Woodmoor Water & Sanitation District Articles

• Supplemental water approved; charge for lost water discounted
• WWSD to purchase fire station
• Flowage easement vacated
• Solar lease extended
• MJMD gets more time to pay
• Financial and operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard a request from Woodmoor Village LLC, also known as the Mines Shopping Center (MSC), to provide supplemental water and to annul a charge of $8,481 for exceeding its allowed water service. The board also considered an agreement with the Monument Fire District (MFD) to purchase its building on Woodmoor Drive, which is to be replaced by a new fire station on Jackson Creek Parkway, and a second agreement with MFD to provide supplemental water service to the new station.

The board vacated a flowage easement at the proposed North Bay at Woodmoor development and amended its lease with Apollo’s Peak Solar LLC. The board agreed to allow Monument Junction Metropolitan District (MJMD) to defer payment on its supplemental water service agreement. The board heard financial and operational reports, and the meeting ended with an executive session.

Supplemental water approved; charge for lost water discounted

Greg Nagel, owner of MSC, located just north of Lake Woodmoor Drive, asked to purchase an additional half-acre-foot of supplemental water for $17,250 per year, and asked the district to waive an invoice for $8,481 that resulted from the center exceeding its current supplemental water allotment. Supplemental water is charged at a much higher rate than the standard allotment of one-half acre-foot of water per acre of land. Director Tom Roddham recused himself from the discussion because his business is a tenant of the shopping center.

Nagel told the board that the excessive water use resulted from an equipment failure at the Goat Patch Brewery, a new tenant that replaced Pikes Peak Brewing. One hundred thousand gallons of water were lost when a float failed, he said. The resulting invoice was equal to 30% of the shopping center’s annual water bill, which Nagel argued was too high.

Board President Brian Bush asked District Manager Jessie Shaffer how this situation had been handled in the past. Shaffer said the district had reduced similar bills for overuse in the past and went on to provide some history of the district’s history with the shopping center. He said MSC had purchased an option for 4.8 acre-feet of supplemental water in 2017. MSC executed 1.24 acre-feet of its option the same year, and in 2019 added 0.4 acre-feet, leaving 3.16 acre-feet available.

Then, to reduce the cost of its option, MSC asked to relinquish portions of it three times and finally, in 2021, asked to cancel the remaining option altogether. In addition, Shaffer said, MSC elected to use its own method to calculate its future supplemental water need rather than using the methodology provided by the district. When customers make that choice, Shaffer explained, the district expects them to accept the consequences of their alternative methodology. The overage fee is 1.65 times the cost of the excess water used.

Shaffer said the board should consider recovering from MSC the revenue lost on the carrying charges of the option due to MSC’s cancellation, which he calculated to be $4,625. Had MSC retained its option for supplemental water, it would have avoided the surcharge that resulted in the invoice. When MSC cancelled its option, Shaffer pointed out, it assumed additional risk. Other customers pay their annual option fee to avoid the risk of exceeding their supplemental allotment.

Bush suggested selling MSC the one-half acre-foot of supplemental water it requested for $17,250 per year and recovering the lost option costs of $4,625, which would reduce MSC’s liability for the lost water by $3,856.65. The board voted unanimously to implement Bush’s suggestion.

WWSD to purchase fire station

Shaffer told the board that the district had offered to buy MFD’s building at 1855 Woodmoor Drive, adjacent to the WWSD headquarters building, for $1.26 million. Fire Chief Andy Kovacs took the offer to MFD’s Board of Directors, which authorized execution of the agreement. Shaffer said the WWSD board needed to accept the agreement as complete, and Roddham made a motion to do so. The board approved the motion unanimously.

The board also approved a supplemental water agreement for the new fire station on Jackson Creek Parkway, just north of the YMCA. The agreement calls for the district to provide an additional 2.7 acre-feet of water per year to the new station, at an annual cost of $104,138.25.

Flowage easement vacated

The board voted unanimously to partially vacate a flowage easement in the North Bay at Woodmoor, a six-single-family residence development planned for a site just north of Lake Woodmoor. A flowage easement is a legal claim on a property that allows another party to use a portion of the land for water management purposes, including flooding the property as needed. Bush said the easement was no longer needed due to determinations of water levels in the lake.

Solar lease extended

Shaffer asked the board to amend its lease allowing Apollo’s Peak Solar LLC to use a portion of the district’s Woodmoor Ranch as a location for a solar array. The amendment formalizes a 60-day extension of the lease, which is needed to allow new business terms to be drafted into the agreement. Tamara Seaver, WWSD’s attorney, said that because the lease was originally signed with Enerfin Renewables LLC and then transferred to Apollo’s Peak, she wanted written affirmation that the transfer, or any future transfer, is allowed by the terms of the lease. She said she wanted to ensure that Apollo’s Peak is bound by the original terms of the lease.

The board voted unanimously to accept the amendment to the lease.

MJMD gets more time to pay

Shaffer told the board that the terms of the district’s supplemental water agreement with MJMD gave it one year to put the supplemental water to beneficial use. MJMD did not meet this time limit, and the price of its supplemental water increased during the interim, creating a large differential in price. Shaffer asked the board to allow MJMD to defer payment for its supplemental water until December 2026, by which time it would know more about the commercial developments on its property. The board voted to defer the payment.

Financial and operational reports

Director Roy Martinez gave the board a financial report on behalf of board Treasurer Dana Franzen, who was excused from the meeting. Martinez said January was a good month—water sales were budgeted at 2% but came in ahead of expectations at 5.16%. Tap fees, which were budgeted at 6%, came in at 12.5%.

In his water report, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine said that the warmer-than-usual winter temperatures were contributing to line breaks by increasing ground movement, which typically is low during the winter months.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session regarding the purchase or sale of real property and to receive legal advice on agreements with El Paso County and Lake Woodmoor Holdings LLC. No action was taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is on April 13 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Seaver’s experience with public-private partnerships a plus
• Administrative resolution passed
• Highway 105 easements
• Financial and operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

At its first meeting in 2026, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board hired attorney Tamara Seaver to replace Erin Smith. Smith is retiring after representing WWSD for 26 years. The board took care of two pieces of housekeeping that are needed annually: an administrative matters resolution and authorization to dispose of equipment of “de minimis,” or insignificant, value.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer was authorized to sign Highway 105 Phase B easement agreements. The board heard operational and financial reports from District Manager Jessie Shaffer, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine, board Treasurer Dana Franzen, and District Engineer Cydney Saelens. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Seaver’s experience with public-private partnerships a plus

Smith introduced Seaver, telling the board she is “an experienced district lawyer from an experienced district law firm.” Smith pointed out that Seaver’s experience with public-private partnerships would benefit the Loop water re-use project as well as WWSD. She said Seaver’s law firm, Icenogle Seaver Pogue P.C., was one of the strongest in the state regarding public-private partnerships.

Seaver said she began practicing law at 25 and had been retained by WWSD previously to litigate its Joint Use of Facilities Agreement that governs the Tri-Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility that WWSD operates in partnership with the towns of Monument and Palmer Lake. She has served other districts that are managing their water rights portfolios, Seaver said. A Colorado native, Seaver said she had been with the same law firm since beginning to practice law, and she enjoyed serving institutional clients.

The board voted to authorize board President Brian Bush to sign a Letter of Engagement hiring Seaver as the district’s attorney.

Administrative resolution passed

The board adopted Resolution 26-01, which lays out the rules that govern the board’s operations and ensures compliance with state laws. The resolution addresses issues including:

• The requirement to file a map of the district’s service area with the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder.
• The schedule for preparing and filing a proposed and final budget.
• The use of the district web page at https://www.woodmoorwater.com for posting regular and special meeting notices.

The board also authorized General Manager Jessie Shaffer to sell old computers, office furniture, used well drop pipe, and brass water meter bodies.

Highway 105 easements

Shaffer told the board that Transportation Resource Services Inc. is acquiring rights of way and easements required by El Paso County’s effort to widen Highway 105 to the east of Lake Woodmoor Drive to Martingale Road. Some of WWSD’s utility lines will be affected by the Phase B construction and will be relocated before construction begins. Board President Brian Bush recommended that Shaffer sign the necessary paperwork as it is submitted to the district.

Financial and operational reports

Franzen noted that in November, revenues exceeded expenditures by $550,000. “We are back in the sweet spot we were in a few months ago,” he said, noting that some construction budgeted for in 2025 was postponed until 2026. “We have strong reserves and are in excellent shape,” Franzen said.

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer said all of the Loop’s consultants were getting their designs to 30% completion. He said the Loop’s participating districts had agreed to hire an executive director who would report to the Loop board. To date, the Loop has not hired any staff directly; it has used consultants instead.

LaFontaine reported seven water leaks and a sewer line blocked by 6 feet of tree roots.

In her Engineering Report, Saelens said she had given Lewis-Palmer School District 38 comments on its Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) plan, which includes construction of a bridge over the spillway at the south end of Lake Woodmoor. Bush commented that the SRTS project has been under development for nine years.

Saelens also reported that El Paso County plans a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Deer Creek Road and Woodmoor Drive, with construction starting in March.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to receive legal counsel regarding potential agreements with El Paso County and Monument Fire District. No action was taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is on Feb. 9 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Rate increases and budget approved
• Supplemental water requested by MFD
• Contract with Chilcott Ditch Co. renewed
• Woodmoor Ranch revegetation project complete
• Operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

At its December meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board held a public hearing on its rates for 2026 and concluded a public hearing on its budget opened at its previous meeting. It discussed a request for supplemental water service from the Monument Fire District (MFD) for a new station it plans to build on the west side of Jackson Creek Parkway and renewed WWSD’s contract with the Chilcott Ditch Co.

Paul Flack, the contractor managing the revegetation project at Woodmoor Ranch, gave the board a final report on the 10-year effort. The board heard operational and financial reports from District Manager Jessie Shaffer, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine, board Treasurer Dana Franzen, and District Engineer Cydney Saelens. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Rate increases and budget approved

At the public hearing on rates, Shaffer told the board that water and sewer tap fees would increase by 10% and 3%, respectively. The base fee and volumetric rates for water service would increase by 7% and the base fee for sewer service would increase by 5%. The Renewable Water Infrastructure Fee would remain unchanged at $40 per month. A complete schedule of fees for 2026 is on the district’s website here: https://tinyurl.com/4hwwt2ts.

There were no comments from the public, and the hearing was closed.

At the continuation of the hearing on the 2026 budget, Shaffer said there were few changes to the draft presented at the November meeting, just some adjustments to when the district would pay retainage fees to contractors. He said he added documentation to the November draft for the board’s information.

Shaffer said the 2026 budget anticipated revenue just above $14 million and expenditures of $19.5 million, requiring about $5.4 million to be spent from reserves. Total reserves of $18.5 million were expected at the end of 2026, Shaffer said.

The budget hearing was closed, and the board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 25-04, which sets the rates and fees for 2026, and Resolution 25-05, which adopts the budget and appropriates the required funds.

Supplemental water requested by MFD

MFD Division Chief of Support Services Jamey Bumgarner asked the board to consider providing 2.7 acre-feet per year of supplemental water service to a new fire station planned for a site west of Jackson Creek Parkway and north of the Tri-Lakes YMCA. Supplemental water service costs $34,500 per acre-foot per year. Bumgarner said MFD’s request complied with WWSD’s water demand methodology.

Board President Brian Bush directed Shaffer to draft an agreement with MFD for the board to approve at a later meeting.

Contract with Chilcott Ditch Co. renewed

Shaffer asked the board to consider renewing the district’s contract with the Chilcott Ditch Co. The contract, which is renewed every year, obligates WWSD to provide management, administrative, and ditch rider services to the company. WWSD is the largest shareholder in the ditch company, and the Chilcott Ditch, which conveys water from Fountain Creek to shareholders and to the Calhan Reservoir, will be used as part of the Loop water re-use project. Shaffer told the board there were no changes to the previous year’s contract, and the board voted unanimously to approve it.

Woodmoor Ranch revegetation project complete

In his introduction of Flack, Shaffer told the board that the work to revegetate Woodmoor Ranch with native grasses, required by the district’s conversion of the ranch’s water rights from agricultural to municipal uses, was substantially complete and had met the terms and conditions of WWSD’s water decree. The active part is done, Shaffer said, and now the focus would be on stewardship and land management practices around weed management. He thanked Flack for doing a phenomenal job.

Flack gave the board an overview of the report he will write on behalf of the district. The report will be written to sum up the project to a water judge in the unlikely event that the work is ever disputed.

Flack said 98% of the ranch had been successfully revegetated with native grasses and explained why the other 2% could not be revegetated. Some portions could not be revegetated because the water table was too high, making the land too salty to allow grass to grow. Another portion was not suitable for revegetation because it was naturally irrigated by runoff from nearby hills.

In his conclusion, Flack gave Shaffer some tools and notebooks that survived a tornado at the ranch in 2019 as keepsakes. Bush suggested that the warehouse at the ranch be named in Flack’s honor.

Operational reports

In his manager’s report, Shaffer said 2026 would be a busy year for the Loop water re-use project. He said Burns & McDonnell had submitted a preliminary design for the water treatment facility, and the Loop’s board had provided comments that Burns & McDonnell were incorporating into its design. Shaffer said the design of the pipelines and pumps, also assigned to Burns & McDonnell, was expected to be completed in January. The plan to enlarge the Calhan Reservoir is 30% complete, and the Loop board is discussing access to the Sundance Pipeline with its owner, the Cherokee Metropolitan District. “We are wound tight,” Shaffer said.

In response to a question from Director Roy Martinez, LaFontaine explained some of the technical details of the water treatment plant design. He explained that after an initial filtration, the Loop’s water would be filtered again through Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), which can remove so-called “forever chemicals,” pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, and other emergent contaminants. LaFontaine said the use of GAC “future-proofed” the water treatment design. A further stage of treatment would keep the level of Total Dissolved Solids at an acceptable level, LaFontaine said. The treatment plant would initially have two filtration trains providing redundancy and capable of delivering 2 million gallons of treated water daily. The design anticipates the addition of another two filtration trains at buildout, LaFontaine said.

In his financial report, board Treasurer Dana Franzen said revenue from water sales would not reach projected levels for the year, and revenue from tap fees was also less than expected. Expenses were in line with revenues, Franzen said, adding, “Everything looks good.” Shaffer commented that there had been less legal work related to water rights in 2025 than expected. Professional fees related to Woodmoor Ranch were also falling, he said.

District Engineer Cydney Saelens reported that the drilling for Well 12R is complete, and welders were brought in to address structural issues with the south water tank so that recoating can continue. She said that the Northbay development, which is just north of Lake Woodmoor and east of The Cove, is active again and a Planned Unit Review had been submitted for zoning review. The number of homes in the development has been reduced from 28 to six, Saelens said. The Monument Ridge East project had just submitted another round of plans for review by WWSD, addressing just the single-family homes planned for the east edge of the property, Saelens said,

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session for the board to receive legal counsel regarding potential agreements with the LWA and the MFD. No action was taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is on Jan. 12 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Rates and tap fees to rise
• 2026 budget hearing
• Construction contract awarded
• Financial and operational reports
• Attorney to retire

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board met in November to hear a presentation from Andrew Rheem, a senior manager at Raftelis, the company that advises WWSD about rates and financial modeling. Rheem advised the district to continue with a schedule of rate increases proposed in 2024 and characterized the impact of those increases on the district’s ratepayers. The board held a public hearing on its proposed 2026 budget and awarded a contract to eliminate a lift station. District staff gave operational reports. Finally, Erin Smith, WWSD’s attorney for 26 years, announced her retirement.

Rates and tap fees to rise

District Manager Jessie Shaffer said that in previous workshops and discussions, the board had decided to increase the base fee and volumetric rates for water by 7% in 2026, and to increase the fee for sewer service by 5%. Tap fees for water and sewer connections were set to increase by 10% and 3%, respectively. The Renewable Water Infrastructure Fee (RWIF), which funds WWSD’s purchase of the Woodmoor Ranch and its renewable water rights, would remain unchanged at $40 per month.

Rheem presented a schedule of further rate increases from 2027 through 2034. In 2027 and 2028, water rates will rise by 5% and sewer rates will rise by 4%. Then, from 2029 through 2034, both rates will rise by 3%. The RWIF will remain unchanged. Rheem said his projected rates would be subject to adjustments as needed.

According to Rheem, for residential customers, the 2026 increases will mean the monthly sewer fee will increase from $37.47 to $39.34 and the monthly water fee from $11.56 to $12.27. For the first 6,000 gallons of water used, the cost of 1,000 gallons will rise from $7.33 to $7.84. The median annual user’s bill will rise from $111 to $125.

Shaffer pointed out that the increases were largest in the first year of the schedule to avoid major increases in the future, and the increases were planned considering the district’s payments for its participation in the Loop water reuse project. Shaffer also noted that customers are using less water than they used in 2006 due to more efficient appliances and landscaping choices that are more oriented toward water conservation.

2026 budget hearing

Shaffer opened a public hearing on the 2026 proposed budget and briefly reviewed the changes he had made to it in response to the board’s input at a workshop. The rate increases proposed by Rheem were incorporated into the 2026 budget, and he had reduced the estimated revenue from supplemental water service. Supplemental water service for a new fire station to be built by the Monument Fire Department on Jackson Creek was included, Shaffer said.

There were no comments from the public; the budget hearing was left open until the next board meeting on Dec.15. A public hearing on the proposed rate increases will also be held at that meeting.

Construction contract awarded

Richard Hood, of JVA Consulting Engineers Inc., recapped the events that led to the decision to eliminate rather than update a lift station on Lost Arrowhead Drive. In January 2025, Hood explained, WWSD had requested bids to update the lift station, but the cost was prohibitive. JVA was able to design a gravity sewer reroute that eliminated the need for the lift station.

In October 2026, WWSD requested bids to demolish the lift station. Six bids were received. Mid-City Corp. submitted the lowest bid at $325,000, but JVA’s examination of the bid showed that it was “unbalanced and non-responsive” because its unit price was significantly lower than past projects. It appeared that upfront costs were too great, and material suppliers were not included as the request for proposal required. JVA recommended the contract be awarded to Native Sun Construction, whose bid was $13,000 more than Mid-City’s bid.

The board voted unanimously to award the contract to Native Sun, with a $30,000 change order contingency included.

Financial and operational reports

In his review of October’s finances, board Treasurer Dana Franzen said the district’s financial performance was where he expected it to be, with net profit down temporarily due to a higher-than-usual number of contract payments.

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer updated the board on the Loop water reuse project, in which WWSD is a participant. Contracts have been signed with CDM Smith to increase the capacity of the Calhan Reservoir and with Burns & McDonnell to design the water treatment plant and the pumps and pipelines. Discussions are underway with Tallgrass Colorado Municipal Water LLC to finance the project through a public-private partnership.

Shaffer said that in 2026 the Loop should advance all design work to 60% completion, and if the public-private financing does not come to fruition, then the Loop will need to get contractors more involved, perhaps through a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) framework, in which the contractor is more involved in the design and is required to provide a guaranteed maximum price. Board President Brian Bush said that in 2026 the Loop would need to decide between a public-private partnership or issuing bonds.

Office Manager Cory Lynch told the board about the implementation of TextMyGov, a new way to communicate with the district’s customers during emergencies by sending alerts via text messages. Customers must opt in to the program using a link on the district’s webpage, which can be found at https://woodmoorwater.com. Customers with cell phones can text “WWSD” to 91896 to opt in to the service, Lynch said, and they will be notified by text when there is an interruption to their service.

In her Engineer’s Report, District Engineer Cydney Saelens said the Monument Ridge East development was moving ahead with plans for 37 single-family residences planned for the eastern boundary of the property, adjacent to Misty Acres.

Attorney to retire

Attorney Erin Smith, who has advised and represented the district for 26 years, announced her retirement. She said she was immensely grateful for the honor of serving the WWSD board and its outstanding staff and district management. She said she would provide Bush and Shaffer with a list of potential replacements. She hoped the transition could be complete by mid-February.

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The next meeting is on Dec. 15 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• 2026 budget workshop, hearing and vote scheduled
• Financial and operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

In October, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board decided on the process and schedule it would use to complete its 2026 budget. It heard operational and financial reports from District Manager Jessie Shaffer, board Treasurer Dana Franzen, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine and District Engineer Cydney Saelens. The meeting ended with an executive session.

2026 budget workshop, hearing and vote scheduled

Shaffer asked the board to schedule a workshop on the 2026 budget for Oct. 23. Board President Brian Bush said that most line-items in the budget don’t change from year to year, so the board’s past approach has been to concentrate on just a few items of importance and discuss them in depth. He asked the board members to read the draft budget before the workshop and bring their questions. The board scheduled the workshop as Shaffer recommended.

Shaffer asked the board to schedule public hearings on the budget and on possible rate increases at its meeting in November, and to hold a vote on the completed budget and rates at its December meeting. To comply with deadlines set by the state, the board rescheduled its November meeting to Monday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. and its December meeting to Monday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m.

Financial and operational reports

In his review of September’s finances, Franzen noted that receivables were down, but everything else was as expected. He said a software problem that caused liabilities to show $42,000 higher than they should be had been fixed.

Franzen commented that supplemental water sales were much lower in the last three months than in the previous five months. Shaffer said those sales are “wildly volatile.” Bush said tap fees for the year were lower than expected, but that was offset by less spending on construction.

Shaffer reported on the Joint Use Committee, which manages the operations of the Tri-Lakes Waste Water Treatment Facility, which WWSD operates with the Towns of Monument and Palmer Lake, noting that he had just received its proposed budget for 2026 and would provide feedback.

LaFontaine updated the board on operations of the Chilcott Ditch Co. The Chilcott Ditch conveys water from Fountain Creek to the Calhan Reservoir and provides irrigation water to the shareholders in the company. WWSD is the largest shareholder. The Chilcott Ditch will play a role in the Loop water re-use project. LaFontaine said he anticipated shutting down the ditch for the winter by October’s end.

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer noted that the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority is moving forward with a study of Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR), an approach to water management in which treated effluent is returned to customers after having been discharged into rivers or streams after treatment. (The Loop is an example of applied IPR.) Shaffer said the study could guide Colorado Springs Utilities’ approach to this technology. Bush pointed out that the study is on a 10- to 20-year timeline—much longer-term than the Loop.

In his Water Report, LaFontaine noted a low water loss of 3% for the previous month. He said the measurement was complicated by the fact that one water tank was being filled and another being emptied while the measurements were being collected. He said many of the wells in the northern part of the district were offline in September to allow aquifers to rest.

Regarding Woodmoor Lake, La Fontaine said about 400,000 gallons of water per day were going into the lake from Monument Creek, and he expected the lake to be filled by spring of next year. The lake is still recovering from having been entirely drained four years ago so that repairs could be made to the dam, and so water from the lake could be delivered to both of the district’s water treatment plants.

In her Engineer’s Report, Saelens said most of the equipment had been moved off the Well 12R site in the South Preserve. Erosion control and site piping are underway. She said the site should be restored by spring.

Saelens updated the board on the project to proactively replace saddles, which connect residential service lines to main lines. She said two crews were replacing saddles and 70 have been replaced so far. LaFontaine commented that many of the saddles are 40 years old and so badly degraded that they are only being held in place by the soil.

Saelens said the Monument Ridge East development, east of I-25 and south of County Line Road, was moving forward with its first filing for 37 single-family residences.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session for the board to receive legal counsel regarding potential agreements with the Loop Water Authority and Tallgrass Colorado Municipal Water LLC and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure. No action was taken following the executive session.

**********

The next meeting is on Nov. 17 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• ADUs present challenges
• Financial and operational reports
• District to remain with Xpress Bill Pay
• Executive session

By James Howald

At its September meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board began planning how to integrate Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) into its existing policies, specifications, and procedures. The board also heard financial and operational reports. District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board that he, in consultation with the office staff, had decided to continue with Xpress Bill Pay as the district’s online billing provider. The meeting ended with an executive session.

ADUs present challenges

District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board that he, District Engineer Cydney Saelens, and Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine had discussed the many issues raised by ADUs and had decided to come to the board for direction.

Shaffer said he had received two requests from district residents for approval to move forward with construction of ADUs. An ADU is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot that does not require subdivision. They are also called guest houses, granny flats, mother-in-law suites, and backyard cottages, Shaffer said. They may be attached, detached, or integrated, Shaffer said. Integrated ADUs use basements or upper floors as the secondary unit.

Last year, the Colorado Legislature passed House Bill 24-1152, Shaffer said, which requires certain land use jurisdictions to allow ADUs. The law says jurisdictions can’t regulate parking or require the primary unit to be occupied by the owner. The law, which went into effect June 30, also prevents the unreasonable restriction of ADUs, he said.

Shaffer pointed out that WWSD’s existing regulations do not define or provide guidance regarding ADUs. He listed several questions and concerns, including:

• Must ADUs have their own water and sewer taps, and require the payment of tap fees?
• People are trying to figure out how to get an ADU approved without paying additional fees.
• “Daisy-chaining” of service lines—essentially adding the ADU to the existing service lines—raises concerns about water pressure and sewer flow.
• El Paso County mandates that ADUs not have separate metering.

Shaffer said WWSD needed to update its rules and regulations to include a clear definition of an ADU. He opened a discussion with the board concerning tap fees, service line sizes, and several other technical aspects.

Following a lengthy discussion, Shaffer summarized the direction of the board as follows:

• ADUs cannot buy separate taps; they must use a “daisy-chain configuration.”
• Water lines must be upgraded from ¾-inch lines to 1-inch lines, and the ADU owner must pay the differential costs arising from the larger service line.
• ADUs will not require an increase in sewer fees.
• ADUs will not pay an additional Renewable Water Infrastructure Fee.
• The volume tiers for ADUs will not change.
• Separate billing will not be allowed.

Board President Brian Bush said he thought interest in ADUs would diminish once the costs were understood.

Financial and operational reports

Director Roy Martinez gave the board a financial report in place of board Treasurer Dana Franzen, who was excused from the meeting. Martinez said the district’s finances are “on track overall.” Bush commented that revenue from water sales was lower than expected, but the water level in Woodmoor Lake was higher than expected.

The board voted unanimously to accept Martinez’s report.

In his operations report, LaFontaine noted that water usage in August was up over July, but still less than normal. Reduced usage contributed to the fact that the water level in the lake was seven feet higher than expected.

In her Engineering report, Saelens updated the board on work being done on two water storage tanks. Preload, which is constructing a new concrete water tank, has finished construction and planned to start coating the tank on Sept. 15. Coblaco, the company hired to recoat the existing storage tank, was scheduled to begin its work on Sept. 22.

District to remain with Xpress Bill Pay

Shaffer told the board that Xpress Bill Pay had fixed its problems with billing errors, and he and Office Manager Cory Lynch recommended remaining with that vendor instead of transitioning to Cassell.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session for the board to receive legal counsel regarding potential agreements with the Loop Water Authority and Tallgrass Colorado Municipal Water LLC. No action was taken following the executive session.

**********

The next meeting is on Oct. 13 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Recoat contract awarded to Coblaco
• New online billing provider chosen
• Financial and operational reports

By James Howald

At its August meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard a summary of the bids to recoat a water storage tank from Richard Hood, a project manager with JVA Consulting Engineers Inc. His presentation was followed by a vote to award the contract. The board got a recommendation to move to a new online billing company from Office Manager Cory Lynch. Finally, the board heard financial and operational reports.

Recoat contract awarded to Coblaco

Hood told the board that the district’s 1-million-gallon steel water storage tank located between Jackboot Way and Caribou Way in south Woodmoor needs to be sandblasted and coated with Sherwin-Williams paint. Corroded joints will need to be rewelded, Hood said.

Hood explained that the schedule for the recoat is critical because it is tied to the construction of a new concrete water storage tank at the same location that will increase the district’s capacity to store water. The concrete tank, which is being built by Preload, must be complete and filled with water before the existing tank can be emptied and recoated. The recoating must be complete before the start of cold weather, Hood said.

Five bids were received. Coblaco submitted the lowest bid, at $336,000; Viking Painting LLC submitted the highest at $1.3 million. Hood recommended awarding the contract to Coblaco. The board voted unanimously to do so.

New online billing provider chosen

At previous meetings, Lynch discussed inaccuracies in bills calculated by Xpress Bill Pay, the district’s online billing provider, and the steps staff were taking to ensure customers receive correct bills. At the August meeting, Lynch recommended the district move to a new provider: Caselle. WWSD is already using Caselle for other services and the company has recently added online bill payment to its portfolio.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer said Caselle charges more for spot Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments than Xpress Bill Pay. ACH payments move money from one bank to another without a physical exchange of currency. He recommended that spot, or on-demand, ACH payments be dropped in favor of ACH payments only on the 20th of each month to keep costs low.

The board had no objections to the transition to Caselle, and Shaffer said he would review the issue with the board when implementation was 30 days away.

Financial and operational reports

In his financial report, board Treasurer Dana Franzen noted Accounts Receivable were high because he was reporting right after bills had been sent but before customers had time to pay their bills. Overall, the district was “on track budget-wise—where we should be,” he said.

The board voted unanimously to accept Franzen’s report.

In his manager’s report, Shaffer gave the board an update on the Loop water re-use project. He said the Loop’s consultants were in full swing on design issues such as the engineering for the advanced water treatment facility, the lift stations, and pipelines. A Request for Proposals to expand the capacity of the Calhan Reservoir would be published in the next few days, Shaffer said.

Negotiations to purchase the Sundance Pipeline from the Cherokee Metropolitan District were underway. Plans for lift stations, pipelines, water treatment and reservoir expansion were 30% complete, Shaffer said. The Loop is still being funded primarily by dollars from the American Recovery Plan Act, he said.

In response to a question from Director Tom Roddam, Shaffer said he expected marketing efforts to educate the public about the project to begin next year.

In his Operations report, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine said the water level in Woodmoor Lake was higher than typical during the summer months and that would make returning the lake to full capacity easier. The Central Water Treatment Plant is currently running entirely on surface water and the Southern Water Treatment Plant is treating groundwater.

In her Engineering report, District Engineer Cydney Saelens told the board that she had sent out the completion certificate for the transmission line for Well 22 that morning. The drilling for Well 12R was complete, the soundwalls were down, and site restoration was underway, Saelens said. She expected Well 12R to be online by the end of the year.

Saddle replacement would require road closures on Sunlight Way and Lions Head Drive, she said, noting the customers on those streets were notified with doorhangers.

**********

The next meeting is on Sept. 8 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Minor changes to 2025 budget
• Alternative found to lift station rehab
• Operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

At the July board meeting, District Manager Jessie Shaffer discussed midyear adjustments to the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District’s (WWSD) 2025 budget. Richard Hood, a project manager with JVA Consulting Engineers, Inc., proposed a less costly approach to a project to update a lift station on Lost Arrowhead Drive. The board heard operational reports, and the meeting ended with an executive session.

Minor changes to 2025 budget

Shaffer told the board that the amount budgeted for construction of facilities was reduced from $3.8 million to $2.6 million due in part to a decision to forgo drilling a new Dawson aquifer well and instead to improve Well 13, which was never fully brought into production. Shaffer said the drilling company damaged the well’s screen, the portion of the well casing that allows water to enter the well, when the well was first drilled. Well 13 was never formally abandoned, however, and in its current state it can produce 30 gallons per minute for less than it would cost to drill a new well. Shaffer said the cost of a new well that was drilled at the Central Water Treatment Plant site was $200,000 less than budgeted.

Shaffer said the renewal and replacement schedule for 2025 included $600,000 for saddle replacements but that amount needed to be increased to $675,000. There were fewer pump failures than expected and that line item was reduced from $325,000 to $260,000. The money budgeted for providing backup power for a lift station needed to be increased from $557,000 to $670,000.

Shaffer determined it was cheaper to buy a used tractor for use at the Woodmoor Ranch than it was to rent one, so $20,000 was moved from the equipment rental line item to the vehicle purchase line item.

Money allocated to professional fees increased because cash flow modeling for the Loop water reuse project was added to the district’s task list.

Shaffer said the 2025 budget anticipated 112 new homes; that number was adjusted down to 70, reducing the revenue expected from water and sewer tap fees.

Alternative found to lift station rehab

Shaffer told the board that bids to update the aging equipment at the Lost Arrowhead lift station came in much higher than expected, prompting the district to consider alternative ways to support the 150 customers who rely on the station. Hood said the bids for that project ranged from $834,000 to $1.15 million.

Hood developed three alternative routes for the wastewater handled by the lift station, all three of which relied on gravity rather than electric pumps and allowed for the elimination of the lift station altogether. Lidar, a laser imaging technology, and a traditional survey showed that one of the three options was best. The preferred option requires an 8-inch pipeline to be drilled using an easement between two houses that would use gravity to convey wastewater from the lift station to an existing lift station on Greenland Forest Rd. Hood estimated the cost of that option to be $645,000.

In response to a question from Board President Brian Bush, Hood said he recommended mothballing the Lost Arrowhead lift station. Shaffer suggested pulling the pumps and electronics and filling it with sand.

Hood said that, in addition to saving operating costs by eliminating a lift station, the proposed solution would solve an existing capacity problem; the Lost Arrowhead lift station is overfilling manholes when operating at peak capacity. That problem would be solved by rerouting the pipeline, according to Hood.

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine pointed out that the Lost Arrowhead lift station was built before the Greenland Preserve subdivision was built.

Board Treasurer Dana Franzen said the proposal would save $200,000 up front and there would be additional savings on operating costs.

The board authorized Shaffer to pursue the solution as proposed by Hood.

Operational reports

In his financial report, Franzen said the district was “on track for almost all revenue items.” The board voted unanimously to accept the report.

In his manager’s report, Shaffer updated the board on the state of the Loop water reuse project. WWSD is one of three districts participating in that effort. He said he expected Burns & McDonnell to have its design for the Loop’s water treatment plant to 30% completion by Halloween and its design for the lift stations and pipeline to 30% completion by Thanksgiving. A Request for Proposal for a plan to enlarge Calhan Reservoir had been published and Shaffer said he expected that design to be 30% complete by the end of the year. Once these plans and designs are 30% complete, a more accurate Opinion of Probable Cost for the entire project will be possible, Shaffer said.

Shaffer also mentioned that the district was considering moving to a different vendor for online billing if Xpress Bill Pay can’t quickly resolve a billing problem reported at the last board meeting. He said office staff manually corrected the billing problem when it occurred so that it doesn’t impact customers.

In his water report, LaFontaine updated the board on his ongoing work to lower the district’s unaccounted for water. Repairing two leaks his team located last month did not reduce the unaccounted-for water as much as he had hoped, LaFontaine said. The district is replacing older saddles, which connect service lines to mainlines, and most of the saddles replaced are found to be leaking, which suggests the water loss may be due to many small leaks rather than a few larger leaks. The rainy weather has kept Lake Woodmoor fuller than expected, he said.

In her report, District Engineer Cydney Saelens noted that Well 12R, being drilled in the Woodmoor Preserve, was nearing completion. She said the well was “fully developed,’ that is, the silt and sand from drilling had been removed using compressed air or water. The sound walls should be removed by July 23, she said.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to get legal advice on negotiating positions regarding potential agreements with the Mines Shopping Center, Buffs Wash, the Loop Water Authority, Monument Fire District, Classic Homes, and CSI Construction Co.

**********

The next meeting is on Aug. 11 at 1:00 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• 2024 finances deemed “clean”
• Saddle replacement contract awarded
• Resident reports billing error
• Operational reports

By James Howald

In June, Uli Keeley of Prospective Business Solutions LLC, the district’s auditor, gave the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board the results of her audit of the district’s 2024 finances. The board awarded a contract to replace water service saddles. During public comments, resident Jennifer Davis reported errors in her online bill. The board also heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

2024 finances deemed “clean”

Keeley told the board her audit of the district’s finances for 2024 resulted in an unmodified or clean opinion, essentially a diagnosis of good financial health. She said there were no significant findings on processes, policies, internal controls, or financial reporting. She noted some audit adjustments around investments, updates to depreciation and payables that were “nothing out of the ordinary.”

Keeley said the district’s Total Net Position, or equity in its assets, in 2024 was just over $73 million, an increase of about $5 million over 2023. She attributed the increase to the $4.4 million in tap fees the district collected in 2024. The district collected $1.6 million in tap fees in 2023. Water and sewer tap fees are one-time charges that developers pay when they connect to the district’s infrastructure. Overall, the district’s actual revenues were close to budgeted expectations, while expenditures were lower than estimated due to land and easement purchases and construction projects that were postponed.

The district ended 2024 with $25.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, an increase of about $1.2 million over the course of the year.

In terms of debt, Keeley said the district continued to pay down $14.7 million in bonds issued in 2021, which are due in full by 2031. The bonds issued in 2021 refinanced bonds issued in 2011 to purchase the Woodmoor Ranch and its water rights at a lower interest rate. District Manager Jessie Shaffer pointed out that the district’s Net Pledged Revenues were $7.6 million, or almost four times the district’s Annual Debt Service Requirements of $2 million. Shaffer said, “We are smashing debt service coverage.”

Call the WWSD office at 719-488-2525 to request a copy of the audit report.

Saddle replacement contract awarded

District Engineer Cydney Saelens told the board that eight bids had been received to replace 121 water service saddles and associated fittings. (Saddles connect residential service lines to water mains.) Saelens said bids for the project ranged from $1.2 million to $614,000, with Iron Women Construction and Environmental Services LLC submitting the low bid. Saelens said she spoke to two of the organizations Iron Women Construction supplied as references and both had favorable long-standing relationships with the company. She recommended that the contract be awarded to Iron Women Construction, adding 10% for contingencies, for a total of $675,738. The board voted to award the contract as Saelens suggested.

Resident reports billing error

Davis told the board she found errors in her online bill in the form of an additional $10 charge. She said the charge was labeled differently on different bills and she had to call the office to have the charge removed. She noted the charge did not appear on her paper bill but did appear on her Xpress Bill Pay bill. She asked why the staff needed to devote time to correcting billing errors and why the district uses a vendor that can’t permanently fix billing issues.

Shaffer said he was discussing the erroneous charges with Office Manager Cory Lynch and Billing Clerk Brittany Petta and they are considering replacing Xpress Bill Pay with another service provider. Board President Brian Bush recommended that if Xpress Bill Pay does not correct the problem quickly the district should move to another provider.

Operational reports

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine said that two long-term leaks had been located that he believes have contributed to the district’s water loss. The leaks have been repaired and LaFontaine said next month’s water report should show a lower percentage of unaccounted water.

Saelens reported that well 12R drilling was nearing completion, with 1,675 feet completed of the 1,900 feet needed. Once drilling is complete, the casing, screens, and glass beads need to be installed, test pumping needs to be performed, and water quality samples need to be tested.

Saelens also said that the Monument Ridge East residential development, which will be south of County Line Road and east of I-25, had submitted construction documents to WWSD. The development will consist of 340 residences.

LaFontaine said 800 residential water meters remain to be replaced. He asked customers who have not received a new water meter to call the WWSD office at 719-488-2525 to schedule a replacement.

**********

The next meeting is on July 14 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Board chooses enhanced design for well
• Two board members sworn in; officers elected
• Board grants CSU access
• Operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

At a special board meeting on April 28, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board approved a design for well 12R and awarded a drilling contract to Hydro Resources. The board held a second special meeting on May 6 to swear in two board members and elect board officers. At its regular board meeting on May 12, the board considered a license agreement with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to allow CSU to access one of its pump stations via land owned by WWSD. The board also heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Board chooses enhanced design for well

Rachael Frei, a project engineer with Bishop-Brogden Associates Inc., gave the board an overview of the project to drill a new well in the southwest corner of the South Woodmoor Preserve, adjacent to a cul-de-sac between two residential properties. Well 12R would replace well 12, which was constructed in 1990 and which suffered a loss of structure in 2022. Well 12 exceeded its projected 30-year life by two years, Frei said. It will be converted to a monitoring well.

Frei said well 12R will be drilled at one of the best locations in the district, where the Arapahoe aquifer is most productive, and is projected to provide about 200 gallons per minute, about 12% of the district’s annual well production. The location will reduce costs because it will minimize the length of the transmission line needed to convey the well’s water for treatment.

Frei said well 12R should be in production by 2027 and was projected to cost about $1.9 million. Some equipment that was purchased for well 12 in 2024 could be reused in well 12R, she said.

Frei presented two designs for the board to consider: a traditional municipal well design using a 40-slot stainless steel screen with silica sand gravel pack, and an enhanced municipal design using a 50-slot screen with glass bead gravel pack. Screens are the portion of the well casing that allow groundwater to enter the well and are designed to prevent sand from damaging pumps and to minimize energy consumption.

Glass beads increase well efficiency and yield, speed up well development, reduce mineral and biological fouling and mechanical plugging, and do not compact as the well ages. Glass beads are about 6% more expensive than silica sand and come from China or Germany, Frei said, and their availability and cost could be affected by tariffs. The enhanced design would cost about $600,000 more than the traditional design, according to Frei. She recommended the enhanced design, and the board voted to approve that choice.

Hydro Resources, KP Ventures, and Layne Christensen submitted bids to drill well 12R, Frei said. Hydro Resources submitted the low bid at $1.17 million for the enhanced design. Layne Christensen’s bid was $2.3 million and KP Ventures bid was $1.26 million. Frei recommended the board award the contract to Hydro Resources, which the board did with a unanimous vote.

Two board members sworn in; officers elected

At the May 6 meeting, Tom Roddam and Dana Franzen took their oaths of office. Roddam is serving his second term; Franzen is new to the board, replacing Director Dan Beley. Bill Clewe and Brian Bush were sworn in before the May 6 meeting.

Board Treasurer Roy Martinez nominated Bush for another term as president, arguing that the district was at a critical point in its history and needed a president who would provide continuity and “could hit the ground running.” The board voted unanimously to re-elect Bush as president.

Martinez nominated Franzen to replace him as treasurer due to Franzen’s background as an accountant, and the board elected Franzen to that role.

Clewe was excused from the meeting but had previously indicated his willingness to continue as secretary. The board voted to keep him in that position. Clewe was also elected to serve as the board liaison with the Joint Use Committee, which oversees the operations of the Tri-Lakes Waste Water Treatment Facility, which WWSD shares with the Towns of Monument and Palmer Lake.

Roddam and District Manager Jessie Shaffer were elected to continue as WWSD’s representatives on the Chilcott Ditch Co. board.

Board grants CSU access

Shaffer asked the board to consider executing a license agreement with CSU that would allow CSU to access its Williams Creek Pump Station through a portion of the Woodmoor Ranch, which is southeast of the Town of Fountain. CSU sought access so its staff could make operational adjustments and perform maintenance at the pump station without a more lengthy drive to the station on Highway 94. The agreement does not permit use of WWSD land by construction equipment or by CSU subcontractors without written permission from WWSD, Shaffer said. The board voted unanimously to provide the access requested.

Operational reports

In his first financial report, Franzen commented on the strength of the district’s balance sheet. He noted a $170,000 charge for insurance, which Office Manager Cory Lynch explained was paid upfront and amortized through the year. The board approved Franzen’s report.

Reporting on the Woodmoor Ranch, Shaffer said 2025 was the last year the district would be re-establishing native grasses as required by the conversion of the water rights at the ranch from agricultural to municipal uses. In 2026 and 2027 the district would switch to maintenance issues such as weed control and mowing. Shaffer said the district employees who have been working at the ranch might transition to new jobs maintaining water and sewer pipelines and providing backup for other employees.

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer gave the board an update on the Loop, a water reuse project in which WWSD is one of three participating districts. Contracts to design and pilot test the Loop’s water treatment plant, and to engineer the project’s pipelines and pump stations, have been awarded, he said. Merrick and Co. is working on a request for proposal (RFP) to do a feasibility study of reservoir expansion. That RFP should be published by the end of May and a contract awarded in June, according to Shaffer.

Shaffer also mentioned that the Loop was discussing financing methods with several companies that specialize in public-private partnerships, which are collaborations in which the private partner finances, plans and executes projects needed by governmental entities such as water and sanitation districts.

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine told the board that the meter for well 22 had been replaced and two leaks had been identified, one on White Fawn Drive and one on Higby Road, which would require traffic control plans to be drawn up before repairs could begin. LaFontaine also commended Woodmoor Public Safety officers for reporting an unpermitted contractor who was using water from a district hydrant without permission.

Executive session

The May 12 meeting ended with an executive session to determine negotiating positions and receive legal advice about potential agreements with Lewis Palmer School District 38.

**********

The next meeting is on June 9 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Check fraud leads to change of banks
• Special board meetings scheduled
• Financial report
• Operational reports

By James Howald

In April, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board authorized staff to move the district’s bank accounts to Integrity Bank and Trust. It scheduled two special board meetings. The board heard a financial report from Board Treasurer Roy Martinez and operational reports from District Manager Jessie Shaffer, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine, and District Engineer Cydney Saelens.

Check fraud leads to change of banks

Shaffer asked the board to authorize staff to move the district’s bank accounts from Community Banks of Colorado to Integrity Bank and Trust. Shaffer said the district had been the victim of a “check washing” scheme: a WWSD check made out to a vendor had been intercepted by someone who removed the district’s name and address from the check and substituted their own. The amount of the check was not changed, Shaffer said. The incident required WWSD to close its accounts with Community Banks of Colorado; Shaffer said the district would also implement an additional control on its bank accounts called “positive pay,” which will require district staff to review and clear checks every day at 8 a.m. in perpetuity.

Shaffer said the district already has an investment account at Integrity Bank and Trust and district staff have been pleased with the bank’s customer service. He said the new bank offered the same services as Community Banks and had slightly higher interest rates.

Office Manager Cory Lynch said she was familiar with Integrity Bank and that it had low fees.

The board authorized the transition to Integrity Bank.

Special board meetings scheduled

The board scheduled a special meeting to award a drilling contract for well 12R, a new well that will be drilled in the South Woodmoor Preserve, to be held on April 28 at 9 a.m. at the WWSD offices at 1845 Woodmoor Dr. Shaffer said bids for the contract would open on April 17, so the board should be ready to award the contract quickly.

A second special board meeting, at which newly appointed board member Dana Franzen will take the seat currently held by Director Dan Beley, was scheduled for May 7 at 1 p.m. at the WWSD offices. Martinez commended Beley for six years of service on the board: Beley was initially appointed to serve the last two years of another board member’s term and then was elected to another four-year term.

At the May 7 meeting, the board will also make any appointments necessary to fill vacancies and will elect officers. Board Secretary Bill Clewe said he could not attend the meeting but was willing to serve another term as secretary and supported board President Brian Bush to serve another two years as president. Bush, who attended the meeting remotely, had offered to continue as president at the March board meeting.

Financial report

Martinez told the board that supplemental water sales did well in early 2025. (Users of supplemental water pay a higher rate than customers who stay within the standard water allotment.) Shaffer said La Plata Communities had elected to take advantage of a one-year delay in supplemental water rate increases that WWSD offered to developers in good standing for its Waterside development and its purchase of supplemental water had contributed to that revenue increase.

Martinez noted that tap fees were 6% under target. He said the purchase of a second three-quarter-ton truck had raised expenditures.

The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.

Operational reports

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer mentioned House Bill 25-1211, which regulates tap fees imposed by special districts such as WWSD. Shaffer said WWSD’s tap fee policies already align with the requirements of the bill, but the bill also says water districts must serve all proposed developments if the districts have the capacity to serve. He speculated that developers had influenced the progress of the bill.

Shaffer said a crew was preparing the Chilcott Ditch to begin delivering water to shareholders and the years-long revegetation work, required by the reclassification of Woodmoor Ranch’s water from agricultural to municipal use, was coming to a close, and was primarily addressing weed control rather than planting native grasses.

In his Operations Report, Operation Superintendent Dan LaFontaine provided additional detail about maintenance of the Chilcott Ditch. LaFontaine said the annual ditch maintenance included mowing, tree removal and stabilization of the ditch banks using riprap. He said an additional gate was being added to better regulate water flow through the ditch and avoid surges following rainstorms.

LaFontaine said he was continuing to work on identifying the causes of water loss in WWSD’s infrastructure by adding water tank storage levels to his analysis, in addition to meter testing and having his crews be vigilant for evidence of leaks. He said a contractor had noted the presence of water during construction of a new home and that led to the discovery of a leaking saddle, which was repaired. LaFontaine said his goal was to keep unaccounted water under 10%, which would be considered excellent by industry standards. In March, about 15% of the water produced was unaccounted for, according to LaFontaine.

LaFontaine said the meter replacement project was on track to install 1,200 meters this year, which would complete residential replacements.

In her Engineer’s Report, Saelens said she was working with JVA Consulting Engineers on a plan to decommission one of the district’s lift stations. Decommissioning the lift station would cost $630,000 but would save the district money in the long run.

**********

The next meeting is on May 12 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 District articles

• Donala Water and Sanitation District, March 19 – District weighs financial trends and capital project impacts (4/1/2026)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 19 – Board considers fire mitigation at Willow Creek Ranch (3/4/2026)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 15 – 2026 rates and fees amended (2/4/2026)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 11 – 2026 budget adopted (12/31/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 20 – Water rights and exchange options reviewed (12/4/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 9 – 2026 budget planning (10/30/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 11 – 2026 budget planning kicks off (10/2/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 13, 22 – General manager on administrative leave (9/4/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, July 17 – Board tours treatment facility, adjusts sewer bills (8/1/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, June 12 – Positive audit report; inconsistent waste treatment numbers (7/3/2025)

• Easement agreement authorized
• Agreement with the Loop amended
• Financial report
• Operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board authorized an easement agreement between the district and the Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) at the March 10 meeting. The board amended its agreement with the Loop water reuse project. The board heard a financial report from board Treasurer Roy Martinez and operational reports from District Manager Jessie Shaffer, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine, and District Engineer Cyndey Saelens. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Easement agreement authorized

Shaffer asked the board to authorize a temporary construction easement between WWSD and the WIA that facilitates well 12R to be drilled in the South Woodmoor Preserve. The easement agreement covers an area just under a third of an acre west of Muzzle Loader Way between lots 349 and 351. The easement will allow WWSD to drill well 12R, build a well house, and install safety bollards, concrete pads, and pipelines. After the well is drilled, the temporary easement will transition to a permanent utility easement just under one-tenth of an acre in the same location.

Resident Tish Norman told the board she lives close to the location where the well will be drilled and had concerns about lighting and noise during the three-week period when the well is being drilled. Shaffer said all the nearby residents would receive notices once both WWSD and WIA sign the easement agreement. He said temporary soundwalls would be installed to reduce the noise caused by drilling and the lighting would have hoods to lessen the impact on neighbors. Board President Brian Bush added that the land would be restored once the drilling and construction concluded.

The board voted unanimously to authorize the easement agreement to be signed by a representative of WWSD. The agreement will take effect once it is also signed by WIA.

Agreement with the Loop amended

Shaffer explained that the amendment to the agreement between WWSD and the Loop addressed two issues: the number of Loop board members each participating district would appoint and the requirement for a unanimous vote of members present to approve any action by the Loop board.

Shaffer said that the withdrawal of the Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD) from the Loop in December 2024 created a procedural problem for the Loop board. Under the existing agreement, each member district appoints one member to the Loop board. CMD’s withdrawal left only three water districts participating in the Loop, which meant that two Loop board members constituted a quorum. Any conversation between two Loop board members was therefore a public meeting that had to comply with Colorado’s open meeting laws, including an announcement of the conversation 24 hours in advance. A quorum of two was constraining discussion between board members, Shaffer said

To fix this, in the case where there are less than four participating districts, the amended agreement gives each participating district two board members, thereby requiring four board members to constitute a quorum and allowing for informal discussions between board members. If there are four or more participating districts, then each district appoints a single member of the Loop board.

The amended agreement also specifies that all board actions require a quorum and a unanimous vote of the members present.

The board voted in favor of the amended agreement and appointed LaFontaine to be WWSD’s second board member in addition to Shaffer. Saelens is the alternate Loop board member.

Financial report

Martinez told the board that the district was moving from cash-based accounting to accrual-based accounting, which meant the monthly financial reports would always be for the previous month. Bush explained accrual-based accounting shows what was billed, not what was received, and that figures would reconcile over time.

The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.

Operational reports

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer discussed a water reuse study underway by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) that parallels the Loop. The two projects could share some infrastructure, such as reservoirs, Shaffer said, adding he expected CSU’s study to be complete in a year.

Shaffer noted two water-related bills under consideration by the state Legislature. A bill to allow unlimited harvesting of rainwater was postponed indefinitely, he said. A bill regulating how tap fees can be used and prohibiting embedding operating costs in them was likely to pass, he said. WWSD tap fees already comply with the requirements of the bill, according to Shaffer.

In his Operations Report, LaFontaine said that after three months of greater than normal water loss, he had concluded that there were leaks in the water distribution system that had not yet surfaced. He asked his staff to be on the lookout for evidence of leaks and said he was evaluating technologies that could identify leaks. He noted two well failures: Well 10 had a motor fail and Well 21 had a variable flow device fail.

In her Engineer’s Report, Saelens said she was working with Classic Homes on timelines for its Monument Junction developments. She said the district’s newest Dawson aquifer well had encountered a setback requiring a change to the way the well is built.

Bush noted that his term of office as president of the board will end on May 6. He said the board can appoint him as president for the remainder of his two-year term on the board, adding he would serve if the board wishes.

Executive session

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

No actions were taken following the executive session.

**********

The next meeting is on April 14 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Inliner Solutions gets contract
• Real estate closing authorized
• Manager’s report
• Operational report
• Engineering report
• Executive session

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board awarded an annual construction contract for pipeline maintenance and voted to authorize the closing of the purchase of three lots from Lake Woodmoor Development LLC. The board heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Inliner Solutions gets contract

District Engineer Cydney Saelens told the board that she had received bids from four companies to maintain the district’s pipelines. WWSD proposed a work order contract without a guaranteed number of linear feet to be repaired over the course of the year. Saelens explained there were two methods of pipeline repair: resin impregnated cured-in-place pipe and folded and formed PVC liner. The first method was the least expensive, she said, costing about $55.50 per linear foot. The low bid was from Inliner Solutions.

Saelens said the district had not worked with Inliner Solutions, but the company provided three references, including Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU), and feedback was positive.

The board voted unanimously to draft a contract with Inliner Solutions and authorized board President Brian Bush to sign it.

Real estate closing authorized

District Manager Jessie Shaffer presented a resolution authorizing the closing of a purchase of three lots on the east side of Lake Woodmoor. The district offered the owner of the lots a discount on the purchase of supplemental water for their development of residences on their property at the intersection of Woodmoor Drive and Deer Creek Road in exchange for the lots. Shaffer said the sale was scheduled to close on Feb. 20 at Land Title Guarantee.

Bush pointed out that the purchase was a good deal for the district because it guaranteed the lots would never be developed, ensuring that no one would build next to the lake.

The board voted in favor of the resolution.

Manager’s report

Shaffer told the board a bill had been proposed in the state Legislature that would allow unlimited harvesting of rainwater in barrels. He said unlimited harvesting could impact the stream system and motivate developers to use detention ponds and pump back systems for irrigation.

Shaffer mentioned an indirect potable reuse study in which CSU, Donala Water and Sanitation District, the Town of Monument, and WWSD are taking part. The study will look at the Chilcott Ditch, in which WWSD is the largest stakeholder. The study will assess the feasibility of diverting water from Fountain Creek, conveying it through the Chilcott Ditch to either the Calhan Reservoir or the Williams Creek Reservoir, and then treating it and returning it to customers for reuse. Shaffer compared the plan to the Loop, but said the timeline was 15 years out. He speculated that CSU might be motivated to demonstrate its good stewardship of existing water supplies before shopping for more water rights.

In his update on the Loop, Shaffer said that John Kuosman had left Merrick and Co., and Mark Valentine would be the Loop’s contact at Merrick.

Operational report

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine reported an unusually high water loss for the month due to the timing of meter readings that resulted in a 35-day period.

He said two final rounds of PFAS and lithium testing would be done in 2025. PFAS and lithium levels have been low to date, he said.

LaFontaine said a leak in the system had been detected using a borrowed leak correlator made by Fluid Conservation Systems that could be a useful tool for the district to use to reduce water loss.

Engineering report

Saelens gave a status report on several projects.

She said the bids to upgrade the main lift station were so high that she was investigating rerouting the sewer to avoid the expense of improving the lift station. The Well 22 transmission line project needs to have revegetation work completed; that will be delayed until spring. The pipeline is operational, she said. Saddle replacements are ongoing.

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, Walden Water and Sanitation District, Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District, and Woodmoor Improvement Association.

No actions were taken following the executive session.

**********

The next meeting is on March 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Four seats up for election
• Administrative resolution
• Financial report
• Manager’s report
• Operational report
• Engineering report
• Executive session

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.

**********

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

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• 2025 rates and budget
• Developer offers land for reduced water bill
• Chilcott Ditch management contract renewed
• District chooses new health insurance carrier
• Residents question development, water supply
• Executive session

By James Howald

In December, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board concluded two public hearings: the first on proposed rate increases and the second on the proposed budget for 2025. Both hearings were opened at its November meeting and kept open until December to meet requirements to notify the public before a final vote.

The board considered a request from a developer to exchange land on the east side of Lake Woodmoor owned by the developer for a reduction in the cost of supplemental water the developer is purchasing for the Waterside development on the east side of Woodmoor Drive. The board also voted to extend for a year existing options to purchase supplemental water at the lower rate charged in 2024.

The management contract between the Chilcott Ditch Co. and WWSD was renewed for 2025. The board voted to move to a new health insurance carrier to reduce costs. It heard comments from two residents. The meeting ended with an executive session.

2025 rates and budget

Board President Brian Bush continued the public hearing on the proposed rate increases that was opened at the board’s November meeting. The rate increases were published on the district’s web page < 30 > days before the December meeting. Base rates, volumetric rates, tap fees, and supplemental water rates all saw increases. A detailed discussion of the proposed rates can be found in the December issue of OCN at https://wp.ocn.me/v24n12wwsd/.

One resident commented that he did not like to see rates going up. There were no questions or comments from the board and Bush closed the hearing.

Following the hearing, the board voted on Resolution 24-03 to approve the rates. Directors Bill Clewe, Roy Martinez Tom Roddham and President Bush voted in favor; Director Dan Beley voted no.

Bush then continued the hearing on the 2025 budget. Clewe noted that the insurance costs for the Tri-Lakes Waste Water Treatment Facility, which WWSD owns and operates with the Towns of Palmer Lake and Monument, had increased by $2,000 since November and the 2025 budget had been updated to reflect that additional cost.

There were no comments from the public and Bush closed the hearing on the budget.

The board voted on Resolution 24-04 to adopt the budget and appropriate the necessary funds. Beley was the only no vote.

Developer offers land for reduced water bill

District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board La Plata Communities had asked the district if it wanted three lots adjacent to Lake Woodmoor that were difficult to develop. The developer asked to be allowed to transfer water rights from those lots to property it is developing on the east side of Woodmoor Drive known as the Waterside development. Transferring the water rights would reduce the amount of supplemental water La Plata Communities would need to buy to complete its Waterside development, Shaffer said. The district sells supplemental water at a higher rate than the standard allotment, which is one-half acre-feet of water for each acre of land.

Shaffer explained the costs of the land sale would be split between the district and La Plata Communities. The Supplemental Water Usage and Service Agreement between the two specifies the district will supply 8.117 acre-feet of supplemental water to the waterside development for a cost of $235,000 per year.

In response to a question from Bush, Shaffer said the agreement with La Plata Communities would use the 2024 supplemental water rates, not the higher 2025 rates.

The board voted unanimously to authorize the exchange.

Following the decision on the land exchange, Shaffer asked the board to consider keeping rates unchanged for existing option contracts in good standing to buy supplemental water.

Developers sometimes sign contracts with WWSD that give them the option to buy supplemental water at a later date as a way to ensure water will be available when they decide to proceed with a development. The developer pays a fee for the option to buy water at a later time.

The board voted to keep the 2024 rate of $29,000 per acre-foot of supplemental water in place for existing option contracts.

Chilcott Ditch management contract renewed

Shaffer asked the board to approve an updated version of the district’s contract with the Chilcott Ditch Co. The district provides administrative services, staff, and equipment to manage the Chilcott Ditch, which conveys water from Fountain Creek to shareholders in the company and to the Calhan Reservoir. Shaffer said the new contract had only minor changes, one being an increase in hourly wages for employees from $39 to $40.95 per hour.

The board voted unanimously to approve the amended contract.

District chooses new health insurance carrier

Shaffer showed the board a comparison of terms provided by Colorado Employers Benefit Trust (CEBT), the district’s current health insurance carrier, with those of United Healthcare. He said the premium increases from CEBT were “staggering,” at 13.5% for employees seeking to cover only themselves in 2025. He applauded Office Manager Cory Lynch for researching other providers. Lynch found that United Healthcare could provide a better plan with a lower maximum out-of-pocket cost, at an annual saving of $430 per employee.

The board authorized Lynch to pursue switching to United Healthcare.

Residents question development, water supply

Tom Griesser told the board he opposed the Monument Ridge East development. He pointed out that when the district purchased the Woodmoor Ranch in 2011 for its water rights, a Renewable Water Infrastructure Fee had been put in place to pay off the debt for that purchase. He asked why residents are paying a fee that will benefit the developer of Monument Ridge East.

Bush answered that anti-development sentiment was on the rise in the district. He explained that if the district has water available, it provides it to developers, but developers pay a high cost for supplemental water service and the board has raised tap fees about 40% over the last few years. Tap fees are paid once when a connection is made to the district’s water and sewer infrastructure. Bush also mentioned the Loop water reuse project, which will provide renewable water to the district as groundwater supplies decrease.

Brian Peterson pointed out the debt for the Woodmoor Ranch would be paid off in 2031 and asked if the district would retain water rights from the ranch in perpetuity. Bush said the Loop could provide up to 3,000 acre-feet per year to the district, which currently uses about 1,100 for the entire service area. The Loop could replace groundwater wells that are expensive and risky, Bush said.

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, Classic Homes and Rex Colorado Corp.

**********

The next meeting is on Jan. 13 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• 2025 budget and rates
• Water tank construction contract awarded
• Operational reports

By James Howald

At its November meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board opened two public hearings: the first on the proposed 2025 budget and the second on proposed rate increases. The board awarded a construction contract for a water storage tank near the Southern Water Treatment Facility and heard operational reports.

2025 budget and rates

Board President Brian Bush opened a public hearing on the proposed 2025 budget. The board voted to keep the hearing open until its next meeting on Dec. 16, at which time it will vote on the budget. The board meeting regularly scheduled for Dec. 12 will be delayed until Dec. 16 to accommodate the requirements for posting proposed rate increases.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board that the budget before the board had very few changes from the version it considered at a budget workshop on Oct. 23. He said he had grouped rehabilitation and repair costs and maintenance costs together as the board had suggested. The budget assumes a 5% increase across the board on residential base fees and volumetric rates, Shaffer said. He estimated the increases would cost the typical residential customer an average of $4 per month. The average increase, which covers both water and sewer costs, would be less than $4 in the winter months when water usage decreases and more than $4 a month in the summer months when irrigation is at its highest rate.

Shaffer asked the board to consider increasing the base fee for supplemental water from its current rate of $29,000 per acre-foot to $34,500 per acre-foot. In most cases, requests for supplemental water come from developers whose projects will require more than the standard allotment of 0.5 acre-foot of water for each acre of land they wish to develop.

The board opened a second public hearing specifically on rates and also voted to keep it open until Dec. 16.

The board is required to publish rate increases 30 days in advance of the date those increases will take effect. The proposed “not-to-exceed” rates for 2025 are published in two attachments on WWSD’s web page and include the following increases for residential users:

• The water base fee for a residence with a three-fourths-inch tap—the most common configuration in the district—will increase from $11.01 per month to $11.56.
• For the first 6,000 gallons of water used in a month, the residential volume charge will increase from $6.98 per 1,000 gallons to $7.33.
• For water usage between 6,001 and 25,000 gallons used in a month, the residential volume charge will increase from $11.27 per 1,000 gallons to $11.83.
• For water usage over 25,000 gallons, the residential volume charge will increase from $18.39 per 1,000 gallons to $19.31.
• The sewer base fee for a residence will increase from $35.69 to $37.47 per month.
• The sewer volume charge will remain unchanged at no charge for the first 6,000 gallons of wastewater generated in a month and will increase from $4.65 to $4.88 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater above 6,000 gallons.
• The Renewable Water Investment Fee will remain unchanged. It is currently $40 per month for residences with three-fourths-inch taps.

For new residential construction:

• The water tap fee for a three-fourths-inch tap will take a big jump from $37,235 to $40,959.
• The sewer tap fee will remain unchanged at $10,388 for the first 25 fixture units.

A complete list of all proposed water fees and charges can be found here: https://www.woodmoorwater.com/images/docs/Rate_Increases/2025/2025_Rate_Increase_Attachment_A.pdf.

A complete list of all proposed sewer fees and charges can be found here: https://www.woodmoorwater.com/images/docs/Rate_Increases/2025/2025_Rate_Increase_Attachment_B.pdf.

Water tank construction contract awarded

Richard Hood, a project manager with JVA Consulting Engineers Inc., gave the board an update on the plan to build a second water storage tank in the southern portion of the WWSD service area and asked the board to award a contract for its construction.

The new tank will provide redundancy so the existing tank can be taken offline and recoated, he said, and will be made of prestressed concrete so it will not require coating and will be cheaper to maintain over the long term than the existing steel tank. The new tank will require minor soil grading and site piping improvements. Hood said he expected substantial completion of the tank by August of 2025.

Hood recommended the construction contract be awarded to Preload, a company that specializes in prestressed concrete tanks. Hood said his company had worked with Preload on a water storage tank project in Pueblo that went well. He advised the board to accept Preload’s $2 million bid to construct the tank.

Board President Brian Bush asked if the bid included a contingency. Shaffer said the 2025 budget contained a $100,000 contingency for the project, and the board voted unanimously to accept Preload’s bid.

Operational reports

In his operational report, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine addressed the question, asked by board Treasurer Roy Martinez at the October meeting, of how much the district spends on preventive maintenance. LaFontaine said the district has never tracked preventive maintenance spending directly but is developing an asset management system that will provide the data needed to track that spending. LaFontaine said he had worked with Office Manager Cory Lynch and they had estimated about 19% of the district’s $236,000 general water maintenance budget was spent on preventive maintenance. On the wastewater side, the percentage was higher, LaFontaine said, at about 53% of the district’s $89,000 general wastewater maintenance budget.

LaFontaine explained that sometimes doing preventive maintenance on a fixed schedule wastes money because equipment is replaced before it fails. He said the district focuses on redundancy instead, which saves money by allowing equipment to be fixed only when it fails.

In her engineer’s report, District Engineer Cydney Saelens told the board that contractors made significant progress on the water transmission line being built to convey water from Well 21, the district’s newest well, to the Central Water Treatment plant. She said the contractor had been given until Nov. 25, an additional five days, to complete the work.

**********

The next meeting is on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. The December meeting was delayed to meet posting requirements. 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 & Sanitation District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, April 28, May 6 and 12 – Board awards well drilling contract, elects officers (6/7/2025)

• Financing options for the Loop prove complex
• Draft budget for 2025 delivered
• Financial and operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

At its October meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board discussed options for funding the district’s portion of the Loop water reuse project. WWSD is one of four water districts participating in the project to divert water from Fountain Creek and return it to customers in El Paso County. Cherokee Metropolitan District and Donala Water and Sanitation District are committed to the project; the Town of Monument is considering participation.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer delivered a draft budget for 2025 to the board, and a budget workshop and public hearing were scheduled. The board heard financial and operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session, after which no actions were taken.

Financing options for the Loop prove complex

Andrew Rheem of Raftelis, the company that advises WWSD on rates and financial modeling, attended the meeting to help the board sort through the options for financing its portion of the Loop. Shaffer said he had asked Rheem to consider whether WWSD should seek its own financing or have the Loop issue revenue bonds on WWSD’s behalf, and to analyze sensitivities around using general obligation bonds, raising the district’s volumetric rates for water use and raising tap fees.

Rheem said funding for the Loop is a medium to long-term decision and not about rates in 2025. WWSD can use group financing, which is based on the credit worthiness of the weakest participating district, or can “go it alone.” He explained there are several potential funding sources: cash funding from reserves and tap fees and rates; grant funding; general obligation bonds, which require voter approval; and revenue-backed bonds that do not require voter approval but that raise rates. General obligation bonds tend to get lower interest rates than revenue-backed bonds. The district could decide to use a combination of these sources, Rheem said.

Shaffer suggested the board might use a sinking fund, essentially a savings account that would allow the outstanding debt on the Woodmoor Ranch to be paid off early, saving interest costs. Those savings could be used to finance the Loop. He said there are other options that might be worth considering.

Board President Brian Bush said the Loop could not be financed with rate increases alone; higher rates would motivate customers to conserve water. Weather conditions could affect funding from water rates, he said. Financial reserves should be used carefully, he argued, because the district has ageing infrastructure that is subject to catastrophic failure.

“General obligation bonds are on the table,” he said, but the district’s Renewable Water Infrastructure Fee (RWIF) made it less likely voters would approve any general obligation bonds. He recommended a two-year marketing campaign to educate voters. “We need a composite,” he said, which would include rate increases, tap fees, use of financial reserves and perhaps general obligation bonds.

Shaffer said the board had time to consider its options and volumetric rates could be kept low if the board decides to do so.

Rheem said repayment in 20 years is common for infrastructure debt but the board could consider a 30-year repayment schedule, which would result in lower payments over a longer time.

Director Dan Beley argued for raising tap fees to make new development fund the Loop as much as possible. Beley has made the same argument at previous meetings. Director Tom Roddham agreed with Beley’s position on tap fees. Shaffer pointed out that tap fee revenue can be high one year and low the next due to economic forces that affect new construction.

Bush raised the issue of savings that would result from the need for fewer capital projects when the Loop is completed. Board Treasurer Roy Martinez said the district’s funding for renewal and replacement would likely increase in the short term due to the age of the district’s infrastructure. Shaffer said once water was available through the Loop, spending on new wells would drop, perhaps to zero. Operations Supervisor Dan LaFontaine said WWSD was currently spending about $1 million per year on renewal and replacement, and he was working on a long-term renewal and replacement plan. LaFontaine said the corrosive soils in the district caused the saddles that connect pipelines to fail, leading to increased renewal and replacement costs.

Summarizing the discussion, Shaffer said he would continue to work with Rheem to develop funding options for the board to consider, general obligation bonds seemed less likely to be useful, static fees might be part of the solution, and volumetric rates should remain unchanged or perhaps be increased by 1% above the cost of living. Bush said he believed the RWIF would remain in place beyond its current expiration date of 2031, and it was likely WWSD would have to use some of its reserves to finance the Loop. General obligation bonds at some point in the future were on the table, he said.

Draft budget for 2025 delivered

Shaffer gave the board copies of the proposed budget for 2025. The board scheduled a workshop for Oct. 23 to discuss it and a public hearing to be opened at the board’s next meeting on Nov. 11. The public hearing will remain open until the board’s meeting in December.

Financial and operational reports

In his financial report, Martinez noted higher water service revenue due to a dry September. He said the meter replacement program was spending about $100,000 per month. The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.

LaFontaine, in his operational report, said that he had purchased a clamp-on electromagnetic flow meter that he was using to test the district’s other meters to identify discrepancies in water measurements. He said he had confirmed that the meter at the Southern Water Treatment Plant was adding about 3.8% to the true amount it was processing. He also noted two line breaks, neither resulting in large water losses. All the district’s lift stations had been cleaned, he said, and he was seeing good results from the use of enzymes to prevent the accumulation of grease in lift stations.

In her engineering report, District Engineer Cydney Saelens said the transmission line for Well 22 had passed its first pressure test. Shaffer added that the pipeline was nearly half completed.

Shaffer said bids had been requested for the construction of a 650,000-gallon concrete water storage tank and he anticipated construction would begin in late spring or early summer of 2025.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss negotiating positions regarding the district’s participation in the Loop water reuse project and discussions with Classic Homes. No action was taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is on Nov. 11 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Cydney Saelens joins staff
• Financial reports made user-friendly
• Operational reports
• Executive session
• Correction

By James Howald

At its September meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board introduced its newly hired district engineer. It heard financial and operational reports from board Treasurer Roy Martinez, District Manager Jessie Shaffer, and Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine. The meeting ended with an executive session, after which no actions were taken.

Cydney Saelens joins staff

Shaffer introduced Cydney Saelens, who replaces Ariel Hacker as district engineer. Saelens graduated from Colorado State University in 2020 and spent four years at RICK, an engineering, planning and design firm where she did land development and drainage design.

Financial reports made user-friendly

Martinez told the board Office Manager Cory Lynch and Shaffer had worked with a consultant to redesign the district’s financial reports, making them easier to understand and closer to what the board members are used to seeing. He said additional changes would be made to the reports.

Martinez explained the balance sheet had been split into two pages, the first detailing assets and the second liabilities and stockholders’ equity. He said only minor changes had been made to the line items within those larger categories.

The statement of revenues had also been expanded into two pages, Martinez said, adding the excess water sale line item was renamed supplemental water service to make plain that water rights were not being sold.

The budget worksheet, published in board packets and used to track the district’s finances on a monthly basis, had also been updated, Martinez said.

Directors Tom Roddham and Bill Clewe said they liked the additional detail the new reports provided.

Operational reports

Clewe, who serves as the district’s liaison with the Joint Use Committee (JUC) that manages the waste treatment plant WWSD shares with the Towns of Palmer Lake and Monument, told the board he had reviewed the JUC’s 2025 budget, which will increase from $1.9 million in 2024 to $2.7 million. Clewe said increases to construction, operation, insurance and engineering costs all contributed to the larger budget. WWSD is responsible for about 29% of the cost of operating the treatment plant, he said, and the Towns of Palmer Lake and Monument were each responsible for 35%.

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer told the board he was vetting different methods the district might use to finance its portion of the Loop water re-use project. He was discussing this with Andrew Rheem of Raftelis, the consulting firm that helps the district set rates for its water and sewer services. Shaffer said fee increases and General Obligation bonds were being considered. He noted a presentation by Magellan Consulting Group that he attended which focused on presenting requests for bonds to voters. Shaffer said he would present financing options to the board at its November meeting.

Shaffer reported progress on the effort to build a new 650,000-gallon concrete storage tank and said he expected construction to begin in 2025. There are only two manufacturers of concrete storage tanks in the United States, he said, so scheduling the construction was difficult.

LaFontaine reported one shear and two services failures for the previous month. He said he is continuing to examine the meters at the district’s treatment plants and replace or repair them as needed.

LaFontaine noted that a high level of manganese in the water delivered to customers prompted a return to 100% surface water from a blend of surface and ground water. The level of manganese did not represent a health risk to customers, he said.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss negotiating positions regarding the district’s participation in the Loop water reuse project and discussions with Classic Homes. No action was taken following the executive session.

Correction

In last month’s article, Dan LaFontaine was incorrectly referred to as operations supervisor. His correct job title is operations superintendent.

**********

The next meeting has been moved to Oct. 14 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; the September meeting is delayed by a week. 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Developer requests supplemental water
• September meeting rescheduled
• Operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

In August, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board met to review a request for supplemental water service from the developers of the Waterside subdivision. The board rescheduled its September meeting and heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session, after which a vote was taken.

Developer requests supplemental water

District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board that Lake Woodmoor Holdings LLC, the developers of the Waterside subdivision, had requested a supplemental water service agreement from the district.

According to materials provided in the meeting packet, the Waterside subdivision is a proposed 7.5-acre development at the intersection of Woodmoor Drive and Deer Creek Road, across from Lewis-Palmer Middle School. The developer plans to build four single-family homes and 40 multi-family homes on the property.

The Supplemental Water Service Agreement included in the packet explains that the developer is requesting a total of 12.2 acre-feet of water per year for the planned development. The default water service provided by WWSD is 0.5 acre-feet of water per acre of land, in this case, 3.76 acre-feet. The supplemental water service requested amounts to 8.42 acre-feet per year. 7.5 acre-feet per year will be provided at the Tier 2 price of $29,000 per acre-foot and 0.891 acre-feet will be provided at the Tier 3 price of $43,500 per acre-foot. The total cost of the supplemental water requested is $257,157 annually.

Shaffer said he wanted to discuss the request with the board in executive session and asked to have the request tabled until that discussion had taken place.

September meeting rescheduled

The board rescheduled its September meeting from Sept. 9 to Sept. 16 to allow board members to attend the Special District Association of Colorado conference.

Operational reports

• Board President Brian Bush, on behalf of board Treasurer Roy Martinez, said water sales to date were less than the budgeted amount. Tap fees were higher than expected and interest income remains high due to high interest rates.
• Cultivation of native grasses at the Woodmoor Ranch, required by the conversion of the ranch’s water rights from agricultural to municipal uses, is continuing. The revegetation effort is expected to be complete by 2025, according to Shaffer.
• Operations Supervisor Dan LaFontaine told the board the effluent meter at the South Water Treatment Plant was inaccurate and he was working to find a company to test it.
• Shaffer said that JVA Inc. was analyzing data from a sewer capacity study so that any capacity issues can be addressed.
• Shaffer told the board that Cydney Saelens had accepted an offer to serve as the district engineer, replacing Ariel Hacker, who had accepted a job with a state agency.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss negotiating positions regarding the district’s participation in the Loop water reuse project and discussions with Classic Homes. Following the executive session, the board voted to appoint Bush as the director responsible for representing the district in negotiations between member agencies of the Loop.

**********

The next meeting has been moved to Sept. 16 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; the September meeting is delayed by a week. 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Pipeline contract awarded
• Mid-year budget update
• Record retention policy amended
• Manager’s report
• Executive session

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board met in July to consider awarding a contract for the construction of a pipeline to connect the district’s newest well to the Central Water Treatment Plant (CWTP). General Manager Jessie Shaffer gave the board a mid-year update on the district’s 2024 budget. The board updated its records retention schedule and heard an operational report from Shaffer. The meeting ended with an executive session, after which no action was taken.

