Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area
for
Local Events
Readers should assume that event information published in this issue is subject to change and information should be confirmed a day or two before the event by calling the information number or checking the organization’s website.
See pages 22-23 for event locations and other details of these and many other local events.
• WMMI Western Saloon Night, Sat., Aug. 3, 6-9 pm.
• Chautauqua Palmer Lake, July 29 –Aug. 4
• Concerts in Limbach Park , every Wed. thru Aug. 28. 6:30-8:30 pm
• Monument Hill Farmers market every Sat., 8-2 pm. See ad on page 5.
• Space Foundation kids’ workshops, every Sat. thru Aug. 31. See ad on page 12.
• Lang 25th annual community pig roast, Fri., Aug. 9, 5:30-7 pm, free. See ad on page 8.
• Kings Deer Community Garage Sale, Fri-Sun., Aug. 9- 11. See ad on page 5. Thrivent Financial advisors, Taxes and the widow’s penalty, webinar Fri., Aug. 16, in person Wed., Aug.28 Monument library. See ad on page 4.
• Native American Sacred Trees and Places (NASTaP) Annual Meeting, Fri.-Sun., Aug. 16-18. See ad on page 5.
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Aug. 15, 7 pm Tri-Lakes Cruisers Benefit Car Show, Sun., Aug. 18, 9-2 pm.
• Community Fire Risk Seminar, Tue., Aug. 20, 6-7:30 pm
• Trinity Community Park , grand opening, Sat., Aug. 24
• MVEA Member appreciation breakfast, Sat., Aug. 24, 9-11 am, free. See ad on page 7.
• Monument Block Party, Sat., Aug. 24 3-6:30 p.m. Dinner 4- 6:00 p.m. See ad on page 4.
• YMCA Fall Youth Sports Season starts Mon., Aug. 26. See ad on page 6.
• The Love Shop, restyle your furs Mon.-Tue., Aug. 26-27. See ad on page 8.
• Monument Art Hop, Fri., Aug. 30 Fourth Fridays. See ad on page 2.
Woodmoor Improvement Association, July 24 Board confirms plans to eradicate prairie dogs Visit our NEW
Water & San District News 14-17
County News 17
Weather 17
Letters and Columns 18-19
Snapshots 19-21
Notices and Calendar 22-23
OCN Information 1, 12, 22-24
Independence Day Celebration in Monument
Above: Makena Norton, 2024 Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Girl of
. On the Fourth of July, the Monument
Kiwanis’ Biggest Small-Town Parade in America entertained nearly 20,000 spectators along the streets of Monument with 89 parade entrants. The 2024 parade’s theme was Our Nation’s Founders and the Constitution with Uncle Sam, Betsy Ross among others as grand marshals. The parade’s VIPs were Kiwanis President Scott Ross, Monument Chief of Police Patrick Regan, and Monument Fire District Fire Chief Andy Kovacs. The parade route was expanded to incorporate Santa Fe Avenue and Jefferson Street, allowing increased spectator viewing options. Photo by David Futey. See additional independence day photos on pages 19-21.
Monument Town Council, July 2 and 15 Moratorium lifted; accountability discussed in response to town manager on administrative leave
By Chris Jeub
The Monument Town Council gathered July 2 and 15 for their regular meetings, one of which lifted the town’s development moratorium. One special meeting held July 9 discussed Town Manager Mike Foreman’s paid administrative leave, but the reason for the leave has not yet been disclosed.
Moratorium Lifted
The Town Council voted 7-0 on July 2 to deny the extension of Ordinance No. 13-2024, effectively lifting the six-month moratorium that had temporarily halted the acceptance of new applications under the Town of Monument Land Development Code. The ordinance, initially put in place in January, was meant to manage a backlog and ensure proper handling of about 20 ongoing development applications.
Newly hired Planning Director Dan Ungerleider, presenting the ordinance, confirmed that many of these applications are now complete and awaiting further action from developers. He expressed confidence in handling the current demand, prompting Councilmember Jim Romanello to question the certainty of moving forward with-
out the moratorium. Ungerleider reassured the council of the department’s capability, emphasizing the importance of being fully staffed, which is currently a work in progress. Concerns were raised by Councilmember Steve King regarding the town’s infrastructure, including roads and the lack of a renewable water fund, as well as unaddressed impact fees. “I don’t want to get too far behind the eight ball here,” King stated, highlighting the financial strains.
Public comments were in favor of ending the moratorium. Local residents, along with representatives from the Home Builders Association (HBA) and other commercial interests, cited the negative impact of the moratorium on property rights, potential sales, and tax revenues. They argued that such measures create market unpredictability.
Town Attorney Bob Cole recommended denying the extension, a sentiment that led to a motion by Romanello to do just that. The motion passed unanimously. In the
Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, July 1, 6, 11 and 17 Allegations prompt investigation
By Natalie Barszcz
The Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) Board of Directors held an emergency executive session on July 1 to receive advice from legal counsel Linda Glesne of Cockrel Ela Glesne Greher & Ruhland P.C. (CEGR) Law relating to complaints received against Fire Chief PJ Langmaid, who was placed on administrative leave.
The board held additional executive sessions on July 6 and 11 to receive legal direction and take further action to engage a third-party independent investigator. At its regular meeting July 17, the board, having received further information regarding the allegations, held two more executive sessions to receive additional advice on specific legal questions regarding the investigation of complaints. The board placed two additional executive staff members on paid administrative leave for two months and approved the retention of interim fire chiefs through a mutual aid agreement with Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD).
Treasurer Jack Hinton was excused from the July 11 and 17 meetings.
Note: This reporter was unaware of the special meetings held on July 1, 6, and 11, but received copies of the meeting minutes relating to the meetings at the July 17 meeting.
Board receives complaints against executive staff
By Jackie Burhans
The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board held a special meeting on July 18 to fill a vacancy and held its regular meeting on July 24 to discuss prairie dog eradication and hear director reports.
Treasurer vacancy filled
At a special meeting, the WIA board met with Pete Giusti, a candidate to fill the board vacancy left by Connie Brown, who served as treasurer.
Giusti introduced himself and answered questions about why he wanted to fill the vacancy. After his departure, the board unanimously voted to appoint Giusti to fill the remainder of Brown’s term ending in 2026.
Prairie dog eradication
After hearing a resident’s complaint about prairie dog infestation in her yard and in The Preserve open space in South Woodmoor,
Chairman Nate Dowden and Vice Chair Kiersten Tarvainen held an emergency special meeting on July 1 to convene an executive session with legal counsel after the board received emails from staff members citing allegations against Langmaid on June 28 and 30 and July 1.
The board placed Langmaid on paid administrative leave until July 17 in a 3-2 vote.
the West
Hill
Above: Children make their way in the Fourth of July Children’s Parade. See photos on page 20.
wake of the council’s decision, Ungerleider urged the development community to “restart” efforts as a service to the community, marking the official end of the moratorium. The lifted moratorium is expected to resume normal development activities.
Accountability discussed On July 15, Councilmember Romanello initiated a discussion on amending the Home Rule Charter to enhance accountability and oversight within the town’s governance. This move comes shortly after the council placed Foreman on administrative leave due to undis-
•
•
•
closed personnel issues.
Romanello’s proposed amendments to Sections 7.3 and 14.2 of the Home Rule Charter include instituting a new oversight mechanism that would allow another senior staff member, possibly the HR director, to report directly to the council. This aims to provide a safe avenue for employees to express concerns without fear of retaliation.
Further discussions included updating the employee manual with more active council involvement and expanding the residency requirement for the town manager to cover the town limits and the 80132 ZIP code to strengthen community connections.
It was agreed that the
proposed amendments would be referred to the voters, allowing Monument’s residents to have a direct say in these governance changes, reflecting the council’s commitment to transparency and accountability. Additionally, the agenda for the upcoming council meeting on July 31 includes two executive sessions led by Town Attorney Bob Cole. One session will address personnel matters involving the town manager, who has been notified about the session, and another will involve a conference with the town attorney to receive legal advice on specific legal questions regarding personnel matters. These sessions may provide
further insights into the reasons behind Foreman’s administrative leave.
Note: Because Our Com munity News went to press before the July 31 meet ing, updates regarding the outcome of these sessions will be made available on the newspaper’s website https://wp.ocn.me follow ing the meeting.
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The Monument Town Coun cil usually meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month at Monument Town Hall, 645 Beacon Lite Road. The next meetings are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5 and 19. Call 719-884-8014 or see www. townofmonument.org for information. To see upcom ing agendas and complete
board packets or to download audio recordings of past meetings, see http://
sondemand.com and click on Town Council. Chris Jeub can be reached at
By Lisa Hatfield
The Monument Planning Commission held a new-member orientation workshop, instead of a formal meeting, on July 10. It was open to the public, but no action items were discussed, deliberated, or acted upon during this session.
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The Monument Planning Commission usually meets the second
Wednesday of each month. To see the options for remote public participation in each meeting, visit www. townofmonument.org/263/ Planning-CommissionBoard-of-Adjustment. Info: 719-884-8028 or at www. townofmonument.org. Lisa Hatfield can be reached at LisaHatfield@ocn.me.
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the board agreed to eradicate the prairie dogs so long as neighbors were encouraged to simultaneously treat their surrounding properties. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n6wia/. Since that deci-
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sion, residents have contacted the board and attended the meeting to speak for and against the eradication.
One resident thanked the board for its support of Woodmoor residents near The Preserve near Lewis-Palmer High School. She noted that a very large prairie dog colony had grown due to the construction of Monument Junction and that there were few predators. She said she had bought her property in 2007 and had previously coordinated with Alpine Wildlife Control (AWC) to exterminate prairie dogs on her property as well as the Walters property (subsequently donated to WIA as The Preserve), and had acquired a dog, utilized pellet guns, and installed fencing that was trenched below ground which worked for a while.
More recently, she said there were prairie dog holes in the new trails at The Preserve,
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her fence and walkway have been damaged, and her dog had to be treated by a veterinarian. She spoke again with AWC to get information about the extermination method, aluminum phosphide (AIP), and its safety for pets, kids, and the trail. She said that nearly all neighbors (13 of 16) agreed to treat their properties. She also acknowledged that the biggest concern would be dogs, who should be kept leashed, and that this will not be a permanent solution and will need to be readdressed further down the road.
Board President Brian Bush noted the board had voted to hire a federal- and state-licensed company to reduce prairie dogs at The Preserve once the number of holes was verified and with the commitments of neighbors to treat their properties. He expected the program to start shortly. Bush said the contractor would return after five days and would remove any prairie dogs they found on the ground.
Another resident expressed her disagreement with the eradication, although she noted she had an infestation of voles near her property. She chose to handle things without poison, she said, after learning that the city of Longmont was using a company called Smith Environmental and Engineering from Dacono, Colo., to remove prairie dogs from Dry Creek Com
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oxide from AIP due to its inhumanity. She suggested that carbon monoxide (CO) was more humane, had no biological fallout, and that the cost was closer to the planned eradication than the removal of the prairie dogs.
Vice President Peter Bille said he has a published report from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Chapter nine discusses the use of AIP and says it does not have bio fallout. Bush added that the volunteer board had to make decisions in the best interest of all residents and had to be good stewards of the funds entrusted to it from homeowners. He said the contractor would use CO within 100 feet of homes, put AIP into the burrows farther away, and cover the burrow entrances. He said he found debating how to kill prairie dogs, whether by AIP or CO or by removing them to Pueblo, where they would be killed by a predator, interesting, but that in any case, the prairie dogs would be dead. He added that the board’s research shows that CO is not as effective as AIP.
Forestry Director Cindy Thrush said the regulations requiring the use of CO within 100 feet of a home were there for a reason and that the common area is where people walk, so why take the risk? She said she preferred the more humane approach even if it was less effective
and cost a small amount more.
Another resident expressed concerns about the environmental impact, suggesting the board let nature take its course. He said the prairie dogs would simply move back in afterward, given the
continuing construction. He said he understood that relocation was the most expensive method and did not have a solution but appreciated the board and that his heart goes out to people whose property borders the empty space. Bush noted that predators had not been effective and that eradication would cost $4,240 versus $120,000 to move them to Pueblo and kill them there. He affirmed that the board had made a difficult decision and done a lot of diligence.
Bille said the USDA reports showing the human health and ecological risk assessment on AIP and CO show little difference. He said that dead carcasses fed to birds did not cause them to die and could help regenerate the soil and make it richer. He said that he got different answers from the exterminator and from the USDA reports on how quickly AIP degrades from 30 seconds to 28 hours half-life in the atmosphere and degrades to undetectable levels underground in 18 to 40 days, depending on moisture levels. Bille encouraged residents to read the USDA report, which can be found at https://www.aphis.usda. gov/sites/default/files/9-aluminum-phosphide. pdf; the report on CO can be found at https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/8-gascartridge-peer-reviewed.pdf.
Bush reiterated that the board makes decisions it feels are in the best interest of the com-
munity, and it knows that not everyone will agree. He confirmed that the board will pursue eradication.
Board highlights
• In answer to a resident’s question about providing an approved list of roofing materials on the website, Administrator Bob Pearsall replied that there were so many varieties that WIA was focusing on approving manufacturers. Bille noted that, as a non-profit, WIA had an obligation to avoid the appearance of unfairness and suggested that residents contact Pearsall at bob@woodmoor. org or 719-488-2693 Ext. 3.
• Secretary/Community Outreach Director Rick DePaiva reported that the Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Organizations (NEPCO) held a meeting on parks and trails. He encouraged residents to attend NEPCO meetings and contact WIA for access to the NEPCO website (www.nepco. org) for information on community development and resources. See NEPCO article on page 6.
• With Giusti out of town, Bush reported that WIA is doing well financially. He noted that floors had been redone at The Barn for $8,000 and that the chairs were fitted with new feet to reduce damage to the floors, which will be inspected after each rental.
• Covenants Director Sue Leggiero reported 25 violations in June, with two unfounded complaints. Two covenant hearings were held in July for fireworks and covenant violations, and unapproved projects.
• Public Safety Director Brad Gleason reminded homeowners of their responsibility to mow up to the roadway and control tall grasses, which can become a fire hazard. He noted that school starts soon (Aug. 14) and asked residents to be mindful of kids walk-
By Marlene Brown
NEPCO, an association of homeowner associations, held its bi-monthly meeting July 13 at the Woodmoor Barn. With over 50 member associations in the Tri-Lakes and Black Forest, NEPCO represents over 22,000 voters. It works to inform residents of Land Use and Transportation issues as well as keeping up with the new laws that have been passed to govern homeowner associations.
One of NEPCO’s main purposes is to be able provide support for growth management in the area. Construction of homes, apartments, and new businesses continues to grow. NEPCO continues to be involved with the planning commissions, such as the Town of Monument Planning Commission and the El Paso County Planning Commission, on new projects that are being considered.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee is looking for a new chairman. Anyone whose HOA is member of NEPCO can join the committee and help keep it informed of any new projects that are being considered or have been approved. Belinda Warren is a new volunteer for NEPCO. She will be working with the El Paso County Land Development Code Support Group. For more information email, Bob Swedenburg at vicepresident@nepco.org
ing to bus stops and schools.
• Architectural Control Director Ed Miller reported that 61 projects were submitted in June, 49 of which were approved administratively and 12 by the Architectural Control Committee. Year-to-date projects are up 12.5% from the same time last year, and the approval rate is 100%.
• Forestry Director Cindy Thrush reported 10 forestry visits and noted a successful chipping day held at Lewis-Palmer High School in June, with a second one scheduled for the end of July. Thrush asked the board to approve a motion for an additional $5,000 for mitigation for WIA forestry, which was unanimously approved.
• Common Areas Director Steve Cutler reported that The Barn had a leak due to a failed pressure relief valve; the carpets were treated, and the wall damage was fixed. He also noted that spraying for noxious weeds had been completed, and the grant paperwork would be submitted by the end of the month.
• Bush reported that August Drive had finally been repaved and that Lake Woodmoor Drive at Highway 105 was open, but Knollwood Drive had been closed again for two weeks.
The WIA Board of Directors usually meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in The Barn at 1691 Woodmoor Drive, Monument. The next meeting will be on Aug. 28. The WIA calendar can be found at www. woodmoor.org/wia-calendar/. WIA board meeting minutes will be posted at www.woodmoor. org/meeting-minutes. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.
Guest speakers
Jason Meyer, manager of the El Paso County Park Planning Division, discussed several new parks being built around the county and the Nature Center in Fox Run Regional Park. The county Parks Master Plan is the guiding document that is coordinated with other county plans to provide outdoor recreation through parks, trails, and open space. The projects include Homestead Ranch Regional Park, Jones Park, and Ute Pass Regional Trail. The Master Plan provides a sustainable approach to allocation of resources for the next five to 10 years, according to the county website at https://communityservices.elpasoco. com/park-planning. For additional information, contact Meyer at jasonmeyer@elpasoco.com.
Madeline VanDenHoek, director of Parks and Community Partnerships for the Town of Monument, said the responsibilities of the Parks Department include planning of parks and recreation facilities, maintaining buildings, curbing, fences, parking facilities, structure and walkways, and protecting natural resources within the parks and open space properties. The Parks Department also repairs any vandalized facility, landscape equipment, lighting, and plumbing and irrigation systems. For more information, go to townofmonument.org/277/Park-OpenSpace-Department.
VanDenHoek is also the acting town manager during the paid administrative leave of Mike Foreman since June 13. No reason is available, only that it is a “personnel issue.”
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The next meeting will be on Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 to noon at the Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. The proposed topic will be El Paso County Planning and Roads with speakers Meggan Harrington, executive director of Planning and Community and Kevin Mastin, executive director of Public Works. For more information regarding NEPCO, go to nepco.org.
Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.
The board unanimously approved legal counsel to obtain a third-party investigator to initiate an investigation into the allegations made against Langmaid with the preliminary findings to be presented to the board by July 15. The board also unanimously approved legal counsel to explain the allegations made to Langmaid, with notification that an investigation would ensue, and legal counsel would provide legal notices as required.
A motion was made and unanimously approved to limit the actions of the command staff to only operational needs. All policy, personnel decisions, including modifications of positions, work schedules, and any hiring and firing decisions would require board approval. For the duration of the paid administrative leave, communication to the board would be made jointly to Dowden and Tarvainen.
The board approved Langmaid’s email be moved to Logistics Officer Rachel Dunn for appropriate filtering in a 4-1vote.
The board appointed Dowden and Tarvainen to email staff about the start of the investigation for the allegations received on June 28.
The board acknowledged more information had been received identifying organizational leadership and cultural challenges in the department on June 30, and additional information was received from Langmaid on July 1 regarding the operational and cultural leadership challenges that occurred on July1.
On July 6, the board held an executive session relating to a personnel matter involving Langmaid (Tarvainen was excused before any
decisions were made in the regular session). Langmaid attended the July 6 meeting. When the board reconvened in public session, a letter of no confidence regarding Langmaid was discussed by the board. The letter received on June 30 was from staff members but advised that it did not represent all members of the district.
Hinton stated that any investigation needed to be “360 degrees,” and he urged all members to assist during the investigation.
Director James Abendschan stated, “If we leave Division Chief of Operations Chris Piepenburg and the Training Capt. Michael Torres in their positions the culture is untenable, the grapevine is alive and well, and the department is not a healthy working environment. We have a qualified administrator that can keep the ball running, and captains who are qualified to run calls.”
Hinton said, “If we place them on leave and get a fire, what happens?”
In a 4-0 vote, the board authorized CEGR law firm to initiate and lead a comprehensive investigation into the claims and issues brought forward about the command staff and overall leadership culture within the department.
The investigation is intended to identify the issues of concern, and all supervisory personnel are advised to adhere to all district policies, with special attention to Policy 203 regarding unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
A motion to extend Langmaid’s paid administrative leave to August and add Piepenburg and Torres lacked a second motion and died.
Based on further information disclosed to the board deeming the actions committed by Langmaid to
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be terminable, a motion was made to terminate Langmaid’s contract. The termination is consistent with paragraph 7.1, item 4, termination with cause, and based on Policy 100 and the violation of core values. With a 2-2 vote, the motion failed.
The board unanimously directed Dunn to contact the district’s information technology provider to provide forensic analysis of the potential unauthorized access of Langmaid to Dowden’s, Piepenburg’s and Torres’s emails.
The board unanimously approved a modification to extend Langmaid’s paid administrative leave to a time when all board investigations are completed.
On July 11, the board moved into executive session to receive legal advice concerning specific legal questions regarding the investigation of complaints. When the board reconvened, Dowden said the board had conferred with legal counsel and received legal advice. A discussion surrounding possible interim leadership for the department would continue at the July 17 regular meeting.
Board takes further action At its regular meeting on July 17, before the executive session, the following comments were made:
Retired firefighter and former two-term board Director Richard Nearhoof said the department had come a long way since the Black Forest Fire in 2013. He thanked everyone in attendance and said the department is well-equipped and employs well-trained personnel. Langmaid has done a great job as fire chief, and despite some differences of opinion between the chief and the board, mutual agreements are usually reached. “I am proud of the department,” he said.
Tarvainen thanked all members of the BFFRPD in attendance and watching via Zoom for being
invested in the department and community and said everyone is appreciated by each member of the board. She said she would send the following statement to all department members via email:
“The board has been made aware of some serious allegations that are now being investigated. The board requests each member fully cooperate to allow the board to fully understand all that has happened. The decisions made tonight will make it easier for the line staff and allow the investigators to do their job. As the board enters into executive session, think about what is written on the sleeve of your work uniforms, ‘They for THEM,’ and why you are a firefighter in the Black Forest community.
The residents have entrusted each of you with the stations, the apparatus, the equipment and each other, and they want you to protect the community. If the residents were to walk into the station their tax dollars have paid for, would they approve of all of the behaviors that are taking place, would they be OK with the culture that exists and how you treat each other? As a taxpayer of the community, a board member that has sworn an oath to ensure the district is doing what is expected, and a recently retired member of the fire service with over 30 years of experience, if the allegations are true, I am not OK with any of it; I am saddened, angered, and disappointed. We are going to get to the truth, make the necessary course corrections and allow the firefighters to perform their jobs with pride. The board is supporting the line staff and doing the right thing,”
Executive session
The board moved into executive session at 7:24 p.m. pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 24-6402(4), (b) to receive legal advice on specific legal questions regarding the investigation of complaints and the retention of an interim fire chief, and potential formal action regarding items discussed during executive session.
When the board returned to the regular meeting at 9:48 p.m., Dowden said he echoed the speech Tarvainen made and said it is a challenging time for the department and every member has questions. The board has directed the district counsel to proceed with an investigation over a variety of matters brought to the board. CEGR Law has retained an independent third party to facilitate the investigations. The unbiased process retained by district counsel has begun to investigate the allegations, and the lack of information provided at this time is to maintain anonymity and privacy for all parties involved. He requested the board remain professional and allow the third-party investigation process to continue.
In a 3-1 vote, the board placed Piepenburg and Torres on paid administrative leave for the remainder of the investigation after additional information was made known to the board during the investigation. Director Chad Behnken recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
In a 3-1 vote, the board au-
thorized legal counsel to inform Piepenburg and Torres with the explanation of the paid administration leave and authorized both email accounts to be directed to Dunn for filtering. Director Chad Behnken recused himself due to conflict of interest.
In a 4-0 vote, the board approved Tarvainen and Dowden to work with Dunn to negotiate an interim operational fire chief from CSFD, for an anticipated period of not less than 60 days, with the ability to extend on a month-to-month basis as deemed necessary by the board.
The meeting adjourned at 9:56 p.m.
After the meeting, Dunn confirmed to OCN that all operational calls the chiefs would typically respond to would be handled by CSFD battalion chiefs until the investigation is complete.
**********
Meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday of the month at Station 1, 11445 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. Meetings are open to the public in person or via Zoom. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. For joining instructions, updates, agendas, minutes, and reports, visit https://bffire.org or contact the Administrative Office at admin@bffire.org or call 719-495-4300. Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.
Donald Wescott Fire Protection District, July 24 Final merger timeline announced;
By Natalie Barszcz
At the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) meeting on July 24, the board received the final timeline for the completion of the merger process with Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District (MFD), adopted a supplemental plan of dissolution, and approved the dissolution of the district.
Secretary Mike Forsythe attended via Zoom.
District merger dissolution plan
Attorney Emily Powell of Ireland Stapleton Pryor Pascoe PC law firm, attending via Zoom, said the merger process is “moving along as expected.” The board is requested to consider Resolution 24-06, a resolution adopting the supplemental plan of dissolution, and approving the dissolution of the DWFPD, and she said:
• To dissolve the district, a plan
of dissolution must be provided to the court stating, for example, how emergency services will be continued, whether any outstanding debt needs to be handled—those kind of questions as set forth in the statute. See https://wp.ocn.me/ v24n7dwfpd/.
• Many of the questions are included in the pre-inclusion intergovernmental agreement (IGA) and it will be stated in the pre-inclusion IGA that it constitutes the district’s plan of dissolution. However, some of that information is not appropriate for the pre-inclusion IGA, for example the financial statements would not be attached, so the board is requested to adopt a supplemental plan of dissolution to be combined with the pre-inclusion IGA to constitute a complete packet to be submitted to the court.
• Then the court will take about two weeks to issue the order. A request for a dissolution hearing can then be filed, which could be any time from today until Aug. 15.
• The court will consider the petition for dissolution, and the hearing must be scheduled within 50 days. It could take up to 48-49 days or be as few as six days.
• At the hearing, the court will be asked to order the dissolution without an election. The district only has three eligible
electors who have all signed affidavits supporting the dissolution, but if the court disagrees, a small, three-person election will occur on Dec. 3.
The court hearing should take about 10 minutes or less and will require a board member representative. Attorney Dino Ross will handle the courtroom procedures with the judge, and she will attend to handle the paperwork. If an election is ordered by the judge, it will take place on Dec. 3, but it is unlikely with only three voters remaining in DWFPD, said Powell.
President Charles Fleece said he is hoping for the easy path to dissolution with the affidavits.
Powell said a similar hearing in Boulder County involved seven electors approving a dissolution. The court agreed that it would not be a good use of funds to conduct an election. If the judge agrees to order the dissolution without an election, and the order recorded at the end of December, the district will be dissolved, she said.
The two-member board unanimously approved and signed Resolution 2024-06, the legal documentation adopting a supplemental plan of dissolution and approving the dissolution of the district.
Remaining transfers
Powell said the request to exclude the two-board-member residential properties from the district and move them to TMD upon dissolution, was submitted to the court on July 26. A 30-day waiting period had
to elapse before filing the exclusion after the board directors had signed the request at its June meeting. The transfer of the two contract agreements with The American Red Cross and Emergency Incident Support for the use of the Sun Hills property will be made to MFD before the end of the year.
Note: For more information, see the MFD article on page 9 and visit www.monumentfire.org.
Parting thoughts
Fleece thanked Powell for making the merger process seamless while juggling a million things over the past three years. The merger is wrapping up and approaching the tail end of the long process, and it is exciting to see, said Fleece.
Powell thanked the board for sticking with the long process and said she loves the merger process while having a system to make it happen. The board members and executive staff have been wonderful to work with, and all while they attend to full-time jobs, she said.
Fleece said that everyone in-
volved remained professional and helpful throughout, working toward one goal to make the community better and safer for the employees. It has been a privilege and a better blessing to be a part of, he said.
Forsythe thanked everyone and said he is proud to do something good for the community. It was a dream at Wescott to have a merger with Monument and he was glad to have participated, he said. The merger is a dream come true for the firefighters, he said.
The meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m.
**********
Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 4:30 p.m. at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For Zoom joining instructions, agendas, minutes, and updates, visit www.monumentfire.org or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin at 719-484-9011. Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.
SCHEDULE A TOUR
By Natalie Barszcz
At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting on July 24, the board heard about an unprecedented temporary call volume increase, witnessed district recognition for its support, approved the Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) Volunteer
Firefighter Pension Plan (VFPP) Affiliation Agreement, a part of the merger process, and a board meeting time change for 2025. The board also received updates on the Station 3 rebuild design, the merger process, and a mechanical CPR device.
President Mike Smaldino and Secretary Jason Buckingham were
excused. Director Randall Estes did not attend.
Gas odor increases calls Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction Jonathan Bradley said the district received an unprecedented increase in calls July 13-14 due to a Black Hills Energy (BHE) failure of the auto injecting Mercaptan (methanethiol, a harmless pungent smelling gas) that odorizes the odorless natural gas was far higher level than recommended. That led to over 70 calls from residents concerned about gas leaks in homes in Woodmoor and other communities from the evening of July 13 onward. BHE crews identified and fixed the problem, but due to low gas usage during the summer, the problem persisted.
BHE purged a gas line north of Kings Deer on the afternoon of July 14 and call volume lowered, but it did not solve the problem. After purging another line near the U.S. Forest Service on the west side of Monument on the morning of July 15, the call volume dropped immediately. The district was receiving calls every 10-15 minutes during the weekend and responding about 2.5 times per hour.
Bradley said 911 Dispatch did a nice job cueing calls, and the district adapted quickly and found some ways to do things better. BHE kept the district informed and was working as hard as they could to resolve the problem, Bradley said. BHE did not put out a statement on its website during the failure in case a real gas leak emergency occurred. The districts’ response was tested and modifications were made to allow crews to respond to the true emergency calls, he said.
Fire Chief Andy Kovacs said he was surprised to learn that a sensor to monitor the Mercaptan level is not in place. The district will set up a time for an after-action review with the BHE staff to discuss a future response plan.
District receives recognition Fire Management Officer Tim Ross of the Pikes Peak Ranger District (PPRD), serving with the U.S. Forest Service, recognized MFD for supporting the prescribed burn and the Monument Fire Center during
the burn on June 12 and 13 in the area known as “The Preserve” in Monument. See https://wp.ocn.me/ v24n7mfd/ and the caption and photo inset of the presentation. Ross thanked the district for its continued support and said the PPRD looks forward to returning with the prescribed burn effort in the future. Ross also said the prescribed burn went well and stayed where it was supposed to, and nobody was injured.
Two-thirds of the effort was accomplished, and in hindsight the third day burn of about 300 acres could have taken place and the burn would be done, but the decision not to burn on the third day was based on the precipitation that never came. The partnerships and training aspect, the people on the ground implementing the burn, and the public education went well, Ross said. It was a successful prescribed burn that will encourage re-growth, he said. The goal was not to eliminate any one species but an attempt to return the area to its original state and restore the balance with not as much scrub oak, hence the mosaic burn pattern, said Ross.
Financial report
Treasurer Tom Kelly said all funding streams look good and ambulance revenue is right on target half way through the budget year as of June 30. Overall revenue year to date is about $13.659 million, approximately 61.9% of the projected 2024 income budget set at about $22 million. Expenses are all tracking with wages coming back in line and overall expenses year to date are about $8.347 million or 51.0% of the projected expense budget set at about $16.336 million.
The board had 23 electronic transmissions over $2,500, and of note were:
• $63,498 Liquid Structures Station 4 concrete apron
Every transaction appeared appropriate and within the 2024 budget, and the checking and savings accounts
totaled about $16.743 million (about $10.833 million in the Operations and General Fund), said Kelly. Kovacs said the increase was due to the transfer of funds from DWFPD and additional property tax revenue, he said.
Note: District revenue increased by about $1.581 million from the May 31 financial report.
In a 4-0 vote, the board accepted the financial report as presented.
