El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Nov.20 – 2025 budget reviewed; 2026 budget adopted

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Nov.20 – 2025 budget reviewed; 2026 budget adopted

• 2025 budget reviewed; 2026 budget adopted
• Merrick update
• Financial report
• Legal issues addressed
• Executive session

By James Howald

In November, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board reviewed its 2025 budget and held a public hearing on its 2026 budget. Patricia Hutchinson, a civil design engineer with Merrick and Co., who is acting as the Loop’s workflow manager and coordinating the work being done by the consulting and engineering companies contributing to the project, gave the board an update. The board heard a financial report from board President Jessie Shaffer, who stood in for Corben Fromm, the Loop’s accountant. Nicole Peykov, the Loop’s attorney, helped the board address three minor issues with procedures, contracts, and agreements. The meeting ended with an executive session.

2025 budget reviewed; 2026 budget adopted

Shaffer told the board that its 2025 budget requires no amendments, so there was no need to consider the resolution to amend it.

He opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget. Shaffer said the budget anticipated $4.86 million in revenue, including $2.4 million from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA), and contributions paid by the participating water districts, and expenditures totaling $4.9 million, mostly for professional fees. The 2026 budget was based on bringing the Loop’s design work on water treatment, conveyance, and reservoir expansion to 60% completion. Shaffer said he expected the project to have about $350,000 in the bank at the end of 2026.

There were no comments from the public, and Shaffer closed the hearing. The board voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing the 2026 budget and appropriating the necessary funds.

Merrick update

Hutchinson told the board that CDM Smith, the engineering company that was awarded the contract to expand the Calhan Reservoir to accommodate the additional water generated by the Loop’s reuse design, had held a check-in meeting the previous day and expected to have its design completed by Feb. 13, 2026.

Hutchinson said Burns & McDonnell projected its design work on the pumps and pipelines would be complete in February. It was currently working on the northern portion of the system, choosing sites, doing title work, and talking to owners.

Hutchinson said the design for the advanced water treatment facility, which is also being done by Burns & McDonnell, would have a package for the Loop board to review on Friday, Nov. 21. A final workshop on the topic was scheduled for Dec. 4.

Financial report

Shaffer told the board that invoices totaling $228,000 had been received in October. The invoices were from engineering companies, with Burns & McDonnell being the primary service provider.

He noted that after payment of the invoices, the Loop would have $57,000 in the bank. The cash crunch resulted from the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) taking much longer than expected to reimburse the Loop for its expenses from the American Recovery Plan Act funds that the BOCC administers.

The board approved payment of the invoices.

Legal issues addressed

Peykov asked the board to approve an Annual Administrative Matters Resolution for 2026 that authorizes the board’s actions, schedules officers, and ensures statutory compliance. There were no changes from the previous year’s resolution, Peykov said. The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

Peykov also presented minor changes to the Loop’s contract with Merrick & Co. and Spencer Fane LLC. These were approved by the board.

Executive session

An executive session was held for the board to receive legal advice regarding its negotiations related to financing the project, including a possible public-private partnership proposal. No actions were taken following the executive session.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 18 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. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

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

Other El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority articles

• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Feb. 18 – Board hears preliminary engineering designs (3/4/2026)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Jan. 15 – Board hears updates from Merrick and SpencerFane (2/4/2026)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Dec.18 – Board considers hiring executive director (12/31/2025)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Oct. 15 – Board of County Commissioners slow to reimburse (10/30/2025)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Sept. 25 – Contract for reservoir expansion design awarded (10/2/2025)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Aug. 28 – Board considers public-private partnership financing (9/4/2025)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, July 17 – 2024 finances receive clean audit opinion (7/31/2025)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, June 26 – Board hears progress report (7/3/2025)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, May 15 – Board officers elected (6/7/2025)
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, April 17 – Pumps and pipeline proposal out for bids (5/3/2025)