1-Color
January 15, 2014
75 cents | Volume 49, Issue 1 Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County A publication of
tri-lakestribune.net
Donala raises water rates 20 percent Rate increases take effect this month By Danny Summers
Dsummers@coloradocommunitymedia.com Donala Water and Sanitation District customers received a newsletter with their December statement describing rate increases for the coming year. The adopted 2014 budget includes a rate increase for water and sewage use. The water rates, across all tiers, will increase by 20 percent. The monthly wastewater charge will increase by $1 a month, setting the monthly sewer rate at $29. “It’s our job to be as transparent as we can be,” said District General Manager Kip Peterson. Donala also increased rates 20 percent in 2013. Prior to that, rates increases were 5 to 6 percent a year, according to Peterson. “One of our customers said ‘I conserve and conserve and yet we get a rate increase,’” Peterson said. “I understand where that customer is coming from and I know it can be frustrating. “We do a comparison of our rates vs. other districts in the area and Donala is right in the middle.”
Several years ago, the District’s board of directors established a budget direction that was implemented in 2012. Simply, the rates charged for water and sewer needed to cover the costs of providing water and waste water services. Property taxes received via the District’s mill levy are supposed to be used to further water acquisition projects, along with the capital needs of the District. However, in the past the rates have not covered the actual costs of providing service and the property taxes have been used to make up the difference, according to Peterson. Additionally, Mountain View Electric, the district’s electrical supplier, has increased rates. “My job is to not only manage, but educate. There are some things we have to do to make sure we have water 30, 40 years from now.” “One of the goals of the board of directors is to expand our attempts to reach out to the community,” Peterson said. “We will
Donala continues on Page 4
Donala has 25 miles of underground pipe (most of it more modern than this wooden pipe near one of their well houses in Gleneagle) carrying both water and sewer. Photo by Rob Carrigan
Lambert taking a lead to change firefighting chain of command The District 9 representative is introducing two bills during the current General Assembly By Danny Summers
Dsummers@coloradocommunitymedia.com As the former deputy director of the Air Force Space Analysis Division, Kent Lambert helped investigate the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Now, in his role as State Senator, R-Colorado, Lambert, a retired colonel, is hoping to fix what appears to be a broken chain of command when it comes to fighting wild fires in the Tri-Lakes area and Pikes Peak region. On Jan. 8, Lambert, an Air Force Academy graduate, introduced a bill during the first day of the General Assembly. Essentially, the bill would empower county authorities to take over command during an emergency without permission or a request from the local jurisdiction. “The way the law is written right now the local fire districts must contact other agencies before they get any help,” Lambert said. “The sheriff should really have fire jurisdiction everywhere in the state in unincorporated areas. They are the local fire marshal.” Lambert represents Senate District 9, which includes Black
Colorado State Senator Kent Lambert, R-Colorado, center wearing blue jacket, who represents District 9, is introducing two bills during the General Assembly that could have a huge impact on the way future forest fires are fought. Courtesy photo Forest, Monument and Palmer Lake. Last summer, nearly 500 homes and more than 14,000 acres were destroyed during the massive Black Forest fire. The response to that fire has been the center of a growing conflict between Black Forest fire chief Bob Harvey and El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa. The sheriff has said on numerous occasions that the Black Forest Fire Department mishandled the early response to the fire. Harvey and his backers disagree.
POSTAL ADDRESS
“Time is of the essence when a fire of this magnitude breaks out,” Lambert said. “As we saw last summer there was confusion over who really has command.” The first day of the fire Lambert was driving from the state capital in Denver to his home in northwest Colorado Springs. “I got to the Tech Center and I could see the black smoke,” Lambert said. “But I know people in Black Forest who couldn’t see it. Couldn’t smell it.” Lambert’s bill, if it clears all the hurdles, could become law by the
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end of the session in early May. Lambert will introduce a second bill next week that would address the state’s ability to take command of resources and operations when battling fires on federal land. Lambert’s District 9 stretches south to Highway 24 and up along Rampart Range Rd. During the Waldo Canyon Fire, Lambert took note regarding what he believed was a lack of communication between the U.S. Forest Service — which was in charge of coordinating the firefighting effort — and other local
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agencies who were called in to assist. “My second bill gives more authority for the county and state to work with the federal government,” Lambert said. “As it stands right now, the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction in the national forests. I think it needs to be a joint venture. “Under exclusive federal control the U.S. Forest Service says ‘We don’t need your help.’” Lambert referred to the federal House of Representatives Hastings-Tipton Healthy Forest Bill as one he supports. That bill, which the House passed in September 2013, address the hazardous conditions of Western forests by establishing a plan for healthy forest management to reduce the occurrence and severity of wildfire, protect watersheds, species habitats and ecosystems, and prevent the loss of life and property. Tipton, a republican, represents Colorado’s 3rd District. Hastings is a Republican from Washington. “We have to really take a careful examination of the laws and not let the bureaucrats dictate what happens,” Lambert said. “We still have not learned that we have to learn to communicate better and work together on this. “We live in a forest urban interface. We need to have the right mix of deliberate planning and emergency planning.”
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