2024-25 budget update
Kovacs said the district will amend the 2025 budget after the 2024 audit presentation. A significant amount of funds is allocated to the district’s capital projects, but because of the length of the planning processes, funds have not been spent in 2024. The district will be rolling over funds into fiscal year 2025 and will be under budget in totality at the end of 2024, even though the Station 4 remodel is over budget, Kovacs said. Funds will be re-allocated from the unspent budgeted capital expenditure for the additional expenditures, he said.
Station 3 rebuild update
Executive Battalion Chief Micah Coyle said the rebuild of Station 3 on a 2-acre lot north of the YMCA on Jackson Creek Parkway is still in the discovery phase, and the district is working with the seller to get the plat and site plan approved by the Town of Monument (TOM). See https://wp.ocn. me/v24n7mfd/
Vice President John Hildebrandt said the district has been waiting on the plat approval for quite a while and he questioned the delay.
Bradley said the TOM moratorium on plat approvals expired last week, and even though the district’s plans were not technically subject to the hold, a lot of projects will now be submitted to the Planning Department. He attends a standing weekly meeting with the planning team to review pre-applications and plans, but it is unknown where the plan is in the process with the team of planners, he said. See MTC article on page 1.
Kovacs said the developer is still making amendments, not only to subdivide the 2-acre parcel the
district is purchasing adjacent to the YMCA on Jackson Creek Parkway but also the entire 11-acre property that will require subdividing into lots, he said.
Merger update Coyle said Emily Powell of Ireland Stapleton Pryor Pascoe PC law firm is ready to file the dissolution request with the courts on July 26, and the process could take up to 50 days.
Affidavits from the three eligible voting members, two board directors and a spouse supporting the dissolution of the district will be presented, but the presiding judge could call for a three-person election on Dec. 3. See DWFPD article on page 8.
Hildebrandt asked why an election might be necessary now and said it had not been part of the original plan. He said he thought the process was to just absorb the two remaining properties and the dissolution
would be finalized sooner. Kovacs said the judge could technically call for a vote of the three remaining residents, and the earliest date would be Dec. 3, but if the judge is reasonable the election process will be skipped due to the three remaining eligible voters signing affidavits approving the dissolution. Powell is confident an election will not be necessary, he said.
Director Mark Gunderman said Powell has worked many fire district mergers, and an election is a worst-case scenario. In most cases, an election has never been necessary, he said.
Powell is confident the merger will be “buttoned up” by the end of the year, said Kovacs.
Volunteer Firefighter Pension Plan
Coyle requested the board approve the DWFPD Volunteer Firefighter Pension Plan (VFPP) Affiliation Agreement. See https:// wp.ocn.me/v24n7dwfpd/. Kovacs said the agreement was missed during the document signing last month. This agreement allows the district to assume management of the VFPP. Hildebrandt asked if the VFPP would have any liabilities on MFD.
Gunderman said the VFPP is solvent on its own because of how it has been run, and no other recipients will be added to the fund, and it will continue to be fully funded. Kovacs said the VFPP is self-funded, and a healthy account and the actuarial report are used to determine increased funding. A line item will be added for the 2025 budget for the VFPP, but the district will not add funds this year because the fund is so healthy, he said. The board approved
Above: From left, Fire Chief Andy Kovacs is presented with a watercolor rendition of Monument Rock from Fire Management Officer Ross at the MFD board meeting on July 24. The district supported the U.S. Forest Service in the preparation for the prescribed burn, and during the event on June 12 and 13 in the area known as Monument Preserve. Photo by Natalie Barszcz.
Above: From left, Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction Jonathan Bradley receives a geographical framed map of the burn area from Fire Management Officer Tim Ross of the Pikes Peak Ranger District during the July 24 MFD board meeting. Ross said Bradley displayed superior efforts in bringing the Monument prescribed fire to fruition. Photo by Natalie Barszcz.
the VFPP affiliation agreement in a 4-0 vote.
Meeting time change
Hildebrandt said the meeting time was changed a few years ago from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., when the Woodmoor Fire Department and Tri-Lakes Fire Department merged. He said it would be his preference to keep the same time to allow working board members and residents to attend.
Kelly said at the June board meeting he had requested the board review the meeting time in the interest of overtime savings and fiscal responsibility. Changing the meeting times to earlier in the day would prevent overtime costs when staff must stay for meetings. The goal is to continue fiscal responsibility with the increase of capital improvements and remain prudent with the district funds, said Kelly.
Kovacs said the executive branch including himself, Bradley and Division Chief of Administration
Jamey Bumgarner are exempt from receiving overtime, and it depends on the length of the meetings, but an average meeting is about two hours, so about four hours of overtime is incurred monthly for Coyle and for Director of Administration Jennifer Martin because their work day ends at 4:30 p.m.
Gunderman said he never witnessed a difference in attendance during his time on the Wescott board that typically meets at 4:30 p.m., and due to COVID-19 restrictions the regular resident attendees joined via Zoom and continued to do so, and the in-person attendees continued to show up. Working from home, he sets his own schedule and is flexible and has never seen any public push back even if the meeting is earlier than 4:30 p.m.
Gunderman said he would not have a problem with an earlier meeting but suggested no earlier than 4:30 p.m.
Director Duane Gar-
rett confirmed that whenever he had a work conflict during his tenure on the Wescott board, he joined via Zoom and rarely missed a meeting.
This reporter suggested the board consider saving half the overtime costs by meeting at 4:30 p.m., since the DWFPD meetings will no longer be held in 2025.
Kovacs said it is not uncommon for attendees to hang around between meetings, but moving the meeting to 4:30 p.m. would not entirely save on overtime costs, but it may be more convenient, and if it does not work the board can always change the time, he said.
Hildebrandt said it would have been difficult when he worked full time to attend at 4:30 p.m.
Kelly made a motion to change the meeting time to 4:30 p.m.; it was seconded by Garrett.
The board approved the time change, with meetings held on the fourth Wednes-
day, beginning in 2025, in a 4-1 vote; Hildebrandt dissented.
EMS calls
Coyle said the district purchased a LUCAS device that administers mechanical CPR, all crews have trained on the unit, and it is in service on Squad 575 at Station 5. It will be used during all district cardiac arrest calls.
Hildebrandt asked if the device would be better located at Station 4.
Kovacs said the district hopes to purchase a device per year, if finances are available, to have three total for each ambulance. Squad 575 with a lieutenant and engineer is the support for the first responding unit to cardiac arrest calls.
Hildebrandt said a potentially life-saving piece of equipment could not be farther away from a good portion of the district as you can get and Station 1 is a prime example.
Bradley said the device is not necessarily a first-response device, and it does
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees Workshop, July 10 Advisory committee presents Elephant
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans
On July 10, the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees held a workshop at which the Elephant Rock Property Citizen Advisory Committee presented the results of its work to organize and analyze the suggestions from residents for development of the 28-acre property. Mayor Glant Havenar and Trustees Shana Ball, Kevin Dreher, Nick Ehrhardt, and Dennis Stern attended the workshop; Trustees Jessica Farr and Samantha Padget were absent.
The 10-member committee included Co-Chairs Susan Miner and Bill Fisher, Jina Brenneman and Jennifer Rausch representing the Palmer Lakes Arts Council, Cindy Power and John Tool representing the Palmer Lake Parks Commission, Atis Jurka and Karen Stuth representing the Palmer Lake Economic Development Group, and Larry Bobo and Cathy Wilcox serving as citizens at large.
The committee organized all the suggestions it considered viable and its comments on those suggestions into a binder presented to the board and available on the town’s website here: https://www. townofpalmerlake.com/ media/15291.
Committee vision and mission
Miner told the board the committee’s vision was to create parkland and open space for the benefit and enjoyment of citizen owners that celebrates community, culture, history, the arts, and the natural environment in the spirit of the Chautauqua movement. The committee’s mission was to acknowledge that the property is beautiful and diverse and must be self-sustaining while maintaining harmony between economic development and land use regulations.
Miner said the committee thought of the property as belonging to the whole town, and the committee’s work was based on the town’s master plan. She
said that Richard and Lindsay Willan’s Eco Spa and a potential public safety building had not been considered in the committee’s efforts.
The committee is made up of five subcommittees: site planning, income capacity, funding sources, culture and arts, and parks, Miner said. (The parks subcommittee did not make a presentation at the workshop.) The overall committee considered preserving the landscape and views, fire mitigation, reducing the potential for noise and light pollution, and promoting opportunities to improve quality of life for residents. The status of the cabins, the need for asbestos mitigation, lack of funding, and public safety were “elephants in the room,” Miner said.
Site planning Fisher told the board the site plan focused on documenting existing conditions. He said the site planning subcommittee had settled on consistent names for the buildings at the site: the Lodge, the Chapel, the Pavilion, the Long Building, the Cabins, the Annex, and the Utility Barn. Fisher said the site planning subcommittee did not favor using the site for a shopping center, but he acknowledged the need for revenue from the site.
Fisher said the Lodge could be developed into a boutique hotel, and he presented a slide that showed a hotel, an open space on the eastern side of the property, the Willans’ spa, and a park on the western side of the property adjacent to the creek.
Culture and arts Miner said the idea of using the site as a cultural district, where cultural facilities and programs serve as anchors, came up in a couple ways. Cultural districts attract funding, she said.
Brenneman, representing the culture and arts subcommittee, recalled Palmer Lake in the 1970s, when it was more a village than a town and summer
classes and ballet classes were available. She presented information from a 2022 study by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region that showed the arts supported nearly 3,000 jobs and generated $184 million in economic activity.
Brenneman discussed the use of the kitchen in the Lodge as a fine dining restaurant. The site could accommodate a history museum, artists in residence, a sculpture park, and a nature center, she said. She encouraged the board to take the long view and to protect the property.
Income capacity Jurka, representing the subcommittee focused on revenue generation, said the main question relative to revenue was who would manage the property. He pointed out there are insurance and maintenance costs, but no revenue is coming in at present. He suggested three things to generate revenue in the short term: an athletic field that could be rented, the Pavilion could be rented, and picnic tables could be installed and rented. He also suggested the Lodge could be rented.
not matter where the device goes. The decision to place the device on Squad 575, a non-transport vehicle, was made to ensure it is always available in district until enough devices are available for the ambulances, he said.
Note: The chief’s report and the financial report can be found at www.monumentfire.org.
The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
**********
Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday every month. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For Microsoft Teams virtual joining instructions, agendas, minutes, and updates, visit www.monumentfire. org or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin at 719-484-9011. Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.
Rock analysis
Sources of funding
Cathy Wilcox listed several ways to fund the development of the property:
• Federal, state and local grants.
• Municipal bonds.
• Mill levy overrides.
• Crowd funding.
• Revenue from parking.
• Fees.
• Sales taxes.
• Sponsorships.
• Endowments with naming rights. She said she had contacted Panorama Property Management.
Next steps
Miner suggested the board
hold an open house at the property. She recommended the formation of a new committee to further analyze suggestions and possibly hire a property manager. Miner said a grant was available to hire a property manager. She said the buildings needed to be secured.
Mayor Havenar asked the board how much time they needed to digest the information presented by the committee. The consensus was two weeks, and the board would send questions to the committee by July 18. Another workshop was scheduled before the
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July 25 board meeting. **********
All meetings will be held at the Town Hall. See the town’s website
at www.townofpalmerlake.com to confirm times and dates of board meetings and workshops. Meetings are typically held on the second
and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Town Hall. Information: 719481-2953. James Howald can be reached at
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, July 11 and 25
jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.
Elephant Rock discussion becomes contentious
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans
The future of the Elephant Rock property was the focus of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) at its board meetings in July. The board also held two workshops devoted to the question. For coverage of the first workshop, held on July 10, see article on page 11. The Elephant Rock Property Citizen Advisory Committee (ERPCA) delivered to the board the results of its months-long analysis of the suggestions for the property submitted by residents. The second workshop preceded the July 25 board meeting. The board passed a resolution to establish a fee for farmers markets, amended the ordinance regulating peddler’s permits, and updated the regulation governing business licenses. The board held a public hearing and took a vote on a conditional use permit for a landscaping business moving into Illumination Point. The board updated its code governing subdivisions.
Consensus on Elephant Rock emerges from angry discussion
Asbestos removal at the Elephant Rock property was on the agenda at the July 11 board meeting, but the topic was tabled until the July 25 board meeting.
At the workshop preceding the July 25 board meeting. Mayor Glant Havener said the purpose of the workshop was to address any unanswered questions about the ERPCA’s work and to set a direction for the property.
Trustee Kevin Dreher said the first decision was whether to use the property as a park or as a cultural district. He said he leaned toward using it as a park.
Trustee Shana Ball argued that the next step should be the formation of a new committee to do a financial analysis, as suggested by the ERPCA. Havenar questioned the role of a new committee.
Susan Miner, one of the cochairs of the ERPCA, pointed out that every square foot of the Elephant Rock property that is not generating revenue is costing the town money. She said the property could be a combination of park and cultural district. The purpose of the new committee was to ensure there would be enough revenue to make the property self-sustaining.
Havenar pointed out that the board had already voted to demolish the cabins. She asked if Miner would lead the new committee; Miner said she would not.
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Havenar argued the problem with the suggestion that groups adopt a cabin is that it would take five to seven years before the town would receive any revenue. Miner said she thought revenue could be produced sooner than Havenar’s estimate.
Trustee Dennis Stern said he did not oppose the creation of a new committee but thought the board should choose a direction before the committee was launched.
Ball said she would like to understand the revenue that would be generated from the cabins and argued that most of the community wanted to keep them. Havenar disagreed that was the desire of most residents. Ball asked for another survey of the community. Trustee Jessica Farr felt the community had been surveyed many times and the board should decide between parks and a cultural district.
Dreher said he favored turning the big building into a restaurant or event center that would generate revenue. Farr pointed out no one would invest the money needed without owning the building.
Havenar said she would like to see the Pavilion used for park rentals and the Chapel used by the Forest School. Miner said the next step should be to hire a property manager funded by a grant. Havenar pointed out the town did not yet have such a grant.
Town Administrator Dawn Collins pointed out that any new use would require all aspects of the property—drainage and roads, for example—to be brought up to current code requirements. She said the buildings were continuing to deteriorate and there was a cost to doing nothing. She estimated the town had spent $5,000 on the property in the first half of 2024.
Havenar argued the asbestos would need to be remediated in all cases. She repeated her point that the board had already voted to demolish the cabins.
Ball repeated her desire for more input from citizens. Ehrhardt and Farr said there was already plenty of input from citizens. During Tim Cave’s remarks to the board, Havenar became angry with Ball, implied Ball was keeping information secret from the board, and demanded that Ball stop talking and shut her mouth.
Reid Wiecks, who is on the Parks and Trails Commission, suggested that the large buildings could accommodate any uses the cabins could be put to, and said he favored demolishing the cabins.
Following Wiecks’s remarks, the workshop was closed.
During the board meeting following the workshop, Farr moved to demolish seven buildings, remediate the asbestos as needed, and form a new committee to develop a financial plan in six months. Trustees Ball and Ehrhardt voted no; Trustees Dreher, Farr, Padgett and Stern, along with Havenar, voted yes.
Farmers markets, peddler’s permits and business licenses
At its July 11 meeting, the board voted in favor of Resolution 38-2024, which requires a fee to be paid by applicants organizing farmers markets. Staff recommended a fee of $100. It also amended Ordinance
7-2024 so that a peddler’s permit, which would be required to sell items at a farmers market, would be valid for a calendar year at a cost of $25. A simple background check would be included in the process to grant a peddler’s permit.
At its July 25 meeting, at the request of Farr, the board took up the issue of business licenses. At present, Farr said, subcontractors were required to obtain a business license from Palmer Lake. She thought this was unenforceable and a waste of time. Stern said he thought most towns did not require subcontractors to maintain a business license but did require homebased businesses in the town to be licensed. Collins said the code currently does require subcontractors to have a business license, even if they will be performing a single job, but that was enforced only when a subcontractor submits a land use application.
