequences

Question: If unlawful protesters close a major traffic road to a hospital, and that results in the death of an ambulance transport of a heart attack victim because of that traffic closure, does every single protester get charged with murder or at least manslaughter for their illegal activities causing a death?

I say yes.

Gordon Reichal

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – Thanks, Kiwanis Monument Hill Foundation

On behalf of the Palmer Ridge Outdoor Learning Lab, we would like to say thank you to the Kiwanis Monument Hill Foundation for their generous donations consisting of a $1,000 grant, gray breeze rock for path accessibility, and border stakes for transects to begin research. These donations are important to supporting the innovative learning space for students, allowing us to further expand our knowledge. We are very grateful for the donations made by the Kiwanis Monument Hill Foundation. We, along with our fellow students, are very appreciative of your support!

Lucy Zamborelli and Taylor Peterson, PRHS students

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – Thank you, Tri-Lakes Women’s Club

On behalf of the Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS) Outdoor Learning Lab, we would like to thank the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club for their recent donations, which included a $1,000 grant for composted soil, and Colorado native plants. Their generous contributions allow the PRHS Outdoor Learning Lab to continue building a space for students to learn through hands-on application. We enjoy going outside to the Lab to apply concepts learned in the classroom. Again, we are very grateful for the donations made by the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club. We, along with our fellow students, are very appreciative of your support!

Lucy Zamborelli and Taylor Peterson, PRHS students

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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. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.

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Letters to Our Community – Tom Olmstead? No thanks

I am very concerned about Tom Olmstead’s candidacy for the D38 school board. Olmstead’s appearance at the KOAA forum revealed a lack of qualifications and understanding, and an obsessed focus on personal grievances. I will not be voting for him.

Olmstead’s forum performance was marked by a stunning lack of preparedness. He seemed unfamiliar with the initiatives of the school district and offered only third-hand anecdotes to support his vague goals. It’s clear he put minimal effort into understanding the responsibilities of the board, or even how meetings function (it seemed like he’s never attended one). Rather than addressing concrete issues, his focus was railing against perceived issues such as “indoctrination” by teachers’ unions or gender issues, deeply divisive stances that detract from real issues at hand.

When Olmstead cited a student suicide, he admitted he didn’t know any details, and he didn’t connect it to any concrete proposal. When he referred to a rumored incident of a student’s sexual misconduct, he suggested that elected board members should be involved in disciplining individual students (completely inappropriate) and—despite not knowing any of the details—put the involved students’ safety and privacy at risk. This level of ignorance and carelessness is unacceptable for someone seeking to influence the inner workings of our schools.

Tom Olmstead’s candidacy falls far short of our community’s needs, and what I want for schools I send my children to. The role of a school board member requires a deep commitment to education, a solid understanding of the challenges facing our district, and a proactive approach to policymaking. Unfortunately, Tom Olmstead has not demonstrated any of these qualities and appears more interested in settling personal grievances and promoting divisive ideologies. I urge my neighbors against a vote for Tom Olmstead.

Jeremy Borgia

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Letters to Our Community – Vote for Tom Olmstead

In an effort to reach anyone interested in finding out the truth about Tom Olmstead—who is running for the D38 school board—please read carefully.

I am a regular member of a group that sits at Serrano’s coffee shop (several times a week) with Tom. I and the members of that group (roughly 10-12 people) have known Tom for several years now and will attest to the fact that what has been published in OCN and Nextdoor by his competition is absolutely not accurate!

If you would consider getting to know Tom for yourself, please stop by Serrano’s any weekday around 8:30 or 9 in the morning and learn for a fact what type of person he is and what positive new blood he would bring to the school board.

He will be happy to converse and answer questions about the issues facing the board and will not become involved in the character defamation approach being used by his opponents for the position on the board.

In my opinion, anyone affected by the D38 school board would benefit greatly from a face-to-face meeting with Tom.

Michael A. Graczyk

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Letters to Our Community – Protesting no parking signs at Pike National Forest

I live in unincorporated Monument and have been walking daily in the Pike National Forest, which is administrated by the U.S. Forest Service. The entrance to this is on Sunburst Drive. Due to my health issues (and that of many other disabled and veterans that use these paths), I have driven to the entrance and parked out front, off the road as did most of the people. Users (and there were hundreds) walked, biked and some had their dogs “walk” them. Anyway, some nut job just ordered No Parking signs installed in front, with a statement that violators would be towed. There is plenty of room between the paved road and the fenced park. That area is primarily gravel, but there is some grass, which is mowed.

This is a small area, maybe 10 acres. The no parking is in front now but not on the other three sides. When I questioned the logic of this, I received 6,600 views on Nextdoor, the local online posting site. I have been told that a hot car might ignite the dry grass. Problem is that these trails are over 50 years old, and there has never been a fire. Worse, now we park around the corner, where there is tall, dry grass—I agree that is a problem. I don’t know what the No Parking signs costs, but the solution, supposedly, is to put down gravel. For the area I am speaking of, this can’t be more than a few hundred dollars. Shouldn’t common sense prevail?

Kent Jarnig

100% VA disabled

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Letters to Our Community – Tom Olmstead has my vote

Thank God one of our school board candidates is out and about in our community meeting people! Tom Olmstead has my vote as he’s directly been engaging the public about his ideas and drive to make D38 a great experience for all our children.

Tom makes no bones that he believes parents have the right to what their children see and learn in the district and is driven by his law enforcement background to keep our schools safe. He understands that not every student wants to go to college, and he supports trade schools as a positive alternative to college. Tom is not in favor of tax hikes—particularly for the people in Monument who are on a fixed income. But he also supports teacher pay raises and believes we’ve not given enough attention to innovative ideas to make that happen.

D38 needs a person who wants to see this community thrive! Tom Olmstead has my vote.

Sherry E. MacDonald

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Letters to Our Community – Why a ban on political yard signs?

What in the world is going on with Monument’s Town Council? They’ve put a ban on political yard signs. Come on!

Last night, I attended an emergency meeting to reverse the ban. It was all just a political charade.

Instead, the Monument mayor and other elected officials doubled down, dug their heels in, and chastised the community for wanting the never-before-enforced ordnance reversed.

I’ve lived in this community for 20 years. Political yard signs clutter our neighborhoods for sure, but they’re a Constitutional right to freedom of political speech!

And in a nutshell, political signs are the way we become educated about our upcoming elections.

Did you know there are two candidates running for D38 school board. I’ve met Tom Olmstead—he’s exactly what we need on our school board today.

Let’s pass on the word—vote for Tom Olmstead for D38!

Gary Marner

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Letters to Our Community – Tom Olmstead – strong candidate for D38 school board

Tom Olmstead is an honest, open, and refreshing candidate for D38. Tom puts parents and students first and his refreshing candor about personally meeting parents in the district brings back much needed trust in our system. There are some haters in our community trying to lie about Tom. He’s had a stellar career as former LAPD, FBI, and lawyer and he wants a school environment where everyone is safe and accepted.

Tom and his wife moved to Monument to be closer to their children and grandchildren who attend D38. He brings a perspective of wisdom and strong family values along with the strength and fortitude to stand up to whatever ideology might threaten those values.

We believe Tom Olmstead will be a blessing to our community and we will be voting for him.

Hilary Brendemuhl
Bill Brendemuhl

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Letters to Our Community – D38 School Board director, District 2 election

Patti Shank Ph.D. is an exceptional candidate for the District 2 director of the Lewis-Palmer School District Board of Education.

Her experience in learning and instructional design enables her to truly understand the challenges facing our teachers and students. Her attention to detail allows her to easily identify and collaboratively resolve unintended consequences of proposed programs.

Patti has a deep commitment to bettering our community by advocating for positive student outcomes. As an alumni, resident, parent, and teacher in the Lewis-Palmer School District, I wholeheartedly support and look forward to working with Patti as the new District 2 director of our Board of Education.

Please join me in voting for Patti Shank.

