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OCN > 2308 > Triview Metropolitan District, July 20 – Stonewall Springs Reservoir operational; Conexus Subdistrict dissolved; 2022 budget amended

Triview Metropolitan District, July 20 – Stonewall Springs Reservoir operational; Conexus Subdistrict dissolved; 2022 budget amended

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on July 20, the board heard about the Stonewall Springs Reservoir operations, approved the dissolution of Subdistrict B, amended the 2022 budget, received a presentation on the 2022 audit, received multiple updates, and held an executive session to receive legal advice on water and property acquisitions, and the Higby Road design.

Vice President Anthony Sexton and Director Jason Gross attended via telephone.

Director Amanda Carlton did not attend.

Stonewall Springs Reservoir is operational

District Manager James McGrady said the district acquired the 1041 permit from Pueblo County, which is necessary to operate exchanges of water at the Stonewall Springs Reservoir. The district is now exchanging water regionally using the new pump station, and the reservoir is full. The renewable water program is an accomplishment for TMD and the entire region, he said. See NEPCO article on page < 18 >.

Above: Triview Metropolitan District’s Stonewall Springs South Reservoir on July 20. The reservoir was full to capacity by mid-July and holds enough water to supply the district for two years. Photo courtesy of James McGrady.

Water attorney Chris Cummins said the filling of a reservoir generates a great deal of interest, because it is not an everyday happening. See photo above.

Note: The July newsletter is available at www.triviewmetro.com.

Subdistrict B dissolution

McGrady said when the district put together Subdistrict B for the Conexus development located west of I-25 off Old Denver Road, Monument, the district was unsure at the time that Conexus would be able to set up its own metropolitan district, but that has now occurred, and Conexus feels it will have sufficient bond capacity to complete the project. See www.ocn.me/v23n6.htm#tmd.

Gross said it seems the district would be taking a tool out of its tool kit, and why would the district get rid Subdistrict B before Conexus has built out its development? he asked.

McGrady said that Conexus can impose 35 mills for the operation and management of its new development. TMD currently imposes 24 mills of its allowed 35 mills to its customers and could only issue 11 mills to Conexus. He had a conversation with the developer and was assured they would not need Subdistrict B. If Conexus is making the wrong decision, it will have to make it work, he said.

Gross asked if the development posed any potential risk to TMD.

McGrady said the Conexus development west of I-25 is not integral to the district, and the roads and pipeline are located on the periphery of the district. The Town of Monument (TOM) collected a performance bond from the developer before the construction begins to protect against abandonment of the project. TMD inspects all the water and wastewater pipelines and Tom Martinez of Monument Public Works inspects the road and stormwater infrastructure. The work is warrantied for two years, and then a punch list is completed to ensure the final infrastructure is to code. The district employs extremely qualified staff with 20-plus years of experience to inspect water and wastewater infrastructure, to include the Northern Delivery System pipeline project

The district’s attorney, George Rowley, said there is no negative should Conexus fail to complete infrastructure, because it is required to install the infrastructure before any residents move in. Rowley requested the board review and approve Resolution 2023-05, a resolution of the TMD Board of Directors acting at the request of the property owners, Conexus developers Schuck-Chapman, to dissolve Subdistrict B and authorize the district staff and the district legal team to prepare documents, make filings, and consummate the dissolution of it.

The board approved Resolution 2023-05, 4-0.

2022 budget amendment

President Mark Melville opened a public hearing for the proposed 2022 budget amendment.

District Accountant Cathy Fromm explained the required amendments for the 2022 budget and said the General Fund/Capital Projects Fund was amended by $195,206 due to additional capital projects, and the Enterprise Fund was amended to show an increase of about $3.9 million. The increases were due to capital projects and over $300,000 in additional meters that were ordered in 2021 but received in 2022. The additions are required to be reported in the year received, she said.

Melville said a revised budget approval occurs every year after the auditors and accounts have conducted the audit, and hearing no public comments closed the public hearing.

McGrady requested the board review and approve Resolution 2023-04, a resolution of the TMD Board of Directors amending the 2022 budget.

The board approved the 2022 budget amendments, 4-0.

2022 audit

Christine McCleod of Haynie and Co. CPA presented the 2022 audit and said no significant weaknesses or deficiencies had occurred. The audit was substantially completed but still in draft form, and once complete the report will be filed on time with an un-modified opinion. The district has a strong set of financials with nothing outside of normal accounting procedures, she said.

McCleod recommended the Higby Road escrow account be moved to reflect a liability account on the balance sheet for correct financial presentation purposes.

The board approved the 2022 Audited Financial Statements as presented, subject to review and any changes, and the filing with the state, 4-0.

Financial update

Secretary James Barnhart requested clarification on the overbudget vehicle expense line discussed at the June board meeting. See www.ocn.me/v23n7.htm#tmd and the correction at the end of this article.

