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April 9, 2014
75 cents Teller County, Colorado | Volume 53, Issue 14 A publication of
pikespeakcourier.net
Assessment team issues report By Pat Hill
phill@coloradocommunitymedia.com
A report from the Main Street assessment team was brutally honest about the challenges Woodland Park faces as far as economic development is concerned. Among the ideas was to reduce the four lanes of U.S. 24 to two lanes, adding 12 feet of parking and pedestrian space on each side. Photo by Pat Hill
The entrance to Woodland Park is too cluttered with a profusion of signs and U.S. 24 is a hindrance to the economic health of the city. In a report heard by more than 120 people April 1 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center, representatives of the Colorado Main Street program proposed solutions to the city’s negatives. Main Street, sponsored by the Department of Local Affairs, is designed to infuse economic energy into cities around the state. Woodland Park has until July 1 to submit a letter of intent to be accepted into the program. While the Main Street assessment team found many positives, such as the scenic beauty of Woodland Park, it’s the negatives that hamper the city’s economic future. “There’s a strong sense of community here,” said Katherine Correll, who introduced the report. “There is a very strong independent type of attitude and people appreciate that spirit. There’s a strong faith community but businesses face a lot of challenges.” Among the challenges are an aging de-
mographic and traffic on U.S. 24, she said. On the plus side, the proposed development at Woodland Station has generated excitement. As well, the Main Street program has inspired residents to unite in focus groups for a penetrating look at the city’s strengths and weaknesses, the genesis for the report. Nonetheless, Correll said, communication among the residents can be challenging while opportunities for youth and young people are limited and varied. To enhance downtown vitality Woodland Park will need funding for physical improvements, a marketing plan, citizen surveys, successful events and community engagement, Correll said. Funding is available through grants from DOLA, which was represented that evening by Greg Winkler. “The tools you choose are going to impact how effective you are in meeting your objectives,” Correll said. To start off, the team recommends that the community promote communication among the residents, form partnerships and implement strategic collaboration. Issues continues on Page 5
WP declares National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Starts refit of city hall drainage system By Norma Engelberg Contributing writer
Woodland Park Mayor David Turley read a proclamation into the city record declaring April 6-12 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in the city. About 400 Teller County citizens are directly harmed by crime each year; just a small part of the 18.7 million Americans who become victims of crime each year. These numbers don’t include the many family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers indirectly affected by crime. Teller County Victims Assistance Program Director Jan McKamy and her assistant Cindy Parker attended the April 3 Woodland Park City Council meeting for the express purpose of acknowledging the proclamation, which states that crimes include everything from homicide and violence and sexual abuse to drunk driving crashes and stalking. The proclamation is meant to “reaffirm the city of Woodland Park’s commitment to respect and enforce victim’s rights and address their needs during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year. A reminder of last year’s floods was also on the council agenda as councilmembers approved the expenditure of $63,052 to solve a problem with a small drain located at city hall’s front door. The drain was blocked by pine nee-
dles and other debris when the city received between 3.6 and 5 inches on Aug. 22. Between that and the overtaxed sump pump the drain was attached to, more that 6 inches of water entered city hall through the front door. The city’s insurance through the Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency covered the flood damage but the city still needed to fix problems with city hall’s drainage system so that flooding wouldn’t happen again. The drain’s grate will be enlarged and the area it serves will be increased and disconnected from the building’s sump pump. Storm water will be rerouted to a nearby municipal storm water drain at the corner of Center Street and Henrietta Avenue. Lamb Plumbing and Excavating won the competitive bid for this project. With these two agenda items covered, the rest of the council meeting was taken up with reports and the approval of a small raise for City Manager David Buttery. Economic Development Director Brian Fleer reported on efforts to continue work on Woodland Station’s remaining lots 2-5 and the former Amerigas tank farm. Developers Kip Unruh, Arden Weatherford and former mayor Steve Randolph are working in a joint effort with the city’s Office of Economic Development and the Woodland Park Downtown Development Authority to formalize plans based on concepts that were presented earlier this year.
POSTAL ADDRESS
On April 3, after proclaiming April 6-12 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Woodland Park Mayor Dave Turley gives a copy of the proclamation to Teller County Victims’ Assistance Program Director Jan McKamy, center, and her assistant Cindy Parker. Photos by Norma Engelberg Developing Woodland Station to build-out is one of Fleer’s and the Authority’s seven top work program targets for 2014 and the next few years. Other targets include the development of the Main Street program and Creative Arts District. A preliminary summary of the two-day Main Street community assessment that took place on March 31 and April 1 will be posted on the city website, www. city-woodlandpark.org, and the finished assessment document will be added to the website when it arrives at city hall in about four weeks.
This small drain was all that came between the Woodland Park City Hall’s front door and the 3.6-5 inches of rain that fell last August. The drain clogged and the sump-pump it was attached to couldn’t handle all the rain that fell so 6 inches of water churned through the building’s door. The city will be spending about $63,000 to fix the problem so that the flooding doesn’t happen again.
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