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Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 13 – Board prepares for election, passes administrative resolution

By James Howald

At its January meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board passed two resolutions: the first regarding an upcoming election for board members and the second covering administrative issues. The board heard financial and operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Four seats up for election

District lawyer Erin Smith asked the board to consider Resolution 25-02, which calls for a regular election to be held on May 6.

Smith said four seats will be up for election in May. The four-year terms of Directors Daniel Beley, Bill Clewe, and Tom Roddam are expiring and board President Brian Bush’s two-year term will also expire. Bush’s term is two years because he was appointed, Smith said.

Friday, Feb. 28 is the deadline for self-nomination, Smith explained. Nomination forms can be obtained from the district’s Office Manager Cory Lynch. Once a candidate completes the nomination form, they must send it to the election’s Designated Election Official Mandi Kirk, of Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel LLC. Kirk’s address is Mandi Kirk, 600 17th St., Ste. 2150S, Denver, CO 80202. Her email address is MKirk@mbssllp.com. Kirk’s phone number is (303) 292-6400. Nomination forms must be witnessed by a valid Colorado elector, Smith said.

The Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr., will be the polling place and votes can be cast between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on May 6.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.

Administrative resolution

The board unanimously approved an annual administrative resolution that specifies compliance requirements and defines the rules by which the district will operate, including:

  • An accurate map of the district’s service area will be prepared.
  • The timeline by which the district budget will be prepared, submitted to the state and possibly amended.
  • The Tri-Lakes Tribune or The Gazette will be the newspapers of general circulation for publication of legal notices.
  • Meeting notices will be posted on the district’s website at https://www.woodmoorwater.com and at the district’s offices at 1845 Woodmoor Dr., Monument.
  • Meetings will be held on the second Monday of every month at the district’s offices.

Financial report

Treasurer Roy Martinez told the board the financial report for January was a draft because some invoices from 2024 are still outstanding. Water sales were 102% of the budgeted amount and wastewater expenses were close to the estimate.

The board voted to approve Martinez’s report.

Manager’s report

District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board that Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) was leading a study of indirect potable reuse (IPR). IPR systems direct treated wastewater through an environmental buffer, such as a lake or river, before it is delivered to customers for consumption. CSU has asked neighboring water districts to participate in its study, Shaffer said. He said CSU’s approach was like the Loop’s, but on a larger scale. Shaffer said WWSD would benefit from participating in the study because CSU’s plan includes use of the Chilcott Ditch, in which WWSD is a major shareholder and participation could open the door to other partnerships with CSU, possibly giving the district access to CSU’s water supply.

Shaffer also updated the board on the progress of the Loop’s water re-use project. He said the Loop was preparing a request for proposal that will go to consulting and engineering firms asking them to design water treatment facilities that will bring Fountain Creek water to drinking water standards and to pilot test their designs. He said that the Loop was continuing to work with the Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD) even though CMD had decided to withdraw from the Loop. The Loop and CMD were discussing the future of the Sundance pipeline, which is owned by CMD, and whether the Loop would access the pipeline, buy it from CMD, or move to a different option to convey its water, Shaffer said. He emphasized that the Loop and CMD were still on good terms despite CMD’s withdrawal.

Operational report

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine reported two shears, or pipe breaks, in December.

He discussed how WWSD is working to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s requirements for monitoring PFAS chemicals and lithium. He reported that currently the water WWSD delivers to its customers has undetectable levels of PFAS. The standard for lithium is unclear, he said, since the agency has not defined a minimum contaminant level for it. Board President Brian Bush said the rules for PFAS and lithium may change with Donald Trump as president. Bush also pointed out that WWSD’s PFAS levels will likely increase after it begins receiving water for the Loop.

In response to a comment from Roddam, LaFontaine updated the board on the district’s efforts to prevent cyberattacks on its facilities. He said new security software had been implemented in 2024. The district’s treatment plants are not connected to the internet, he said, and anyone trying to sabotage their operations would have to be physically present at the plants.

Engineering report

District Engineer Cydney Saelens gave a status report on the projects she is working on.

She said two bids to rehabilitate the district’s main lift station had been much higher than expected. She said she would discuss the bids with JVA Inc., the engineering company that provided consulting on the project. Shaffer said the bid might be resubmitted or the project redesigned.

Saelens said the district’s new Dawson aquifer well was yielding over 40 gallons per minute.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to determine negotiating positions and to confer with legal counsel on potential agreements with the Loop.

No actions were taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is on Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. Meetings are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at the district office at 1845 Woodmoor Drive. Please see www.woodmoorwater.com or call 719-488-2525 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Other Woodmoor Water and Sanitation articles

Monument Sanitation District, Jan. 15 – Board passes administrative resolution

By Jackie Burhans and James Howald

At a brief meeting in January, the Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board passed its annual administrative resolution and heard an operational report from District Manager Mark Parker. Resident and Monument Town Council member Laura Kronick clarified her remarks at the board’s previous meeting.

Administrative Resolution sets rules, regulations

The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 01152025-1, which specifies how the board will do its work in 2025. A similar resolution is passed at the beginning of each year.

The resolution states, in part:

  • Directors will be compensated for their work on the board.
  • The Colorado Springs Gazette will be the paper in which the district’s legal notices are published. Notices will also be posted on the district’s web page at https://monumentsanitationdistrict.org.
  • Meetings will be held in the district’s community room at 130 Second St. at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.
  • The district manager will also serve as the budget officer and will propose a budget to the board by Oct. 15, will schedule a public hearing on that proposed budget, will prepare a final budget, amend it as necessary, and submit it to the state by Dec. 15.
  • Kara Winters, of Collins Cole Winn & Ulmer PLLC, will serve as the designated election official for any elections to be held in 2025.
  • The MSD community room will be the polling place for all elections in 2025.
  • Collins Cole Winn & Ulmer will be the district’s general counsel, GMS Inc. will provide engineering services, and Haynie & Co. will provide accounting services.

Manager’s report

Parker told the board Alphalete Plumbing had replaced a temperature and pressure relief valve at the district headquarters building. He said return envelopes would no longer be included in the district’s monthly statements to customers as a cost-saving measure and to encourage customers to use Electronic Funds Transfer instead of checks. The district is still working with representatives of the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center to get estimated wastewater flow projections.

Kronick clarifies remarks on pay increases

At the previous board meeting, Kronick told the board that while the board had discussed giving district employees a 5% salary increase (3% for cost of living and 2% for merit), the final budget listed a 14% increase for salaries. The difference caused a perception problem, she said.

During the public comments portion of the January meeting, Kronick emphasized that the issue was one of perception only. She asked that the minutes for the previous meeting be amended, with the words “rate increase” being replaced with “pay increase.”

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Monument Sanitation District meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in the district conference room at 130 Second St., Monument. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19. See https://MonumentSanitationDistrict.org. For a district service map, see https://MonumentSanitationDistrict.org/district-map. Information: 719-481-4886.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Donala Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 16 – Board passes housekeeping resolution

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

In January, the Donala Water and Sanitation District’s (DWSD) board passed an administrative resolution and set their calendar of meetings for 2025. It elected a backup representative to the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, also known as the “Loop”). Finally, the board heard financial and operational reports.

Administrative resolution

Resolution 2025-1 specifies how DWSD will comply with state laws; a similar resolution is passed every year. It includes, in part:

  • The timeline governing when a budget will be proposed, amended if necessary and filed with the state.
  • The Gazette or the Tri-Lakes Tribune will be the papers of general circulation in which legal notices will be published.
  • Notices will also be posted on the district’s webpage, www.donalawater.org, and at the district’s offices at 1580 Holbein Dr.
  • Regular meetings will be on the third Thursday of every month at 1:30 p.m. at the district’s offices.

