Triview Metropolitan District, Sept. 18 – Road enhancement project delayed

Meeting began earlier than scheduled
Financial report
Higby Road project update
Water operations update
Water quality testing
Director requests
Executive session

By Natalie Barszcz

The Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on Sept. 18 began several minutes before the scheduled time. The board heard the Higby Road project had been delayed until early October. The board president requested that the staff provide a fire mitigation plan for areas around Sanctuary Pointe, heard about a beautification and safety plan for the drainage area north of Strata Drive in Home Place Ranch, and asked that residents be provided with a trail map of the district.

The board held an executive session to discuss the purchase and sale of water and land and agreements with the Town of Monument (TOM) and other governmental, private, and associated entities.

Secretary/Treasurer Amanda Carlton was excused.

Note: This reporter attended via Zoom, but sound issues occurred throughout the meeting.

Meeting began earlier than scheduled

The meeting was called to order before the designated 5:30 p.m. scheduled start of the meeting. Board President Jason Gross requested approval of item 4, the meeting agenda, at 5:28 p.m.

Note: In Colorado, a special district meeting called to order earlier than the publicly announced time defeats the purpose of the public notice requirements.

Financial report

Director John Gibbons had many comments and questions regarding the financial reports, and he requested the financial report pages indicate the year-to-date actual month for whatever month the report represents. He said the requested changes were made in August but had not been made in time for the September meeting. He requested the changes be made before the October meeting.

Note: This reporter has not received a financial report from TMD for the past several months. The board financial reports are available up to May 31, 2025 at https://triviewmetro.com.

In a 4-0 vote, the board accepted the financial report and the checks over $5,000.

Higby Road project update

District Manager James McGrady said Kiewit had anticipated beginning the Higby Road project in early September, but after discovering the utility pipes were buried at different levels, the widening/enhancement project will begin in early October. For additional information about the project, visit https://triviewhigbyroad.com.

Water operations update

Water Treatment Superintendent Gary Potter said Well A7 was underproducing at 60 gallons per minute and usually produces 200 gallons per minute. He proposed the pump be replaced in 2026. Taking Well A7 offline does not limit the district because of the arrival of cooler weather. The well is located at B Plant alongside another well that is offline. The repairs for both will be discussed during the budget process. He said it is good to ensure the wells are able to pump when needed to supplement the district’s water conveyed through the Northern Delivery System (NDS) via Colorado Springs Utilities. The district will be back to delivering 95% of the district’s water through the NDS for the winter, said Potter.

Water quality testing

Assistant Manager Steve Sheffield said the fourth set of water quality samples at the Stonewall Springs Reservoir Complex were taken in September. The water quality testing of five sets of water samples is required by the state Division of Mining, Reclamation Safety before a permit can be issued for the district to construct a slurry wall for the Central Reservoir.

Director requests

Gross requested the district pursue the following:

A fire mitigation plan for the entire district to eliminate excess brush and the potential for wildland fire. He requested the staff present a formal plan by July 2026 to share with Homeowners Associations.
Develop a plan for the Home Place Ranch retaining pond to avoid a massive eyesore and the potential for a liability issue.
A map showing all of the official trails in the district, potentially closing unmaintained trails, and hiring a trained staff member to build trails with erosion control and trail maintenance knowledge. Documenting the trails on a map to show who maintains the trails and noting the mileage and the elevation changes. When loaded on the website, it will benefit the residents.

McGrady said the following:

The Fire Department has assessed areas in the past. Some HOAs have already held chipping days and become Firewise neighborhoods.
Due to safety issues, something may need to be done ahead of build-out, but Home Place Ranch will likely need to reach build-out before the detention pond area can be completed because the area has its own sub-district. It could take time to complete since only 50 homes have sold, sales have slowed, and about 300 homes are planned.
The district has documented the trails it is responsible for maintaining, and a base map exists. Some of the trails in Sanctuary Pointe were built by the developers, some belong to El Paso County, and others in that area are unofficial single-track hiking trails that are steep and difficult to maintain. The district staff will need to walk the trails to document the distances, and during slow periods crews can provide maintenance.

Executive session

The board moved into executive session at about 8:25 p.m., to receive legal advice pursuant to CRS section 24-6-402(4)(b), as it relates to water matters and agreements with the TOM, and other governmental entities.

Sheffield confirmed to this reporter that no action was taken when the board returned to the regular session. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

**********

Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month at the district office located at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 16 at 5:30 p.m. For meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com.

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