Town Attorney Scott Krob said the board could decide how broad they wanted the requirement for a license to be. Local builder Kurt Ehrhardt told the board he thought the requirement would mean excessive work for town staff. Krob said he would draft language for the board to consider at a future meeting.
Public hearing on conditional use permit Jared Whiteley, representing Greater Grounds, requested a conditional use permit to use his property at Illumination Point to park trucks and equipment for a landscaping business. Illumination Point is zoned C2 General Business and Commercial. He said an 8-foot privacy fence would be built to shield the equipment from Highway 105. Whiteley said if the Colorado Department of Transportation required a turn lane on Highway 105, he could use Cloven Hoof Road to access the parking lot.
The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 40-2024, which grants the permit.
Subdivision ordinance rewritten Collins told the board that the municipal code governing the subdivision process had been rewritten by the town’s Planning Commission and the Community Matter Institute to address gaps in the process. Krob said the old code was 50 years old and due for updating.
The board voted in favor of Ordinance 8-2024, which repeals and replaces Chapter 16 of the Subdivision Code. Farr voted no; all others voted in favor.
Executive session
The July 11 and 25 meetings ended with executive sessions to discuss a possible annexation request.
**********
The next regular board meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 8 and 22. All meetings will be held at the Town Hall. See the town’s website at www.townofpalmerlake.com to confirm times and dates of board meetings and workshops. Meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Town Hall. Information: 719481-2953.
James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.
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By Jackie Burhans
Monument Academy (MA) held its regular meeting in July to consider its response to changes in Title IX, to receive an update on finances, set board committee assignments, and hear committee reports.
Board responds to Title IX changes
The July 11 meeting started with a short executive session for legal advice regarding Title IX policy options. Board President Ryan Graham noted that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) had released its final rule changes to Title IX and indicated he had a resolution that was being used in multiple school districts.
The resolution, which can be found in its entirety at http://bit.ly/ma-title-ix-res, specifies in part that the board believes parents, not schools, have the fundamental responsibility for their children’s education, supports natural law and moral truth, believes the ED’s changes run afoul of federal and state laws, and that Title IX refers to biological sex, which is “an immutable characteristic that cannot be changed, fluid, or altered.” The resolution says that the ED’s unlawful attempt to change the definition would have disastrous emotional and safety impacts to girls and women.
Therefore, the document resolves that “sex” is determined at birth and is an immutable characteristic that cannot be changed, fluid, or altered; commits to protecting female sports and ensuring the safety, privacy, and protection of all students, acknowledging the importance of single-sex facilities.
Finally, the board values and condones the numerous legal challenges to ED’s rule changes to Title IX and commits to making no policy or procedural changes while legal challenges ensue.
Graham moved to approve the resolution; Vice President Lindsay Clinton seconded it, and without discussion, the board passed the resolution unanimously.
Finance update
Acting Chief Financial Officer Glenn Gustafson
reported that D38 had unexpectedly qualified for a state mill levy override matching program, which yielded an additional $30,000 for MA.
Gustafson said he had convinced MA’s auditor not to accrue the cost of seeking the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is supposed to process applications within six months, but it’s taking a long time due to concerns about program fraud. Some entities are suing the IRS due to the delay.
Gustafson said the payroll system he inherited has a mix of pay dates for employees, but he decided to get everyone synced up to the end of the month for payment. He is also moving the pay date to the 26th to align with payments to MA from D38. Some staff will see a double paycheck initially. That will not incur an additional expense but will simply reduce the liability accrual. Gustafson said he had made a lot of fixes and would be communicating and reminding staff of this change.
Committee assignments
The board agreed to add a separate East Campus curriculum committee, similar to the separate School Advisory and Accountability (SAAC) committees, and stand down the Human Resources committee. The board discussed and agreed upon the following committee assignments for board members:
• Highway 105 – Graham; the project should end in about a month.
• Curriculum West – Emily Belisle.
• Curriculum East – Clinton.
• SAAC West – Matt Ross.
• SAAC East – Jelinda Dygert.
• Governance – Karen Hoida, Belisle.
• Finance – Craig Carle, Graham.
• Building and Facilities – Hoida, Graham.
• Resource Development Committee – Carle, Clinton.
Highlights
Board meeting highlights include:
• Graham reported that curbs and gutters were installed on the new road on the south side of the West Campus and that Executive
Director Collin Vinchattle and Principal Kurt Walker would communicate the new plan for the car line.
• Clinton reported on the SAAC East recommendations, noting that two new questions about summer workbooks were added to the survey, but only 60 responses were received. SAAC East recommended the board continue to think outside the box regarding electives, school spirit, and streamlining communication.
• Registrar Lena Gross reported on enrollment, including retention numbers, noting that exit interview data was pending. Kindergarten enrollment is slightly down, she said, due to the birth rate and the impact of universal preschool in the state. Gustafson noted the preschool fund would have a loss and should be reviewed for viability during the mid-year budget discussion.
• Hoida reported that the Governance Committee was working on the library policy and expected to have a draft by the next board meeting.
• The board unanimously approved removing leggings as approved wear for free dress days.
• The board unanimously approved minor formatting changes to the staff handbook.
• After discussion, the board unanimously approved Vinchattle’s request to modify MA’s graduation requirements to provide additional state-approved options for math. He noted that MA would still require students to pass the capstone requirement.
• The board unanimously approved using $1,000 in board funds to put on a Staff Breakfast on Aug. 6.
The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.
The next regular board meeting will be on Thursday, Aug. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ma-boe. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.
Forest Lakes Metropolitan District/Pinon Pines Metropolitan Districts 2 and 3, July 15 and Pinon Pines Metropolitan District 1, July 22
By Natalie Barszcz
The Forest Lakes Metropolitan District (FLMD) Pinon Pines Metropolitan District (PPMD) 2 and 3 boards held a joint special meeting on July 15 at 4 p.m. to conduct public hearings and accept the 2023 audits for FLMD and PPMD’s 2 and 3. On July 22, the PPMD 1 board held a special meeting to hold a public hearing and accept the 2023 audit.
Attending via teleconference were FLMD Manager Ann Nichols, Tom Blunk, CP Real Estate Capital, representing Forest Lakes LLC and Forest Lakes Residential Development, District Attorney Nicole Peykov of Spencer Fane law firm, Sarah Steph, vice president of accounting for Classic Homes, and the following board directors for all three boards: President George Lenz, executive vice president of finance for Classic
Homes, Secretary Joe Loidolt, president of Classic Homes, and Steve Schlosser, project manager for Classic Homes.
Treasurer/Secretary Douglas Stimple, chief executive officer of Classic Homes, and Director James Boulton, vice president/project manager of Classic Homes, were excused on July 15. 2023 audit presentation
Lenz opened the public hearing on the 2023 audits for FLMD and PPMD’s 2 and 3. No comments were heard, and the public hearing was closed. Lenz requested Nichols refresh the board with an explanation about the appropriation issue that was approved at the June 14 meeting. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n7flmd/ Nichols said the FLMD budget was amended and approved by the board at the end of 2023; however, the appropriation conveying public infrastructure to other governments at year end for the Falcon Commerce Center phase 2 and FLMD filings 5, 6, and 7 (including the bridge in the west valley) was not made until last month. The district made the entries totaling about $9 million in dedicated public roads to the appropriate entities on time. Although there was no expenditure, the auditors insisted certain journal entries be covered by a board appropriation. Tom Sistere of Hoelting & Company Inc. notified the district that even though there was no actual expenditure of funds, without the amendment the district would likely receive a letter from the state auditor stating the district had exceeded its appropriations. It was worth the effort to make the journal entry corrections and appropriations
Water
By James Howald
The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board met in July to consider awarding a contract for the construction of a pipeline to connect the district’s newest well to the Central Water Treatment Plant (CWTP). General Manager Jessie Shaffer gave the board a mid-year update on the district’s 2024 budget. The board updated its records retention schedule and heard an operational report from Shaffer. The meeting ended with an executive session, after which no action was taken.
Pipeline contract awarded
Shaffer told the board that eight bids were received from companies interested in building a pipeline to connect Well 22, recently drilled just
before submitting the audit to the state, and the auditors agreed, said Nichols.
All three boards unanimously accepted the three audits as presented.
The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m. on July 15.
PPMD 1
At the PPMD 1 meeting on July 22, the threemember board accepted the 2023 audit as presented.
Attending via teleconference were Nichols, Peykov, and board directors President Mike Hitchcock, Vice President Mike Slavic and Secretary AJ Slavic.
Hitchcock opened the public hearing and receiving no comments, closed the hearing.
Nichols said the 2023 audit documents had been forwarded to the board for comment before the meeting, and the district had received a “clean opinion” from Hoelting & Sons.
The board unanimously approved the 2023 audit as presented.
The meeting adjourned at 4:12 p.m.
**********
Meetings are usually held quarterly or when necessary on the first Monday of the month at 4 p.m., via teleconference. Meeting notices are posted at least 24 hours in advance at https:// forestlakesmetrodistrict.com. For general questions, contact Nichols at 719-327-5810, anicholsduffy@aol.com. Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.
south of County Line Road and east of I-25, with the CWTP, on Deer Creek Road adjacent to the Lewis-Palmer Middle School. The bids ranged from $498,000 to $1.2 million, with T-Bone Construction submitting the lowest bid. The pipeline will run in an easement just west of houses on Doewood Drive and east of the proposed Monument Ridge East development. Shaffer recommended the board authorize an additional $50,000 for change order contingencies. The board voted unanimously to award the contract to T-Bone Construction in the amount Shaffer suggested.
Mid-year budget update
Shaffer told the board that some of the funds budgeted for construction in the 2024 budget
would be carried over to 2025 due to delays in the permitting process for the projects. He mentioned two projects that were delayed: the Well 22 pipeline and some of the improvements on Highway 105 required by El Paso County’s work to widen the highway. The Dawson aquifer well near the CWTP, on the other hand, was budgeted at $430, 000 but will cost $525,000, Shaffer said. Long lead times for electrical equipment have delayed the construction of lift stations until next year, requiring adjustments to the 2024 budget. Shaffer said price inflation and unexpected repairs to a backhoe also caused adjustments to the budget.
By Jackie Burhans and James Howald
The Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board met in July to hear a report from District Manager Mark Parker and to discuss final edits to the district’s newsletter, The Pipeline.
No spot repair needed Parker told the board that repairs to the pipeline running under Highway 105 were complete, and a spot repair anticipated at the last board meeting was found to be unnecessary. Had the spot repair been needed, excavation would have been required and traffic on Highway 105 would have been impacted. Aegion/Insituform, the contractor repairing the pipeline, was able to complete the repair simply by lining the pipeline with no need to excavate, Parker said.
Manager’s report
In his manager’s report, Parker said that Streamline had been hired to bring the district’s website into compliance with the requirements of HB 21-1110 and with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Streamline will monitor the website continuously and do all required
The board gave their approval for the budget changes as presented.
Record retention policy amended
The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 24-02, which establishes the schedule for record retention and destruction.
Manager’s report
In a brief manager’s report, Shaffer said district Engineer Ariel Hacker had resigned her position with the district and accepted a job with a state agency. He said he was interviewing candidates to replace Hacker.
Executive session
The meeting ended with an executive session to
Monument Sanitation District, July 17
monthly and quarterly reporting to the state, Parker said, at a cost lower than the cost to the district if the work was done in-house. The website will be completely redone but will retain the same URL as the current page, Parker said. MSD staff will continue to manage the information that is published on the page.
Parker also announced that the district was planning to replace its current accounting company, Haynie & Co., with Numeric Strategies LLC, a company headquartered in Monument. Staff turnover at Haynie & Co. contributed to the decision to make a change, Parker said.
Finally, Parker said the Willow Springs Ranch neighborhood, just south of the Town of Monument, had reached complete buildout. Willow Springs Ranch is part of the MSD service area.
Newsletter gets final edits
The Pipeline, a newsletter to be published by MSD and drafted by Directors Janet Ladowski and John Howe, was reviewed by the board. The newsletter will keep customers up to date on district issues. Howe said he wanted to add some
Triview Metropolitan District, July 18 Northern Delivery System complete; land annexation approved
By Natalie Barszcz
At the Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) meeting on July 18, the board heard about the Northern Delivery System (NDS) pipeline project completion and the anticipated delivery date of water to the residents, approved a land annexation to the Town of Buena Vista, received an update on the Higby Road pipeline installation, and heard the district had hired a replacement for the retired water utilities superintendent. The board held an executive session to discuss water and land acquisitions, and potential development incentives and intergovernmental agreements.
Directors Amanda Carlton and Jason Gross attended via Zoom.
Treasurer/Secretary James Barnhart was excused.
Northern Delivery System update Background: The NDS is a six-mile pipeline that will bring the district’s renewable water to Triview and Forest Lakes customers. The district will transition from dependence on nonrenewable Denver Basin groundwater to the district’s acquired water rights. Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) will convey, treat, and deliver the district’s water via the CSU water tank off Highway 83 (opposite Old Northgate Road). The district constructed a booster pump house containing three pumps near the tank, with the combined capability of moving 4,500 gallons per minute of treated water to the district’s C plant in Sanctuary Pointe. The district’s Denver Basin wells will remain available to provide water on high-demand days and during periods of extreme drought.
discuss the district’s participation in the Loop water reuse project, in particular, the recently drafted Member Agency Financing and Contribution Agreement. No votes were taken following the executive session.
**********
The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12 at 1 p.m. Meetings are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at the district office at 1845 Woodmoor Drive; please see www. woodmoorwater.com or call 719-488-2525 to verify meeting times and locations. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.
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wording to the newsletter pointing out that MSD is not affiliated with the Town of Monument. Operations Manager James Kendrick said that MSD is a “separate and distinct public utility.”
Monument Sanitation District meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in the district conference room at 130 Second St., Monument. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 21. See https://colorado.gov/msd. For a district service map, see https://colorado. gov/pacific/msd/district-map-0. Information: 719-481-4886.
Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.
additional dosing of chlorine at C plant will be available if necessary. The water quality from Colorado Springs Utilities will need to be determined, he said.
Buena Vista land annexation McGrady said the district purchased the 293.96acre Chicago Ranch in Chaffee County and across the road from the Buena Vista rodeo grounds in late 2020 to construct recharge ponds for the district to control water rights associated with the Arkansas Valley Irrigation Canal Co.’s Ditch and change the water rights to municipal uses for the district’s purposes. The annexation process that includes a land annexation plan, plat, and request for a zone change has been submitted to the town of Buena Vista. The masterplan for the project has been approved by the Buena Vista Town Council, and the annexation public hearing meeting is scheduled for Aug. 13. The process has taken three years, and after the public hearing the district anticipates building the recharge ponds next spring. The district will begin diverting water from Cottonwood Creek in Chaffee County, he said.
Land Use Attorney Caitlin Quander of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP said the July 9 meeting application was substantially complete, and the property also requires zoning into the town and annexing. The annexation allows for the creation of public recreation trails and the district’s use of water rights on the property. It is a two-stage process and a “win-win” for the Buena Vista community, said Quander.
Gross asked if any risks to the district could occur with the annexation.
District Manager James McGrady said the NDS is about 98% complete and the district is expected to begin pumping water to its customers on July 30. The district has about $536,000 left to pay on the NDS and has paid about $21.744 million so far. Some small items popped up during the construction and design phase that totaled about $400,000, and the district added segment D, an additional 1,000-foot waterline on the west side of I-25, and the overlay of the access road off Highway 83 to the pump station, pushing the project about $1 million over the original budget, but it was not unusual due to the size of the project. The final cost will be about $22.274 million, he said.
Assistant Manager Steve Sheffield said the NDS pump station filled the lines with water, then staff “let it cook” with chlorine overnight and conducted a flush then a bacteriological (Bacti) test and pressure tested the system. The results “came back good and it is all good news.”
