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Issue #295 — Volume 25 Number 10 — Saturday, October 4, 2025 Our website is OCN.ME. Audio is posted for most of the articles and videos for some events. In the paper, events with videos are marked:
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MONUMENT, CO PERMIT NO. 32
Trinity Community Park expands
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 or check https://wp.ocn.me/events for event locations and other details of these and many other local events. • OCN mailing days, Thu., Oct. 2 & Oct. 30, approx. 7-8:30 am. If you can help, even for an hour or two, getting the papers ready to mail, contact AllenAlchian@ocn.me or (719) 488-3455. • WMMI, Miners' Pumpkin Patch, every Sat. in Oct. See ad on page 10. • Benet Hill Monastery, Blessing of the Animals, Sat., Oct. 4, 3 pm. Melanie DeMore concert, Sun., Oct. 5, 11:30 am. See ad on page 3. • St. Matthias Blessing of the Animals, Sun., Oct. 5, 3 pm-5 pm. See ad on page 5. • Checkered table talks, monthly speaker series. Thu., Oct. 7, doors open 5 pm, program 5:30-6:30 pm, • Speed puzzle events, Tue., Oct. 7; Mon., Oct. 13; Mon., Oct. 20. 6:30 pm-9:30 pm See ad on page 2. • Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP) Trail Repair Work Days, Thu., Oct. 9, 5 pm-7 pm • Tri-Lakes Women's Club, Fri., Oct. 10, Michael Weinfeld and John Howe present highlights of their book Shootouts, Killings, and War Heroes: The History Hidden in Monument Cemetery. • Maker’s Market, Sat.-Sun., Oct. 11-12. See ad on page 8. • 100+ Women Who Care Bi-Annual Meeting, Wed., Oct. 15, 5 pm-7 pm. • Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Oct. 16, 7-8 pm (doors open at 6:30). • Covered Treasures Bookstore Book Signing, Thu., Oct. 16, 4 pm-7 pm; Margaret Mizushima, Burning Cry; Kathleen Donnelly, Colorado K-9 Secrets, Killer Secrets. