Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Dec. 8 and 15 – New leadership takes the helm

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

Previous mayor and trustees celebrated
Mayor and three trustees sworn in
Adult use cannabis regulations established
2023 budget and mill levy approved
Tri-Lakes Cares presentation
Featured artist banner program
Executive session

December saw a newly elected mayor and three newly elected trustees seated in Palmer Lake. Following an election in November that legalized the sale of adult use cannabis, the board addressed some of the details of how to proceed with those sales. The board adopted a budget for 2023, certified the town’s mill levy, and voted to continue to use Green & Associates LLC as the town’s auditor. Spokespeople for Tri-Lakes Cares told the board about its services, with a focus on how they serve the residents of Palmer Lake. The board also considered a program to use banners to publicize the town’s artists.

The Dec. 15 board meeting ended in an executive session.

Previous mayor and trustees celebrated

Outgoing Mayor Bill Bass called the Dec. 8 meeting to order. In his last comments as mayor, Bass thanked outgoing Trustees Nichole Currier and Darin Dawson for their service to the town, saying: “I have a lot of appreciation and thanks that I want to share with all of you, first to the outgoing board for all their hard work this past two years. At times it was really demanding. You all met the challenge, and we accomplished a lot of good work for this town. … This board has set the bar pretty high.” Bass added that the outgoing board had worked hard, attending a total of 35 workshops, retreats, and special meetings in addition to 50 regularly scheduled board meetings.

The newly elected and continuing leadership of Palmer Lake posed together for a photograph. From left are Trustees Karen Stuth, Sam Padgett, Shana Ball, and Kevin Dreher, followed by Mayor Glant Havenar and Trustees Jessica Farr and Dennis Stern. Stuth, Padgett, and Farr are continuing their terms as trustees, while Ball, Dreher, and Stern were elected in the November election. Havenar, a former trustee, was elected mayor at the same time. Photo by James Howald. Caption by Jackie Burhans.

Bass thanked Town Administrator Dawn Collins, Town Attorney Matt Krob, and the town staff for their efforts: “Y’all are just an outstanding bunch.” Bass said he hoped the town would benefit from the increased revenue resulting from changes during his administration. He also thanked the residents and commended them for their involvement. He ended by congratulating Mayor-elect Glant Havenar and newly elected trustees Shana Ball, Kevin Dreher, and Dennis Stern.

Following Bass’s remarks, Collins presented a certificate of appreciation to Bass. Bass then presented certificates to Currier and Dawson. In his last act as mayor, Bass recessed the meeting for 45 minutes of socializing, including a toast to the town.

Mayor and three trustees sworn in

Following the toast, Collins administered the oath of office to Havenar. Havenar reconvened the meeting, and Collins and Havenar swore in Ball, Dreher, and Stern, who were then seated for the remainder of the Dec. 8 meeting along with Trustees Jessica Farr, Samantha Padgett, and Karen Stuth.

Later in the meeting, Stern was elected unanimously to serve as mayor pro tem.

Adult use cannabis regulations established

At the Dec. 8 meeting, the outgoing mayor and board considered an emergency ordinance, which would take effect upon passage, to establish the rules and regulations that would govern the sale of adult use cannabis in the town. Bass and Havenar commented that they wanted the leadership team that had worked on the issue for months to have a chance to vote on the terms on which cannabis would be sold, as stated by Ordinance 17-2022.

Havenar pointed out that the town’s two cannabis businesses could not proceed with their licensing requirements until the town had an ordinance in place.

The ordinance amends Title 5 of the Palmer Lake Town Code by adding Chapter 5.21, which adds detailed regulations for the retail sale of cannabis. The regulations include:

The Board of Trustees, acting as the Local Licensing Authority, can require businesses to provide necessary information, and can approve or deny licenses required to sell cannabis. Licenses are valid for one year, and can be suspended, revoked, or not renewed in the case of violations. Licenses are non-transferable.
Any applicant must submit a range of information including name, address, fingerprints and legal status and history of the owner.
Applicants must provide a physical plan of the business, with a deed or lease, and an area map covering a radius of a quarter mile around the proposed business site.
An operation plan including security, description of products, and exterior signage.
A limit of two retail stores within town boundaries.
Inspections to verify compliance with all town codes.

Following a motion to approve Ordinance 17-2022, the ordinance was passed, with Bass, Dawson, Farr, Havenar, Padgett, and Stuth voting in favor. Currier voted no.

Meeting in its role as the Local Licensing Authority at the Dec. 15 meeting, the board approved a change of ownership for Alpine Essentials, the cannabis business owned by the Woodward family that added Tyler Woodward and Melissa Woodward as owners. The board also approved requests for changes to the premises of Alpine Essentials and Palmer Lake Wellness, the business owned by Dino Salvatore. Both businesses requested to add additional security cameras.

2023 budget and mill levy approved

At the Dec. 8 meeting, the newly seated board voted to approve Resolution 57-2022, which adopts the proposed budget and sets the town’s mill levy.

The proposed 2023 budget increases wages and staffing at the departmental level in two phases: an increase in January and a possible second increase in July, if estimates of increased revenue are correct. The Water Fund is adjusted to balance the expenditure of American Recovery Plan Act funds in 2023, with those funds going to improve treatment facilities and the distribution system.

A mill levy of 21.238 mills was specified in the resolution, and the Town Administrator was authorized to communicate that to the El Paso Board of County Commissioners.

The resolution passed with Ball, Dreher, Havenar, Stuth, Havenar, and Stern voting in favor and Farr and Padgett voting against.

During public comments, resident Roger Mosely told the board his analysis of the budget led him to believe the Water Fund has been overspent for two years, and water rates will need to increase by $30 per month.

The board also passed Resolution 58-2022, which confirms Green & Associates LLC as the town’s auditor. Ball, Dreher, Farr, Havenar, Stern and Stuth voted in favor; Padgett voted no.

Tri-Lakes Cares presentation

Haley Chapin, executive director of Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC), and Stephanie Force, director of development at TLC, gave the board an overview of the organization’s strategy and services. Chapin explained that TLC is primarily known as a food pantry but also provides emergency relief and self-sufficiency services. A family of four with an income of $68,500 would be eligible for services from TLC, she said. Chapin said TLC case managers were trained to address issues resulting from generational and situational poverty.

Chapin said TLC provides limited medical assistance to those without insurance or with insurance that is too expensive to use for less than catastrophic illnesses.

Chapin explained that TLC has many more volunteers than staff and asked anyone interesting in donating time to contact the organization.

Chapin ended with some statistics specific to Palmer Lake. She said that in 2022, TLC had aided 191 residents of Palmer Lake, and had provided $45,000 in housing funding to residents and medical assistance to 145 residents.

Details about TLC’s services and volunteer opportunities can be found on its website: https://tri-lakescares.org/. Its office is at 235 N. Jefferson St. in Monument.

Featured artist banner program

Gina Brenneman and Amy Hutson, speaking on behalf of the Palmer Lake Arts Council (PLAC), asked the board to consider supporting the placement of banners that would highlight Palmer Lake’s resident artists. A local artist would be highlighted for six months on banners that would include a sample of their work. The program would include a pop-up location to display the artist’s work. The banners would be mounted on light posts, Brenneman and Hutson said.

Brenneman said Stuth asked the PLAC to put together a plan in concert with the Palmer Lake Economic Development Group.

The board voted unanimously to approve a permit to allow the banners.

Executive session

The Dec. 15 meeting ended in an executive session to consider negotiating positions concerning a Fire Department Intergovernmental Agreement, the lease on the Elephant Rock property, a property offer, a possible annexation, and a water service request.

No action was taken following the executive session.

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The next board meetings are scheduled for Jan. 12 and 26. See the town’s website at www.townofpalmerlake.com to confirm times and dates of board meetings and workshops. Meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Town Hall. Information: 719-481-2953.

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

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