The utility crews also completed a chlorine injection pump skid at C plant in anticipation of the NDS pump station startup. The potential for
Vice President Anthony Sexton said the district will not receive any compensation for giving Buena Vista the land.
McGrady said the district paid about $35 per acre, which is all that the land is worth because of the moratorium against development in Buena Vista. The town’s goal was to develop the land as open space as it joins the Rodeo Grounds. The Town Council could not figure out how to get the land into the town and obtain the water rights. The district agreed to give up the property that is about 100 miles from Monument. Any accidents on the property would be the town’s responsibility. The annexation has the complete “buy in” from the Buena Vista Town Council, the users, and residents.
The district will contribute 1,040 hours of in-kind contributions or fund $38,000 annually for maintenance of the property for 10 years and provide $100,000 toward the initial infrastructure of a parking lot and a couple of trails. The district’s park and open space crews would spend a few days building trails for public use and access to the ponds. The total cost is about
$600,000 without the design fees, McGrady said.
Quander said the town is the processor for the annexation, and the district has avoided a lengthy 1041 process with the county. She requested the board approve Resolution 2024-06 ratifying the annexation of the district-owned property known as Chicago Ranch into the Town of Buena Vista and Resolution 2024-07, which conveys the same property to the town.
Gross said it is a great example of two small communities working together.
McGrady said it is an unusual example, as most big cities along the Front Range muscle into small communities, but the district has earned the trust of the Buena Vista residents.
The board approved both resolutions in a 4-0 vote.
Higby Road update
McGrady said the district began construction of a 12-inch pipeline from Higby Road to create a loop from the east side of the district with a 16inch pipeline under I-25 to the west side near the Conexus area. The pipeline will be extended south and tie in near Woodmen Valley Chapel north, where another 16-inch pipe exists under I-25, to create a two-source flow of water. The Higby Road pipeline is about two-thirds complete, and crews are expected to reach Bowstring Road by late July.
The next steps will be finishing the storm water drainage, installing the waterline, and relocating the power lines underground. All utilities will need to be installed before the district goes to bid for the widening project. The road will be patched until the widening project begins. A bond could be issued to pay for the widening project in 2025 for Sub-District A that is rapidly being developed south of Higby Road, he said.
Water Utilities update
Sheffield said he interviewed three candidates for the Water Utilities superintendent position vacated by Shawn Sexton upon retirement. Gary Potter, a former employee of Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District who is returning to the area after running a small district in Baca County, was selected and will begin on Aug. 12.
McGrady said the position has been increased to include water accounting experience besides treatment facility operator, and the job title includes raw water collection experience and treatment manager. Potter is also experienced to maximize the water exchanges the district will be making frequently, he said. Sheffield also said:
• The district had the highest record of water pumped in June, producing about 48.230 million gallons. It is a big jump from June 2023, which was a high rain month. The district anticipates July will also be high. He is comfortable with the 7% increase in pumped water considering the amount of new construction in the district.
• A joint meeting at the Upper Monument Creek Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF) with Executive Director/Manager Bill Burks of Tri-Lakes
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans
The July meeting of the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board was preceded by a workshop and tour of the Upper Monument Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF), which the district operates jointly with the Academy Water and Sanitation District, the Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, and the Triview Metropolitan District. The board held a public hearing on a request to exclude a property from the DWSD service area. During public comments, a resident questioned a large bill he received for water service. The board heard operational reports, and the meeting ended with an executive session.
Treatment facility tour
During the board’s tour of its wastewater treatment facility at 14770 Jumping Mouse View, it inspected recently completed repairs to one of the facility’s three sequential batch reactors. The board also saw the sludge removal process and the flume through which treated effluent is discharged into Monument Creek. The facility staff also demonstrated a newly acquired truck mounted valve operator, made by Wachs Utility Products, that will help the district maintain its underground valves.
Public hearing on property exclusion
A public hearing was held on a request from Bill and Vickie Hancock to remove a portion of their property at 15220 Leather Chaps Drive from the district’s service area. General Manager Jeff Hodge explained that the Hancocks wanted to subdivide their 5-acre lot into two 2.5-acre lots, one of which would use an existing well and therefore would not need water service from DWSD. Board President Wayne Vanderschuere pointed out that should the Hancocks ever want
Wastewater Treatment Facility and the UMCRWWTF staff resulted in a decision to hire a third-party calibration of the flumes and meters to discover the influent versus effluent for the district, Forest Lake Metropolitan District, and Donala Water and Sanitation District. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n7tmd/.
• A valve on Leather Chaps Drive near Bear Creek Elementary School had been directly buried without protection at the time of installation and the bonnet bolts were completely corroded. A new gate valve was installed and properly wrapped to prevent corrosion. For some reason, the valves in the area around the school were not inspected correctly when installed and many are beginning to corrode.
• The Utility Department crews worked with the Public Works Department crews to repair the 2-inch irrigation line on Jackson Creek Parkway near the Taekwondo Center. The Vactor 900 truck also assisted, as crews repaired the defective copper line flare fitting in the irrigation system.
• The Dish Network cell tower placement on the C plant water tank is mostly completed. District crews supervised the installation of the equipment on the building. The project will be up and running soon after some “right of way” issues are resolved. The district will receive $1,800 per month from Dish Network to use the tank.
Parks and open space update
Superintendent Matt Rayno said the following:
• The Swing Park Trail (Gleneagle Drive) had serious erosion last spring and repairs are almost complete.
• The completion of the St. Lawrence Trail that began in spring with installation of 39 steps will be completed down to Glenegale Drive in early September.
Legislative update
Sheffield said that at a water education class he attended recently, a presentation given by the state senator who wrote the resolution about artificial turf installation revealed that the artificial turf replacement ban applies only to nonfunctional areas such as decorative medians and landscaping, so the Sanctuary Pointe Park sports field would not be restricted because it is a functional area. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n7tmd/. Financial report
McGrady said the district sold a lot of water in June and also in July and has sold over 50 taps to major builders in the Jackson Creek area. The district will likely exceed the estimated taps for 2024 now that Toll Brothers is building in Jackson Creek North with Traylon and Richmond Homes. The district is on target for an unexpected, good year. The district closed the gap on sales tax, receiving a combined total of $300,347 in June, but the discussion regarding sales tax will continue in executive session, he said.
The board approved the checks over $5,000 and accepted the June financial report as presented 4-0.
to rejoin the district, they would have to pay a tap fee.
The board briefly considered Resolution 2024-6, which would grant the exclusion, but DWSD Attorney Madison Phillips pointed out that the board had not received a signed petition from the Hancocks, one of whom was in the hospital. The board took no action on the resolution and kept the hearing open until the required petition was received.
Resident questions big bill
Resident George Urteaga used the public comment portion of the meeting to tell the board that he had received a bill for 60,000 gallons of water, which he believed was incorrect. He said he had hired two companies to check for leaks in his irrigation system and they found none. He said the excessive usage occurred over a period of three days and he did not believe that amount of water could be delivered in that time. Hodge told him that, based on the size of his tap and the water pressure in his neighborhood, 60,000 gallons of water could have been delivered over the course of three days. Hodge offered to have Urteaga’s water meter checked for accuracy.
Operational reports
In his financial report, Hodge said water sales in the first six months of 2024 were in line with the budget. Revenue from property taxes was trickling in. He said the district had delivered a little of the water from its Willow Creek Ranch property that it pays Colorado Springs Utilities to convey, treat and deliver, but the costs of doing so were offset by the revenue the district received from leasing water to the Arkansas Groundwater and Reservoir Association.
The board voted unanimously to approve the financial report.
Above: The Vactor 900 combination sewer cleaner truck is shown with operator David Clegg during the district’s annual sewer system cleaning in The Heights at Jackson Creek on July 17. The sewer system maintenance team is led by Supervisor/ Manager Kevin Fackerell, and the truck is crewed by Clegg and Alejandro Curiel. The district received the truck in September 2023 to avoid outsourcing costly sewer maintenance. The crew is almost finished cleaning the district’s entire sewer system, with only Sanctuary Pointe left to be cleaned. Photo by Natalie Barszcz
Note: The district budgeted $1.650 million in combined sales tax for 2024. As of May 31, the district had received $599,390.
Policy and procedures manual updates
McGrady said the staff had been working on the 2024 revisions to the district’s personnel policy and procedures manual for about a year, after being first put together 10 years ago. Since that time a lot of regulations and policies have changed, and Michelle Ferguson of Ireland Stapleton Pryor Pascoe PC Law Firm was hired to implement the changes. Some district staff have been employees for over 10 years, and the district needed to ensure the policies were in compliance with new laws and regulations. The changes are not “over the top or overly punitive, just clear and clean.” He requested the board examine the policy manual and approve the updated manual at the August meeting. A lot of changes to be implemented were driven by staff members, he said.
Executive session
The board moved into an executive session at 7:09 p.m. pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 24-6-402(4)(a), for the purpose of acquisition of water/land, and 24-6-402(4)(b), for the purpose of determining the positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategies for negotiations, and instructing negotiators as it relates to potential development incentives. Sheffield confirmed that after the meeting returned to the regular session, no action was taken, and the meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m. **********
Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month at the district office located at 16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. For meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com. Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.
Water Operator Joe Lopez told the board that El Paso County had, in response to high temperatures, unexpectedly purchased about 37,000 gallons of water from the district, lowering the levels in the district’s storage tanks. Vanderschuere said the district should insist on advance notice of such purchases in the future.
On the wastewater side, Chief Waste Plant Operator Aaron Tolman reported E. coli numbers were well within the allowable level. The treatment facility processed 28 million gallons of waste in the previous month.
Brett Gracely, a project engineer with LRE Water, told the board that plans for aquifer storage and retrieval (ASR), a technology that will store excess water underground to avoid loss due to evaporation, were proceeding and the hardware needed for ASR was being designed.
Roger Sams, of GMS Engineering Inc., told the board that repairs to the district’s storage tanks were almost complete.
Executive session
The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss the Member Agency Financing and Contribution Agreement recently drafted by the Loop water reuse project. DWSD is one of three water districts that have committed to the Loop. **********
The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Generally, board meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. and include online access; call (719) 488-3603 or access www.donalawater.org to receive up-to-date meeting information. The district office is located at 15850 Holbein Drive, Colorado Springs.
James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me
Donala Water and Sanitation District, July 18 Board considers request to exclude property
El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, July 18
Board considers new roles for Merrick and Co.
By James Howald
The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA or the Loop) board met in July to hear to hear suggestions for next steps from John Kuosman, a water practice leader with Merrick and Co., who also serves as the Loop’s project planning and workflow manager, and to consider a new contract between the Loop and Merrick. Board President Jessie Shaffer presented invoices from the previous month. The board also held an executive session, which was attended by representatives from all the participating districts, after which no action was taken. Will Colorado Springs Utilities play a role? Kuosman told the board that the option for Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to have a near-term partnership with the Loop was still being considered. The possibility that the Loop could make use of CSU’s pipelines and its Edward W. Bailey Water Treatment Plant has been discussed for months. Kuosman explained that a formal request to CSU had been made by the Loop and he expected CSU to provide a timeline and preliminary costs by mid-August. The possibility that the Loop could make use of CSU’s pipelines and excess water treatment capacity has a direct impact on the final cost of the Loop’s project.
Kuosman also said CSU is studying indirect potable reuse of water. “Indirect potable reuse” refers to systems where treated effluent from wastewater treatment facilities is released into a stream or river and then an equal amount of water is diverted from the stream or river to be reused by customers. The Loop is an indirect potable reuse design, with effluent from treatment facilities in northern El Paso County being released into Monument Creek and traveling downstream to Fountain Creek, where it is di-
verted, treated, and then conveyed north to customers for reuse. Kuosman said there were lots of overlap between CSU’s long-term plans and the Loop. CSU’s goals aligned with the Loop, he explained, but CSU’s timeline was years behind the Loop’s schedule.
New contract with Merrick for next phase Kuosman told the board that its current contract with Merrick covered activities up to the drafting of the Member Agency Financing and Contribution Agreement, which defines the benefits and responsibilities of the participating districts. That contract is now complete, he said, and the board should consider a new agreement with Merrick for services related to the next phase of the project.
He briefly discussed financing options for the Loop, which include use of municipal bonds, federal grants, and public/private partnerships. He said he was working with Piper Sandler on financing options and with EPCOR, a company that invests in infrastructure projects and recoups its investment over the long term.
Kuosman said that the Loop’s current contract with Merrick covered project planning, workflow management, and advancing a conceptual design to the point where costs could be estimated. He suggested that the contract with Merrick for the phase two scope of service should include:
• Project management, including attending board meetings, meetings with other agencies, and weekly phone calls.
• Securing easements for 30 miles of pipelines.
• Development of a hydraulic model for the project that will be used by engineering companies.
• Exploring federal grants, federal programs, and public/private partnerships.
• Pumping and storage, treatment and processing, and pipeline designs.
• Putting BBNA’s conceptual design into an operating agreement for the participating districts to sign.
• Long-term staffing plans. Invoices
In his financial report, Shaffer mentioned four invoices that had arrived in the last month:
• JVA Inc. for $5,519.
• Kimley Horn for $3,150.
• Spencer Fane LLC for $4,202.
• The American Company for $18,341.
The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.
Executive session
The meeting ended with an executive session to receive legal advice from the Loop’s attorney and to discuss negotiating positions. The session was attended by representatives from the participating districts, to whom the Member Agency Financing and Contribution Agreement was presented. No votes were taken after the executive session.
**********
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Workshop meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Cherokee Metropolitan District offices at 6250 Palmer Park Blvd., Colorado Springs. Please see loopwater.org or call 719488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.
El Paso Board of County Commissioners, July 9 and 25
Black Forest property to be divided into two lots
By Helen Walklett
During July, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a request to create two lots on a 6.02-acre Black Forest property and approved requests connected to renovation work at Fox Run Regional Park and the Fox Run Nature Center.
Vessey Road rezone
At the July 25 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a final plat application by Pawel Posorski to create two single-family lots of just over 2.5 acres each on a 6.02-acre Vessey Road property, about one-third of a mile east of the intersection of Vessey and Holmes Roads. The land was rezoned from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential) in April. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n5epcbocc/
The application came from the El Paso County Planning Commission’s June 20 meeting with a unanimous recommendation for approval. It was heard at both the Planning Commission and BOCC hearings as a consent item, meaning there
was no discussion.
Work at Fox Run Regional Park
At their July 9 meeting, the commissioners approved a purchase order for Matrix Design Group Inc. to provide site planning, landscape architecture, and civil engineering design services for the Fox Run Regional Park ponds and gazebo project at an amount not to exceed $207,175.
The project consists of a study of the wedding gazebo for relocation and reconstruction near the stone seating amphitheater, improvements to the amphitheater itself to ensure The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access, the dredging of both ponds and the installation of a synthetic pond liner, and the provision of ADA access from the parking area to the gazebo, amphitheater, and around the ponds if practical.
Work is expected to begin in September and continue through the end of 2025.
Work underway since July on the restrooms near the two play areas is designed to enhance accessibility and is expected to run through No-
July Weather Wrap
vember. Portable restrooms are available in both parking lots while the remodeling takes place. At the same meeting, the commissioners approved a change order for TDG Architecture Inc. to provide additional project management and preliminary design and construction document services for the Fox Run Nature Center at an amount not to exceed $46,697. **********
The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall. Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.
Editors note: Bill Kappel is unavailable this month so we do not have a weather column but Bill will be back next month.
and Tri-Lakes
dent. He can be reached at billkappel@ocn.me.
Bill Kappel is a meteorologist
resi-
Above: Smoke reportedly from Canadian wildfires casts a gray haze across the region on July 22, obscuring details of Mount Herman and the Rampart Range as seen from the Jackson Creek area. Photo by Allen Alchian.
Guidelines for letters are on page 23.
Letters to Our Community
Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. When there is more than one letter, the letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.
Freedom of speech
A social media troll shares unwelcome content within an online conversation to purposefully instigate an argument with one or more people.
