By Jackie Burhans
The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board met on Sept. 24 to hear residents’ concerns about prairie dogs and to discuss preparing for upcoming winter conditions.
Prairie dogs
Two residents came to discuss the prairie dog situation on the south side of the Preserve. They noted that they had paid to be part of the most recent prairie dog mitigation, but it did not appear any work happened in their area.
President Brian Bush said the board had spent $5,000 in late July on the second round of prairie dog mitigation but that getting to zero would be difficult given the ongoing construction. WIA would need to wait until next year if it becomes a significant problem rather than a small number, he said.
Commons Area Direct Steve Cutler said he was under the impression that the residents’ area was to be covered in the last round of mitigation but was told it had not been.
Bush said WIA would investigate, and if they had paid and their area hadn’t been treated, that was one issue, but it might have to wait until next year for another large effort.
Preparing for winter
Community Outreach Director Rick DePaiva noted that Jack Hadley, executive director of Public Works for El Paso County, had shared a snowplow tracking dashboard at the Sept. 13 Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations (NEPCO) meeting. See the dashboard at http://publicworks.elpasoco.com/snow-removal.
Public Safety Director Brad Gleason noted that there would probably be snowfall before the next WIA meeting in October. He reminded residents that all roads in Woodmoor are the responsibility of El Paso County Public Works rather than WIA or Woodmoor Public Safety (WPS).
Forestry Director Jason Hann advised that now is a good time for residents to walk their properties and clear scrub and slash, because the area will start to see heavy snows that may break branches.
Highlights
- Secretary/Community Outreach. DePaiva said that NEPCO thanked WIA for use of The Barn for its meetings and hosted Executive Director of Planning Meggan Heringgton as well as Hadley. Heringgton and Hadley presented their respective areas; the presentation is available on the NEPCO website. Contact WIA for login information to see the presentation.
- Treasurer: Bush, speaking for Treasurer Pete Giusti, said income was better than expected, and expenses are at 65%. He noted that Homeowners Association (HOA) administrator Denise Cagliaro was working on next year’s budget with WPS Chief Kevin Nielsen. The budget will be presented in October and adopted at the November meeting.
- HOA: Cagliaro said the previously approved signs saying Woodmoor is patrolled 24/7 were installed.
- Covenants: Director Jennifer Davis reported 147 covenant items in August and three unfounded complaints. She noted 16 HOA checks and one hearing in August about an open fire. Davis reported on the follow-up with the residents’ reporting issues with a short-term rental (STR); owners have applied for a permit and discussed the issue of jurisdiction. Bush said WIA will continue to regulate STRs for any nuisance complaints and could rescind the permit.
- Public Safety: Gleason noted that there is still fire danger as things grow and dry out, asking residents to be mindful. Nielsen confirmed that WPS adjusts its patrol in response to reports of issues in other communities.
- Architectural Control: Director Ed Miller reported 38 project submissions, including 31 approved administratively and six by the Architectural Control Committee. Year-to-date there have been 323 projects, which is a 24.9% decrease from last year. Projects have been approved at a 98.8% rate.
- Forestry: Hann said WIA completed nine forestry and Firewise visits. He noted that WIA is working with a new state forester and must train them in how to process packets. The mitigation grant is ready for state inspection, but a review of current conditions must be completed before an application can be approved. Processing has been delayed by statewide fires, which have required all hands on deck.
- Common Areas: Cutler said the Common Areas tree maintenance was complete on the third week of August and the second mowing would occur the second week of October. Davis noted that there had been spillage from the Well 12R site in the South Preserve, and Bush said that Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District had a restoration plan.
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The WIA Board of Directors usually meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in The Barn at 1691 Woodmoor Drive, Monument. The next meeting will be on Oct. 22. See www.woodmoor.org to confirm meeting details.
Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.
Other Woodmoor Improvement Association articles
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, Jan. 26 and 28 – Annual meeting and reorganization (2/4/2026)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, Nov. 24 – Board approves 2026 budget, hears holiday light contest details (12/4/2025)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, Oct. 24 – Board urges safety, announces holiday light contest (10/30/2025)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, Aug. 27 – Board hears short-term rental concerns (9/4/2025)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, Jul. 23 – Board recognizes Eagle Scout project, clarifies parking near open spaces (7/31/2025)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, May 28 – Board announces fire education (6/7/2025)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, April 23 – Resident sparks Firewise® discussion (5/3/2025)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, Feb. 26 and March 26 – Board addresses residents’ concerns (4/5/2025)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, Jan. 27 and 29 – Annual meeting and reorganization (3/1/2025)
- Woodmoor Improvement Association, Dec. 18 – Board confirms opposition to Buc-ee’s (1/4/2025)
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