Fromm said the fuel charges will be moved to the fuel line item, and other charges will be scheduled to the correct accounts. The district had a lot of Les Schwab charges for tires this year and $660 for the Vehicle Expense line in the General Fund for Public Works, was really underbudgeted, she said.

McGrady said the district truly underbudgeted the line item, with gas expenses charged to that line, and many pieces and parts needed for vehicles this year.

The board accepted the financial report as presented, and approved the checks issued over $5,000.

NDS pipeline project update

McGrady said Kiewit was doing a great job, and the NDS pipelines were expected to be tied together in late July. The crews will begin working on the east portion of Baptist Road overnight to avoid traffic congestion. All materials for the project have been received (except for the pump station), and the pipeline will be installed by mid-September, with the overlay expected to take place from late September through mid-October, he said.

Note: For NDS pipeline project updates, alternate traffic routes, answers to questions, and to sign-up for email notifications, visit www.triviewnds.com. The link can also be found at www.triviewmetro.com.

Public Works and Parks and Open Space update

Superintendent Matt Rayno said:

• The Remington Hill overlay project was scheduled to be completed by Martin Marietta on July 22.

• Staff members are completing the last section of the trail system at Agate Creek Park.

• A concrete pad at Old Creek Park had been installed, and a shade structure and picnic table will be added to the pad in August.

• Radar speed signs have been ordered for a total of about $7,400. The signs will be installed on northbound Gleneagle Drive at the Promontory Pointe Trail Park, and southbound Gleneagle Drive just after the roundabout after exiting Sanctuary Rim.

Resident Ann-Marie Jojola thanked the district for installing radar speed signs along Gleneagle Drive in Promontory Pointe and said there are a lot of curves and motorists gain momentum. There have been some close calls with children crossing the road, she said.

McGrady said the road has a steep grade, and children do not have the sight distance to navigate the speed of oncoming vehicles.

Sidewalk repair matching program

McGrady said the district is responsible for curb and gutter repairs, but for sidewalks a concrete matching program of $1,000 per home to fix sidewalks exists. The district budgets $25,000 annually for the program and currently has $50,000 to match homeowner sidewalk repairs. Residents interested in the sidewalk repair matching program should contact Assistant Manager Steve Sheffield at ssheffield@triviewmetro.com or call 719-314-6473.

Re-opening of open space

McGrady said he and Rayno had walked the open space north of the Lyons Tail Road and south of the Talus Road playground and found the space was now free of trash and in great shape compared to about a year ago, when activities such as underage drinking, evidence of fire pits, scrub oak chopped with axes and fort building activity had been taking place. Back then the board examined alternatives after receiving resident complaints and made the area off-limits. The area is now looking pristine with no signs of damage, and he recommended the board consider re-opening the single-lane foot path and open space with monitoring, and new signs asking users to please respect this open space.

The neighbor that had originally requested the district take action in June 2022 to protect the open space said he had not requested the closure, but due to the closure a rock had been thrown through his window last year. He concurred the space looked good now, and he and his wife were in favor of the space being re-opened, as long as it is monitored. In the past he had observed a female teenager tear off a branch from the 100-year-old Gambel oak shrubs.

Residents attending in support of re-opening the space said they and another neighbor would be watching to ensure the open space users are not causing damage or engaging in dangerous behavior.

Melville thanked the homeowners in attendance and said the board regrets the decision it made to close the open space, but he hoped the children present at the meeting could go and enjoy the open space with their neighbors. See the TMD board meeting minutes from June 23, 2022 at www.triviewmetro.com.

Note: OCN did not cover the complaint that led to the closure because the July 2022 edition did not cover the TMD board meeting. Subsequently, the board meeting minutes and the district newsletter did not refer to the homeowners by name in response to the complaint.

Grass grant for open spaces

Resident Melissa Simonoff requested the board consider applying for the state’s $2 million grant available to municipalities for 2023-24 for lawn removal and replacement in public spaces. It could be used for the enhancement of the open spaces in Jackson Creek, she said.

McGrady said that in years past the grant was available only for residential purposes and a very small amount of money was available. He requested Simonoff forward the information to him for further consideration.

Melville thanked Simonoff for the information and said the board would look into the request.

Executive session

The board moved into executive session at 7:58 p.m., pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 24-6-402(4) (a), (b), (e), to discuss acquisitions, receive legal advice on negotiations regarding water acquisitions, change cases, property acquisition negotiations, and the Higby Road design.

After the meeting, Sheffield confirmed that no further actions were taken when the board returned to the regular meeting and promptly adjourned at 8:57 p.m.

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Correction

In the financial update portion of the June TMD article www.ocn.me/v23n7.htm#tmd, it should have read: “Vehicle expenses were $7,261, and 1100% over the budgeted $660 in the May 2023 financial report.” OCN regrets the error.

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Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday every month at the district office at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. For meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at

nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

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