Jennifer Coopman

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Letters to Our Community – Kindness is alive in Monument

I have a collection of buttons and pins. One of the buttons says “Try a Little Kindness,” which I believe referred to a hair product many years ago. Recently, during a visit to my local barber shop for a “cut” I was told that a gentleman who just left had paid for my haircut. I asked the man’s name and was told “Zander.” I do not know anyone by that name, but I sure do wish to say “Thanks for the kindness!

John Howe

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Letters to Our Community – Thanks, Kiwanis Monument Hill Foundation!

Thank you to the Kiwanis Monument Hill Foundation for granting the money to purchase upgraded teacher access for Gimkit and Quizizz, two online educational review programs. Both Gimkit and Quizizz are online educational quiz-like game platforms that get students excited about practicing math problems in a competitive but no-pressure environment. I am so grateful to have the Monument Hill Foundation’s support. Having an upgraded teacher account allows access to all kinds of math games for practice and enrichment. Additionally, it allows more flexibility in differentiating the content to reach all students at various academic levels, as well as aligning the content to our state standards. Students love it when we get to play the games in GimKit and Quizizz! My students love it when we use them in class! Thank you so much to the Monument Hill Foundation for your support!

Molly Ketchell

Lewis-Palmer High School Math Teacher

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Letters to Our Community – Upcoming D38 school board election

The D38 school board election is coming up this November. I would like to personally recommend Patti Shank Ph.D. as a school board candidate for D38.

Patti has the dedication, ability, commitment, desire, and qualifications to be an excellent school board director. She is also committed to our community and wants to give back and help our kids have the tools needed to be productive and successful.

Her entire working life has been centered around creating better methods of learning and retaining relevant knowledge. She obtained her Ph.D. in educational technologies to further her contribution to her field. She has written several books on the subject of learning, as well as many published articles.

She has been a featured speaker to audiences all over the world in learning technologies and is very well respected in her field. A quick online search will show you how well respected she is.

How do I know this? She is my wife and life partner and I see her dedication to learning sciences.

What you see is what you get with Patti. She won’t make this political, unlike her opponent. She is research based, but also has a strong value system and is steadfast in her core beliefs. She will be a valued partner to the other school board members and a great choice for D38.

Please vote for Patti Shank. www.patti4d38.com

Thank you.

Steve King

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Letters to Our Community – Vote for Tom Olmstead

I’m writing in support of candidate Tom Olmstead for D38 School Board. I had the opportunity to hear Mr. Olmstead at the Candidate Forum conducted by KOAA on Sept. 28. I found him to be clear and committed to the parents, students, and staff of D38. His openness to hear ideas from everyone to make D38 a great place to receive a 21st century education, while honoring the family values that make Monument a wonderful place to live, encourages me.

Mr. Olmstead moved to Monument to be near his grandchildren, all Monument Academy graduates. Two granddaughters are currently attending Palmer Ridge High School. He clearly has a vested interest in ensuring we continue to support our longstanding tradition of excellence in education.

Mr. Olmstead’s lifelong dedication to “serve and protect”—first as an Army veteran and then as a police officer—has prepared him well for public service.

I will encourage my friends and neighbors to vote for Mr. Olmstead on Nov. 7.

Ana Cecilia Konduris

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Letters to Our Community – Vote Patti Shank for D38 School Board

When considering positions on a School Board, background, character, education, and stances of the candidate should be considered as a whole. If one element is missing, look for another, more qualified candidate who aligns with the aggregate.

Patti Shank is a widely cited author on the science of learning and has over 20 years in higher education—her background is exemplary. Patti is open and honest and harbors no secret political interest; she is 100% for the needs of students—her character is beyond reproach. Patti’s education speaks for itself with a Ph.D. in Education, what better qualification for a School Board? Her education is flawless. And finally, Patti has a genuine affection for Monument and, most especially, for the students of D38. Truly, Patti encompasses all the ingredients for a stellar School Board member.

Let’s ensure that D38 has the most qualified School Board by voting for Patti Shank.

