OCN Our Community News N
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Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area
Issue #282 — Volume 24 Number 9 — Saturday, September 7, 2024 Visit our NEW MOBILE-FRIENDLY WordPress-based website:
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Controversial Amphitheatre opened Aug. 11
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Audio is posted for many of the recent articles and videos for some events.
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 page 22 and page 23 for event locations and other details of these and many other local events. • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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Monument Hill Farmers market, every Sat., 8-2 pm. See ad on page 5. Palmer Lake Farmers Market, every Sun., 10-2 pm. See ad on page 4. Fox Run Regional Park outdoor accessibility day, Sat., Sept. 7, 10-2:00 p.m WMMI Artist Lecture, Tue, Sept. 10, 4 pm. NEPCO, Sat., Sep. 14, 10 am–12 pm. Palmer Lake Wine Festival, Sat., Sept. 14, 1-5pm 100+ Women Who Care, Wed., Sept. 18, 5:30 pm Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Sep. 19, 7 pm Dementia boot camp, Fri. Sept. 20 & Oct. 18, 2 pm Last 2024 Monument Art Hop, Fri., Sep. 27. See ad on page 2. Peaks and Pours, whiskey gathering, Sat., Sept. 28. See ad on page 4. Awake the Lake 10th Annual Palmer Lake 0.5K, Sun., Sept. 29 Armed Forces Championship Battle of the Branches, Sun. Sept. 29, 2 pm, www.airochamp.com. See ad on page 11. Thrivent keys to retiring fearlessly, Mon., Sept. 30, 5:30 p.m. See ad on page 4. OCN mailing day, Thu., Oct. 3, approx. 7-8:30 am. Palmer Lake Art group small works art show and sale, Fri., Oct. 4, 5-8 p.m. See ad on page 10. Nance Construction Company Auction, Sat., Oct. 5, 10 am. See ad on page 24. Freedom School of Martial Arts, strength, stability, and self-defense course for mature adults, starts Oct. 7. See ad on page 14. Funky Little Theater Company: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Oct. 11-26. See ad on page 2. WMMI Miners pumpkin patch, Every Sat. in Oct. See ad on page 12.
Above: Ford Amphitheater opened Aug. 11 in Colorado Springs with One Republic, fireworks concluding each of the three showings. From the stage, lead singer Ryan Tedder revealed many of the band’s songs were written about the TriLakes area. “A lot of good memories were poured into the songs we’ve done here.” He added that the hit song Kids was about hanging out with friends at Palmer Lake. Ford Amphitheater is facing opposition from nearby residents for complaints concerning fireworks, light pollution, and decibel levels. Venue owner JW Roth promises to continue researching ways to mitigate the issues. Colorado Springs will be holding a public hearing concerning community complaints on Tue., Sep. 10 at City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Photo by Chris Jeub.
Monument Town Council, July 31
Monument Town Manager Mike Foreman dismissed By Chris Jeub This report, posted on wp.ocn.me Aug. 4, covers the special Monument Town Council meeting held July 31, after our August issue had gone to press. The Town of Monument held a special Town Council meeting on July 31. The council conducted three executive sessions: one to determine positions relative to negotiations, another for legal advice on specific personnel matters, and the third concerning personnel matters involving Town Manager Mike Foreman. All motions to enter the executive sessions passed unanimously.
Following the executive sessions, the council considered Resolution No. 46-2024, which approved an employment separation release and settlement agreement for Foreman. The reason for Foreman’s dismissal was not disclosed. The resolution was discussed and passed with a unanimous vote of 7-0. No public comments were made, and the meeting adjourned. Chris Jeub may be contacted at chrisjeub@ocn.me. See additional Monument meeting coverage starting on page 9.
Palmer Lake Dollar General Community Meeting, Aug. 16
Ehrhardt family addresses community concerns
Above: Silver Key Senior Center Director Sue Walker retires. See photos on page 20.
In this issue Fire District News 1-7 Palmer Lake News 1, 7-9 Monument News 1, 9-11 D38 News 11-12, 14 Water & San District News 14-17 County News 17 WIA News 17 Weather 17 Letters and Columns 18-19 Snapshots 19-21 Notices and Calendar 22-23 OCN Information 1, 10, 22-24
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans The Erhardt family held a community meeting on Aug. 16 in the Palmer Lake Town Hall to discuss the sale, announced by builder Kurt Ehrhardt at an earlier meeting of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT), of the undeveloped lot north of the Tri-Lakes Arts Center for the Arts and west of Highway 105, to Dollar General for use as a retail store. The meeting was independent of the town’s administration or Board of Trustees. Nick Ehrhardt, son of Kurt Erhardt, moderated the meeting; he was elected to the town’s
Board of Trustees in the last election and said he organized the meeting as a private citizen, not as a board member. Kurt Erhardt’s announcement of the sale generated a firestorm on social media, with most posts opposed to the sale, some hostile and insulting. Mayor Glant Havenar wrote a post on the Nextdoor platform acknowledging that a Dollar General store “is not welcomed by many residents,” but the PLBOT does not have the authority to approve land sales, and the property is zoned correctly for the intended use.
DOLLAR GENERAL (Cont. on 7)
Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, Aug. 21
Board action criticized; fire chief contract terminated; second investigation initiated
By Natalie Barszcz At the Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) meeting on Aug. 21, the board received criticism from attendees and pleas for fairness during public comments, and it held an executive session to receive advice from legal counsel Linda Glesne of Cockrel Ela Glesne Greher & Ruhland, P.C. (CEGR) Law relating to the status of a third-party investigation into the complaints received against Fire Chief PJ Langmaid. The board held an additional executive session to discuss a personnel matter involving the fire chief. After the board returned to the regular session, Langmaid’s contract as fire chief was terminated, and the board approved the hiring of an interim fire chief and a second investigation into the allegations brought against Deputy Chief of Operations Chris Piepenburg and Training Capt. Michael Torres during the investigation of Langmaid. Langmaid and his attorney, Ian Kalamanowitz of Cornish & Dell’Olio PC law firm, attended the meeting.
Staff complaints addressed
Above: On Aug. 16, the Ehrhardt family held a community meeting at the Palmer Lake Town Hall to address concerns over a pending sale to Dollar General of some land just north of the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts building and just west of Highway 105 from Palmer Lake Regional Park. Over 100 attendees crowded into the hall, which was set up for a local theater production. Developer Kurt Ehrhardt explained the history of development efforts on the lot. He announced that he was withdrawing from his contract with Dollar General to the applause from the audience and offers of help with any financial costs of doing so. Photo by Jackie Burhans.
Background: The board 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, June 30, and July 1. The board placed Langmaid on paid administrative leave and approved that legal counsel engage a third-party investigator to initiate and lead a comprehensive investigation into the allegations made against Langmaid and the claims and issues brought forward about the command staff and overall leadership cul-
(Cont. on 2)