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November 19, 2014 VOLU M E 53 | I S S UE 46 | 7 5 ¢
PikesPeakCourier.net T E L L E R C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Town hall opens in GMF Building represents culimation of research, input By Rob Seever
Contributing writer Keystone Architects and Ed Green Construction Co. are proud to announce that final inspections occurred on Nov. 3 for building final and a certificate of occupancy has been granted by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department for the new town hall in Green Mountain Falls. The building represents the culmination of 32 months of research, public input, programming, planning, grant requests, design and construction activities.
The new town hall is open for business. After a fire destroyed the historic hall in February 2012, the new hall reflects a new day in Green Mountain Falls. The town held a grand-opening celebration Nov.15 for the residents. Photo by Rob Seever
POSTAL ADDRESS
WP tightens belt before taking on new debt Aquatic Center, two other capital projects moving forward By Norma Engelberg
‘We are committing ourselves to immediate and long-term debt but for some good projects.’ David Buttery
Contributing writer
PIKES PEAK COURIER (USPS 654-460)
OFFICE: 1200 E. Highway 24 Woodland Park, CO 80863 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Teller County, Colorado, the Pikes Peak Courier is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 10 a.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Woodland Park City Manager David Buttery led the discussion at a special city council work session on Nov. 13. He walked council through the changes in store for the 2015 budget that were caused by the approval of the Aquatic Center bond issue on Election Day. “We are committing ourselves to immediate and long-term debt but for some good projects,” he said. Before going over the debt for capital projects, Buttery talked about revenue. Instead of a 7 percent increase in employee health insurance costs, the city’s insurance rate will only increase by 2.7 percent. The sales tax revenues for September also were higher than anticipated and lodging taxes were also significantly higher than they’ve been previously. Because of higher than usual revenues, Buttery was able to add $7,500 to the 2015 Community Investment Fund bringing it to a total of $28,500. Mayor Pro Tem Carrol Harvey said: “This is the new reality, the (Community Investment Fund) might be one of the first casualties.” Until the city’s new debts are paid off, there will be little discretionary spending in the future, especially for the first five years. but
Buttery assured council that the city will never dip into emergency reserves and that the city will be able to care for the needs of its citizens. Councilmember Gary Brovetto questioned the city’s plan to give its employees pay raises based on a 2.9 percent inflation rate as set by the Denver-Boulder-Greeley Consumer Price Index. “That’s significantly higher than the raises given to federal employees,” he said. There were also questions about the $14,000 the city spends on tree services that have kept the city’s trees mostly free of Mountain Pine Beetle. When asked if that could be cut to $7,000, Buttery said that would depend on the results of the next tree survey. The Memorial Park renovations and the Fleet Maintenance Building will be funded with Certificates of Participation. The city has two COPs now for the Police Operations Building and the Public Works Building. These COPs will be extended to cover the new capital projects, using the value of the older buildings as collateral. The city has enough of a revenue stream to serve COPs totaling about $2.5 million for the two projects.
“We can build the bare bones of these two projects and add other amenities later,” Buttery said, referring especially to the work at Memorial Park. “Most of the amenities there are plug and play ready to install.” Voters approved a $10.1 million bond for the Aquatic Center but Buttery thinks the bond will be set at about $9.39 million to build the basic facility. Significant cash payments for infrastructure for all three projects will come out of the city’s healthy 410 Streets Fund with smaller amounts from the city’s 510 Water Fund and the 520 Wastewater Fund. “This is what I think the city can support,” he said. “We’ll have a better picture of the costs this spring,” Councilmember Carlsen said, adding that the Woodland Aquatic Project is planning a capital campaign to raise money for additional amenities. According to Buttery’s 2015 budget message, the bottom line will be an annual combined debt service payment in 2015 of $217,565 from the general fund, $23,056 from the 410 fund, 4,167 from the 510 water fund and $3,292 from the 520 wastewater fund. Starting in 2016 and until
the debt is paid, the annual payment from the general fund will be $870,259 and $92,224 from 410, $16,668 from 510 and $13,167 from 520. With budget updates out of the way, Harvey introduced the creation of city charter review task force to explore changes to the way council and mayoral vacancies are filled. “Our charter says we can appoint people to fill these vacancies,” she said. “I’m OK with that but some people weren’t happy with the way the new mayor was chosen,” Changing the charter requires voter approval, she added. The task force will likely include a two councilmembers and will reach out to people who were especially vocal about the issue. An amendment could go to the voters during the 2016 municipal election. Other amendments could also be proposed without raising the cost of the election. City Clerk Cindy Morse said the last time the charter was amended was in 2001 when there were 10 amendments on the ballot. “Ten amendments was pushing it,” she said.