Laura Kronick

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Letters to Our Community – D38 elections—know who you’re voting for

I am writing to express my concerns about Tom Olmstead as a candidate for the Lewis-Palmer School District (D38) Board of Education, District 2 director.

Based on my research, I believe that Tom’s track record and positions are not aligned with the best interests of our community.

Tom’s lack of experience in education and unfamiliarity with the challenges faced by our teachers and students are a significant concern. It is crucial to have a board member who understands the intricacies of our education system and can make informed decisions that positively impact our students.

Furthermore, Tom’s past actions have raised questions about his commitment to transparency and accountability. As community members, we deserve a board member who is open and honest with us, and who will prioritize the needs of our students over personal or political interests. Because he has chosen to align himself with others in our community that clearly have an agenda against the town and school districts in general, we will never really know who is speaking; Tom or those pulling his strings.

In addition, Tom has no experience on critical issues such as curriculum development and student support services. We need a board member who will advocate for a well-rounded education that prepares our students for success in an ever-changing world.

Given these concerns, I cannot endorse Tom Olmstead for the Lewis-Palmer School District, Board of Education, District 2 director. I believe that we need an experienced candidate who is committed to the success and well-being of all students in our district.

Vote Patti Shank for District 2 director, Lewis-Palmer School District Board of Education.

Mitch LaKind

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Letters to Our Community – Ethics Commission takes up complaint against mayor as “non-frivolous.”

In May 2023, I wrote a letter to OCN stating that Monument taxpayers were going to pick up the tab for Mayor Mitch LaKind’s personal attorney fees to the tune of $21,000 under the guise that it was “in the Town’s interest.” That “interest” was actually an inappropriate sexual comment LaKind made to a female trustee—discovered in the December investigation of illegal electioneering by current Town Council members. LaKind hired and announced at a taped trustee meeting that this was his personal attorney.

I argued in May that the taxpayers should never be paying for an elected official’s legal counsel for inappropriate behavior. Apparently, on Aug. 15 the Colorado Ethics Commission agreed with me. In a unanimous vote, the Ethics Commission said the complaint is “non-frivolous” and will take up the ethics complaint.

By having his cronies vote with him to pawn his legal fees onto the Monument taxpayers, the mayor personally benefitted from the vote. When the mayor’s Town Council colleagues vote to relieve his personal debt because they all ran for office together, each of those colleagues now “own” the mayor and to some degree, his vote. He is forever compromised—no matter how he blathers on that he’s “passionate” about Monument or any purposeful misinformation the council gives you.

Whether you look like Stormy Daniels, Lizzo, or Twiggy, sexually inappropriate comments to any woman is a bad idea. What the mayor should be passionate about is holding his tongue when inclined to offer sexual harassing remarks and repay the taxpayers for the offense.

A link to the Ethics Commission complaint: Complaint 23-17.pdf (https://colorado.gov).

Amy Stephens

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Letters to Our Community – “Disgusted” by MA’s gender rules

After reading the article regarding Monument Academy’s gender issues, I must say I am disgusted and appalled at the way this issue is being handled.

In the very beginning the simple solution would have been to have a boy, girl, and a third for those identifying differently. MA appears to single these students out, making it much harder for them, and at the same time encouraging other students and staff to bully and discriminate.

Did anyone making these decisions stop to think that if a parent needs to be notified that it could devastating to the youth i.e.: being disowned or feeling unwanted or worse yet suicide, it happens every day. School should be a safe place, when sometimes home is not . I don’t see MA being that place.

Having a board member from another district spread conspiracy theories isn’t helpful; neither is legal counsel comparing himself to Moses or the Apostle Paul.

If MA wants to be totally non-secular, then perhaps it should become private and give up those federal dollars and property tax money.

For those of you that think being gay or transgender is a choice, I suggest you educate yourselves and your child for most definitely it is not!

