Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), March 9 – Council of Governments preparing wildfire protection plan

By Marlene Brown

The Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO) held its bi-monthly meeting March 9. NEPCO’s purpose is to serve and be a point of contact between local government and agencies regarding land use matters that impact member associations and their residents. NEPCO is a nonprofit corporation formed in June 2000. Bob Swedenburg, vice president, is a founding member of NEPCO with continued service since its inception. Mike Aspenson, president, called the meeting to order. NEPCO has 51 Homeowners Associations (HOAs); there were 21 HOAs present, short of a quorum.

Several board members gave their reports. Wildfire/Preparedness Committee Chair Beth Lonnquist spoke to remind those present that Monument Fire District (MFD) opened registration on March 26 for free chipping days for HOAs in the area. MFD will send two firefighters and a chipping truck. HOAs will need 10-12 people working together to prepare the slash and tree limbs for the chipper, then on chipping day to help load the hopper with the debris. To sign up your HOA and more information about fire mitigation, go to www.monumentfire.org

Guest speakers Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) Director Andy Gunning explained that it is a council of 16 jurisdictions covering El Paso, Teller, and Park Counties. It is preparing a wildfire protection plan between Monument and Palmer Lake with a grant from the federal government.

PPACG also funnels funds from federal and state money to military planning programs, the Council on Aging, metro planning, and long-range transportation, air and water quality control. See www.ppacg.org.

Jared Verner, policy and communications legislative advocate, explained that PPACG continues to promote local control and opposes state-directed unfunded mandates. The Legislative Affairs Committee tracks and reviews legislative bills and proposals. For 2024’s 120-day legislative session, over 560 bills have been introduced. HOA members are welcome to the committee meetings www.ppacg.org/committees.

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NEPCO meets every other month on the second Saturday. The next meeting is scheduled for May 11, 10-noon at the Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. The topic will be “Recent Colorado State Legislative Impacts on HOAs” with attorney Lenard Rioth and District 20 State Rep. Don Wilson, former Monument mayor. For more information, go to nepco.org.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

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