Courier View Pikes Peak
Teller County, Colorado • Volume 51, Issue 51
December 19, 2012
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourtellercountynews.com
Woodland Park Mayor Dave Turley wears a big smile and a Santa suit as he rides his motorcycle in the city’s Lighter Side of Christmas Parade. He said he had special dispensation from Santa himself to wear the suit. With the state of the city looking up, the big smile seems to be a permanent expression. Photo by Norma Engelberg
Turley optimistic about 2013 By Pat Hill
phill@ourcoloradonews.com Acknowledging the tragedies and economic challenges of 2012, Woodland Park mayor Dave Turley offered a brighter picture for 2013. “There’s been an increase in sales-tax revenue and we think it’s going to improve next year,” said Turley, in his State of the City presentation Dec. 11. “A lot depends on what’s happening in Washington, D.C.” Speaking at the annual break-
fast for the Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce, Turley highlighted the city’s responsibilities to the citizens. In addition to maintaining a safe community which Woodland Park includes plowing Mayor Dave Turley snow, providing clean water and disposing of wastewater, the city is charged with handling the flow
of water from Fountain Creek. “Living at the top of the pass, we have to make sure we’re good neighbors in the way we handle stormwater; for example, the work we’re doing on Fountain Creek with a FEMA grant,” he said. “Those are the things that are important to all of us in the quality of life we have.” Calling up his conservative credentials Turley admitted that at times, he questions the extent of the city’s financial obligations, among them, the police depart-
ment’s budget. “Then I get a reality check, thinking about how safe our streets are,” he said, looking over at Police Chief Bob Larson. As well, the police department’s Teen Court is a vital aspect of the community. “If we can take a teenager who does something stupid and keep them out of the `big justice system,’ get them turned around, I think that’s a good investment for our community and for the future,” he said. However, Turley began with a look backward. “2012 has been a
tough year,” he said. Along with the Waldo Canyon Fire and subsequent evacuations, about the same time, the three Boys Scouts and their leader died in a car accident in Wyoming. “The trauma that comes with that in a small community like ours, their deaths were very personal,” he said. “That being said there have been a lot of good things that happened.” Turley spoke to about 50 members of the chamber at Neil Levy’s Swiss Chalet restaurant.
Jamison leaves county in arrears Buckner to lead hospital By Pat Hill
phill@ourcoloradonews.com The paperwork tells the story. Teller County is in arrears in paying its bills. Among the unpaid bills is a debt to the State Department of Revenue for $230,000. At issue is the failure of J.J. Jamison, the county’s clerk & recorder, to distribute fees collected by her office.
“The clerk collects license, recording and motor-vehicle fees,” said Teller County commission chair Jim Ignatius. “Those dollars have to be distributed to the various entities, including the state and the cities of Woodland Park, Cripple Creek and Victor. Teller County is only the pass-through agency.” The latest news about late or unpaid POSTAL ADDRESS
bills adds more fuel to the fire of exposure suffered by Jamison in the past few months, revelations that became public when the Secretary of State’s office took over the clerk’s election responsibilities in June. The takeover was preceded by 15 months of constant review and evaluation by the Secretary’s office, Ignatius said.
A series of emails and a list of late or unpaid bills reflects a high level of frustration among county officials, particularly the finance department, which has stepped in to help reconcile the clerk’s books. “Once again, my department does not have time to continue managing your financial controls and processes for you; however, we need to be able to see an end to our involvement,” writes Laurie Litwin, the county’s director of finance and budget, in an email to Jamison Oct. 4. In addition to money owed to the state, the county owes funds to the state treasurer, the state department of health and Teller
Jamison continues on Page 12
Special to the Courier Terry Buckner has been named chief executive officer of the Pikes Peak Regional Hospital and Surgery Center. An Oklahoma native, Buckner brings more than 20 years of healthcare management experience to his new role. Buckner joined PPRH from Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center in Poteau, Ok., an 84-bed facility. During his sevenyear tenure he increased net incomes from negative to positive margins and was highly successful in the recruitment of physicians. In a previous position, Buckner led his hospital through the Critical Access Hospi-
tal (CAH) conversion process, the second facility in the nation to do so. A special designation for ruTerry Buckner ral hospitals, PPRH is recognized as and operates under this program. Federal legislation enacted in 1997 authorized states to establish Critical Access Hospitals in rural communities, in order to assure the economic
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viability and quality of medical care in rural communities. For the past several months, Rodney Bice, chief nursing officer, has served the hospital as the interim CEO. “Rodney will continue to be an integral part of the leadership team as he oversees our many critical departments at PPRH,” said Ed Lamb, present of the Western Division of Iasis Healthcare, which manages the hospital. Bice served as the hospital’s CEO after the resignation of Dolores Horvath.