Claudia Swenson
Mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother

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Letters to Our Community – Preservation of historical Palmer Lake

Ever since the area that became the small town of Palmer Lake was discovered by pioneers in their westward expansion, Palmer Lake has been a part of Colorado history. The Chautauqua movement held a significant presence here for many years. The Salvation Army ran a summer camp here in Palmer Lake for many years, highlighted in both local and Denver newspapers. The property owners fell upon hard times. After multiple ownership changes, the land and the buildings were gifted to the Town of Palmer Lake to benefit the town and citizens. Now designated as the Elephant Rock Property comprising 28 acres of land with buildings, including cabins, the debate has been ongoing for several years regarding what are the most beneficial uses of this land.

After several rounds of discussions and developer presentations, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) have decided to award several acres and a couple of buildings to two developers, one to develop a wedding venue, the second for an eco-friendly spa.

Contrary to the advice from several historical and arts organizations, the PLBOT wants to demolish all of the remaining buildings and will not request grant monies from interested governmental departments to retain this historic legacy of Palmer Lake. The PLBOT will not reserve or allow the remaining buildings and cabins for use by future generations for artists-in-residence, local art programs, and as a community center. One of the developers even offered to do the preservation and restoration at no cost to the town.

Although a portion of the property will be used to provide several new hiking trails, most of the remaining land will be unused, and the future of the remaining land is uncertain. A master planning committee of interested citizens was set up by the PLBOT but was dissolved with no explanation by the PLBOT after one session. As a result, part of the history of Palmer Lake and experience will be lost forever. I urge everyone to petition the PLBOT to save this piece of Palmer Lake history for its citizens, both present and future.

Atis Jurka

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Letters to Our Community – Thank you, School District 38

On behalf of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club, I want to thank Lewis-Palmer School District 38 for the contribution of time and efforts to help make the Monument Hill Kiwanis 2023 Fourth of July Parade a huge success. Specifically, I would like to thank D38 Transportation Supervisor Julie Abeyta and district drivers David McDaniel, Tom Rainy, Guadalupe Leonard, David Schindel, Michael Schad, David Bane, Tom Bliss, Winston Brower, Michael Drew, Esther Aniesta, Eric Sullivan, and Hope Lowe for safely and patiently using school buses to shuttle parade-goers from the Lewis-Palmer High School (LPHS) parking lot to and from the parade. Ricky Vestal, Maintenance and Grounds supervisor, and his crew did an excellent job mowing and preparing the parade lineup areas for over 90 events.

Mary Anderson, custodian at Grace Best Elementary, graciously provided her time to open the school to access all the Monument Hill Kiwanis parade signs and equipment before and after the parade. The district also allowed use of the water tap at the bus barn, so the Renaissance Festival folks and animals had water both before and after the parade. Finally, Bridgette O’Connor, principal, and Nick Baker, athletic director, granted Kiwanis the use of the LPHS parking lot for parade-goers to park vehicles, to ride the shuttles to the parade, and to return to their cars on a shuttle back to the high school. It takes many community members to facilitate the success of this parade, and District 38 was certainly a big contributor. Thank you District 38.

Ted Bauman
Monument Hill Kiwanis Club
Parade Line-up Chair

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Letters to Our Community – Kudos to Monument board and management for Artsites 2023

Since 2003, the not-for-profit group Tri-Lakes Views has brought the arts to Monument. With the cooperation of the town and the Lewis-Palmer School District board, that became an annual rotating display of sculpture along with a permanent collection of public art. That relationship is again being exhibited on the multiple pedestals throughout our community. I encourage you to take the time to enjoy the pieces along with our wonderful installations at the entrances on Baptist Road (Aspen Grove) and Second Street (Ice Harvest).

Dr. Elizabeth Konarski

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Letters to Our Community – Another hidden cost of excessive development

To make way for development natural land is stripped of its topsoil, then paved over with parking lots, roads, and driveways. This makes the ground impervious to surface water which normally makes its way through layers of earth, sand, and gravel where it is naturally filtered and naturally makes its way to be stored in natural aquifers. This surface water is commonly known to be non-potable, highly contaminated with various pollutants, both organic and inorganic.

The Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) solution mentioned in OCN June 3, 2023, page 18 proposes to collect this excess surface water (i.e., runoff created by excessive development) and inject it directly into the heretofore pristine aquifer through an existing well(s).

I ask you: What could possibly go wrong?

(My apologies for the excessive use of the words natural and naturally.)

Brian Clifford

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Letters to Our Community – More demonstrable lies from D38

While you’re looking at your exploding tax bill, take a few minutes to think about the additional taxes District 38 wanted you to have to pay on top of what your new tax bill has become. Last year, they put a 7.45-mill increase on the ballot. They claimed they needed the $5.5 million for teacher salaries and that it would have only raised taxes for the average house by $260.

That was never the real amount because the average house here costs closer to $800,000 not the $500,000 they claimed. If you doubt that, just look at your new tax bill with the updated property value assessment. If their “ask” had passed, your high tax bill would probably be at least $500 higher right now. And they would have hustled taxpayers out of $8 million, not $5.5 million as advertised.

That’s because, unlike the flat-rate, $4 million/year MLO passed in 1999, an increase of 7.45 mills increases with home values. D38 deliberately used outdated values to advertise lower dollar amounts in their campaign. Anyone who checked real estate listings would have seen this. Thankfully, enough people had the sense to vote No.

But D38 is at it again this year, hoping fewer No voters will bother to mail back ballots. They’re still repeating another favorite lie—that teachers are leaving to go work in other districts who offer higher pay.

How do we know it’s a lie? D38’s own employee termination reports from 2018 to 2020 list only two or three “Not satisfied with position/pay” exits each year (out of an average of 62 resignations annually). Not one left for pay in 2019. When I complained that their own reports prove that teachers aren’t running to neighboring districts for higher pay, they didn’t apologize. They just stopped producing the report.

Vote, and vote no.

Derek Araje/#JustAskDerek

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Letters to Our Community – LPHS After Prom thanks

Thanks to our great community of parents, Lewis-Palmer High School staff, and students, After Prom 2023 was a huge success! We had approximately 430 students attend the event.

Many school districts do not offer an After Prom, as the planning and coordination involved take a substantial amount of parent involvement and resources. District 38 high schools have a dedicated group of staff, parents, and community supporters which allows us to make After Prom a yearly tradition!

LPHS After Prom photo provided by Michelle Oliger

Much of the financial support comes from local businesses and many families’ personal donations. We would like to recognize the following community supporters: Tri-Lakes Printing, Ellie Mental Health, Something New Boutique, Arlene’s Beans, Chick-fil-A, Horseshoe Donuts, Top Golf, The Summit, Target, Scheels, Overdrive Raceway, Glow Golf, Parry’s Pizza, Mod Pizza, City Rock, Lolley’s, Freedom Car Wash, Black Forest Deli, Legends Mini Golf & Batting, Pies & Grinders, In-N-Out, Bad Daddy’s Burgers, Texas Roadhouse, Costa Vida, Burger King, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle, World Arena, Whataburger, Vibes, The Edge Zipline, Snarf’s, Red Robin, Qdoba, PF Chang, Nothing Bundt Cakes, IHOP, I Fly, Freedom Car Wash, Freddy’s, Elitch, Denver Zoo, Crumble Cookie, Canes, Fuzzy’s, Hamula Orthodontics, Taco Bell, Torchy’s, and Wendy’s.

We had over 100 volunteers who helped with purchasing prizes, organizing food, selling tickets, decorating, working on the night of the event, and cleaning up the day after, and so much more.

A very special thank you goes to Angie Ivall, Jenn Clinard, Dyann Wenckus, Liz and Chris Scott, Laurie Devine, Julie Hart, Nicole Pritchard, Liz Meggett, Coach Tupper, and Bridget O’Connor (principal).

Michelle Oliger
After Prom Chair
LPHS After Prom photo provided by Michelle Oliger

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Letters to Our Community – No Mafia in Monument

Through an open-record request to the Town of Monument, it was discovered that the town illegally engaged in electioneering with taxpayer dollars to promote passing the Town Charter. Fearing if voters found out about this illegal activity, they might potentially lose, the town manager and most on the Charter commission hid the illegal activity from the voters until after the election. Some engaged in this illegal activity are now, as of January 2023, your Monument Council.