It is dangerous to young and old alike, and we see it every day.
It is not always protected by the First Amendment freedom of speech, as some would have you believe; it is fair in politics and elections particularly.
Examples of speech that may be limited: true threats, incitement, unlawful conduct: such as advocating violations of private life, defamation, hate speech, obscenity, pornography, public order, national security, classified information,
trade secrets, or copyright violations.
Our national elections are coming, and trolling is rising to an epidemic level. Please vote and consider as a factor in your ballot decisions the honor, integrity, and ethics of each candidate and issue, no matter the level of trolling we are exposed to.
Thanks for your consideration.
Gordon Reichal
New fiction titles to round out your summer
By the staff at Covered Treasures
“Leaving any bookstore is hard, especially on a day in August when the street outside burns and glares, and the books inside are cool and crisp to the touch.”— Jane Smiley
These new fiction books are a wonderful way to round out the summer, whether outside basking in the sun or inside listening to the rain and rolling thunderstorms.
Bear By Julia Phillips (Hogarth Press) $28
of the nation’s capital where secrets hide behind white picket fences. When a shocking act of violence tears the house apart, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: Who is the true enemy? The Briar Club is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test.
The Midnight Feast
By Lucy Foley (William Morrow & Co.) $30
Sam and Elena are sisters, living on an island off the coast of Washington where they were born and raised. One night Sam spots a bear swimming the dark waters of the channel. When the bear turns up by their home, Sam, terrified, is more convinced than ever that it’s time to leave the island. But Elena responds differently to the massive beast. A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us—and within us, Bear is a propulsive, mythical, richly imagined novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers in America.
The Briar Club By Kate Quinn (William Morrow & Co.) $29
This story takes place in Washington, D.C., in 1950. Everyone keeps to themself at Briarwood House, an all-female boardinghouse in the heart
It’s the opening night of The Manor, the newest and hottest luxury resort. Just outside The Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And it’s not too long before the local police are called. Turns out the past has crashed the party with deadly results. Everyone’s got a secret. Everyone’s got an agenda. But not everyone will survive. This story is packed with twists and turns that are perfect for those who love a good murder-mystery.
A Death in Cornwall (Gabriel Allon No. 24)
By Daniel Silva (Puffin) $32
Art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon has slipped quietly into London to attend a reception. But when an old friend from the Devon and Cornwall Police seeks his help with a baffling murder investigation, he finds himself pursuing a powerful and dangerous new adversary. Elegant and suspenseful, A Death in Cornwall is Daniel Silva at his best—a dazzling tale of murder, power, and insatiable greed that will hold readers spellbound until they turn the final page.
Sipsworth
By Simon Van Booy (David R. Godine Publisher) $27
Over the course of a single week in a small Eng-
August Library Events
Free concerts, book clubs
lish village, a widowed octogenarian who has spent her last years alone discovers an unexpected reason to live. After living abroad for 60 years, Helen Cartwright returns to the English town where she was born. She buys a suburban house on Westminster Crescent and settles into a repetitive, reclusive existence. Three uneventful, lonely years later, Helen’s life takes a sudden turn when an unexpected guest arrives: a small, good-natured mouse. This book illuminates not only the sustaining friendship forged between widower and mouse but the reverberations of goodness that ripple out from acts of kindness.
By Any Other Name
By Jodi Picoult (Ballantine Books) $30
Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. In 1581, young Emilia is a ward of English aristocrats. But like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work. Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name is a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire, told by two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Picoult’s latest novel, rooted in historical sources, goes on sale Aug. 20.
Until next month, happy reading. The staff at Covered Treasures can be reached at books@ocn.me.
By Harriet Halbig
As summer winds down, enjoy a series of free concerts on the Village Green in Palmer Lake (right next to the library). These concerts, from 6 to 7 p.m., are free and family friendly. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket for your comfort. In the event of rain, concerts will be cancelled.
On Friday Aug. 23, the concert will feature the Academy Jazz Ensemble featuring jazz and big band music.
On Friday Aug. 30, the concert will feature the Tender Foot Bluegrass Band. We hope to see you there!
Monument Library offers two book clubs that are open to all. The Monumental Bookworms is an evening book club sponsored by the TriLakes Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD). The Bookworms will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 13. This month’s title is Horse by Geraldine Brooks. The Monumental Readers
is also sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Friends of PPLD. They will meet from 10:30 to 12:30 on Aug. 16. This month’s selection is One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson. No registration is required to attend the book clubs and all are welcome. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Please note that all library facilities will be closed on Monday Sept. 2 for Labor Day. Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.
Back to Eden gardening and what to plant in August
By Janet Sellers
Our wood chips that come from local fire mitigation have a number of benefits. The official monikers for chunky wood mulch uses are “Back to Eden” and “permaculture” and use the many sizes of chips, which is key. Many people buy wood chips that are of a uniform size with mediocre benefits, but success with wood chips depends on chunky variable sized chips. The various sizes offer a slow but steady introduction of nutrients and organic materials and lets in moisture and keeps it in, creating a rich soil environment. It supports our growing beds precisely because of the mixed sizes. Some worry about freshly chipped wood mulch as a nitrogen robber. But the mulch stays on top of the soil, and at a safe, 6 inches thick, it kills unwanted grasses and blocks weeds without any digging since it blocks sunlight and yet retains moisture. We can then lift open a planting space in the chips, plant some seeds, put back the chips and seedlings can grow up and out of the soil through the mixed chips. Mixed chips allow for air pockets gently letting water in and maintain fluffy soil, not a packed soil that happens with irrigation from the top sans mulch protection. There is almost no evaporation, and this mulch keeps consistent optimal temperatures for the soil regardless of hot days or cold nights. It saves on watering, too. Good soil is alive with microbes that depend on such specifics, and protecting it is vital to our
plants. The mixed wood chips do that and protect the soil from erosion as well. Are there bugs? No! The chipping process fixes that. Diseases are also not likely and mostly a non-issue. And the best part? We can get a wood chip mulch supply for free through September at Black Forest slash, evenings or weekends. Just check out www. bfslash.org. It’s located at Shoup and Herring Roads, Colorado Springs.
As August begins, our fall seedling efforts start. We can do our brassicas and even beans and lettuces started from seed for a fall harvest. Our hot, dry June and July season was not a normal summer for our climate but may become more common as the years go by. For the last few years, we’ve had hotter temperatures than I remember ever having at our altitude. It fried our grasses this year, but for those of us with wood chips as our “Back to Eden” garden beds, the soil moisture kept up with the heat and we’ve had success with lots of warmth-loving crops. Marigolds and other annual flowers can be started now and enjoyed through the fall. I saved huge bags of marigold seeds from last year’s flowers so I could have a whole landscape of them if planted—what a concept.
Janet Sellers is an avid Back to Eden/permaculture “lazy gardener” letting Mother Nature lead the way for healthy soil and healthy gardens. Send your handy garden tips to JanetSellers@ocn.me.
High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG)
Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore
Above: The Tri Lakes Cares Garden with greens and healthy food. Ohlmer family volunteers have been tending the garden and bringing things to TriLakes Cares’ little market. Photo by Janet Sellers.
On the superpowers of art and daydreaming
By Janet Sellers
Our local arts scene has a lot to offer us for fun, health, and well-being—and we can take the benefits with us when we buy some art for ourselves or gifts. We have had our Chautauqua arts and culture events in Palmer Lake through Aug. 4. Our monthly Art Hop (5 to 8 p.m. on the fourth Fridays through September) is free arts and music for meandering around downtown Monument, and there are lots of art to buy and take home. Participating in the arts improves the quality of life for everyone, especially children and older adults, including cognitive function, memory, and self-esteem. On top of that, the social factors of interactive arts experiences reduce stress and isolation. And the natural sense of flow—such as when looking at art—is an element to high performance sought by athletes, entrepreneurs, musicians and artists.
Art: health and anti-aging
Participating in the arts improves the quality of life for older adults, including cognitive function, memory and self-esteem. On top of that, the social factors of interactive arts experiences reduce stress and isolation. Our dependance on science for factual information is one factor in looking at art for health, but proven methods and results in terms of the arts as medicine and intervention are factors that are being introduced for hospitals and health and for schoolchildren and military veterans. The interdisciplinary use of art, aesthetics, and science can offer relief from our current age of chronic stress, burnout, depression, and mental illness, not to mention pain management. We have complex problems now like never before. Art experiences show a way out of these and into health and longevity.
Hospital health benefits
Besides lowering costs in health-
care, interventions beyond the usual use of medicine have shown that art has a profound effect on the circuitry of the body, the brain, and thereby overall health. The University of Florida has developed a rigorous game plan for arts in medicine. The UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine has a sizable staff of artists-in-residence and creative arts therapists. They offer group workshops and bedside programs, including music in trauma care. As far back as Roman times, the use of music, drums, and other creativities were used in healing the sick. This could transform care into less use of drugs—especially addictive opioids—through mitigation of perceived pain and stress.
Arts provide superpowers In her article for the National Laboratory for Medicine at the National Institute for Health, Your Brain on Art: The Case for Neuroaesthetics, Susan Magsamen states, “The default
Snapshots of Our Community
ribbon-cutting, June 26
On a brisk July 4 morning, over 500 runners participated in person and over 200 virtually in the 42nd annual Palmer Lake Fourth of July Fun Run. The 4-mile race from Palmer Lake to Monument on the Santa Fe Trail traditionally starts the Fourth of July activities in the
mode network, once associated solely with daydreaming, is now linked to many different functions core to human connection and well-being. These include personal identity, sense of meaning, empathy, imagination, and creativity as well as embodied cognition, which allows us to place ourselves in a piece of artwork and make us feel what the artist was feeling.”
Join our local community in celebrating the arts this month. The next Art Hop is Aug. 23, 5 to 8 p.m. Arrive early and enjoy the sculpture park on Second Street, have dinner and ice cream at local venues, and get some art for your life at the many pop-up art spaces and gallery venues.
Janet Sellers, an artist, writer, and speaker who makes and shares her artworks locally and nationally via galleries and writing. She gives talks on the power of art and making things. Contact her at JanetSellers@ocn.me.
Concert in the Park, June 26
Palmer Lake Fun Run, July 4
Tri-Lakes area. Race Coordinator Kelsey Belcher thanked “the volunteers and communities of Palmer Lake and Monument for their continuing support of the race.” She also extended “special thanks to the Palmer Lake Police Department, Storm Guard Construction,
a decades-long supporter of the race, Bluestaq, and other vendors who make this race possible with their support.” Proceeds from this 100% volunteer-supported race go directly to the Palmer Lake Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization to distribute for classroom
and teachers’ needs. Dillon Powell (19:20:52) and Aubrey Surage (23:26:97), both from Colorado Springs, were the top male and female finishers by chip time. Surage has been the top female finisher for three years in a row. Photos by David Futey.
Above: The Alta 25 apartment complex at 1320 Herman View Way in Monument opened its doors with a ribbon cutting on June 26. The complex features one, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in three-story garden-style buildings. Photo by Charlie Searle.
Above: Ben, Mia, and Grace Kimes of Colorado Springs showed off their Fourth of July spirit before running in the Palmer Lake Fun Run.
Above: Runners make their way around the lake at Palmer Lake just after the 7 a.m. start of the Palmer Lake Fun Run.
Above: Mimic, a classic rock cover band, has audience members dancing as it played to a full crowd on June 26 during the Concert in the Park series at Limbach Park. Photo by Laura Lucero.
Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast, July 4
Knights of Columbus Council 11514 of St. Peter Church hosted its annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast. Past Grand Knight Alan Feldkamp said, “1,400-1,500 were expected to attend with over 10,000
pancakes being made by Knights volunteers.” Feldkamp said proceeds from the breakfast go toward “Tri-Lakes Cares, Marion House, Lewis Palmer D-38 School District disabled students, Catholic Chari-
ties, and other charities supported by the Knights.” Volunteers from the Monument Hill Kiwanis, Veterans of Foreign Wars, St. Peter students, and Boy Scout Troop 17 assisted in making the event a success. Active-
duty military and first responders in uniform ate for free. Photos by David Futey.
Monument Children’s Parade, July 4
the
from
Monument Parade, July 4
On the Fourth of July, the Monument Hill Kiwanis’ Biggest SmallTown Parade in America entertained nearly 20,000 spectators along the streets of Monument with 89 pa-
rade entrants. The 2024 parade’s theme was Our Nation’s Founders and the Constitution with Uncle Sam, Betsy Ross among others as grand marshals. The parade’s VIPs
were Kiwanis President Scott Ross, Monument Chief of Police Patrick Regan and Monument Fire District Fire Chief Andy Kovacs. The parade route was expanded to incorpo-
rate Santa Fe Avenue and Jefferson Street, allowing increased spectator viewing options. Photos by David Futey.
Continued on the facing page.
Above: From left are Chason Pace, Paisley Harris, Hattie Pollock, Lillian Pace, and Freddy Pollock came attired in red, white, and blue to participate in the Fourth of July Children’s Parade. The Pollock children came all
way
Iowa to attend the parade. Photo by David Futey.
Fourth Infantry Division Band from Fort Carson.
Above Left: Rich and Shannon Schur, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Business Persons of the Year 2023. Above Right: Sheri Miller, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce 2023 Volunteer of the Year. Right: Maddy Norton, 2024 El Paso Fair Queen and LPHS senior. Photos by David Futey. Far RIght: Eight-year-old Boone Lester dressed up as George Washington to watch the Fourth of July parade in Monument. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
Scott Ross, Kiwanis president
D38 President Tiffany Upchurch and Superintendent Dr. Stacie Datteri.
Above: Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 17 lead the way for the Fourth of July Children’s Parade. Photo by David Futey.
Above: Knights of Columbus Council 11514 Grand Knight Bob Lynn was one of the many volunteers who assisted with the Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast.
Above: The St. Peter walkway was packed with attendees of the Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast.
Monument Street Fair, July 4
Above: Second and Washington Streets in Monument were filled with Fourth of July spectators, enjoying various foods, viewing arts, and local business and nonprofit booths as part of the TriLakes Chamber of Commerce Street Fair. Live music was also available throughout the afternoon at Limbach Park.
Right: Jackson Creek Senior Living (JCSL), 16601 Jackson Creek Parkway, held its third annual classic car and hotrod show by the Tri-Lakes Cruisers Car Club on July 27. The proud owners of the vehicles were glad to discuss how they restored and modified these classic vehicles. JCSL provided food and live entertainment for residents and guests. For information about JCSL services, you may contact Laura Hale, 719-259-1331. Pictured: Glen Whiteside with his modified 1933 Chevy hotrod.
Hazel Miller at TLCA, July 19
Above: On July 19, Colorado Music Hall of Fame member Hazel Miller and her backup band The Collective returned to the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (TLCA) stage. Miller, a TLCA audience favorite, and the Collective sets included a blend of blues, jazz, and swing genres. The genre diversity was typified by songs performed including Do Wrong Shoes by Jackie Allen, It Don’t Mean a Thing by Duke Ellington, She Just Wants to Dance by Gary U.S. Bonds, and Rio de Janeiro Blues by Joe Sample and Randy Crawford. Information on upcoming events at the TLCA is at www.trilakesarts.org. Photo by David Futey.
Car show at JCSL, July 27
The Tri-Lakes Women’s Club.
Lewis-Palmer High School football team.
Lewis-Palmer High School cheerleaders.
Lewis-Palmer High School poms. Monument Fire Department
Palmer Ridge High School cheerleaders.
Tri-Lakes Majors softball team. Tri-Lakes Little League team.
Palmer Ridge High School football team.
Palmer Ridge High School BearBotics Robotics.
Photo by David Futey.
Above: The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce set up a booth during the Fourth of July Street Fair in Monument. John Howe, left, manned the booth that morning and was joined by Lisa Hatfield. Both Howe and Hatfield are Our Community News volunteers OCN is a member of the chamber. Photo by Steve Pate.
