OCN

Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area

OCN > 2304 > Triview Metropolitan District, March 23 – District will hold election; multiple contracts approved

Triview Metropolitan District, March 23 – District will hold election; multiple contracts approved

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on March 23, the board heard about the 2023 Board of Directors’ election for two board director seats and approved contracts with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU), Pueblo Water, and Kiewit Infrastructure. The board also held an executive session to approve authorization to seek eminent domain should it be required to complete the installation of the Northern Delivery System (NDS).

Treasurer/Secretary James Barnhart was excused.

2023 Board of Directors election

District Attorney George Rowley of the White Bear Ankele Tanaka & Waldron law firm recommended the four self-nominated candidates for two available board seats each submit statements of 400 words or less with a photograph. The mail-in-only election will be held on May 2, and a drop-off ballot box will be located in the foyer of the district office building at 16055 Old Forest Point, he said.

District Administrator Joyce Levad said any ballots dropped off at the TMD bill pay box located in the Baptist Road shopping center will not be counted. Information on the candidates and voting instructions can be found at www.triviewmetro.com.

Note: The designated election official is White Bear Ankele Tanaka & Waldron law firm.

Board approves contract for water delivery

District Manager James McGrady said the convey, treat, and deliver contract had been presented at a Colorado Springs Utilities Board hearing on March 22, but even though the board members were supportive of the agreement, one member requested additional information, and the contract was removed from the consent agenda to allow presentation in a public forum. The contract will be considered again at the Colorado Springs City Council meeting on March 28, he said. See www.ocn.me/v22n11.htm#tmd.

Water Attorney Chris Cummins of Monson Cummins & Shotet LLC said changes were made to the draft contract the board reviewed last month, and CSU agreed to the changes and addressed the district’s concerns. Cummins requested the board approve the agreement between CSU and the district to convey, treat, and deliver regional water service via the NDS and said CSU recognizes the opportunity to utilize its underutilized water assets. The Colorado Springs Utilities Board meets between the Colorado Springs City Council meetings and are the same voting members, he said.

McGrady recommended the board approve the contract and said everything hinges on the agreement. The district purchased stranded assets, and the contract will allow the district-owned water to be delivered to its customers, he said.

The board approved the contract barring any major changes, 3-0.

President Mark Melville asked if the water delivered via the NDS would need additional treatment.

McGrady said the district may have to add a small amount of chlorine, but it will not need any further treatment when it is received via CSU. The water will be treated and delivered via the pipeline in hours, he said.

Executive session

The board moved into an executive session at 7:30 p.m., pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 24-6-402(4) (a), (b), (e), to discuss acquisitions and receive legal advice for negotiations associated with water delivery infrastructure, water, and property acquisitions.

When the board returned to the regular meeting, McGrady requested the board review and consider approval of Resolution 2023-02 authorizing the district manager to initiate eminent domain proceedings for the acquisition of easement and real property interests necessary for pipelines, utilities, and infrastructure associated with the NDS project, should good-faith negotiations fail.

The board approved the resolution, 3-0.

Kiewit contract amendment

McGrady requested the board approve a third amendment to the NDS contract with Kiewit Infrastructure to guarantee the maximum price for the installation of a pipeline project, procure materials and equipment for the pump station, and establish a payment and construction schedule. He said the cost increases are mainly due to inflation and the addition of four high-pressure fire hydrants, but the project had found some savings from pipe material changes and by shortening a bore around Sanctuary Pointe. The total cost of the project will be about $21.2 million, he said. See www.ocn.me/v23n3.htm#tmd.

Kiewit Infrastructure project manager Max McLean said the contract pricing will be locked in and confirmed in April and there should not be much change.

McGrady confirmed the project remains on time and the pipeline construction is expected to commence on May 4. For details, visit www.triviewmetro.com.

The board approved the contract, 3-0.

Pueblo water exchange agreement

McGrady requested the board approve an agreement between Pueblo, a municipal corporation, acting by and through the Board of Water Works of Pueblo, and the district. The 10-year agreement would make 20 acre-feet of water available for exchange with the district. The water to be exchanged to TMD would be released from Clear Creek, Turquoise, and Twin Lakes Reservoirs, or from direct-flow transmountain rights via the Arkansas River. In exchange, Pueblo will receive TMD water stored in Pueblo Reservoir. TMD will pay $150 per acre-foot or about $3,000 per annum, and a non-refundable fee of $10,000.

The board approved the agreement, 3-0.

Sand Creek Golf Course lease agreement

McGrady said the district owns 1,057 shares of stock in the Fountain Mutual Irrigation Co. and currently supplies 40 of those shares to Fontana Enterprises Inc. to irrigate the Sand Creek Golf Course. He requested the board approve a water lease agreement for $6,199.60 for the first year, with a 4% annual increase. The agreement would be in place for water years 2023 through 2029.

The board approved the water lease agreement, 3-0.

Upper Monument Creek Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility

McGrady said the UMCRWWTF study by Carollo Engineers Inc. is still in progress.

Melville asked if the UMCRWWTF would require expansion at district build out.

McGrady said the increase in high-density apartments in the region will change the wastewater flows, and the study will also look at build-out density in Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) and Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, along with all future regulatory requirements. The demand on the UMCRWWTF will be slightly higher than current wastewater capacity, he said. See DWSD article on page < 17 >.

Public Works and Parks and Open Space update

Superintendent Matt Rayno reported the mild weather was helping crews get ahead on the spring projects, and he said:

  • The Old Creek Park has received new playground equipment and an Americans with Disabilities Act ramp will be installed along with a 16-by-16-foot shade structure on an 18-by-18-foot concrete pad to house a picnic table.
  • Crews conducted a thorough playground equipment audit and made repairs. A plastic slide repair at the Burke Hollow playground was made in-house. The playground is due to be replaced next year.
  • Aeration began on March 23, but the ground was very dry and completion will be delayed until moisture is received.
  • April turf fertilization and testing the irrigation main lines will begin on April 3, and that will allow aeration to continue.
  • The irrigation is in place at Agate Creek Park, and the system will be charged in time for early spring seeding.
  • Tree and shrub pruning and pre-emergent fertilization is almost complete.
  • Street sweeping occurred on Lyons Tail Road and in Sanctuary Pointe.

Director James Otis said residents had complimented the holiday light display at the Baptist Road and Leather Chaps Drive intersection.

Rayno said the lights are the crown jewel of the district during the holiday season, and the east side of Leather Chaps Drive may receive some upgraded landscaping later in the season.

The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

**********

Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday every month at the district office at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for April 20 at 5:30 p.m. For meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com.

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

Other Triview Metropolitan District articles