1
October 16, 2014 VOLU M E 1 1 2 | I S S UE 50 | 7 5 ¢
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net
SPECIAL SECTION
INSIDE
D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Town manager to retire in spring Stevens will step down in April after 14 years on job By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Chad Dubbs, project manager for Edward Kraemer and Sons, looks at work being conducted on the Highway 85 overpass that is part of the North Meadows Extension construction project on Oct. 9 in Castle Rock. Once complete, the bridge will cross two sets of raliroad tracks and a stream. Photos by Ryan Boldrey
One phase down, two to go North Meadows Extension project expected to alleviate traffic issues By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@coloradocommunitymedia.com
POSTAL ADDRESS
NEWS-PRESS
(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the NewsPress is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media and additional mailing offices. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
The first phase of the largest road construction project in Castle Rock town history is now in the books, and the final two phases are both underway. The North Meadows Extension, which broke ground near Castle View High School in October 2013, once complete will provide north and southbound interchange access to U.S. 85 and I-25, giving residents of the Meadows a second northern access point to I-25, and alleviating traffic on Meadows Parkway. On Oct. 9, Castle Rock town officials were joined by county commissioners, representatives from the Colorado Department of Transportation and a handful of political candidates on site to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the $67.85 million project. Phase I included building a bridge over the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe railroad tracks behind Castle View and installing sound walls near the apartments that stand between the two major thoroughfares. “The North Meadows Extension project could not have been done without the support of Douglas County and the Colorado Department of Transportation, as well as others,” said Mayor Paul Donahue. “A project like this, obviously doesn’t move forward
Douglas County Commissioner Roger Partridge addresses those who gathered at the site of the North Meadows Extension construction project on Oct. 9 in Castle Rock. As the project nears the completion of Phase I of three, multiple entities came together to celebrate the funding partnership that has allowed it to happen. without financing, and this project is going to require a significant amount of financing in order to make it happen.” The extension, expected to be complete in 2016, Road work continues on Page 12
Army OKs Chatfield reallocation project Audubon Society files federal lawsuit to stop it By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com The Audubon Society of Greater Denver is literally taking on the U. S. Army in an attempt to stop the Chatfield Reservoir reallocation project from going forward. Col. Joel R. Cross, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District commander, put the final seal of approval on the project on Oct. 9. On the same day, Audubon filed a federal lawsuit asking the court to stop the project. “It’s a bad deal for the public and for Colorado,” Polly Reetz, Audubon’s conservation chairwoman, said in a statement. “The Corps of Engineers’ approved plan will provide only a highly unreliable water supply yet will cause substantial environ-
mental damage to Chatfield State Park, one of the state’s most heavily used and biologically diverse state parks.” According to a statement from the Corps — which operates the dam — reallocating storage from a flood-control pool into a joint conservation/flood control pool will raise the water level by 12 feet. Because water will cover more of the park, there will be “significant modifications to relocate and replace existing recreation facilities, resources and project roads with new facilities and roads,” reads the statement. The statewide Water Supply Initiative estimates Colorado will need between 600,000 and 1 million acre-feet annually of additional water by the year 2050. The Corps expects this project to add 8,539 acre-feet of water a year for municipal and industrial use at less cost than other water supply alternatives. Corps spokesperson Gwyn Jarrett said design will begin almost immediately, and the noticeable work will begin in two to three years.
Castle Rock has begun the process of finding a replacement for Town Manager Mark Stevens, who announced he will be retiring in the spring. Stevens’ last day in the position will be April 3, 2015, at which time he will have spent 14 years on the job. He was appointed town manager of Castle Rock on April 2, 2001. Prior to coming to Castle Rock, Stevens had served more than Stevens 20 years in various local government executive positions in Illinois and Arizona, including 16 years as a city manager. Stevens also serves as a member of the boards of directors of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Castle Rock Economic Development Council. He has also served terms as chairman of Denver Regional Council of Governments committees. Stevens has been the recipient of numerous professional awards — most recently, 2003 and 2005 national awards from the International City Management Association for regional cooperation and governmental partnerships. The town charter requires council to appoint a town manager “within a reasonable time after a vacancy occurs in the position.” Recruitment and selection of a town manager typically takes several months and often involves assistance from an outside party. At the Oct. 7 meeting, town council voted 6-0 to create a subcommittee that includes Mayor Paul Donahue and Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Green to lead in the search for an outside firm to help in the hiring process. Councilmember Chip Wilson was not in attendance. “There are a lot of firms across the country who could bring experience and expertise to the process while still leaving council in the decision-making role,” said Kristin Zagurski, town management analyst. According to Zagurski, the town enlisted the help of an outside firm when hiring Stevens 14 years ago. Stevens, Zagurski and human resources manager Sue Morgan will assist council in the search this time around. Stevens said he would work with Donahue and Green to create a short list of firms to consider and go over proposals, and to schedule interviews with the firms if needed. Donahue and Green will present their recommendations to the rest of council at the Oct. 21 meeting. Once a firm is selected, the town will begin its search for qualified candidates. “I think the process of going outside makes all the sense in the world,” Donahue said. “This is a big decision. It’s a huge decision for Castle Rock moving forward. Mark has done a fabulous job. Obviously, we’ve had some great success using an outside firm before.” The town is hoping to have a list of finalists for the job in February and a new town manager hired in March.