Meeting schedule for 2025

The board set its meeting schedule for 2025. The schedule can be found here: https://www.donalawater.org/files/8c7aa8899/Annual+Board+Meeting+Schedule+2025.pdf.

Backup representatives named

General Manager Jeff Hodge asked the board to approve Resolution 2025-2, which names Accounts Payable Specialist Christina Hawker and Water Operator Cade Pennington as the district’s alternative representatives on the Loop board. They will represent DWSD if Hodge is unable to attend a Loop meeting. The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

Financial report and operational reports

In a brief financial report, Hawker said the district ended its 2024 budget year with water sales $30,000 over its estimate and expenses just under its estimate. The expenses for the Upper Monument Creek Waste Wastewater Treatment Facility (UMCWWTF), which DWSD operates jointly with Academy Water and Sanitation District, Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, and Triview Metropolitan District, were spot on, she said. The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.

In his manager’s report, Hodge told the board the district is moving ahead with its plans to redrill Well 7D. He said he had met with the district’s water lawyers and with engineers, who estimated the redrilled well could produce 200 gallons per minute. Hodge said he was concerned that the pipeline adjacent to Baptist Road could fail but the wells near the Holbein treatment plant can supply the plant without using the pipeline. He said he was also considering the future of Well 14A, currently unused due to radium levels, but which could be viable with the radium remediation technology that the district has in place.

Rehabilitation of the district’s storage tanks is continuing, Hodge said, adding he was dusting off the plans to keep the district’s UMCWWTF safe in case of fire. The district should consider investing in an on-site generator or in battery backup, he said.

Superintendent of Water Operations Ronny Wright told the board he was investigating Barricade fire blocking gel and Phos-Chek as methods to protect the UMCWWTF from fire damage.

Waste Plant Operator Aaron Tolman reported E. coli in the UMCWWTF’s effluent is well under the maximum allowed. The plant processed 28 million gallons of wastewater in December, Tolman said.

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The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. Generally, board meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. and include online access; call (719) 488-3603 or access www.donalawater.org to receive up-to-date meeting information. The district office is located at 15850 Holbein Drive, Colorado Springs.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Donala Water and Sanitation District articles

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Jan. 16 – Board moves forward with RFP for water treatment design

By James Howald

At its January meeting, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) heard from John Kuosman, the Loop’s workflow manager, regarding a request for proposal (RFP) to design the project’s water treatment process. The board heard a financial report from Corbin Fromm, of Fromm and Co. LLC, the Loop’s accounting firm, and a brief legal report from Nicole Peykov of SpencerFane, the Loop’s legal firm.

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss negotiating positions regarding access to water rights.

Treatment RFP requires confidentiality

Kuosman told the board that the consultants with whom he had discussed the project’s water treatment requirements had requested that meetings with him be proprietary, so that their design suggestions would remain confidential. The consultants also requested access to specific drawings. Kuosman said he planned to issue the RFP on Monday, Jan. 20 and responses from consultants would be due by Feb. 27. He proposed scheduling interviews with a short list of consultants around March 10 and said he would recommend which consultant should be awarded the water treatment design work to the board at its March 20 meeting. He asked the board to agree to the release of the information requested and to agree that the meetings be held in a proprietary manner.

Board President Jessie Shaffer pointed out that the Loop board could not meet with the consultants and asked if they would need six weeks to put together their proposals. Kuosman said based on his experience, six weeks was appropriate to get well-developed proposals. Shaffer and board Secretary Jeff Hodge authorized Kuosman to release the information and hold the meetings as he requested.

Kuosman said questions he had received from the board about Colorado’s 1041 regulations, which concern the site selection and construction of major water treatment systems, would be incorporated into the RFP.

Kuosman told the board he had discussed the Cherokee Metropolitan District’s withdrawal from the Loop with Jenny Bishop of Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU). CSU has its own consultant working on the transmission and storage of re-used water, Kuosman said, and said it was glad the Loop was working on treatment issues. CSU was willing to participate in a water treatment pilot project, Kuosman said, and would consider donating staff and facilities.

Kuosman mentioned he had met with entities that were interested in water supplies owned by the Loop and one had made a formal request for additional information.

Financial report

Fromm told the board there was $25,000 in outstanding invoices for December, and the board voted to pay the claims. Fromm also said he believed the El Paso Board of County Commissioners would expedite the Loop’s request for $4 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds, and the Loop would receive that money possibly by the end of January.

Peykov reminded the board that, due to the withdrawal of the Cherokee Metropolitan District from the project, it took only two Loop board members to make a quorum. A discussion between two board members would therefore be a public meeting that would need to be announced to the public with a minimum 24-hour notice, she said.

Executive session

Following the executive session, the board reconvened into open session and directed Kuosman to finalize and issue an RFP to address advanced water treatment plant services for the Loop.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Workshop meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Other Loop articles

Triview Metropolitan District, Jan. 23 – 2025 water and wastewater rates and fees increase approved

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on Jan. 23, the board held a public hearing before approving the 2025 water and wastewater rate and fee increases. Monument Town Councilor/former board Director Marco Fiorito discussed relationship building with the district. The board received an update on the Higby Road improvement project.

The board held an executive session to discuss the acquisition or sale of water/land and to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, to develop strategies for negotiations, and to instruct negotiators in the potential participation in the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) pipeline, to develop incentives, and intergovernmental agreements.

Treasurer/Secretary James Barnhart and Director Amanda Carlton were excused.

2025 water and wastewater rate and fee increase

President Mark Melville opened a public hearing on the 2025 water and wastewater rate and fee increases proposed for implementation on Feb. 1, 2025. See https://wp.ocn.me/v25.n1tmd/. The hearing was posted in the appropriate places and no public comments were received before or during the meeting.

Background: At the December meeting, financial consultants Andrew Rheem and Theresa Jurotich of Raftelis presented their findings that capture the funding necessary for the district to remain solvent over the next 10 years. The study noted the 12% price increase in 2025 from Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to convey, treat and delivery the district’s water via the Northern Delivery System (NDS), additional district water that will be received via the NDS in the future, and a 6.5% increase identified per year over the next four years. The district anticipates other costs for ongoing repairs and replacement, change cases to obtain the district’s water rights, and other projects to increase in cost. The rate increases are small, frequent adjustments that will be level and not bounce around over the next 10 years. For example, the typical residential customer with a three-quarter-inch meter using about 8,000 gallons per month in 2024 would be billed $117 per month for the water portion only, and with the rate applied in 2025 it would be about $129.

At the January meeting, Rheem presented two residential water rate table options to the board and said the presentation was a follow on from the December presentation and included water financial plan drivers, the NDS completion, purchased water cost increases, district inflationary costs for Operations and Maintenance, and capital for ongoing annual repairs and replacement.

Option 1 follows the existing gallon usage tier system. The board agreed that customers would have more flexibility to remain within the Tier 1 bracket if the previous volume rates were maintained with increases. See table below:

  • The water base rate per month (renewable water fee) $45.00 (previously $40.00)
  • Metering and billing charge per month $6.00 (previously $5.00)

Volume rates per 1,000 gallons

  • Tier 1 0 to 8,000 $9.70 (previously $9)
  • Tier 2 8,001 to 20,000 $14.55 (previously $13.50)
  • Tier 3 20.001 to 30,000 $21.56 (previously $20.00)
  • Tier 4 30,001 and above $32.33 (previously $30.00)

Wastewater base rate per month $62.87 (previously $57.68)

Average November-February volume use uniform rate $6.20 (previously $5.69)

The commercial- and irrigation-only rates can be found at: www.triviewmetrodistrict.com.

