OCN

Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area

OCN > 2601 > El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Dec.18 – Board considers hiring executive director

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Dec.18 – Board considers hiring executive director

Highlights

  • The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority board discussed the possibility of hiring an executive director to handle day-to-day operations, with plans to relieve directors who already balance full-time district roles.
  • The idea envisions the executive director as the Loop's first employee to manage coordination of contractors, calls, and meetings for a busy 2026.
  • Several directors supported the move, while one member suggested keeping design committees staffed for continuity.
  • A draft job posting and salary range of $145,000 to $185,000 were discussed, with a note to avoid using American Recovery Plan Act funds to prevent added regulatory burdens.
  • William George was welcomed as the replacement for Jeff Hodge on the Loop board, representing the Donala Water and Sanitation District, though he was excused from the December meeting due to travel.
  • Hutchinson provided updates on the Geotech drilling plan and Burns & McDonnell designs, noting a $119,000 addition for 12 soil bores and a 30% completion milestone for the pumps and pipelines design by January 22.
  • Fromm reported November invoices totaling $123,000 and a $138,000 reimbursement from the El Paso County Board of Commissioners, with 21% of the 2025 budget spent to date.
  • The board unanimously approved posting the executive director position and accepted Fromm's financial report, with the next meeting scheduled for January 25 at 9 a.m. at Monument Town Hall.

By James Howald

At its meeting in December, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board discussed hiring an executive director. The board acknowledged a replacement for one of the Donala Water and Sanitation District’s (DWSD) representatives on the Loop’s board. 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 Corben Fromm, of Fromm & Co. LLC, the Loop’s accountant.

Executive director to ease workload

Board President Jessie Shaffer asked the board to consider hiring an executive director to take on day-to-day administrative work currently done by the directors, each of whom has a full-time job with one of the participating districts in addition to their responsibilities with the Loop. If the board adds the position, the executive director would be the Loop’s first employee; previously, all Loop tasks have been handled either by the Loop directors, who are appointed by the boards of the participating districts, or by contractors.

Shaffer said 2026 would be a busy year for the project, requiring lots of coordination of contractors, calls, and meetings. He suggested adding a full-time executive director to handle the Loop’s business. Shaffer noted that much of the directors’ time was dedicated to working on the committees overseeing large aspects of the Loop project, such as the design of the water treatment plant and the expansion of the Calhan Reservoir. He said he had discussed the possibility with some of the Loop’s directors and had drafted a job posting. Shaffer said it might take time to find the right candidate.

Directors Christina Hawker and Madeline VanDenHoek, who represent DWSD and the Town of Monument, respectively, agreed with Shaffer’s suggestion.

Director Dan LaFontaine, who represents the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, said, for the sake of continuity, the staffing of the design committees should remain unchanged.

Tom Tharnish, who represents the Town of Monument, asked Shaffer to send his draft of the job responsibilities to all the directors. Shaffer said he would do so, adding that he thought a salary of $145,000 to $185,000 would be appropriate.

Attorney Nicole Peykov suggested that the executive director not be paid with funds from the American Recovery Plan Act, as doing so would add a regulatory burden.

The board voted unanimously to authorize Shaffer to post the position.

DWSD’s William George to succeed Jeff Hodge

The board welcomed William George as the replacement for Jeff Hodge, who, until recently, had represented DWSD on the Loop’s board. George, who was traveling, was excused from the December meeting.

Merrick update

Hutchinson told the board that she had received an update to the Loop’s agreement with Geotech that included drilling 12 bores to categorize the soils at the site of the water treatment facility, at the Calhan Reservoir, and at the Chilcott Ditch, at an additional cost of $119,000. Shaffer questioned the need for 12 bores and asked Hutchinson to ask Geotech why so many were needed.

Hutchinson said the design for the water treatment facility being done by Burns & McDonnell had been reviewed the previous week, and changes were being considered based on the feedback from that review.

The design for required pumps and pipelines, also being done by Burns & McDonnell, was planned to be 30% complete by Jan. 22, Hutchinson said.

Financial report

Fromm told the board that invoices totaling $123,000 had been received in November. The invoices were from accounting, legal, and engineering companies, with Burns & McDonnell being the primary service provider. The board approved payment of the invoices.

He noted that the Loop had received a check for $138,000 from the El Paso Board of County Commissioners, as reimbursement for the Loop’s expenses during the first quarter of 2025. Fromm expected reimbursement checks for the second and third quarters to be received soon.

Fromm said the Loop had spent 21% of its budget for 2025.

The board voted unanimously to accept Fromm’s financial report.

**********

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25 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

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *