Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations

By Marlene Brown

The Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations (NEPCO) held its general membership bi-monthly meeting March 11 at the Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) Barn Community Center. Bob Swedenberg, vice president, introduced board and committee members.

Swedenberg also discussed County Ordinance No. 22-002 regarding parking on county roads in Homeowner Association (HOA) areas. Numerous HOAs sent emails to the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recommending that the exception for indefinite parking of specialized vehicles be rejected. The county ordinance was passed for the regulation of traffic by the BOCC, adopting the 2020 edition of the “model traffic code” repealing all ordinances in conflict as registered with the county clerk and recorder. For the full ordinance, go to https://clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com.

Larry Oliver, director of Membership, stated NEPCO has 47 members/homeowners associations representing over 10,000 homes and 20,000 registered voters within the NEPCO area.

Harold Larson, member-at-large, is now on the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) representing NEPCO and the Tri-Lakes area. The mission of PPACG, a voluntary organization of 16 counties and municipalities, is to provide a forum for local governments. See www.ppacg.org.

Beth Lonnquist of Red Rock Ranch spoke about taking expenses for fire mitigation off taxes owed on Line 65 on the 1040 tax form, regarding Colorado HB16-1052 Wildfire Mitigation Income Tax Credit. The bill changed the wildfire mitigation income tax credit. As stated on the Colorado Legislature website www.leg.colorado.gov, an income tax deduction reduces a taxpayer’s taxable income. A tax credit reduces a taxpayer’s liability by taking a dollar-for-dollar reduction in what is owed by what the credit allows. It allows a landowner a credit of 25% of the costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures not to exceed $2,500. Any amount more than the landowner’s tax liability in the year the credit is first claimed may be carried forward to offset the landowner’s tax liability for five years.

Lonnquist also reminded everyone that it is time to sign up for the Monument Fire for Chipping Day. HOAs can sign up for free and the Fire Department will send a chipper and two firefighters to help homeowners with tree and bush limbs.

Swedenberg introduced special guests Mark Gunderman, president, Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) Board of Directors, and Andy Kovacs, fire chief for the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD). Gunderman explained how they spent $50,000 on an Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI) Feasibility Study. The benefits of unifications are the realization of economies of scale between the two departments, better resources and coverage, and better pay for DWFPD personnel without raising taxes, Gunderman said.

Kovacs has been TLMFPD chief for two years and has 30 years in the fire service. His focus has been pre-fire planning; zone haven, an evacuation tool; free home inspections by firefighters; and 21 chipping events this year. Eventually, DWFPD will be dissolved and the mill levy will be reduced to match TLMFPD. The new district will be named Monument Fire District.

Bob Mooney, Transportation and Land Use Committee chair, reported that the Monument Planning Commission (MPC) will recommend reinstating Hay Creek subdivision. The plan proposes 213 acres in 20 parcels with a minimum parcel of 5.5 acres. Terra Ridge North proposes 11 2.5-acre lots. Lots will have individual wells and septic systems.

NEPCO is looking for help regarding the Land Use Committee. Contact Mooney at bobmooney01@msn.com or 719-930-9735.

Above: At left, Jim Reid, regional director of the Pikes Peak Office of Emergency Management, announces his retirement. At right is Chief Kevin Nielsen of Woodmoor Public Safety. Photo by Marlene Brown.

Jim Reid, regional director for the Pikes Peak Office of Emergency Management (PPOEM), announced his retirement after 20 years of leadership service with El Paso County. He served as executive director of the Public Works Department and the county OEM director with a budget of over $35 million, 170 employees, 2,100 miles of roadway, 22,000 acres of right-of-way and 273 bridges. Since Reid became director of PPOEM, it has concentrated on zone haven, evacuation exercises, and emergency response times.

For more information about PPOEM, go to https://admin.elpasoso.com/pproem.

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NEPCO meetings are usually held on the second Saturday of every other month at the Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr., 10 a.m. to noon. Next meeting is May 13. All members of HOAs are welcome. For more information, see http://nepco.org.

Marlene Brown can be reached marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations – NEPCO hears from fire officials

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