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OCN > 2412 > El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Nov. 21 – Board approves 2025 budget

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Nov. 21 – Board approves 2025 budget

By James Howald

In November, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board held two special meetings on the same day. The first special meeting consisted entirely of an executive session. The agenda for that meeting gave a very general reason for the executive session: to confer with an attorney to receive legal advice on matters that may be subject to negotiations.

At the second special meeting, the board held a public hearing on its proposed budget for 2025 and heard an update from John Kuosman, a water practice leader with Merrick and Co., who serves as the Loop’s workflow manager. Nicole R. Peykov, the Loop’s attorney, asked the board to approve two resolutions addressing administrative matters.

2025 budget squared away

Board President Jessie Shaffer opened a public hearing on the Loop’s 2025 budget. There were no comments from the public, and the hearing was closed. The board voted unanimously to approve the 2025 budget and, in a separate vote, appropriated the funds needed.

Progress report

Kuosman told the board that he had met with the El Paso Board of County Commissioners to thank them for their support of the Loop. The commissioners played an important role in the launch of the Loop by awarding it $4 million in funds from the Biden administration’s American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA). Kuosman said he told the commissioners how the remainder of the ARPA funds would be spent, and they asked for a written summary of where the Loop stands by Dec. 6. Kuosman offered to draft that response and the board authorized him to do so.

Kuosman said Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were being drafted to address the planning and financing needed to move the Loop from its current conceptual design phase to a preliminary design. The focus of the RFPs would be on the water treatment portion of the project, he said. The board gave Kuosman permission to proceed with the RFPs.

Kuosman also said he was discussing issues with Vidler Water Co. Inc., and he believed a non-disclosure agreement would be necessary to cover those talks. Vidler Water develops water supplies.

Peykov asked the board to approve two resolutions: an annual “administrative matters” resolution that covers procedures and directives for the Loop’s consultants and a resolution that increases the fee that the board can charge for Colorado Open Records requests to $41 per hour. The board voted in favor of both resolutions.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 19 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Workshop meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Cherokee Metropolitan District offices at 6250 Palmer Park Blvd., Colorado Springs. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

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

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