The outgoing trustees called for a legitimate investigation into how and why taxpayer dollars were used illegally, but these newly elected corrupt politicians didn’t want you to know the results. They went to great lengths to try sabotaging the investigation, and the reporting of its findings. The town attorney wrote a laughable “report” to try to justify what was discovered. Thinking you can simply vote to bury a report and its evidence of corruption in order to “go away” is something the Mafia does.

On top of illegal electioneering, and only under pressure of an open records request, you, the taxpayers, are going to pick up the tab for the mayor’s personal attorney fees over $21,000. The personal attorney was hired to protect the mayor during the electioneering investigation, which uncovered, among other things, an inappropriate sexual comment made by the mayor toward another trustee.

The taxpayers should never be paying for an elected official’s legal counsel for inappropriate behavior. Shouldn’t our tax dollars be put toward better use, such as fixing the numerous potholes between LPHS and YMCA that would benefit our citizens? Lack of transparency and excusing bad behavior by this Town Council is not in the best interest of Monument citizens. Not now, not ever.

Amy Stephens

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Letters to Our Community – Monument Town Council opposes bill

As duly elected representatives of the citizens of the Town of Monument, Colo., we want to fervently declare our opposition to Senate Bill 23-213, regarding land use authority. When it comes to matters that should be of local concern—specifically related to land use authority, SB23-213 has been characterized as an attempt to provide affordable housing while, in fact, it is a sweeping attack on local decision-making authority. This is both an attack on home rule authority and an unfunded mandate as it requires the town to expend what will be an inordinate amount of funds for studies that will not actually solve the problem that the bill purports to address. Our community will be directly impacted by the components of this staggering legislation by:

  • Eliminating our ability to zone multi-family housing to locations where the infrastructure is in place to provide the necessary services.
  • Removing our discretion to place certain criteria on multi-family housing, such as parking requirements, along with other infrastructure improvements necessary for the high-density development envisioned by the bill.
  • Allowing the character of neighborhoods to be destroyed by forcing incompatible land uses directly adjacent to single-family homes.
  • Mandating expensive studies relative to housing and water resources, much of which is already duplicated in existing local planning documents.
  • Shifting the burden and responsibility of what have traditionally been local decisions up to a state agency, thus removing local accountability to voters.

The entire bill reflects the state’s belief that it knows far more about what’s best for the quality of life in our communities than our own citizens do. It removes decision-making from the people who are impacted by those decisions and shifts it to a bureaucratic entity that has no vested interest in the Town of Monument, our families, or our character. For those reasons, we strongly ask our legislators to reject this state government power grab.

Mitch LaKind, Mayor, Steve King, Mayor Pro Tem
Sana Abbott, Ken Kimple, Jim Romanello, Marco Fiorito, and Laura Kronick, Town Council Members

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Letters to Our Community – Animals and humans in danger from wildfires

Letters to Our Community – Animals and humans in danger from wildfires

Animals and humans in danger from wildfires

The wildfire burning in Park County, near Florissant, is a reminder that it is not just humans’ lives and homes that are threatened by wildfires. Deer, bears, birds, fish, reptiles, and other animals are killed or displaced, too.

The impacts are also immediate, debilitating and often life-threatening: Thick smoke disorients them, irritates their eyes and makes breathing difficult. Larger animals may try to outrun the flames, while small animals may try to shelter under rocks and in burrows. Those with babies or who are trapped by fences or other structures may not escape.

We can help protect animals and their habitats by eliminating our role in igniting wildfires: Report unattended fires, extinguish campfires and fire pits, keep vehicles off dry grass, don’t throw lit or smoldering cigarettes from your car or truck, and check the weather conditions before burning trash or leaves.

While most naturally occurring wildfires are sparked by lightning, thousands are triggered every year by fireworks. The precaution we can take cannot be clearer.

Craig Shapiro, PETA Foundation

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