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OCN > 2605 > Triview Metropolitan District, April 23 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor funded; 2026 budget amended

Triview Metropolitan District, April 23 – Northern Monument Creek Interceptor funded; 2026 budget amended

Highlights*

  • The Triview Metropolitan District approved funding for the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) project with proposed bonds not to exceed 35 million dollars, interest capped at 5.75%, and backloaded payments from 2028 to 2056.
  • The NMCI project is a 10.1-mile pipeline to transport untreated wastewater to CSU's facility, with a 99-year treatment contract and district ownership in the pipeline, enabling bond financing from the Enterprise Fund; voter approval is not required.
  • The 2026 budget was amended to reflect NMCI-related costs, Higby Road construction acceleration, a delayed Administrative/Utility building completion, and additional revenues from NMCI bonds and Meritage Home tap fees.
  • The district will share debt service for NMCI: Forest Lakes Metro District contributes about 20%, while Triview covers about 80%; NMCI remains the largest anticipated construction cost at roughly $33 million.
  • Water operations face limited supplies: the region's spring run-off was the lowest on record, and some priority water rights cannot be used; the district has 600 acre-feet available and relies on complex exchanges, with the Northern Delivery System producing 57% of March's supply.
  • Higby Road work continues with Kiewit installing curbs and gutters; a new ADA-compliant Venison Creek Park play area is complete with a ribbon-cutting planned for June 5.
*AI-generated

By Natalie Barszcz

Editor’s note: OCN needs a reporter to cover Triview Metropolitan District meetings. We will train you! Contact John Heiser at (719) 488-3455.

At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) regular meeting on April 23, the board approved bond funding for the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) project and held a public hearing before approving amendments to the 2026 budget. The board received updates on the district’s water availability and well levels, and the efforts to mitigate forested areas of the district, and the Higby Road improvement project.

The board held an executive session regarding an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Town of Monument (TOM) and IGAs related to the NMCI project.

NMCI project funding

The board received a presentation from Kutak Rock LLP, providing bond counsel for the proposed issuance of water and wastewater enterprise bonds to fund the cost-sharing agreement for the NMCI. The proposed bonds are not to exceed $35 million, with interest rates capped at 5.75% and payments backloaded to minimize annual costs from 2028 through 2056.

Background: The NMCI project is a proposed 10.1-mile pipeline that would transport untreated wastewater from TMD and Forest Lakes Metropolitan District (FLMD) to the Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) J.D. Phillips Water Resource Recovery Facility (near I-25 and Garden of the Gods Road) for processing. See https://wp.ocn.me/v26n4tmd.

The agreement provides a 99-year contract per term for the treatment of the district’s wastewater and allows ownership in the pipeline, providing an asset for financing the project via bonds from the Enterprise Fund. Voter approval is not required for the Enterprise Fund.

The board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-06, a resolution approving revenue bonds for the participation in the NMCI.

2026 budget amendment

The board held a public hearing for the proposed budget amendment before District Manager James McGrady said the 2026 budget required amending due to the following costs and revenues that were unknown in December 2025 when the budget was originally approved:

  • The NMCI project is the largest construction cost undertaken by the district, estimated at about $33 million. FLMD will contribute about 20% of the annual debt service, while the district will be responsible for the remaining 80% of the debt service.
  • Water for dust suppression in construction zones west of I-25 as well as the work being done along Higby Road has proven to be substantial.
  • The Administrative and Utility building, which was not completed by Dec. 31, 2025 but was delayed until March.
  • The district is rebuilding Higby Road, which should be fully completed in 2026.
  • Additional tap fees generated from the Meritage Home development.

The board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-05, a resolution amending the 2026 budget that accounts for additional revenue generated from the issuance of the revenue bonds associated with the NMCI, along with the expenses associated with that project and with the expedited construction schedule for Higby Road.

Water operations update

McGrady said the regional spring run-off was the lowest on record and decreed water rights obtained after 1875 cannot be used. The state has given the district approval to operate both the Arkansas Valley Irrigation Company (AVIC) and Bale infrastructure, but unfortunately, the AVIC is already out of priority and is unlikely to come into priority for any meaningful amount of time in 2026. The district has 600 acre-feet of water rights available in the Fountain Mutual Irrigation Company and, through a complex number of water exchanges on paper, can obtain some of the district water rights, said McGrady.

Water Attorney Chris Cummins said the Arkansas River received only one-third of the usual snow, and as such, the runoff has more than likely peaked given the unseasonable temperature in March.

Water Treatment Superintendent Gary Potter said the following:

  • The Northern Delivery System (NDS) produced 57% of the district’s water in March.
  • During the first year the NDS was brought online, the static level of the Denver wells had gained 25% replenishment due to inactivity, but the Arapahoe wells had not gained.
  • The district is awaiting parts for the pump replacement of well A-7.
  • The Consumer Confidence Report can be viewed on the district website.
  • The district saw the lowest water loss in March at 1.44%.

The snowpack in the Arkansas River Basin is disappearing quickly, which is limiting the ability to divert water. However, with over a year’s supply of surface water in storage and the Denver Basin ground water wells, the district is well positioned to overcome this temporary operating limitation, said Potter.

Higby Road improvement update

McGrady said Kiewit is installing all curbs and gutters for the Higby Road improvement project, and the construction of the Maverick Apartment complex, consisting of 14 buildings, is underway.

Note: Message boards providing updates on the project and a link to the road closures and detours are available at https://triviewhigbyroad.com.

District mitigation efforts

Parks and Open Spaces Superintendent Matt Rayno said the district staff are planning to prevent further beetle kill within the district by removing damaged pines around Sanctuary Pointe Park in May. A chipping day is scheduled with Monument Fire District for Promontory Pointe and Sanctuary Pointe residents on Aug. 17. The rules will be provided to residents wishing to have brush chipped. Residents will be responsible for clearing brush and making it available to crews for chipping.

Venison Creek Park construction complete

Rayno announced the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) play area in Venison Creek Park had been completed, and a ribbon-cutting would be scheduled on June 5. See the district website for timings.

The board moved into an executive session at about 8 p.m.

**********

Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month at the district office located at 1641 Baja Drive, West Baptist Road, with temporary access via Old Denver Road. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for May 21 at 5:30 p.m. For Zoom meeting joining instructions, meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com.

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

https://triviewmetro.com/about-the-district/

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