The board decided to omit Tier 5 from Option 1, for 40,000 gallons and above at a rate of $43.11, after District Administrator Sara Lamb said few customers use that much water, and when a high bill occurs it is usually due to an accidental leak. Those customers with unusually large bills due to leaks are charged at a lower tier rate.

In a 3-0 vote, the board approved Resolution 2025-01 establishing the rate and fee increase for 2025, using the rates noted above.

Director Jason Gross said, “Although the rates for the district are higher than neighboring communities, the district is providing a service that other districts have not yet made available to their customers. TMD customers are receiving 100% renewable water.”

Melville said, “At some point all neighboring districts will have to do the same, but at greater cost.”

Vice President Anthony Sexton said, “As easy as it is to sit at the table and delay, TMD forged ahead with purchasing water rights and building the NDS pipeline, and it pains me to see the higher rate, but it would be different if the district still had to begin the NDS project.”

Option 2 was not adopted. The tier structure would have reduced gallon usage per tier as follows:

Volume rates per 1,000 gallons

  • Tier 1 0 to 4,000 $9.50
  • Tier 2 4,001 to 10,000 $11.40
  • Tier 3 10,001 to 25,000 $16.65
  • Tier 4 Over 25,000 $23.75

Councilors offer support

Fiorito said the development of the Home Rule Charter for the Town of Monument created two districts, east and west Monument, and he and Councilor Kenneth Kimple both represent the TMD voters and will support the district. The Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) is a point of interest, along with the commercial development within the district, now that plenty of residential rooftops exist, said Fiorito.

Melville said a letter was drafted by district counsel George Rowley in September and sent to the Town of Monument (TOM) Interim Town Manager Madeline VanDenHoek requesting the town include the district’s road miles to give the district access to HUTF benefits. “Money is being left on the table, now the 2025 deadline has been missed, leaving about a $1 million delta for the district’s annual revenue,” said Melville.

District Manager James McGrady said he had a scheduled meeting with VanDenHoek to discuss HUTF, and Gross would represent the district on the TOM Stakeholder Planning Committee.

Gross suggested the Town Council and the board engage in a work session, and he would seek the TMD Board of Directors’ opinion after attending the Stakeholder Planning Committee meetings.

Higby Road update

McGrady said the Town Council had stated the Thompson Thrift and Zeal for Living apartments could not begin construction until funding for the Higby Road improvement project had been secured. A special meeting is planned for March 3 to approve ballot language regarding the bond for the mail-in election on May 6. The next customer newsletter will contain detailed information about the Higby Road improvement project, and information is available on the district website, said McGrady. See https://triviewmetro.com and Monument Town Council article on page < 9 >.

Note: A brief community survey can be found at htpps://triviewmetrodistrict.com or https://www.research.net/r/TMD_WEB_DEC?ID=[ID_value]] The survey allows customers to provide feedback to the district, to help gauge the appetite for a bond question which, should it pass, will allow the district to issue about $12.6 million for the widening of Higby Road and other capital improvements. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n11tmd/.

Financial update

The board accepted the December 2024 financial report as presented and approved 17 checks from December and seven for January over $5,000, totaling about $913,506. The payment to CSU for the conveyance, treatment and delivery of the district’s residential and commercial water for December was about $127,449, and of note in January was $312,978 to T-Bone Construction for water improvements to the district’s Arkansas Valley Irrigation Canal Company Augmentation Station.

The district received a total of about $2.4 million in sales tax revenue from the TOM for 2024. It was better than 2023, said McGrady.

Executive session

The board moved into an executive session at 8:15 p.m., pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) section 24-6-402(4)(a), to discuss the acquisition or sale of water/land, and CRS 24-6-402(4)(e), to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategies for negotiations, and instructing negotiators as it relates to potential participation in the NMCI, development incentives, and intergovernmental agreements.

Sheffield confirmed to this reporter that after the meeting returned to the regular session at 9:16 p.m. no action was taken and the meeting promptly adjourned.

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Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month at the district office located at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20

at 5:30 p.m. For meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.