March 11, 2015 VOLU M E 5 4 | I S S UE 1 0 | 7 5 ¢
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Town asked to plan for pedestrian traffic Public invited to suggest transportation solutions By Norma Engelberg Contributing writer
During public comment at the March 5th Woodland Park City Council meeting Steve Jeroslow, who serves on both the Woodland Aquatic Project committee and the Main Street Committee, asked the city to begin making plans now for increased pedestrian traffic when Woodland Station is built out over the next five to 10 years. Jeroslow was referring mainly to getting pedestrians safely from the north side to the south side of the city’s downtown at Center Street and U.S. 24. Plans for safe crossing could include a traffic signal, a pedestrian overpass or a tunnel. Public Works Director William Alspach said the city has convinced the Colorado Department of Transportation to install a HAWK-High-Intensity Activated crossWalK beacon system at that intersection probably in October. When the beacon is activated by pedestrians, it starts flashing yellow lights, then red lights and finally a steady red light. Vehicles must stop for these lights and yield to pedestrians. “This is a great interim measure,” Alspach said.
A HAWK, High-Intensity Activated crossWalK, beacon similar to this one in Colorado Springs will be installed in late summer at the U.S. 24-Center Street intersection in Woodland Park by the Colorado Department of Transportation. Photo by Norma Engelberg “It doesn’t quite make Center Street a signalized intersection,” City Manager David Buttery added. City Planning Director Sally Riley said there will be a public meeting to kick-off the Woodland Park Traffic Circulation Study from 6-8 p.m. on March 18 in the Ute Pass Cultural Center. The public is welcome to provide ideas and suggestions for “workable solutions to transportation issues in and around Woodland Park.” To receive project e-newsletter updates or for special Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations, email monica@bachmanpr.come. Councilmember Bob Carlsen and Buttery also reported to council on the progress of the Aquatic
Center project. Buttery confirmed that the center will be built in Woodland Station south of Saddle Club Drive. The city will be allowed to reroute part of Fountain Creek to bring the site closer to the road and is finalizing contracts for an architect and negotiating with an engineering firm. These contract recommendations should go to council soon. Once the architect and engineering firms have finalized construction and infrastructure plans, bids will go out for a general contractor. Bonds will be offered at a good interest for the city because of its high rating from Standard & Poor’s. Carlsen announced that the Woodland Aquatic Center Foundation will begin soliciting for ad-
ditional funding for such things as scoreboards and landscaping, for example. Buttery assured the public that the $10.1 million voters approved will build an aquatic center but folks could make donations to memorialize a loved one or buy naming rights. Professional grant-writer Christine Fisher is donating her time to write grant requests from charitable foundations. Renee Bunting announced that this year’s Bear Aware Campaign starts on March 16. Participating students will receive a wrist band, a pin and a key chain. Their posters will be displayed in the Woodland Park Public Library and the winning posters will be displayed at Park State Bank & Trust.
Finally, in his monthly report Economic Development Director Brian Fleer said that council’s approval earlier in the meeting of a $375,000 Community Development Block Grant for a water loop at Pikes Peak Regional Hospital, will allow construction on the loop to begin on March 18. Construction bids for Memorial Park are coming in and a contract will be awarded in April. Because of construction at the park, the Farmers Market will be moving to the parking lot at Kavanagh Field, the Old Fashioned Fourth of July is moving to the Green at Midland Pavilion and the annual Above the Clouds Car Show will be centered in streets around Memorial Park instead of in it. The city, Teller County and others are expressing interest in becoming part of the El Paso County Enterprise Zone and research is continuing on eligibility requirements and benefits. The Woodland Park Downtown Development Authority is working on a tax increment funding option for the Family Entertainment Center in Woodland Station. Construction on the center could begin in August. A new nonprofit organization dedicated to improving local workforce housing has received official recognition from the IRS and will start working on updating the 2006 housing needs assessment. The office of economic development is advertising for a parttime Main Street Program coordinator and hope to fill the position by April 1.
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CC & V seeks debt reduction By Pat Hill
phill@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
When the price of gold sank from a high of $1,800 in 2011 to $1,200 an ounce today, the parent company of Cripple Creek & Victor Mining Co. was caught in the bind of reducing debt and continuing operations. “AngloGold Ashanti put it out there that they intended to look for a joint venture or purchase of any of the operations and assets, which includes CC & V,” said Jane Mannon, director of community affairs. “CC & V is an attractive property, with permits in place and nearing the end of the expansion.” With $3.6 billion in debt, as a result of falling gold prices, in addition to power problems in the mine in South Africa, AngloGold seeks a debt reduction of $1 billion, Mannon said. However, at CC &V, mining operations continue, with expansion plans up to 2026. In the meantime, CC & V is looking at mining underground. “We’ll put a portal and tunnel to start underground exploration,” she said. As buzz continues about a possible sale of the largest employer in Teller County, Mannon has a reminder. “This is not unusual as there have been several owners of this property,” she said. Teller County Commissioner Marc Dettenrieder represents the people of the southern part of the county. “It will be interesting to see what bids AngloGold receives from interested parties. I expect a number of the big players in the gold mining industry to take a hard look at an outright acquisition of this property or consider a joint venture opportunity,” Dettenrieder writes in an email. “AngloGold has exhibited exemplary corporate-stewardship qualities throughout their tenure here in the Gold Camp district and I wish the company well in their future endeavors if they do end up selling the CC&V mine. The gold reserves are here in the ground in Teller County so I anticipate mining operations to continue for years to come, regardless of the company name.”
Despite news of a possible sale, Cripple Creek & Victor Mining Co. continues operations, with expansion plans up to 2026. Courtesy photos
The land around Victor is rich with gold. In the past 20 years, Cripple Creek & Victor Mining Co. has produced 4 million ounces of gold in its open-pit mining operations.