Photo by Steve Pate.
By Janet Sellers
Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the information number for that event. Please notify us if your event listing needs to be updated.
Fox Run Regional Park closures
The Oak Meadows and Pine Meadows restrooms at Fox Run Regional Park are getting remodeled. Both restrooms will be closed through November to undergo renovations that will include the installation of ADA-compliant fixtures, sinks, and wastewater systems. Additionally, the parking lots and sidewalks will be upgraded to ensure full compliance with ADA standards.During construction, both restrooms and the sand volleyball court will be fenced off and closed. Portable restrooms will be available in both parking lots.
Black Forest Slash mulch program Slash can be brought to the Black Forest slash and mulch program. Tree and brush debris only. No pine needles. (It is important to protect the trees’ health and keep some pine needles on the ground. 80% of the nutrients that the pine trees need come from the decomposing pine needles). This program serves fire mitigation efforts in the area and is $10 per load to drop off, regardless of size. The program also offers free mulch to take home. Info: www.BFSlash.org.
D38 seeks volunteers
Lewis-Palmer School District 38 seeks volunteers now to help with summer gardening and painting projects at Palmer Lake Elementary and Palmer Ridge High School. Contact Kelly Bryant at kbryant@lewispalmer.org for more information.
WMMI needs volunteers
The Museum of Mining and Industry is currently recruiting for Visitor Services Associates and Guides. Please consider sharing your time and expertise. Volunteers must be 18 and older and pass a background check. For information about volunteer opportunities, please call 719-488-0880 or email at volunteer@wmmi.org.
Children’s Literacy Center
The center provides free one-on-one literacy tutoring to TriLakes children in grades 1-6 who are reading below grade level! Tutoring is at the Tri-Lakes Senior Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 pm, and the Summer Session will run through Aug. 14. For more information, to become a volunteer tutor or to enroll your child, visit www.childrensliteracycenter.org or email Christine Jeffson at Christine@childrensliteracycenter.org.
Tri Lakes Cruisers car club
Call for entries open immediately for the 21st annual benefit car show on August 18, from 9 to 2 along 2nd Street in historic downtown Monument. The not-for-profit car club
Why advertise in OCN?
• OCN is mailed FREE to every resident and business in the Tri-Lakes area. We mail more than 22,700 copies every month and put another 700 copies in stacks throughout the area. OCN has the one of the largest mailed circulations among local newspapers in Colorado. We put copies of OCN into the hands of those people most likely to buy your products or services: local residents and businesses.
• OCN is a primary source for Tri-Lakes area news Since its founding in 2001, OCN has been presenting unbiased, detailed coverage of TriLakes area governmental entities and their deliberations and actions. Credibility is key. Advertising in a credible medium typically rubs off on the advertisers in that media.
• OCN gives preference to Tri-Lakes area businesses As part of OCN’s long-standing commitment to encouraging the economic health of the Tri-Lakes area, we offer a significantly discounted ad rate to Tri-Lakes area businesses as a way to help local businesses like yours succeed.
• OCN’s low ad rates and monthly publication schedule help stretch your ad budget. OCN has one of the lowest ad costs per printed copy of any local publication. Since OCN is a monthly publication, your ad is out there for a month—more than four times longer than other local papers. Many of our advertisers tell us they’re still getting calls in the third and fourth week of the month.
• OCN doesn’t use contracts You aren’t tied down. Adjust your advertising month-to-month to meet your changing needs. Our advertisers run ads in OCN because they see benefit in it, not because they’re bound by a contract they signed months before. To reward frequent advertisers, OCN has a Frequent Advertiser Bonus (FAB) rewards program. You earn up to 10% of your ad cost as a reward you can use to reduce the cost of future OCN advertising. The more you advertise with OCN, the more you save. Thanks to our FAB rewards program, OCN advertisers have saved more than $111,000!
• You are supporting a good thing. Your advertising dollars support a unique all-volunteer, Tri-Lakes-focused effort to present factual, comprehensive news to all Tri-Lakes area residents and businesses.
For more information on advertising, go to www.ocn.me/advertise.htm or contact John Heiser at (719) 4883455 or ads@ocn.me.
Our Community Notices
welcomes anyone interested in cars to this community service organization. Funds from the car show benefit local charities such as Tri Lakes cares as well as scholarships for local high school students. Pre-registration to be in the show is required. Enter at www.trilakecruisers.com
Community volunteers
Many students need volunteer hours for scouting, civics classes, clubs, or would just like to volunteer for the good of it. Friends of Fox Run Park will have some openings for student volunteers (and grownups, too) most of the year for various tasks. Besides tasks, the group offers information and skills demonstrations for each 2-3 hour session, and celebrates volunteers at the park with annual community events. The Tri Lakes Cares on-site garden in Monument also needs volunteers in Fall, Spring and Summer. Gardening tasks include preparing garden beds, weeding, sowing seeds, and developing the compost. Bring gardening gloves, some tools will be provided on the workdays. Contact Janet Sellers at JanetSellers@ocn.me or Marlene Brown at MarleneBrown@ocn.me for more information.
Tri-Lakes Cares needs your support
Tri-Lakes Cares is the only food pantry and human services organization serving northern El Paso County through emergency relief and self-sufficiency programs. The community-based, volunteer-supported center is a critical resource for our neighbors in need. The best way to help support Tri-Lakes Cares is to donate. Visit https://tri-lakescares.org/donate to learn how to donate money, medical items, personal supplies, or food. Please check the web for current needs in our food pantry at https://tri-lakescares. org/donate/current-needs. Donation drop-off hours are Mon.-Thu., 9 am-4 pm. For more information about TriLakes Cares or how you can help, contact Tri-Lakes Cares at 719-481-4864 or info@tri-lakescares.org.
Silver Key at Tri-Lakes Senior Center
Silver Key at Tri-Lakes Senior Center, formerly known as the Tri-Lakes Silver Alliance Senior Center, has been providing exciting programs and activities to area seniors who have a zest for fun and learning. As the older adult population is growing, our services are in high demand. 719-884-2300 66 Jefferson St, Monument. See ad on page 2.
Need PC help?
Make It Work Clinic for PCs, FREE. Donations appreciated. We are gauging interest in helping community members with their PCs, please email us if interested. enable@monumentalimpact.org. 55 Adams St in Downtown Monument. Monumental Impact info: https://monumentalimpact.org.
The Sunflower is for people with non-visible disabilities
Watch for green and yellow sunflower lanyards, bracelets, and ribbons, discreet ways to make the invisible vis-
ible. Wearing the Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around the wearer including staff, colleagues and health professionals that they need additional support, help or a little more time. However big or small, your help moves us closer to a society where people recognize that an offer of help, understanding and kindness can make a huge difference to the daily experiences that a Sunflower wearer has. For more information: www.flydenver.com/accessibility, www.hdsunflower.com/us/, and www.disabled-world. com/disability/types/invisible/.
MVEA outage notifications
Please add your phone number to your MVEA account to streamline outage reporting and restoration notifications. To report an outage please call or text “OUT” to (800) 3889881. Visit MVEA’s Outage Center before the storm. There is information about preparing for outages, electrical safety, outage reporting, a link to the outage map, and more. Can you volunteer today?
• Links to local organizations with an immediate need for volunteers are listed on the county’s website, www.elpasocountyhealth.org/volunteering-anddonations, for groups like Care and Share, Crossfire Ministries, blood donations, Early Connections (volunteer from home opportunity), foster an animal, Medical Reserve Corps of El Paso County, Salvation Army, Silver Key, and United Way (ongoing opportunities).
• The Colorado State University Extension office in El Paso County has several opportunities for individuals interested in volunteering. https://elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/volunteer-opportunities/
• El Paso County volunteer-based and nonprofit organizations rely on the hard work of individuals like you. Find out how you can play a part by becoming a volunteer in El Paso County. Get involved in El Paso County volunteering non-profits and organizations! https://www.americantowns.com/el-paso-countyco/volunteer-organizations/.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Program is composed of a collective citizens group with a true and common desire to partner with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office by volunteering their services while learning more about the internal workings of the law enforcement community. https://www.epcsheriffsoffice.com/volunteer-program-0.
• The El Paso County Volunteer Program is a wonderful opportunity for citizens to learn about the various functions of county government as well as give back to the community. The County’s numerous boards and commissions need your experience, talents and time. https://bocc.elpasoco.com/volunteer.
Our Community Calendar
By Janet Sellers
Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the info number for that event. Please contact calendar@ocn.me with changes and additions.
GOVERNMENTAL BODIES
• Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines Metropolitan Districts 1, 2 & 3 board meetings, usually meets quarterly on the first Mon., at 4 p.m., via teleconference only. For dial in access and updates, visit http://www.forestlakesmetrodistrict.com. Monument Town Council meeting, Mon., Aug. 5 & 19, 6:30 pm, Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Normally meets first and third Mon. Info: 719-884801, www.townofmonument.org/260/Board-of-Trustees for remote attendance links.
• El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regular meeting, usually every Tue., 9 am. View agendas and meetings at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Meetings are held at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Info: 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1pm Centennial Hall. Palmer Lake Board of Adjustments meeting, Tue., Aug. 6, 5 pm, 28 Valley Crescent St., Palmer Lake. Normally meets first Tue., as needed.
• Woodmoor Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Mon., Aug 12, 1 pm, 1845 Woodmoor Dr., Monument. Normally meets second Mon. Info: 719-488-2525, www.woodmoorwater.com.
• Tri-Lakes Wastewater Facility Joint Use Committee meeting, Tue., Aug. 12, 10 am, 16510 Mitchell Ave. Meets second Tue. Info: See https://tlwastewater.com/index.html Bill Burks, 719-481-4053. Palmer Lake Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Aug. 13, 9 am, call-in only: 650-479-3208, Access Code 76439078, 120 Middle Glenway. Meets second Wed. Info: 719-481-2732. www.plsd.org.
• Monument Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Aug. 14, 6 pm Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Usually meets the second Wed. To see the options for remote public participation in each meeting, visit www. townofmonument.org/263/Planning-Commission-Boardof-Adjustment. Info: 719-884-8028. www.townofmonument.org.
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting, Thu., Aug. 8 & 22, 6 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Usually meets second and fourth Thu. Info: 719-481-2953. www. townofpalmerlake.com.
• Monument Academy School Board meeting, Thu., Aug. 8, 6:30 pm, East Campus gym, 4303 Pinehurst Circle. Usually meets the second Thu. Info: 719-431-8001, www.monumentacademy.net/school-board.
• Monument Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Aug. 21, 9 am, 130 Second St. Zoom meeting. Find joining instructions on the website. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-4814886, www.colorado.gov/msd. Academy Water and Sanitation District board meeting Wed., Aug. 21, 6 pm. Usually meets third Wed. Public can join the Skype meeting: https://join.skype.com/PAcujKTn7Nrh. Check the website for a link: https://academywsd. colorado.gov/notices-and-alerts. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-071119https://academywsd.colorado.gov.
• Palmer Lake Town Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Aug. 21, 6 pm, Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Meets third Wed. Info: 719-481-2953, www.townofpalmerlake.com.
• El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority meeting Thu., Aug 15, 9 am, Monument Town Hall Boardroom, 645 Beacon Lite Rd. Normally meets third Thu. Info: 719-4883603. www.loopwater.org. Donala Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Thu., Aug. 15, 1:30 pm, 15850 Holbein Dr. In 2023, meets third Thu., Check the website for the access code for the electronic meeting. Info: 719-488-3603, www.donalawater.org.
• Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District board meeting, usually meets third Wed., in person or via Zoom. Next meeting Wed., Aug. 21, 7 p.m., Station 1, 11445 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. Visit http://www.bffire.org for
updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes, or contact 719-494-4300. Triview Metropolitan District board meeting, usually meets third Thu., in person or via Zoom. Next meeting Thu., Aug. 22, 5:30 p.m.,16055 Old Forest Point, Suite 302, Monument. Visit http://www.triviewmetro.com for updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes, or contact 719488-6868.
• El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, Thu., Aug. 15, 9 am. Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News & Information Channel at https://www. elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Normally meets first & third Thu. (as required). Info: 719-520-6300, https:// planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2024-hearings-schedule/ Donald Wescott Fire Protection District board meeting, usually meets fourth Wed., in person or via Zoom. Next meeting Wed., Sep. 25, 4:30 p.m., Station 1, 18650 Highway 105, Monument. Visit http://www.monumentfire.org for updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes, or contact 719-488-0911.
• Monument Fire District board meeting, usually meets fourth Wed., in person or via Microsoft Teams. Next meeting Wed., Aug. 28, 6:30 p.m., Station 1, 18650 Highway 105, Monument. Visit http://www.monumentfire.org, for updates and the agenda listing the Mircosoft Teams joining codes, or contact 719-488-0911. Woodmoor Improvement Association Board Meeting, Wed., Aug. 28, 7 pm, Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. The WIA Board usually meets fourth Wed. Info: 719-4882693, www.woodmoor.org.
• Lewis-Palmer School District 38 board, Mon., Aug. 21, 6-10 pm, 146 N Jefferson St, Monument. Meets during the school year on third Mon. The Board of Education meeting will be live-streamed on the district’s YouTube channel: www. youtube.com/user/LPSDCommunity, agenda, and supporting documents at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/lewispalmer/Board.nsf/vpublic. Contact Vicki Wood. Phone: 719.481.9546 Email: vwood@lewispalmer.org Website: https://www.lewispalmer.org.
• Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (now PCAC, formerly DAAC. Meets six times a year. Usually meets monthly, second Tue. Contact info: tmckee@lewispalmer.org.
WEEKLY & MONTHLY EVENTS
• AARP Black Forest #1100, second Wed., noon. In-person Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd. All ages welcome. Info: www.aarpchapter1100blackforest. weekly.com. AARP Local Senior Social, fourth Wed. In-person Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd. Info: www. aarpchapter1100blackforest.weekly.com.
• A.A. Big Book Study, every Thu., 7 pm, Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 W. Baptist Rd. Call 425-436-6200, access code 575176#.
• Alcoholics Anonymous, every Tue. & Thu., 7:30 p.m. Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. AA is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they June solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Join us with your questions. Info: bflc@bflchurch.org.
• Al-Anon for family and friends of alcoholics, every Tue. & Thu., 7:30 p.m. Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. Al-Anon members are people, just like you, who are worried about someone with a drinking problem. Join us with your questions. Info: bflc@bflchurch.org.
• Al-Anon Zoom Meeting, Just for Today Online, every Mon. 9-10 am Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4142 7446, Password 349309. Al-Anon meeting: Letting Go, every Thu., 9-10:15 am at Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. For additional information go to www.al-anon-co.org.
• Al-anon Meeting: Monument, every Thu., 7-8 pm, Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. Info: MonumentSerenity@gmail.com.
• Amateur ham radio WØTLM (Tri-Lakes Monument ham radio Association), third Mon. (except December). All ama-
teur ham radio operators or those interested in becoming one are we, lcome. Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Building, 166 2nd Street, Monument. For details, contact Bob Witte, bob@k0nr.com or www.W0TLM.com.
• American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11, second Wed. 6:30pm, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Community Meeting House, 300 CO Hwy 105, Monument. New members welcome. Info: Visit website at www.trilakespost9-11. org.
Art: Open Studio painting, Wed., Aug. 7, 9:30-noon. Donations welcome, meets monthly first Wed. Tri Lakes Senior Center, 66 Jefferson St., Monument.
• Benet Hill Monastery: Let us pray with you, walk in the forest, walk the labyrinth, come and visit prayer sites, Group retreats. Experience the modified trees of the Ute people, Fri.- Sun. Aug. 2-4, and Fri.-Sun. Sep. 27-29. Sun. worship is 10:15 am, 3190 Benet Lane, 80921. See ad on page 3.