Pipeline contract awarded

Shaffer told the board that eight bids were received from companies interested in building a pipeline to connect Well 22, recently drilled just south of County Line Road and east of I-25, with the CWTP, on Deer Creek Road adjacent to the Lewis-Palmer Middle School. The bids ranged from $498,000 to $1.2 million, with T-Bone Construction submitting the lowest bid. The pipeline will run in an easement just west of houses on Doewood Drive and east of the proposed Monument Ridge East development. Shaffer recommended the board authorize an additional $50,000 for change order contingencies. The board voted unanimously to award the contract to T-Bone Construction in the amount Shaffer suggested.

Mid-year budget update

Shaffer told the board that some of the funds budgeted for construction in the 2024 budget would be carried over to 2025 due to delays in the permitting process for the projects. He mentioned two projects that were delayed: the Well 22 pipeline and some of the improvements on Highway 105 required by El Paso County’s work to widen the highway. The Dawson aquifer well near the CWTP, on the other hand, was budgeted at $430, 000 but will cost $525,000, Shaffer said. Long lead times for electrical equipment have delayed the construction of lift stations until next year, requiring adjustments to the 2024 budget. Shaffer said price inflation and unexpected repairs to a backhoe also caused adjustments to the budget.

The board gave their approval for the budget changes as presented.

Record retention policy amended

The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 24-02, which establishes the schedule for record retention and destruction.

Manager’s report

In a brief manager’s report, Shaffer said district Engineer Ariel Hacker had resigned her position with the district and accepted a job with a state agency. He said he was interviewing candidates to replace Hacker.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss the district’s participation in the Loop water reuse project, in particular, the recently drafted Member Agency Financing and Contribution Agreement. No votes were taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12 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 District (WWSD) articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

By James Howald

• Is there enough water for MRE?
• Growth slows, reducing water tap fee revenue
• Operational reports
• Next meeting rescheduled

In June, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard concerns from residents regarding the future water supply, especially as it affects the proposed residential development Monument Ridge East (MRE). District Engineer Ariel Hacker updated the board on the pace of development and its impact on revenue the district expects from tap fees. The board heard operational reports, rescheduled its next meeting and planned a workshop. The meeting ended with an executive session, after which no action was taken.

Is there enough water for MRE?

During the public comment portion of its meeting, the board addressed questions about the availability of water to serve the MRE residential development, which is planned for the land at the northernmost edge of El Paso County, just south of County Line Road and east of I-25. About 444 residences in total, some detached single-family residences, some duplexes, and some fourplexes, are planned for the site.

Resident Lanette Prosseda reminded the board about the history of the Misty Acres development, which was originally to have just over 400 single-family residences but needed to be reduced in size in 2005 due to concerns about lack of water. This happened before the district’s purchase of the Woodmoor Ranch and its water rights, she said. She questioned whether there would be enough water for MRE.

Steve King, Monument mayor pro tem, said he understood MRE would need to buy supplemental water from the district, which comes at a much higher cost than the standard one-half-acre-foot of water per acre of land that is the standard water service in WWSD’s service area. He also mentioned a concern over the number of impervious surfaces that the development would entail.

Resident Gordon Reichal asked if the restrictions on outdoor watering meant the board was concerned about the availability of water.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer explained that the restrictions on water were primarily intended to manage issues of peak demand, not total availability of water. Handling peak demand was a costly issue for the district, he said. The water restrictions are aimed at leveling the peaks of consumption and reducing the overall costs of water delivery, Shaffer said. He added that demand management is “just good stewardship” of a resource and everyone should be mindful of the need to conserve water.

Shaffer went on to say that WWSD is not a land use authority and did not have the legal responsibility or authority to decide on land use issues: “We can’t tell anyone what they can build.” Land use decisions in the WWSD service area are made by the county, he said.

Shaffer said the district drafts a Long Range Plan (LRP) every five years that details the water rights to ground and surface water owned by the district. The current LRP, which estimates water needs at buildout, allows for 600 single-family residences on the land that MRE would occupy. He said the district’s supplemental water policy was designed to help ensure development paid for its demands on the district.

Board President Brian Bush said the district has enough water to serve “full buildout.” He said he was not on the board when the decision was made to purchase the Woodmoor Ranch and its renewable water rights, but he thought that decision was sound. He said the board was not able to help those who opposed MRE in any configuration. He suggested residents take their concerns to the county Planning Commission or the county commissioners.

King said his main concern is the impact MRE would have on the conservation easement in Douglas County immediately to the north. He estimated that only 15% of MRE’s land would be permeable, and said he believed that was a valid reason not to move forward with the development. Douglas County has protested the plans for MRE out of concerns for the conservation easement, he said.

Growth slows, reducing water tap fee revenue

In response to questions from the board at a previous meeting about expected revenues from water tap fees, Hacker told the board that her calculations showed that development in the WWSD service area was slowing. The estimate of new water taps used in 2024 was close to the actual number of taps sold, she said. The Cloverleaf development just east of Lewis-Palmer High School purchased 15 taps in the first half of 2024 and is expected to purchase another 15 in the last six months of the year. The Monument Junction East development has purchased 14 taps and is expected to purchase 48 more by the end of the year.

A 3/4-inch water tap, the most common size for residential uses, costs $37,235 and a sewer tap costs $10, 388.

Hacker said the Waterside, North Bay, MRE, and Monument Junction West developments are not expected to purchase taps until 2025.

At previous meetings, the board discussed the possibility of raising tap fees in mid-2024. Historically, the board has raised tap fees only once per year as a part of its budgeting cycle. Shaffer said growth was slowing, in part due to high interest rates, and he recommended leaving tap fees unchanged until next year. Bush said he did not recall the board ever raising tap fees mid-year.

Operational reports

In his financial report, Treasurer Roy Martinez commented that revenue from supplemental water service was at 100% of the budgeted amount, and income from leases had seen an increase from the district’s lease of a portion of Woodmoor Ranch to Enerfin Renewables Inc. to be used for a solar array.

Martinez said the district had added an additional bank account that was used for a money market account that generates much higher interest.

The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.

In his report, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine said water loss had returned to 10%, which was normal. He reported no breaks or failures for the previous month. He reported a loss of water pressure in some houses due to an error made in the installation of a pressure reducing valve required by the Monument Junction East development.

Next meeting rescheduled

The board voted to delay its next meeting to July 15 to allow an additional week to work on the 2025 budget data.

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The next meeting is scheduled for July 15 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 District articles

• 2023 audit gets “unmodified opinion”
• Construction contract awarded
• Project updates
• Two residents question new meters
• Operational reports

By James Howald

In May, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard an audit presentation of its 2023 budget from Uli Keeley of Prospective Business Solutions. The board awarded a construction contract for well equipment and site work required by a new well at the Central Water Treatment Plant (CWTP). It heard updates on other projects, comments from residents, and operational reports.

2023 audit gets “unmodified opinion”

Keeley told the board that the audit process was smooth and efficient due to the preparatory work done by Office Manager Cory Lynch and District Manager Jessie Shaffer. The audit report determined that “financial statements are fairly presented in all material respects.”

In her summary of the district’s finances, Keeley said total assets including capital are $86 million and total liabilities are $16 million. The district’s net position (the difference between assets and liabilities) was $67 million at the end of December 2023, an increase of $489,000 over the previous year.

Keeley said the most significant change over the previous year was that several projects were not completed by the end of 2022 but were completed in 2023 and therefore became depreciable assets in 2023. Costs associated with WWSD’s participation in the Loop water reuse project were also new items in the 2023 budget.

Board President Brian Bush asked Keeley why leases of two portions of the Woodmoor Ranch were represented as an asset in the audit report. Keeley said the Governmental Accounting Board (GASB) had changed the rules concerning leases. Keeley explained that land leased out is a receivable and GASB requires such land to be on the statement of net position and on the statement of liabilities.

Bush said he was concerned the footnote covering this issue made further leasing of ranch land a “done deal.” He said any further leases would be new agreements. Keeley said it was difficult for her to make the accounting for the district’s current leases concise and clear under the new rules. Shaffer suggested that the footnote be amended to highlight the minimum amount that the district might earn from any future leases.

District lawyer Erin Smith pointed out the board could accept the audit report with direction to staff to clarify the footnote. Keeley said the report had not yet been sent to the state.

The board voted unanimously to accept the audit report with the provision that staff will clarify the current lease with Enerfin Renewables LLC and to review the updated report at the next board meeting.

Construction contract awarded

Shaffer introduced Josh McGibbon and Kelsey Traxinger, both Project Engineers at JVA Consulting Engineers, to tell the board about bids received for installation of well equipment and site work at the well under construction at the CWTP. The well will produce water from the Dawson aquifer.

Traxinger said three bids had been received: Hydro Resources had bid $192,610; Meraki Engineers had bid $245,954 and Moltz Constructors had bid $310,510. She said Hydro Resources had submitted the lowest bid and had experience working on other projects, including wells, for the district. She recommended the board accept the bid from Hydro Resources. Shaffer suggested adding $28,000 in change order contingency funding to the contract. The board voted unanimously to award the contract to Hydro Resources.

Project updates

McGibbon and Traxinger took advantage of their time before the board to provide updates on other projects JVA is managing for the district.

The Well 22 building on County Line Road is nearly complete, the downhole equipment has been installed in the well, and asphalt was laid the week before the board meeting.

Four meters for a sewer flow model study were installed the previous week and will gather data about sewer flows for the next four weeks. Peak sewer flows typically occur in May. The data collected will be used to determine which sewer lines should be replaced to increase capacity.

The design of an additional water storage tank adjacent to the South Water Treatment Plant is 30% complete. The next step is submission of the plans to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for a review that typically takes five to six months.

Two residents question new meters

During public comments, residents Charles and Laura Curtin told the board they did not want the new water meters the district is implementing installed in their home due to their concerns about 5G and radiation. They asked to be allowed to continue using one of the water meters that the district is replacing.

Laura Curtin said she was insulted and threatened by the district staff who came to her house to update her water meter. She said she asked the installers for technical information about the new meters and was refused. Her husband sent the district an email requesting information about the new meters. They intend to present the information the district provides to the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University. Curtin said she has heard the new meters may cause speech issues in children and growths on the sides of women’s heads.

Bush said the personnel issues raised by the Curtins were not proper for a board meeting. He asked Shaffer to discuss the behavior of district staff with the Curtins in a separate meeting. He said technical information about the meters would be provided to the Curtins. He asked Shaffer and Operations Supervisor Dan LaFontaine to explain how the new meters had been selected.

Shaffer explained that battery life was the main issue with the older meters, which were originally installed in 2006. Those meters use spread spectrum radio technology to transmit water usage data back to the district for billing purposes. The new meters, which are more robust, use the cellular network to transmit data, using Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology not 5G. LTE is a wireless data transmission standard that is a part of 4G mobile networking. The new meters transmit only data, not voice or video, Shaffer said, and are compatible with the AquaHawk back-end software that the district is using for customer billing.

LaFontaine said the district had reviewed products from all the meter manufacturers and had chosen the meters they are installing because they are safe and regulated by the Federal Communication Commission. The old meters are failing, and new parts are not available, he said.

Charles Curtin said he was concerned the water usage data the district collects for billing could be a violation of his privacy and could make his house more likely to be robbed if the district’s database were hacked.

Bush said the advantage of the new meters, which transmit data four times a day, is that they can detect water leaks before a large amount of water is lost. Shaffer pointed out that the meters only transmit a meter ID; the address is not transmitted. A robber would not be able to determine an address from the data transmitted by the meter. He added that on occasion the new meters have been installed on the exterior of the house to address customer concerns or connectivity issues.

Operational reports

LaFontaine told the board that in June the district would add water stored in Woodmoor Lake to the water delivered to customers. One of the district’s treatment plants would process lake water and the other would process groundwater so blending could be used to manage any taste and odor issues resulting from the use of lake water. He said he would use email and the Pipeline newsletter to notify customers of the transition.

District Engineer Ariel Hacker said the project to build a pipeline to convey water from Well 22 to the CWTP was out for bid.

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The next meeting is scheduled for June 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 water and sanitation district articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Monument Sanitation District, March 18 – Delinquent account notices sent (4/1/2026)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, March 19 – District weighs financial trends and capital project impacts (4/1/2026)
• Triview Metropolitan District, March 19 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor set to “ramp up” (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Monument Sanitation District, Feb. 18 – Work on Beacon Lite Road proceeds (3/4/2026)
• Triview Metropolitan District, Feb. 19 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor approved (3/4/2026)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 19 – Board considers fire mitigation at Willow Creek Ranch (3/4/2026)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Feb. 18 – Board hears preliminary engineering designs (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)

• Manager’s report
• Water operations report
• Engineer’s report
• Water sales down from previous year

By James Howald

At its April meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard operational reports from District Manager Jessie Shaffer, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine, District Engineer Ariel Hacker and board Treasurer Roy Martinez.

Manager’s report

Shaffer opened his report with an update on HB24-1379, a bill before the Colorado Legislature that would create a state-run permit system to regulate when developers can dig up and fill in streams and wetlands. A second bill addressing the same issue, SB24-127, has been introduced, Shaffer said; the difference between the two bills is that the first would place regulatory authority under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the second under the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The two bills would either be reconciled or one of them would be dropped, Shaffer said.

In response to a question from Director Tom Roddam, Shaffer explained that both bills were responses to the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that removed many wetlands from the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers. The state of Colorado felt it needed to step in to protect Colorado’s wetlands and that is the goal of the two bills, Shaffer said. The outcome could affect WWSD by possibly complicating permitting processes and increasing the district’s costs.

Shaffer summarized the progress of the Loop project. The Loop authority is drafting an agreement that will define the benefits and the responsibilities of all participating districts and will specify the annual and monthly maximum water deliveries each district will receive once the project is complete. Another agreement under development will define operational details such as how excess water supply will be handled. Both agreements will be reviewed by the boards of participating districts, their lawyers and water attorneys, he said. If districts sign the agreements, they are committed to the project. Shaffer said he expected the districts to make their final decisions in the next two to four months.

Water operations report

LaFontaine told the board that water loss for March had declined. The 12-month running average for water loss was 10%, he said. The EPA considers a 16% loss normal and the average for new water systems in Colorado is 8%. WWSD’s system runs at higher pressure than many others, he said, and this leads to a higher amount of seepage. He said he was coordinating the reading of meters to get a more accurate measure of water loss.

LaFontaine noted two service failures in March and two sewer backups. One of the two backups was caused by a clog of flushable wipes and the other was caused by a telecom company boring through a sewer main. The district is investigating which telecom company did the drilling.

Engineer’s report

Hacker said the second phase of the project to widen Highway 105, Phase B, was months out from getting the necessary easements. She said she was requesting quotes for the sewer crossing at Lake Woodmoor Drive. Bids for the site piping for the Dawson aquifer well at the Central Water Treatment Facility (CWTF) adjacent to Lewis Palmer Middle School would go out May 1, she said. The pumphouse for Well 22, which is on County Line Road just east of I-25, is nearing completion and plans for the erosion and stormwater quality control at the well site have been submitted to the county.

Planning is underway for an additional tank at the South Tank site, Hacker said. Shaffer said the new tank would be concrete rather than steel because concrete is cheaper over the long term since it does not have to be recoated. He said once the tank design was done it would be presented to the board.

Hacker said she expected construction on the Waterside development to begin by summer. The development will include four single-family residences and 40 duplexes and is located at Woodmoor Drive and Deer Creek Road just north of The Barn.

Water sales down from previous year

In his financial report, Martinez noted income and expenses were on track. He pointed out that water sales for March were down from the previous year by about 3 million gallons.

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The next meeting is scheduled for May 20 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Loop water reuse project advances
• Large water loss noted
• Engineering report
• Water sales improve
• JUC receives hardware
• Executive session

By James Howald

At its March meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard operational reports from District Manager Jessie Shaffer, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine, District Engineer Ariel Hacker, board Treasurer Roy Martinez, and board Secretary Bill Clewe, who also serves as the district’s liaison with the Joint Use Committee (JUC), which oversees the Tri-Lakes Waste Water Treatment Facility. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Loop water reuse project advances

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer told the board he expected a report on Colorado Springs Utility’s Edward Bailey Water Treatment Facility (EBWTF) to be complete in March. The report will help the Loop board decide if the EBWTF can be used to treat the Loop’s water, or if the Loop will need to build its own treatment facility. That decision will be a large factor in determining the total cost of the water reuse project.

Shaffer said the Loop was also working on pipeline alignments and easement acquisitions, and on the financial documents that will define the roles and responsibilities of the participating districts. The documents will address the question of whether the participating districts will lease water rights to the Loop. See the Loop article on page 14.

Shaffer also discussed bills under consideration by the state Legislature that could affect the district. A bill concerning Accessory Dwelling Units could have an impact on local land use policies, he said. Dick Brown, the district’s lobbyist, is also watching HB24-1379, which would create a state-run permit system to regulate when developers can dig up and fill in streams and wetlands. A second bill on that issue is expected.

Large water loss noted

LaFontaine told the board that the water report for February showed a 19% water loss. He said that, in addition to three other leaks, a service line to the Country Club at Woodmoor had failed and three days passed before the underground leak was identified. The lost water did not flow through the sewer system and may have made its way to Monument Creek, he said. LaFontaine said he was continuing to investigate the water loss.

He reported that the water meter replacement project was going well, with 12 to 14 meters a day being replaced. He estimated half the year’s goal for meter replacement would be met by April. He thanked the office staff for their effective communication with customers regarding meter replacement.

Engineering report

Hacker said Wildcat Construction would complete WWSD’s portion of the first phase of the Highway 105 expansion by April. Well 22, located on the southside of County Line Road, is pushing ahead, she said, and the transmission pipeline could be installed by summer if the county permitting process goes well. Installation of the pressure reducing valves required by the Monument Junction development would begin in March and should be complete in June, she said. A sewer capacity study was getting underway and planning for an additional storage tank for redundancy is beginning.

Water sales improve

In his financial report, Martinez noted that water sales were up in February, despite a fair amount of precipitation. Sewer revenue was on target, he said. The district’s repair or replace program was at 27% of the annual allocation due to general maintenance expenses and costs associated with Lake Woodmoor.

JUC receives hardware

Clewe told the board that the JUC had received two blowers, used to aerate sewage, from a sanitation district in Lafayette, Colo. The blowers are twice the size of the units they are replacing, he said, and they have variable frequency drives that pump less or more air at different times, which results in electrical cost savings.

Executive session

The board held an executive session to receive legal advice on Water Court Case 12CW1 and potential agreements with Enerfin Renewables, LLC, JWI, Inc., and El Paso County. No actions were taken following the executive session.

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The next meeting is scheduled for April 8 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Walking trail for students approved
• Additional funds for Highway 105 allocated
• Details of operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

In February, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board discussed and approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Lewis-Palmer School District 38 (LPSD). The board allocated additional funds to the Highway 105 construction project. It also heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Walking trail for students approved

District Manager Jessie Shaffer asked the board to approve an IGA between WWSD and LPSD allowing the school district to use a portion of WWSD’s land for a Safe Routes to School walking trail to be used by students. The IGA had been a long time in the making, Shaffer said, and would permit the school district to use WWSD’s lower lake access road, which runs along the southwestern edge of Lake Woodmoor, as a trail students could use to walk to school. Shaffer said a second IGA would be needed to address the construction of a bridge across the spillway at the southern edge of Lake Woodmoor.

The IGA notes that the school district has obtained a Safe Routes to School grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund construction of the trail. It makes LPSD responsible for the maintenance of the trail and specifies that LPSD will install two double-leaf vehicle gates at the north and south ends of the access road and will also install a fence along the western edge of the lake. LPSD will be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the gates, the fence, and signs at the trailhead. The IGA also indemnifies WWSD against any liability for use of the trail and insures WWSD against claims up to $2 million.

Director Tom Roddam said he was opposed to the IGA, arguing that the indemnification in the IGA would not prevent WWSD from being sued. “It’s not worth a hill of beans,” Roddam said.

Board President Brian Bush said WWSD has “passively acknowledged this plan for a lot of years.” (Our Community News first reported on the plan in 2017.)

Roddam suggested tabling the IGA until the plan for the bridge across the spillway was complete.

Shaffer said that prior WWSD boards had agreed to the plan, and it would be hard to renege on those commitments now. He said they could do so now but “it would be tough.”

Director Dan Beley expressed some reservations about the IGA. Director Bill Clewe and Treasurer Roy Martinez said they did not have a problem with the terms of the IGA.

The board voted to approve the IGA. Beley, Bush, Clewe and Martinez voted in favor; Roddam voted against.

Additional funds for Highway 105 allocated

Richard Hood, of JVA Inc., the company managing WWSD’s portion of El Paso County’s project to widen Highway 105 between Jackson Creek Parkway and Lake Woodmoor Dr., gave the board an update on that project and asked the board to approve some additional funds.

Hood explained that Wildcat Construction has completed about 60% of the work for which WWSD is responsible. Improvements on Knollwood Boulevard and the Maguire property west of Knollwood are complete, Hood said. Service lines have been moved as required. The remaining portion of the work is on the south side of Highway 105 on Morning Canyon Road and adjacent to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Hood said there are $143,000 in pending cost changes on the project. During the bid process, two mistakes were made: A pipe specification was changed from 8-inch to 6-inch and not properly accounted for and the costs of asphalt removal and replacement were underestimated. The pipe change will cost $76,500, the additional asphalt costs will be $33,026, and another $34,000 is required by unexpected conditions such as needing to change the depth of some pipes, undocumented utility conflicts, and pipe diameters that differed from historical records. Hood pointed out that even with these additional costs, the total for the work was still $200,000 less than the next higher bid.

Shaffer said the board had already approved change orders up to 5% of the value of the contract, which would be $50,000. He said the pending cost changes exceeded that amount, requiring the board to take action.

The board voted unanimously to approve another $150,000 for the project.

Details of operational reports

• In his treasurer’s report, Martinez said water sales were higher than expected in January, up by 4.9% over the target. Sewer fees were as expected. WWSD purchased two new trucks, so equipment and vehicle costs were 90% of the budgeted amount.
• Shaffer said that Sackett vs. the Environmental Protection Agency, a 2023 case before the Supreme Court, had changed the regulations concerning wetlands under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The decision may complicate WWSD’s costs for permits, consultants, construction, and mitigation.
• Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine reported a 16% water loss in January due to five main breaks. He said the district’s water meter replacement project was just under 50% complete. The effort to refill Lake Woodmoor was a bit behind schedule, with the lake refilling about 1.5 feet per day.
• In his review of upcoming development, Bush said he believed the proposed Waterside development, which would include 44 units on the west side of Lake Woodmoor adjacent to the Barn, after a delay, was now proceeding.

Executive session

The board held an executive session to receive legal advice concerning potential agreements with JV Ranches LLC, Monument Ridge West LLC, Enerfin Renewables LLC, El Paso County, and the members of the El Paso Regional Loop Water Authority.

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The next meeting is scheduled for March 11 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Administrative resolution passes
• Details of operational reports

By James Howald

At a brief meeting in January, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board passed its annual administrative resolution and handled other housekeeping matters. It also heard operational reports.

Administrative resolution passes

The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 24-01, the first resolution of the new year, which lays out administrative procedures that will govern the board’s actions in 2024. This administrative resolution is updated annually and covers topics such as the timeline for the budget process, the reports the board must provide to the state of Colorado, and where the board will publish legal notices.

The board also voted to sell worn-out office equipment and drilling material and account for the money from the sales using the miscellaneous category of the budget.

Details of operational reports

• District Manager Jessie Shaffer updated the board on the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA or the Loop). See the Loop article on page < 14 >. Shaffer said the Loop board, of which he is president, is working with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to determine if the Loop can lower its construction costs by using CSU’s Edward Bailey Waste Treatment Facility to process its water instead of building its own treatment plant. He said the Loop board is focusing on the design of financing options that must be voted on by each participating water district. The Loop is also working on an analysis of the easements required by the pipelines that will convey water from Fountain Creek to the Loop’s customers in El Paso County.
• Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine reported on four main breaks that occurred in December, one of which lost an estimated 1 million gallons of water. That leak washed out a road, he said. He emphasized the importance of the district’s project to replace and repair the oldest parts of the district’s distribution system.
• District Engineer Ariel Hacker told the board that Phase A of El Paso County’s project to widen Hghway 105 is expected to take another two years to complete. Phase A addresses Highway 105 between Jackson Creek Parkway and Lake Woodmoor Drive. Phase B of the project will widen Highway 105 between Lake Woodmoor Drive. and Martingale Road., Hacker said, adding that planning for the easements required by Phase B is underway.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12 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 District (WWSD) articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Rates increases for 2024 approved
• 2024 budget approved
• Contract with Chilcott Ditch Co. renewed
• Financial, operational, and engineering reports

By James Howald

At its December meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board concluded public hearings on rate increases and on its proposed budget for 2024. Both hearings were opened at its November meeting. The hearings were followed by votes on the rates and the budget. The board renewed the management contract between the district and the Chilcott Ditch Co. The board also heard financial and operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Rates increases for 2024 approved

At the beginning of the public hearing on rates, District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board that an incorrect rate for Tier 2 water usage had been published on the district’s web page. The Tier 2 rate covers water usage from 6,001 to 25,000 gallons per month. Shaffer said the district intended to raise the rates for all usage tiers by 4% but had incorrectly published a 1.9% increase for Tier 2 water. Correcting the rate would require a 30-day waiting period while the new rate was announced to the public, he said. Shaffer explained that the average residence uses 6,785 gallons of water a month, so the bulk of revenue is from Tier 1 water sales and the impact of the lower rate would be negligible. He recommended keeping the lower rate in place, enabling the board to finish its work on rates quickly.

There were no comments from the public, and board President Brian Bush closed the hearing.

The board accepted Shaffer’s recommendation and voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 23-04, which adopts the rates as published.

Note: Details about the 2024 rates and fees can be found in the December issue of OCN here: www.ocn.me/v23n12.htm#wwsd.

2024 budget approved

Bush continued the hearing on the 2024 budget opened at the November meeting.

Shaffer told the board that the proposed budget included a 25% increase in potable water tap fees but made no change to sewer tap fees. He estimated the district would see $4.2 million in tap fees in 2024 if it sells 90 new taps as expected. He listed some fees that will increase in 2024 to allow the district to recoup the cost of delivering services, such as installing new water meters, which are more expensive than previous meters. Engineering fees charged by the district are increasing to $120 per hour. He noted that some construction projects expected to be completed in 2023 needed to be carried over to 2024.

There were no comments from the public on the budget, and Bush closed the hearing. The board voted to approve Resolution 23-05, which adopts the budget as proposed and appropriates the funds required. Bush and Directors Bill Clewe, Roy Martinez, and Tom Roddam voted in favor; Director Dan Beley voted against, arguing that the water tap fees should have been raised 47% as the district’s rate consultants advised.

Contract with Chilcott Ditch Co. renewed

Shaffer asked the board to renew its contract with the Chilcott Ditch Co., explaining this contract needed renewal every year. The contract obligates WWSD to provide accounting and administration services to the ditch company for a fee of $1,500 per month. The new contract did not increase the fee, Shaffer said. WWSD also provides labor to the ditch company for an hourly rate. Shaffer said the new contract increased the hourly rate from $36 to $39 per hour.

The board voted unanimously to renew the contract.

Financial, operational, and engineering reports

Board Treasurer Roy Martinez told the board that November was a normal month in terms of water usage. He said the district was at 81% of its expected water sales for the year.

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine said there had been some small breaks in pipelines during November, one of which was complicated by the presence of an unmarked electric line. The district was running entirely on ground water, he said.

District Engineer Ariel Hacker gave the board an update on the status of new and existing wells. Site work has begun on Well 22. Drilling of the well at the Central Water Treatment Plant property, just northwest of the Lewis-Palmer Middle School football field, has not yet begun, she said. Some equipment had to be abandoned at the bottom of Well 12. Well 16 is out of production due to a motor failure.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2024 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 District (WWSD) articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Budget hearing opened
• Increases to water tap fees and some rates announced
• Financial, operational and engineering reports

By James Howald

At its November meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board held a public hearing on its proposed 2024 budget. It also scheduled a public hearing on water and sewer tap fees and usage rates, to be held at its Dec. 18 board meeting. The board also heard financial and operational reports.

Budget hearing opened

Board President Brian Bush opened the public hearing on the proposed budget for 2024. District Manager Jessie Shaffer said he had made three small changes to the draft budget presented at the previous meeting:

• Field investigation showed that a sewer line at Jackson Creek Parkway and Higby Road does not need replacement as expected; the $103,000 estimated for that work will be moved to reserves.
• An upcoming meeting with Mountain View Electric Association may require a higher amount to be budgeted for electrical costs.
• Approval of the final budget for the Chilcott Ditch Co., of which WWSD is the largest shareholder, may require small changes to the WWSD budget.

Shaffer said a copy of the proposed budget was available to the public at the WWSD office.

There were no comments on the budget from the public. The board voted unanimously to keep the public hearing open until the next board meeting, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Dec. 18.

Increases to water tap fees and some rates announced

The board scheduled a public hearing on proposed tap fee and usage rate increases for its Dec. 18 meeting.

The proposed tap fees and usage rates are published on the WWSD web page.

Water tap fees, which are one-time fees used to fund infrastructure improvements required by new development, will increase significantly in 2024. The most common water tap fee, for a three-fourths-inch water tap for a single-family residence, will increase from $29,788 to $37,235. A three-fourths-inch water tap for a multi-family residence will increase from $22,341 to $27,927.

The fee for supplemental water service will remain unchanged at $29,000 per acre-foot.

The water service base fee for a three-fourths-inch meter, the size used for most residences, will increase from $10.59 per month to $11.01.

Monthly water volume charges will also increase:

• Block 1, for 0 to 6,000 gallons, will increase from $6.71 to $6.98.
• Block 2, for 6001 to 25,000 gallons, will increase from $11.06 to $11.27.
• Block 3, over 25,000 gallons, will increase from $17.68 to $18.39.

The Renewable Water Investment Fee will remain unchanged at $40 per month.

The monthly base rate for residential sewer service will increase from $34.32 per month to $35.69, and the monthly sewer volume charge for each 1,000 gallons over 6,000 gallons per month will increase from $4.47 per month to $4.65.

A complete list of proposed rate and fee increases is published on the WWSD web page at: https://www.woodmoorwater.com/. Scroll down to find attachments A and B.

Financial, operational and engineering reports

Board Treasurer Roy Martinez said water use returned to normal in October, compared to lower usage in the unusually rainy spring and summer months. Water sales were down for the year, he said; at the end of October water sales stood at 76% of the annual budgeted amount with only two months remaining in the year. Repair and maintenance costs were also down by about $50,000, he said. Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine explained that some projects would wrap up by the end of the year and some of that difference would even out.

In his operational report, LaFontaine told the board that the Chilcott Ditch operations were winding down for the year and the staff at Woodmoor Ranch was focusing on vehicle maintenance.

LaFontaine reported five line breaks in October, resulting in about 1.25 million gallons of lost water. In response to a request from Martinez, LaFontaine calculated the costs of some of the leaks. The largest leak, in which 397,000 gallons of water was lost, cost the district around $12,000, which includes costs for water treatment, road base and asphalt, and labor. The second largest leak cost the district just under $10,000, he said.

LaFontaine said that by the end of the year, 1,708 water meters will have been replaced with newer, more capable models. The meter replacement project will take another two years to complete, he said.

District Engineer Ariel Hacker told the board that El Paso County wants the district’s design for the second phase of the Highway 105 expansion project to be submitted by the end of December. The district’s portion of the first phase is on schedule, she said; work on the non-potable water line at the Monument Creek Exchange will start the third week of November.

Hacker also addressed an error in JVA Inc.’s bid for the first phase of the Highway 105 expansion. She said JVA had not included costs for asphalt removal and replacement of pipeline at the intersection of Morning Canyon Road and Highway 105. Those items will add $110,000 to the cost of the district’s portion of the expansion, she said.

Hacker updated the board on work related to new wells. Well 22, which is south of County Line Road just east of I-25, is waiting on a permit from the county. Well 19, which is adjacent to the Southern Water Treatment Plant and was taken out of service for economic reasons a few years ago, will be reconnected to the district’s infrastructure once water quality testing is complete. Well 19 is expected to produce 35 gallons per minute when it is back in production, she said.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Mon., Dec. 18 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Budget presented; workshop and hearing scheduled
• Water and sewer tap fees debate continues
• Hospital reimbursement option dropped
• “Forever chemical” class action lawsuits
• Cybersecurity strategy recommendations
• Highlights of the operational reports

By James Howald

District Manager Jessie Shaffer presented a draft of the 2024 budget to the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board at its October meeting. The board continued its effort to set water and tap fees and voted on a change to its employee benefits policy. Two class action lawsuits related to Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) were discussed, and Shaffer updated the board on the district’s cybersecurity strategy. The board also heard operational reports.

Budget presented; workshop and hearing scheduled

Shaffer distributed copies of a proposed 2024 budget to the board and asked it to schedule a workshop for further discussion. The board scheduled the workshop for Oct. 24.

Shaffer pointed out that a change to rates or fees required an announcement to the public 30 days in advance of a vote on that change and said that if changes were decided on at the November meeting there would not be adequate time to announce the change before the December meeting. He suggested that the December board meeting be changed from Dec. 11 to Dec. 18 to provide adequate notice. The board approved his suggestion to reschedule the December meeting.

Attorney Erin Smith suggested opening the Nov. 13 board meeting with a public hearing on the budget and continuing the hearing until the Dec. 18 board meeting. Votes on any rate changes and on budget approval could be held at the December meeting, she said.

The board decided to follow Smith’s schedule.

Water and sewer tap fees debate continues

Following up on his presentations at the two previous board meetings, Andrew Rheem of Raftelis, the company that advises WWSD on rates and fees, presented another round of analysis intended to help the board decide how to set water and tap fees to balance the interests of current residents with those of future residents and developers. Rheem addressed the questions raised by the board following his previous presentations. He said he had corrected an error in his calculations and had reconsidered the role of the district’s Renewable Water Infrastructure Fee (RWIF), the monthly charge that covers debt service on the district’s purchase of Woodmoor Ranch and its water rights, in his analysis.

Rheem explained the guiding principles and the case law regarding the setting of tap fees. He said first there must be a link between the impact new development has on the system and the fees that fund that development. Secondly, there must be a rough proportionality between the fees and the impact of new development. Finally, the fees can’t discriminate between types of new development.

Funding the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA) water re-use project, in which WWSD is a participant, is an important factor in how WWSD should set its tap fees, Rheem said. He discussed three methods to fund the project:

• Revenue bonds, backed up by rate increases, for $85 million in debt, with a 20-year loan term and 4.5% interest rate. This scenario assumes the other three participating districts will also assume their share of the costs.
• General Obligation bonds, which would need to be approved by voters.
• A “Go it alone” scenario where WWSD pays for the entire project, expected to cost $181 million with revenue bonds.

Rheem said he had re-calculated the replacement cost of WWSD’s entire system in light of the board’s comments at the previous meeting and the Replacement Cost New (RCN) of the system stood at $137 million, about $3 million more than he previously calculated.

Rheem said he had changed his approach to distributing the outstanding debt from the purchase of the Woodmoor Ranch based on last month’s discussion. WWSD has $12.5 million of unretired debt for that purchase. Dividing that debt by the number of residences when Woodmoor reaches complete buildout means each resident would be responsible for just under $2,400 of that debt, Rheem said.

Board President Brian Bush questioned this approach, asking Rheem why the unretired debt should not be divided by the current number of residents rather than by the future number of residents at buildout. Rheem argued using future residents was necessary to abide by the principle of proportional impact of development. Bush also questioned whether the Woodmoor Ranch and its water rights should be considered as outstanding debt or as an asset.

Rheem said the current water tap fee was $29,788 and proposed three potential water tap fees, each assuming a different approach to funding the EPCRLWA project:

• A water tap fee of $44,791 if the project is funded with revenue bonds.
• A water tap fee of $27,195 if the project is funded with general obligation bonds. In this scenario the project cost would be paid via property taxes, not tap fees. This fee would be $2,553 less than the current fee.
• A water tap fee of $64,370, if the cost of the project is paid entirely by WWSD. This is the “Go it alone” scenario.

Director Tom Roddam asked Rheem to estimate the maximum tap fee WWSD could charge without being challenged in court. Shaffer said he thought a case could be made for a water tap fee around $54,000 if the EPCRLWA project were funded with revenue bonds and the costs were shared among the four participating districts.

Directors Dan Beley and Bill Clewe supported setting the water tap fee at $44,791, arguing that Woodmoor was a desirable community and new residents should be prepared to pay the price to live here.

Bush reiterated his concerns about how the RCN was being calculated, about whether Woodmoor Ranch should be thought of as an asset or an outstanding debt and about inconsistencies in how the EPCRLWA costs were factored in.

The board asked Rheem to update his analysis in time for its budget workshop on Oct. 24.

Hospital reimbursement option dropped

Shaffer asked the board to authorize removing the Hospital Reimbursement Plan (HRP) from the district’s employee benefit package. The option doesn’t pay for a lot, he said, and the Colorado Employer Benefit Trust (CEBT), which provides WWSD’s health plans, wants to remove it from its offerings. CEBT included the HRP in its portfolio to provide a low-cost, low-benefit choice so that districts could reach 100% participation. CEBT has dropped the requirement for 100% participation, Shaffer said.

The board authorized Shaffer to draft a resolution removing the option if CEBT accepts the possibility WWSD may not reach 100% participation by employees.

“Forever chemical” class action lawsuits

Shaffer told the board that class action lawsuits have been filed against 3M and DuPont regarding their production of PFAS chemicals, sometimes called “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment. They have been linked to many health issues, including cancer. Shaffer said the lawsuits had been filed on behalf of every public utility in the country.

Shaffer said WWSD had tested for these chemicals in the past and they were not present in WWSD’s groundwater in detectable levels. Bush said the district could join the lawsuits if it had spent money on PFAS removal or testing. The lawsuits are asking for $11 billion in settlements. He asked Smith to file a claim on the WWSD’s behalf.

Cybersecurity strategy recommendations

At the previous board meeting, Shaffer was asked to review WWSD’s approach to cybersecurity. The district will add a technology called “endpoint detection and response,” which involves continuous monitoring of the WWSD’s IT assets. Shaffer said the staff would be trained on cybersecurity threats.

Highlights of the operational reports

• In his financial report, board Treasurer Roy Martinez said that revenue from water sales was at 67% of the budgeted amount. Given the time of year, he would expect water sales to be closer to 75%, he said. Martinez attributed the lower sales to the year’s rainier weather.
• Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine reported two main breaks, which together led to 2 million gallons of lost water.
• District Engineer Ariel Hacker reported that the county’s project to expand Highway 105 between Jackson Creek Parkway and Knollwood Drive was uncovering unknown utility lines.
• Hacker said WWSD had sold 58 water and sewer taps to Classic Homes for residences in the Monument Junction East development and 30 taps to the Cloverleaf development east of Lewis-Palmer High School.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Two new contracts awarded.
• Contract re-awarded.
• Tap fee debate continues.
• Highlights of operational reports.

By James Howald

Construction contracts were the focus of the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) at its September meeting. The board awarded two new contracts and changed the award of a third to a different company. It continued the discussion of water and sewer tap fees that began in its previous meeting, hearing a presentation from the consultants that provide the district with rates analysis. The board also heard operational reports.

Two new contracts awarded.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer gave the board a summary of the scope of work included in the construction contract for the Well 22 pumphouse project. Well 22 is south of County Line Road and east of I-25, and the drilling was completed in July 2022. The project includes the construction of the well house, the installation of the well’s pump, motor, and drop pipe, and associated piping, electrical support, and controls.

Richard Hood, of JVA Inc., an engineering company that advises WWSD, told the board that four bids for the project were received and Native Sun Construction was the low bidder at $1.17 million. Hood said Paintbrush Hills Metropolitan District, Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District and the City of Boulder gave Native Sun Construction positive recommendations.

Hood recommended that the board award the contract to Native Sun Construction, and the board voted unanimously to do so.

Rachel Frei, of BB&A Water Consultants Inc., presented her recommendations for the drilling, construction, and testing of a new Dawson aquifer well, to be drilled on the site of the Central Water Treatment Plant (CWTP), which is on Deer Creek Road adjacent to the Lewis-Palmer Middle School football field.

Frei said the proposed well would be designed to a different standard than other WWSD wells. Previously, WWSD has used the municipal standard for its wells, Frei said, but the last long-range plan completed by the district allows for some new wells to be built to the standard for commercial wells, which typically use lower quality and less expensive hardware components. Additional savings result from using smaller drilling rigs, she said. Commercial grade wells are usually 77% less expensive than wells built to the municipal standard.

Frei estimated the new well would produce 25 gallons per minute. WWSD’s Arapahoe aquifer wells typically produce 200 or more gallons per minute.

Shaffer said the well would be a test case for the district. He pointed out the commercial standard involved a bit more risk but would provide a much lower cost per acre-foot of water produced. The proximity to the CWTP meant less would be spent on pipeline and on building to house the well.

Frei recommended that the contract be awarded to Winegar Well Service LLC, which bid $219,315 for the project. The board voted unanimously to award the contract as Frei suggested.

Contract re-awarded.

At its previous meeting in August, the board awarded a contract to install the infrastructure for a new pressure reduction zone required by the Monument Junction development to Aslan Construction. Classic Homes, the developer of Monument Junction, was to be responsible for a portion of the project, but in August the WWSD board believed that Classic Homes would have WWSD manage the project and be reimbursed by Classic Homes for its portion of the work. Details about the original award of the contract can be found in a previous issue of Our Community News here: https://www.ocn.me/v23n9.htm#wwsd.

In September, Shaffer told the board there had been new developments. Classic Homes opted to use their own contractor to do its share of the work, he said, and Aslan Construction notified him that it had made a $170,000 error in its bid. As a result, Aslan withdrew its bid, Shaffer said.

Shaffer said he did not recommend rebidding the project. He recommended that the board award the contract to Midcity Corp., which had bid on the work along with Aslan.

After some discussion to sort out the consequences of Classic Homes choosing to use its own contractor rather than let WWSD manage the entire project and be reimbursed, the board voted unanimously to authorize Shaffer to move forward with Midcity’s bid of $438,722.

Tap fee debate continues.

At its previous meeting, the board heard a presentation on tap fee strategy from Andrew Rheem of Raftelis, a company that advises WWSD on rates and fees. At that meeting, the board voted to authorize Raftelis to continue its work, begun a year ago, to help determine how WWSD should set its water and sewer tap fees to ensure the district can fund the cost of service delivery and capital improvements looking out 10 years.

At the September meeting, Rheem and his colleague Harold Smith presented some preliminary results. They said they had developed scenarios that addressed issues such as how WWSD will finance its portion of the water re-use project often referred to as “The Loop,” which will build infrastructure to allow WWSD and other participating water districts to divert water from Fountain Creek, including treated effluent, and return it for reuse by customers.

Rheem and Smith said they estimated the final buildout of the WWSD service area would occur by 2042, with 6,500 connections to the water distribution system and 6,200 connections to the sewer system. They calculated the Replacement Cost New (RCN) of those systems to be $134.87 million. RCN is the amount it would cost to build systems of equal capacity at today’s prices and is a factor when tap fees are considered as a fee to buy a share in an existing system.

The discussion that followed raised some questions about the assumptions used to calculate the RCN. Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine pointed out that developers build pipes at their expense that are later conveyed to the district and asked how that was built into the RCN calculation. Other issues were how $7 million in recent capital improvements were calculated into the RCN, and how to account for the debt incurred by the purchase of Woodmoor Ranch, the debt service for which is paid by district customers every month in the form of the $40 per month Renewable Water Infrastructure Fee.

Uncertainty about how The Loop water reuse project would be financed—with revenue bonds or general obligation bonds that would require a vote for approval—complicated the issue of future tap fees.

Rheem and Smith presented a case for raising water tap fees, which are one-time fees paid when a new building is connected to the water distribution system, by $12,000 to $42,000. Board President Brian Bush argued that increase could not be made in one year. He also pointed out that federal and state regulations governing water quality were not likely to remain unchanged for 10 years and new regulations would impact the cost of delivering water to customers. Shaffer said the increase suggested by Rheem and Smith would raise objections on the part of developers.

The board did not vote following the discussion. Rheem and Smith said they would continue to work on their analysis, taking into consideration the questions raised.

Highlights of operational reports.

• In his financial report, board Treasurer Roy Martinez said that revenue from water sales was down due to the unusually rainy summer and spring.
• The 12-month rolling average for unaccounted water is 5%, which is low by industry standards.
• 1,400 of the district’s residential water meters have been replaced with newer meters that are better integrated with the district’s billing system and support advanced functions such as helping customers avoid unexpectedly large water bills by notifying them when there is a leak on their property.
• WWSD is issuing water taps for the west side of the Monument Junction development.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 9 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, April 28, May 6 and 12 – Board awards well drilling contract, elects officers (6/7/2025)

• Four approaches to water resources
• Construction contract awarded
• EPCRLWA resolution passes
• Tap fees due for review
• Highlights of operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

At its meeting in August, The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) heard a presentation from General Manager Jessie Shaffer explaining the approaches to water resources the district could use to plan future needs. The board considered awarding a construction contract, voted for a resolution affirming the district’s participation in the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA) and launched an analysis of water and sewer tap fees. The board heard operational reports. Finally, the meeting ended with an executive session.

Four approaches to water resources

In response to a request from the board made at the previous meeting, Shaffer gave the board his thoughts on possible approaches the district could take to manage its present and future water sources with a focus on long-term sustainability.

If the district does nothing, Shaffer said, the Denver basin aquifers currently supplying customers will decline, with or without growth. More wells will need to be drilled and the cost of well drilling will escalate. The water pumped from aquifers will become more and more costly. Beyond a certain number of wells, it is hard to avoid well interference and it is harder to site wells, which can’t draw from outside the district boundaries. Long-term sustainability requires other sources, he said.

Shaffer characterized the next approach as “Go it alone”—by which he meant treating and transporting water from the Woodmoor Ranch without relying on any partnering water districts. This approach offers a sustainable supply of surface water, with the advantage that WWSD would retain complete control over its operations. The downside is affordability: The cost is likely to be near $180 million, which would be born entirely by WWSD ratepayers. Shaffer said this approach is not achievable due to cost.

The third approach Shaffer discussed involves relying on Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to convey, treat, and deliver water to WWSD customers. The short-term costs of this approach make it seem attractive, Shaffer said, but the long-term costs are higher than other alternatives, with a cumulative cost break-even point at nine years, and CSU could raise rates at any time so WWSD would lose control of its costs under this approach. Infrastructure to connect to CSU’s system would need to be built, and there are many fees that that would apply.

Finally, Shaffer discussed using a group approach and partnering with other districts. He said the EPCRLWA, in which WWSD is participating, is an example of this approach. A considerable challenge here is creating consensus among the partners, Shaffer said, but this approach offers economies of scale and sustainability.

Following the presentation, board President Brian Bush said the “do nothing” approach should be dropped as it violates WWSD’s mission to provide water to its customers on a sustainable basis.

Construction contract awarded

District Engineer Ariel Hacker told the board that the Monument Junction development currently under construction by Classic Homes has created a need for an additional pressure management zone within the district. The cost of building the new zone would primarily be paid by Classic Homes but some of the needed infrastructure would be installed beyond the boundaries of Classic Homes’ property to serve other WWSD customers, so WWSD would be responsible for a portion of the project. Classic Homes is responsible for installing a total of three pressure reducing valves and related pipelines, while WWSD is responsible for one valve and its pipelines, she said.

Hacker said three bids for the project were submitted but two contained substantial errors, so she recommended the third bidder, Asland Constructors.

Shaffer said that typically if a developer creates a need for additional infrastructure, the developer pays the associated costs, but in this case, since some of the work is off the developer’s property, Classic Homes approached the district and asked WWSD to manage the entire project, with Classic Homes paying WWSD for its portion of the project and adding a 20% contingency fee. Shaffer said if WWSD managed the entire project it would mean a single set of inspections, making the project more efficient.

The board voted unanimously to authorize awarding the contract to Asland Constructors. Bush asked that work not begin until Classic Homes had paid WWSD for its portion of the costs.

EPCRLWA resolution passes

The board voted unanimously in favor of a resolution formalizing WWSD’s participation in the EPCRLWA, informally known as the loop. Of the three other participating districts, Donala Water and Sanitation District has also signed a similar resolution and Cherokee Metropolitan District and the Town of Monument are expected to take the same step soon.

Tap fees due for review

Shaffer introduced Andrew Rheem of Raftelis, the company WWSD works with to model rates and fees and told the board he had asked Rheem last year to begin an analysis of the district’s tap fees.

Rheem said his goal was to ensure that growth in the district was paying its own way, explaining that there were some legal restraints on how tap fees would be used. For example, if they are used for debt service, the debt must be acquired due to development.

Rheem defined water and sewer tap fees as a one-time charge assessed to new customers when they connect to the district’s infrastructure for the first time or when they increase their service. New customers are paying for their share of the district’s capacity, he said. Currently, a new residence in WWSD’s service area pays $29,788 for a ¾-inch water tap and $10,390 for a sewer tap. Larger capacity taps pay a higher fee, he said.

Rheem explained three approaches to setting tap fees. The “buy-in” method is often used in districts where capacity is available and a new customer is buying into the existing system. The system is valued at its replacement cost in this method. The “incremental” approach is used where the existing system has little or no capacity for growth and the tap fees will be used to increase capacity. Finally, the “hybrid” approach when there is current capacity, but more is needed.

Rheem said his analysis would evaluate the maximum water and sewer tap fees under all three approaches and would recommend tap fees for all meter sizes.

Bush asked what timeframe would be used for the analysis, and Rheem said that was an open question. Bush said the board should avoid getting locked into something it does not want going forward.

The board voted unanimously to authorize Bush to sign a service agreement with Raftelis to complete the study.

Highlights of operational reports

• Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine noted that the district’s customers were currently receiving surface water treated at the Central Water Treatment Facility.
• LaFontaine said he had been investigating how stormwater was infiltrating the system and said he believed that, due to the rainy weather, a number of customers were using sump pumps to drain their basements and sending that water into the wastewater system where it would be treated. This is an illegal discharge, he said, adding water from basements should be distributed to the homeowners’ property.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to confer with legal counsel on questions relating to the EPCRLWA and to negotiations with CSU regarding the conveyance, treatment, and delivery of water.

**********

The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 11 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, April 28, May 6 and 12 – Board awards well drilling contract, elects officers (6/7/2025)

• Board appoints new member and reorganizes
• Remedy for PFAS uncertain
• Construction contract awarded
• Midyear budget update
• Acoustic evaluation a time saver
• Highlights of operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board met twice in July. At the regularly scheduled meeting, board President Barrie Town resigned, citing health reasons, which led to a special meeting on July 25 to fill the vacated seat and reorganize the board. The board heard a presentation on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—sometimes called “forever chemicals”—and considered awarding a contract for the district’s portion of the project to widen Highway 105.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer presented a mid-year budget update. The board considered the results of the acoustic evaluation of its pipelines, as well as operational reports. The regularly scheduled board meeting ended with an executive session.

Board appoints new member and reorganizes

Town opened the July 17 regular meeting by announcing his resignation, effective July 19, telling the board he was doing so reluctantly at the advice of his doctor. He said two residents had expressed an interest in being appointed to replace him: Jim Taylor, who had served on the WWSD board previously, and Wendy Fisher, an employee of a local bank who wanted to contribute to the community.

At the July 25 special meeting, board Treasurer Roy Martinez said WWSD was at a critical point in its history due to its participation in the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA) which, if implemented, would solve the problem of how to make the water purchased along with the Woodmoor Ranch property near Fountain Creek available to district customers. Martinez said the board needed qualified candidates for appointment who were familiar with district history and issues and who could hit the ground running. Martinez nominated Brian Bush for the vacant seat.

Bush has previously served two terms on the WWSD board as president. He could not run in the last election, since board members can only be elected twice, but the law allows him to be appointed for an additional term. Bush has a background in water law and was president during the recent upgrades to the Lake Pump Station and the Central Water Treatment Plant.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Bush to the vacant seat.

Following Bush’s appointment, the board held elections to reorganize its officers. Bush was elected to serve as board president. Bill Clewe, the incumbent secretary, was re-elected to that post. Martinez was re-elected to continue as treasurer.

Remedy for PFAS uncertain

District Engineer Ariel Hacker gave the board a presentation on PFAS, focusing on the many uncertainties about how they will be addressed. She said PFAS are manmade chemicals that were first introduced in the 1940s and have now become ubiquitous. PFAS occur in non-stick cookware, clothing, cosmetics, paint, furniture, cleaning products, fire-fighting foam, and many other products. They are sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they break down slowly. PFAS have found their way into water systems, the soil, and aquifers and this cycle will continue as long as they are in the products we buy. They are linked to many serious illnesses, including cancers, Hacker said. Hacker mentioned a large-scale study done 15 years ago that showed PFAS were linked to thyroid disease, high cholesterol, as well as kidney and testicular cancer.

Hacker mentioned that fire-fighting foam used at Peterson Air Force Base has contaminated drinking water in Widefield, Security, and Fountain, causing those communities to shut down wells and to find ways of removing the chemicals from drinking water. The City of Fountain installed a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment system, partially funded by Peterson Air Force Base.

Hacker emphasized that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet completely defined standards for PFAS in drinking water. In spring 2021, the EPA issued regulations for perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfate and announced it would evaluate the family of PFAS for regulatory action. That evaluation is still underway, she said.

In response to a question from District Manager Jessie Shaffer about potential regulation, Operation Superintendent Dan LaFontaine said the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment would regulate PFAS in the state of Colorado. When and how they will do so is unclear, he said.

Shaffer said in addition to GAC there are other technologies to remove PFAS, including anionic exchange systems and biological activated carbon. WWSD needs to begin financial planning for implementing PFAS remediation, he said. He pointed out the towns of Security and Fountain have implemented systems that have led to undetectable levels of PFAS. LaFontaine said WWSD is already testing for PFAS and levels are undetectable, mostly because there are no wastewater streams above WWSD.

Construction contract awarded

Hacker told the board that the first round of bidding to complete WWSD’s portion of El Paso County’s project to widen Highway 105 between Jackson Creek Parkway and Lake Woodmoor Drive had produced a single bid, which was $185,000 over the engineer’s estimate. This led WWSD to rebid the work, she said.

Richard Hood of JVA Inc., a consulting company that advises WWSD, said the project to widen the highway will impact raw and potable water lines, requiring them to be moved. He said the second round of bidding produced three bids, with Wildcat Construction being the low bidder at $1.12 million, a bid $60,000 under the engineer’s estimate. He recommended awarding the contract to Wildcat Construction.

Shaffer pointed out that Wildcat Construction was chosen by El Paso County to do the county’s portion of the project, so it would make the project go more smoothly if WWSD also selected it.

The board voted unanimously to award the contract to Wildcat Construction.

Midyear budget update

Shaffer gave the board an updated budget for 2023 and said he would address the largest changes in his remarks.

On the revenue side, the biggest change was a reduction in anticipated tap fees, which were reduced from $4 million to $1.6 million. Higher interest rates slowed new construction, Shaffer said, which led to fewer new connections to the district’s water and sewer services. Slower development also led to a reduction of revenue from supplemental water: $752,510 in supplemental water fees was budgeted, but that was lowered to $99,842 in the mid-year budget. The unusually rainy spring and summer months lowered water user fees, he said.

Shaffer said the district spent only $250,000 of the $500,000 it had budgeted to participate in the EPCRLWA water re-use project.

On a positive note, Shaffer said the higher interest rates had doubled the interest the district receives on its financial reserves, raising it from $500,000 to $1 million.

On the expenditure side, Shaffer said the district spent $75,000 more than expected to repair hardware problems with wells. Costs associated with the project to widen Highway 105 and the project to replace worn out sewer saddles were higher than originally budgeted. Capital improvement projects were budgeted at $5.8 million, but only $5.4 million of that will be spent in 2023, he said.

Shaffer said he expected to end 2023 with $19.6 million in unrestricted reserves.

The board accepted the updated budget without a vote.

Acoustic evaluation a time saver

Earlier in the year, the district hired RH Borden to help it evaluate the state of its sewer collection pipes. In previous years, district employees had cleaned sewer pipes based on a schedule, cleaning 20 percent of the sewer pipes each year, moving through the entire service area on a five-year schedule. This method meant some time and resources were used cleaning pipes that really did not need service.

Shaffer explained that RH Borden had developed a new technology that uses sound waves to quickly identify pipes that are clear, partially blocked, or totally blocked. Shaffer said the original proposal was for RH Borden to evaluate one-fourth to one-half of the district’s sewer lines, but RH Borden was able to evaluate all the sewer lines with the funds allocated. Shaffer said he was surprised at how quickly RH Borden got through 80 miles of pipeline.

Kwin Peterson of RH Borden said in five weeks his team opened every manhole in the district, did an evaluation of each manhole, evaluated every pipe segment, and recorded all the data for entry into WWSD’s Geographic Information System database for later use. His team found 87% of the pipes did not need cleaning, allowing the district to focus only on the pipes that truly needed cleaning.

LaFontaine said this was the first time the district had a full assessment of all manholes. He estimated the new technology saved the district 3 to 3 1/2 months of labor and equipment usage.

Highlights of operational reports

• LaFontaine said the rainy spring and summer had led to stormwater infiltrating the sewer collection system through manholes, which increased the flows in the Tri-Lakes Waste Water Treatment Facility.
• The district’s project to replace existing water meters with more advanced units is ongoing.
• Well 12 is out of service due to a pump failure.
• The Cloverleaf development has qualified for conditional acceptance.

Executive session

The July 17 meeting ended with an executive session to confer with legal counsel on questions relating to the EPCRLWA and on the authority to set fees.

**********

The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 14 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Correction
• “Smooth audit”
• District lawyer moves to new firm
• Highway 105 expansion delayed
• Spring rains mean free water, headaches
• Lori Akers to retire
• July board meeting rescheduled
• Executive session

Correction

In last month’s article, board member Roy Martinez was incorrectly identified as Tom Martinez. Our Community News regrets the error.

By James Howald

At its June meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard an audit report on its 2022 finances. The district’s lawyer announced some changes to her legal firm. The district’s engineer updated the board on changes to the Highway 105 expansion plans and other projects. The impact of recent rainy weather was discussed. The board celebrated the service of longtime employee Lori Akers. The July board meeting was rescheduled, and the meeting ended with an executive session.