• Black Forest Community Church, Centering Prayer Group, first Sat., 8:30-10 am The Old Log Church. Centering prayer opens and closes the meetings with discussion and fellowship in between; open to all. Children’s Literacy Center, every Mon. & Wed., 5:30-6:30 pm. Provides free one-on-one literacy tutoring to Tri-Lakes children in grades 1-6 who are reading below grade level. Tutoring is at Grace Best Education Center, 66 Jefferson St. Monument. For more information, to become a volunteer tutor, or to enroll your child, visit www.childrensliteracycenter.org or contact Rachel Morin, Tri-Lakes Senior Center Coordinator, CLC 610-246-1047 (cell). Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild Listening Club third Wed. Free virtual event. Maestro Wilson will conduct monthly hour-long programs. RSVP at www.cspguild.org. Dementia Caregiver Support Group, second Sat., 9:4511:15 am. Meets in-person, First National Bank Monument ( 581 Highway 105, Monument, CO 80132). Meets monthly, 2nd Sat. Contact: Registration is required, call 800-2723900 or email khare@alz.org to register.
• Essential Tremor Support Group. Meets quarterly at Colorado Springs Public Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920. For details, contact: Jim Sanchez, 719-660-7275; jimdjs22@gmail.com. Fellowship of Christ Church, every Sun., 9 am. Monument Academy East Campus, 4303 Pinehurst Circle 80908. Friends of Fox Run Park , Zoom meeting, fourth Thu., 7 pm, email friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com, they will email you the link the day of the meeting. Join the growing group to learn about volunteering and supporting the park for forest safety, trails, trees, education, special events, and more. Special events including “Christmas in July,” August Hummingbird Festival and more, stay tuned! Info: friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com.
• Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP) Trail repair monthly work days, second Thu. of each month from April through October. Meet at 6 pm at the parking lot off Red Rocks Road. FOMP provides all the necessary tools but you must wear appropriate clothing for landscape work and bring gloves, a hat , eye protection, sunscreen, bug repellent and water. Check the FOMP website at www.fomp.org for additional info.
• Fuel Church GriefShare, every Thu., 5:30-7:30 pm, 643 State Highway 105, Palmer Lake. Email info@fuel.org. 643 Hwy 105, Palmer Lake.
• Fuel Church Sunday Service, every Sun. Service times, 11 am Live service streaming at www.fuelchurch.org at 11:40 am on www.fuelchurch.org. Mountain Community Mennonite Church, 643 Hwy 105, Palmer Lake. Nursery and kids’ service. Non-denominational, spirit-filled. Need prayer? Email us at info@fuel.org. See ad on page 5. Gleneagle Sertoma, first and third Wed., 11:45 am to 1 pm. Gleneagle Sertoma is the longest continuously active civic service organization in northern El Paso County. Our regular program presenters address local topics of interest to include local developments, community planning and projects, as well as opportunities to serve your community. Contact Harvey LeCato for meeting location and club information at mbca@comcast.net or 719-331-1212.
• Gleneagle Women’s Club, membership luncheon, third Fri., (Sep.-June), various venues, 12 activity groups, i.e., hiking, bridge, etc. Guests welcome. For information contact Susan Owen, 719-886-7110.
La Leche League breastfeeding support group, second Thu., 12:30 pm. Partners and helpers welcome (and babies and kids, too) so we can meet our breastfeeding goals together. Homestead Direct Primary Care Clinic, 15455 Gleneagle Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. For more information, contact RachelKLangley@gmail.com.
• Lions Club Bingo, every Sat. (except the first Sat.), 8:30 am-1 pm and first Mon., 5:30-10 pm Tri-Lakes Lions Club’s portion of the proceeds benefit those in need in the Tri-Lakes community. Updated info and location: Jim Naylor, 719481-8741 or www.trilakeslionsclub.org.
Library Chess Club, We welcome anyone who wants to learn to play chess or wants to play a game with an experienced player. Contact Steve Waldmann, huskerco@gmail. com. Monument Library meeting room, 1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr., Monument (Information also on the Facebook page: Monument Library Chess Club)
• Monument Hill Kiwanis Club meeting, every Sat., 8 am. www.MHKiwanis.org, MonumentHillKiwanis@gmail.com for details, guests are welcome. Service leadership clubs, Key clubs, Builders Club, and K-kids at D38 schools. Memberships are open to the public. Info: RF Smith, 719-2104987, www.MHKiwanis.org. Monument Life Recovery Group, every Mon., 6:30-7:30 pm, The Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd. This faith-based support group is for those seeking freedom from all hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Daycare for children under age 11. Info: 303-946-2659, www.liferecoverygroups.com/meetings/life-recovery-group-3/.
• Neighborhood Net Ham Radio, every Sat., 10 am. Amateur ham radio operators practice for emergencies on weekly repeater nets so neighbors can help neighbors. Sign up at www.mereowx.org/neighborhood-net or contactus@mereowx.org. Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), Sat., Sep. 14, 10 am–12 pm., Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. Members of local HOAs are welcome. Usually meets bi-monthly (Jan., Mar., June, July, Sep., Nov.) on the second Sat. of the month. www.nepco.org.
• Palmer Divide Quiltmakers, first Thu., 6:30-8:30 pm at Monument Chamber of Commerce building, 166 2nd St, Monument, CO.
• Palmer Lake Art Group, second Sat. A variety of art programs are offered after the social gathering and business meetings. Guests welcome. 300 Hwy 105, NE corner of I-25 and 105. 9:30 am. Info: 719-460-4179, www.palmerlakeartgroup.co. Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Aug. 15, 7 pm; (doors open at 6:30 pm), Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent St. Usually meets third Thu. Contact: Kokesdm@yahoo.com, https://palmerdividehistory.org.
• Pikes Peak Genealogical Society meeting, Wed., Aug. 14, 7 pm. Meets monthly, second Wed. Members can log in and get the monthly meeting Zoom link. Guests are welcome to attend, please request an invitation from the PPGS president at www.PPGS.org. Ridgeview Baptist Church, every Sun., 10:30 am, temporarily meeting at 9130 Explorer Dr., Colorado Springs, 80920. Info: 719-357-6515 or www.ridgeviewcolorado.org. See ad on page 6.
• Senior Bingo, third Wed. Silver Alliance Senior Center, Space is limited to 16. participants. RSVP & info:info@silverkey.org
• Senior Book Club, second Fri., 11 am-noon, Silver Alliance Senior Center, all are welcome. Coffee & snacks. RSVP & info: info@silverkey.org
• Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church, every Sun., Contemporary 9 am; Traditional 10:30 am. A live stream is available at www.tlumc.org/live. Watch live or replay: www. facebook.com/tlumc, www.youtube.com/tlumc.org. Info: 719-488-1365, www.tlumc.org. 20256 Hunting Downs Way,
Monument.
• Tri-Lakes Church of Christ Wednesday night fellowship classes, every Wed., 6-7:30 pm, 20450 Beacon Lite Road, Monument (corner of Beacon Lite & County Line Roads). Info: 719-488-9613, gregsmith@trilakeschurch.org, www. trilakeschurch.org.
Tri-Lakes Cruisers, first Wed., 7 pm. A nonprofit car club. Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce community room, with numerous activities and events each month. Club membership applications are now being accepted and are available on the website: https://tl-cruisers.weebly.com.
• Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Networking breakfast, first and third Thu., in person or via Zoom 166 2nd Street Monument 7:30-9 am free registration at www.TriLakeschamber.com .
• Tri-Lakes Church of Christ Cabin Conversations: fellowship with meals. every Wed., 6 pm 20450 Beacon Lite Rd.
• Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club meeting, monthly first and third Thu. 6 pm-8 pm. First Thursday via zoom and third Thursday in person at the Chamber of Commerce, 166 2nd St., Monument. Details: www.tlrotary.com, Trilakesdynamicrotary@gmail.com. Guests welcome. We are a service club serving Tri-Lakes. Memberships open to the public. Info: www.tlrotary.com.
• Tri-Lakes Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, third Sat., 10 am-noon, Monument Community Presbyterian Church, 238 Third St., Monument. Info: Syble Krafft, 719-488-2669; Barry (group president), 719-351-9485. If you need any help, please call Syble or Barry. Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) monthly meeting, third Fri., 11:30 am. Eisenhower Golf Club, USAFA. To become a member, or learn about the club, visit our website at www. tlwc.net Contact Info: Tri-Lakes Women’s Club membership@tlwc.net.
• Women’s A. A. Step Study, every Mon., 6:30 pm, meeting remotely, check for details. Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 Baptist Rd. Park in the west lot. Info: 866-641-9190. AlAnon Zoom Meeting, Just for Today Online, every Mon., 9:00 - 10:00 am Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4142 7446, Password 349309
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7829, third Wed., 7 pm, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce community room, 166 2nd St., Monument. New members welcome. Info: Post Commander and POC Bruce Beyerly, Bruce.Beyerly@ gmail.com.
VFW Auxiliary to Post 7829, third Wed., 7 p.m. Meets at Victory Baptist Church, 325 2nd Street, Suite X, Monument. Guests are welcome to join; if you are a relative of a veteran who served on foreign soil during war or other military actions, you June be eligible. For more information please contact Kathy Carlson, 719-488-1902, carlsonmkc@gmail. com or Linda Lyons, 303-579-8114, lindalyons7829@gmail. com.
SPECIAL EVENTS
VOLUNTEER TODAY! Our Community News: volunteer mailing days, Thu. Aug. 1 & Sep. 5, approx. 7-8:30 am. We are all volunteers at OCN and need YOUR help, even for an hour or two, getting the papers ready to mail. Contact AllenAlchian@ocn.me or (719) 488-3455.
• Monument Hill Farmers market every Sat., 8-2 pm. D38 Lewis Palmer admin building, 66 Jefferson Street, Monument. See ad on page 5.
• Town of Monument, Concerts in the Park , every Wed. through Aug. 28, 6:30-8:30 pm. Limbach park. Western Museum of Mining and Industry (WMMI), Western saloon night, Sat., Aug. 3, 6-9 p.m. See ad on page 12. Lang 25th annual community pig roast, Fri., Aug. 9, 5:30-7 pm, free. See ad on page 8.
• Kings Deer Community garage sale, Fri-Sun., Aug. 9- 11 Visit www.kingsdeer.org select garage sale. See ad on page 5.
• Native American Sacred Trees and Places, (NASTaP), annual membership meeting and conference, Fri.-Sat. Aug. 16-18, (open to the public). Speakers, tree tours, fire circle, drumming. See ad on page 5. Community fire risk seminar, Tue., Aug. 20, 6-7:30pm, Monument Fire Department will share details on the local need for safety and firewise awareness. Tri Lakes Chamber community room, 166 2nd St.
• Trinity Community Park , grand opening, Sat., Aug. 24, games, prizes, crafts. 17750 Knollwood Dr., Monument.
• YMCA fall youth sports, register today! Season starts Mon., Aug. 26. See ad on page 6.
• Thrivent Financial advisors Taxes and the widow’s penalty webinar Fri., Aug. 16, in person Wed., Aug.28, Monument library. See ad on page 4.
• Tri-Lakes Cruisers 21st Annual Benefit Car Show open entries now: supporting Tri-Lakes Cares, Sun., Aug. 18, 9- 2 pm, along Second Street, Historic Downtown Monument. All entries for display and judging must be pre-registered, (no registration on the day of the Show). On-line or US mailed-in registrations accessed at www.trilakescruisers. com ($35 per vehicle) The event DJ, food trucks and other vendors, and a dog watering shade tent will be under the trees along Second Street next to the School District D-38 Admin Building.
• Monument Art Hop, Fri., Aug. 23, 5-8 pm, Downtown Monument. Art, music, food, and fun; fourth Fridays, through Sep. See ad on page 2. MVEA Member appreciation breakfast, Sat., Aug. 24, 9-11 am, free. 11140 E Woodmen Rd. Falcon. See ad on page 7. Monument Block Party, Classic car club, free barbecue, cornhole, bounce house, Sat., Aug. 24, 3-6:30 p.m. Dinner 4- 6:00 p.m. Ascent church 1750 Deer Creek Rd. See ad on page 4.
Content
Articles in Our Community News focus on the deliberations of Tri-Lakes area governmental bodies such as the Monument Board of Trustees, Palmer Lake Town Council, and many of the local water, sanitation, fire, and school district boards.
Unlike papers that try to figure out what the “story” is and then get quotes on each side to presumably lead the reader to conclude what the “truth” is, OCN’s role is to report in detail on public meetings of local governmental entities. We report what was talked about and what was decided supplemented with board packet information. By reading OCN, you can find out what you might have learned if you had attended those public meetings. In this context, “truth” is that the articles accurately represent what transpired at the meetings.
The content of ads, inserts, and letters to the editor in OCN is solely the responsibility of the advertisers and authors who place those ads, inserts, and letters. The appearance of an ad, insert, or letter in OCN does not imply endorsement of the ad, insert, or letter’s content or purpose. While OCN does not knowingly run false ads, inserts, or letters, we do not research the accuracy of that content. Readers are encouraged to do their own research prior to committing to use the products or services offered or accept the conclusions of letters to the editor. Readers with concerns about the content of an ad, insert, or letter should take up those concerns with the advertiser or author.
Contact John Heiser, Publisher, at johnheiser@ ocn.me or (719) 488-3455 with any questions.
• The Love Shop, restyle your furs. Mon.-Tue., Aug. 26-27. See ad on page 8.
• Space Foundation Summer of Discovery, fun and educational workshops Sat. thru Aug. 31. See ad on page 12.
• Affordable Flooring Connection, special offers. See ad on page 2. Eagle
Paul’s Asphalt Service
Top-quality asphalt paving and maintenance A+ rated by the BBB and great on-line reviews! Hot mix asphalt paving • 5 types of asphalt sealcoating Hot rubber crack sealant/asphalt patch • Recycled asphalt paving Paul Williams, Jr. 719-453-4477 Monument Asphaltserviceonline.com
Letters to Our Community
Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. We do not knowingly print letters that are substantially the same as letters that have been submitted to other publications. To ensure that OCN contains a variety of viewpoints, each letter writer is limited to a maximum of one (1) letter per issue and six (6) letters within a twelve (12) month period. To submit a letter, please:
• Email your letter, preferably as an attached Microsoft Word document, to editor@ocn.me or mail a copy to Our Community News, P.O. Box 1742, Monument, CO 80132-1742.
• Identify your submission as a letter to the editor and confirm that it has not been submitted to any other publication.
• Include a suggested headline or title that summarizes the topic you are addressing.
• Limit your letter to no more than 300 words including your suggested headline and closing.
• Include your full name, home address, phone numbers, and email address, if you have one. Only your name will be published.
• Submit your letter so we receive it no later than midnight, Friday, two weeks prior to the publication date.
If you have not received an acknowledgement two days after your email submission or one week after you mailed your letter, please contact John Heiser, Publisher, at (719) 488-3455 or editor@ocn. me. At OCN’s sole discretion, we may ask you for clarification of your statements. Include references, such as website links, in your letter for any facts and figures you cite. OCN does not guarantee every letter will appear in print or on-line and does not guarantee a publication date. The number of letters printed on a particular topic or in a particular issue may be limited. Letters containing personal attacks or endorsements for or complaints about individually-named commercial products or services will not be published.
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OCN is published on the first Saturday of each month by Colorado Cooperative Association
Our Community News, Inc. John Heiser, President (719) 488-3455—FAX: (828) 649-2720
Our Community News, Inc. P.O. Box 1742 Monument, Colorado 80132-1742 All rights reserved.
Our Community News (OCN), with a mailed circulation of over 23,000, is a unique all-volunteer monthly newspaper mailed FREE to every resident and business in the Tri-Lakes area. OCN is a primary source for Tri-Lakes area news that gives advertising preference to Tri-Lakes area businesses. OCN’s contract-free low ad rates and monthly publication schedule help stretch your ad budget while supporting an important Tri-Lakes-focused effort to present factual, comprehensive news to all Tri-Lakes area residents and business owners. For advertising information, contact