“Smooth audit”

Uli Keeley, of Prospective Business Solutions LLC, presented the results of the audit of the district’s finances for 2022. Keeley said this was her first audit for the district, but she was familiar with its finances. The board selected her as its auditor in December 2022. Keeley had worked for the district’s previous auditor John Cutler and Associates on WWSD issues before she started her own company.

Keeley’s report issued the district an unmodified opinion, an indication that the audit did not uncover concerning issues.

She pointed out a new line item in the net position portion of the report called “land lease receivables.” Governmental Accounting Standard Board regulations have changed how leases are reported on balance sheets. WWSD leases a portion of the Woodmoor Ranch property, triggering this new reporting requirement.

Keeley said the district’s net position, which represents the district’s equity in its infrastructure, had increased by $4 million since 2021.

Keeley said since this was her first audit of district finances, she was required to do extra work to confirm all beginning balances. She found the previous auditor had deferred the reporting of some revenues that she thought should not be deferred, and she had corrected that.

The board voted unanimously to approve the audit report and authorize Keeley to file it with the state.

District lawyer moves to new firm

Erin Smith, WWSD’s lawyer, announced that her partner of 25 years was retiring, and she planned to merge her practice with Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel LLP, a firm in Durango that has a 75-year history with water law. Her rules of conduct require her to notify the board, she said, and ask for a motion to allow the president to sign a memo authorizing this change and permitting her to move her files to the new firm.

The board voted unanimously to authorize President Barrie Town to sign the required memo.

Highway 105 expansion delayed

District Engineer Ariel Hacker told the board that Phase A of El Paso County’s plans to expand Highway 105 between Jackson Creek Parkway and Lake Woodmoor Drive were being rebid. She said the county expected to award the new contract by the end of June and begin construction in August. Because of this delay, Hacker recommended that WWSD rebid the work required by the county’s project because WWSD received only one bid, which was much higher than expected. Because of the county’s expansion plans, WWSD needs to move water and sewer service lines that are in county rights of way adjacent to the highway.

Hacker mentioned two other WWSD projects she intended to rebid. The largest of these is the installation of additional equipment to manage water pressure in Zone Five, the southernmost portion of the WWSD service area. She said she was also considering whether to rebid construction needed to connect Well 19 to the WWSD infrastructure as a separate project or add it to the Zone Five project.

Spring rains mean free water, headaches

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine told the board that WWSD is currently supplying only groundwater to customers. He added that the rainy weather meant free water for the district, since there are no energy costs to acquire the resulting surface water as there are with ground water. WWSD has not needed to divert water from Monument Creek due to the precipitation, he said. The water level in the Augusta Pit is high, and that additional water has been conveyed to Woodmoor Lake by gravity.

The downside to the rain, LaFontaine explained, is that once the ground is saturated, the rain often infiltrates the sewer lines through leaky manhole covers and stresses the water treatment plant.

Lori Akers to retire

The board celebrated Lori Akers, who served WWSD in many roles for 38 years. .

July board meeting rescheduled

The board delayed its July board meeting by one week until July 17 to allow additional time to prepare WWSD’s midyear budget update.

Executive session

The board meeting ended with an executive session to discuss pending litigation.

**********

The next meeting is scheduled for July 17 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Town replaces term-limited board president
• Waterside development gets supplemental water
• Sheepherder gets a thumbs down
• CEBT dividend goes to employees
• Highlights of operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board opened its May meeting with an election of board officers. The board heard a request for supplemental water from Lake Woodmoor Development Inc., (LWD) and briefly considered a request to host a sheepherder on its Woodmoor Ranch property. It decided how to disburse a refund from CEBT and heard operational reports.

The meeting ended with an executive session to develop negotiating positions on potential agreements with Monument Fire District, Lewis-Palmer School District 38, and Enerfin Renewables LLC and to discuss a personnel matter.

Town replaces term-limited board president

Barrie Town was elected to serve as WWSD board president, replacing Brian Bush, who served two terms as president and was term limited. Town has served on the WWSD board previously.

The board elected Tom Martinez to serve as treasurer. Martinez joined the board earlier in 2023.

Bill Clewe was elected to a second term as secretary.

Waterside development gets supplemental water

District Engineer Ariel Hacker presented LWD’s request for supplemental water service to the board. LWD plans to build 52 multifamily units on four acres of land on the east side of Woodmoor Drive adjacent to Lewis-Palmer Middle School. The development is named Waterside. WWSD’s standard water service is ½ acre-foot of water per year for each acre of land. LWD is requesting an additional 14 acre-feet of water per year for Waterside, Hacker said.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer said the district’s long-range plan anticipated that the land in question would be developed at the density LWD is intending, so the request is “not outside what we planned.” Shaffer said LWD’s request would bring the district $595,000 annually in water fees, in addition to 52 one-time tap fees at the multifamily rate of $22,341 per tap. Shaffer said the multi-family tap fee is 25% less than the tap fee for a single-family residence, due to the expectation that there will be less outdoor irrigation.

The board voted unanimously to approve a motion to accept LWD’s request and bring back a supplemental water agreement for a final vote at the June board meeting.

Sheepherder gets a thumbs down

Shaffer told the board that JUWI Solar Inc., a company that leases a portion of WWSD’s Woodmoor Ranch property for a large solar array, had requested that WWSD host a sheepherder on WWSD’s portion of the ranch. The sheep would help JUWI control noxious weeds.

The board had several concerns with this arrangement, including security, insurance liability, and the potential impact of sheep droppings on water quality. Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine said giving the sheepherder the access requested would interfere with ranch operations.

The board directed Shaffer to deny the request.

CEBT dividend goes to employees

Shaffer told the board he had recently received a check for $9,600 from CEBT, the company that administers WWSD’s benefits program. Shaffer said CEBT’s rates are based on financial projections, and when actual costs are lower than the projections, CEBT returns the overage to the district. Shaffer said this had happened three times in the last 10 years and asked for the board’s thoughts on how the surplus should be handled. Shaffer suggested returning the funds to employees, arguing that the surplus would have gone to employees in their paychecks if CEBT had calculated their costs more precisely.

The board authorized Shaffer to return the surplus to employees.

Highlights of operational reports

• 
  LaFontaine said surface water from Lake Woodmoor would be added to the blend delivered to customers in June.
  
• 
  Wells 12 and 18 are temporarily out of production for maintenance.
  
• 
  Hacker told the board that planning for a new well into the Dawson aquifer was underway with BBA Water Consultants Inc. The well will be adjacent to the Central Water Treatment Plant on Deer Creek Road just northwest of Lewis-Palmer Middle School’s football field.
  
• 
  Hacker noted that some of the apartments in the Monument Junction development were on hold, but the Whataburger and Maverick filling station are still moving ahead.
  

Executive session

The May meeting ended in an executive session to consider strategies relative to negotiations and for a conference with legal counsel concerning potential agreements with the Monument Fire District, Lewis-Palmer School District 38, and Enerfin Renewables LLC, and for discussion of a personnel matter.

**********

The next meeting is scheduled for June 12 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• SRTS takes a step forward
• Meter replacement project hits snag
• Highlights of operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Lewis-Palmer School District 38 allowing the school district to use a maintenance road adjacent to Woodmoor Lake as part of its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) trail system. District Manager Jessie Shaffer updated the board on the status of WWSD’s water meter replacement project. The board also heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

SRTS takes a step forward

Board President Brian Bush asked the board to approve an IGA with the school district that would authorize the district to include a portion of a maintenance road that runs along the south and west edge of Lake Woodmoor in the SRTS trail system, which the school district has been planning for several years. The proposed trail system will connect Lewis-Palmer Elementary School, Lewis-Palmer Middle School, and Palmer Ridge High School, allowing students to walk to those schools with the minimum exposure to traffic.

The text of the IGA specifies that bikes can’t be ridden on the maintenance road. The IGA also says WWSD will not do additional maintenance for the road to accommodate its use as part of SRTS.

The school district will be responsible for building a bridge over the spillway in the south end of Woodmoor Lake and has obtained a separate grant to fund it.

The board voted unanimously to authorize Bush to sign the IGA.

Meter replacement project hits snag

Shaffer told the board that WWSD’s project to replace water meters with newer, more capable technology had uncovered an incompatibility between the electronic components in some of the new meters and the software the district uses to bill customers. About 430 recently replaced meters would need to have their network endpoints updated. The endpoints upload water usage data through a cell network to the billing software, which bills customers and enables them to track their water consumption online. Shaffer said customers with faulty meters have been identified and would be contacted to schedule the needed fix.

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine emphasized that the endpoints would be replaced with no interruption to water service. Some customers would receive an estimated bill for April, he said, adding the repairs should be done by the end of May.

Highlights of operational reports

• The Chilcott Ditch is being cleaned up, a new culvert has been installed, and water delivery to customers should begin by mid-May.
• Shaffer said the Colorado Senate was considering SB23-270, a bill which, if passed, would allow stream remediation projects to proceed with a simplified assessment of their impact on water rights. Shaffer said the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority was opposing the bill on the grounds it could take away water rights in some cases.
• LaFontaine reported two main breaks and a tank overflow. The overflow was due to a radio failure, he said, adding that 70% of the overflow was recovered and added to Woodmoor Lake. A backup battery was added to prevent future overflow, he said.
• Equipment plans for Well 22 are being reviewed by El Paso County.
• Contractors have been lined up to begin work on Well 19.
• Tap permits for the Cloverleaf development in South Woodmoor are expected to be issued in six to eight weeks.
• The apartments planned for the Monument Junction have been delayed due to the current state of the housing market.

Executive session

The April meeting ended in an executive session to consider strategies relative to negotiations and receive legal advice concerning potential agreements with the Monument Fire District.

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The next meeting is scheduled for May 8 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Acoustic wave technology improves efficiency
• Contract awarded
• Resident offers to purchase land
• Highlights of operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald

At its March meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board approved a more efficient way to identify sewer lines in need of maintenance. The board awarded a contract for a sewer saddle replacement project and heard a request from a resident to buy land from the district. The board heard operational reports, and the meeting ended with an executive session.

Acoustic wave technology improves efficiency

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine told the board about a new technology using acoustic waves that could reduce what the district spends on its “repair and replace” strategy for sewer lines. Currently, WWSD has divided its service area into five zones, and each year the lines in one zone are inspected by video camera and cleaned. It takes five years to inspect and clean all the lines in the service area, LaFontaine said.

LaFontaine explained a new method that uses devices that send and receive acoustic waves between manholes. The distortion in the acoustic waves is used to determine how clear or clogged a line is. LaFontaine said the Monument Sanitation District and the Palmer Lake Sanitation District have switched to this approach with good results.

LaFontaine said the technology would allow the district to inspect all five zones in one year instead of five years. Invasive tree roots are a costly problem, LaFontaine said, and a faster schedule would be more effective in dealing with them.

President Brian Bush recommended inspecting all lines annually. Director Barrie Town pointed out that using a schedule was not efficient because some lines were cleaned solely because they were on the schedule, not because they needed cleaning.

Director Town moved to add funds to the sewer line budget item, and the board voted unanimously in favor of his motion.

Contract awarded

District Engineer Ariel Hacker reviewed for the board the details of a contract to replace 30 service saddles (vertical connectors that join residential lines to mains), five gate valves, and three fire hydrants. The contract includes asphalt replacement, traffic control, and customer notification.

Hacker said Caraveo Construction Inc. had submitted the low bid for the job at $187,711. She noted there were two other bids—one for $295,000 and the other for $480,000. The range of bids was very wide, she said, adding Caraveo Construction was already working on another job for the district.

The board voted unanimously to accept Caraveo Construction’s bid and authorize Bush to sign a contract.

Resident offers to purchase land

During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Dave Easton told the board he was interested in purchasing land adjacent to Monument Academy from WWSD. He said he had made a similar request several years ago.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer told Easton the district typically doesn’t sell land. Bush said he would be surprised if the current or a future board agreed to sell land belonging to the district.

Highlights of operational reports

• Construction of new well 19 is due to begin in April.
• The Chilcott Ditch is being cleaned in anticipation of beginning to deliver water to ditch customers later in the spring.
• Classic Homes is expected to have model homes in the Monument Junction East development built by June.

Executive session

The March meeting ended in an executive session to consider strategies relative to negotiations and receive legal advice concerning pending litigation.

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The next meeting is scheduled for April 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Resolutions address procedures and election
• Resident announces candidacy
• Loop Water Authority to hold first meeting
• Woodmoor Lake refill timeline
• Highlights of operational reports

By James Howald

The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board voted on two resolutions in its first meeting of 2023 that define the rules and procedures for the rest of the year. During public comments, the board heard from a resident interested in running for a seat on the board. In his Manager’s Report, District Manager Jessie Shaffer gave the board an update on the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA). The board also heard the timeline to refill Woodmoor Lake and operational reports.

Resolutions address procedures and election

The board voted unanimously to pass Resolution 23-01, which addresses issues required of special districts by the state of Colorado such as providing a map of the district’s boundaries and documentation of the district’s outstanding debts. Attorney Erin Smith told the board that the resolution also specifies that the date, time, and location of board meetings will be posted on the district’s web page and at the district’s office, sets forth the district’s officers and establishes the upcoming election as a polling place election.

The district’s web page is at https://woodmoorwater.com and the district’s office is located at 1845 Woodmoor Drive, Monument, CO 80132.

The board also passed Resolution 23-02, which provides further details about the election, to be held on May 2, 2023, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., using the Woodmoor Improvement Association Community Center (“The Barn”) as a polling place.

Two seats on the board will be filled by the election: the seat currently held by President Brian Bush, who is term-limited, and the seat currently held by Director Barrie Towne, who was appointed to the board and therefore must run in the next election.

Candidates for the seats must file a Self-nomination and Acceptance with the district’s Designated Election Official, Mandi Kirk, by Feb. 24, 2023. Kirk can be reached at MKirk@NortonSmithLaw.com.

Resident announces candidacy

Roy Martinez used the public comment portion of the agenda to introduce himself and announce his candidacy for a seat on the board. Martinez told the board he is retired but had worked as the director of the Water Works Foundation, as a senior staff member at the Water Research Foundation, and at HDR Engineering, as well as at other water-related jobs.

Loop Water Authority to hold first meeting

Shaffer told the board that the EPCRLWA had scheduled its first regular meeting for Jan. 19. The EPCRLWA is an intragovernmental agency formed by WWSD, the Town of Monument, Donala Water and Sanitation District, and Cherokee Metropolitan District to design, build and operate water re-use infrastructure that will treat and convey water from Fountain Creek to customers in the four participating districts. When complete, the infrastructure will give WWSD a way to move the water it acquired when it purchased Woodmoor Ranch to WWSD customers.

Shaffer said the EPCRLWA was working on administrative issues such as choosing a law firm and bank and on technical issues such as defining the water quality testing required to establish a baseline to be used in developing the water treatment requirements.

The first meeting of the EPCRLWA is covered in a separate article on page < 16 > in this issue of Our Community News.

Woodmoor Lake refill timeline

Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine, in response to a question from Bush, told the board that the district’s plan was to have Woodmoor Lake fully refilled by May 2024. Currently there is 28 feet of water in the lake, he said.

The construction of the new Lake Pump Station required the lake to be completely drained, which is not typical during the annual cycle of filling the lake during the spring and emptying it during the high demand months in the summer. LaFontaine said water levels in the lake would rise during the spring of 2023 but not to the levels seen in a more usual year, due to the degree to which the lake was emptied to accommodate the upgrade to the pumping station. Then levels would fall again during the summer. By 2024, he said, levels would return to what they were previously.

Highlights of operational reports

• LaFontaine reported that there were five line breaks in December.
• Shaffer reported that the district was replacing sewer saddles in the Woodmoor Forest neighborhood of the WWSD service area. Saddles are the connections between sewer main lines and residences.
• Shaffer said he expected home construction in the Cloverleaf development east of Lewis-Palmer High School would begin soon.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)

• Correction
• Rate increases approved
• 2023 budget approved; funds appropriated
• Contract with Chilcott Ditch Co. renewed
• Highlights of operational reports

By James Howald

Correction

In the article on WWSD in the Dec. 3 issue of OCN, I attributed a comment about raising tap fees to Jim Wyss. Wyss left the board earlier in 2022. In fact, it was Director Bill Clewe who said he believed raising tap fees would not discourage development in the WWSD service area. OCN regrets the misattribution.

At its December meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board held two public hearings: the first on increases to water and sewer rates for 2023 and the second on the proposed budget for 2023. Both hearings were followed by votes finalizing the rates, approving the budget, and appropriating the required funds. The board renewed its contract with the Chilcott Ditch Co.

Rate increases approved

At its previous meeting in November, the board heard a presentation on rates from Harold Smith of Raftelis Financial Consultants (RFC). Following that presentation, the board published “not to exceed” increases on its website.

On Dec. 21, the board held a public hearing on proposed rate increases led by Andrew Rheem of RFC. He presented a new set of proposed increases incorporating the board comments at the November meeting. Rheem proposed:

• A 15% increase in water tap fees.
• A 15% increase in sewer tap fees.
• Either a 4% or a 6% increase in water and sewer base charges.
• Either a 4% or a 6% increase in water and sewer rates.
• A $1 per month decrease in the Renewable Water Infrastructure Fee (RWIF) that funds surface water development, especially surface water from Woodmoor Ranch.

Rheem said 4% increases would increase a typical residential monthly bill by $2.29 and 6% increases would mean an increase of $3.94.

District Manager Jessie Shaffer told the board he recommended a 4% across the board increase in rates, including all base charges and all volume-based rates. He recommended no change to the RWIF and no change to supplemental water service fees. He also recommended a 15% increase to water, sewer, and non-potable tap fees.

Board President Brian Bush commented that he saw two approaches to tap fees: that they are the cost of buying into the existing infrastructure or that they are a method to cover the costs of any new infrastructure required by new customers. He also said he felt raising tap fees was preferable to raising rates.

There were no comments from the public and the hearing was closed.

Following the hearing, the board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 22-07, which documented the increases Shaffer recommended.

At the time of publication, WWSD had not updated its website with the rates approved for 2023.

2023 budget approved; funds appropriated

A public hearing on the 2023 budget that was opened during the previous board meeting was continued at the December meeting. There were no comments from the public and few changes to the budget as previously presented.

The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 22-08, which adopted the 2023 budget and appropriated the necessary funds.

Contract with Chilcott Ditch Co. renewed

Shaffer presented an updated contract between WWSD and the Chilcott Ditch Co. to the board. He said the new contract did not increase the management fees that WWSD charges the ditch company, but it did increase the hourly pay rate for the ditch riders who maintain the waterway to $36.75 per hour.

The board voted unanimously to approve the updated contract.

Highlights of operational reports

• Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine reported that about 600 of the district’s water meters have been replaced with more advanced meters that improve accuracy and interface with WWSD’s billing software.
• The utility relocations required by expansion of Highway 105 were to go out to bid in December.
• Shaffer reported that Monument Junction East and West are moving forward rapidly, with a steel sleeve for water and sewer lines installed under Jackson Creek Parkway, sewer lines in place, and water lines partially installed.
• Bush reported that the proposed Monument Ridge East development, located just south of County Line Road and east of I-25, had withdrawn its application to be annexed by the Town of Monument.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2023, 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 District articles

• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 9 – Board deals with 100,000-gallon water loss (4/1/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 17 – Board asks for help with water piracy (3/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 12 – Board hires new attorney (2/4/2026)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 15 – 2026 budget adopted and rates set (12/31/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 17 – Rate increases for 2026 discussed (12/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 13 – Schedule set for 2026 budget (10/30/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 8 – Board plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (10/2/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 11 – Water tank recoat contract awarded (9/4/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, July 14 – 2025 budget gets midyear tune up (8/1/2025)
• Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, June 9 – 2024 audit finds “clean” finances (7/3/2025)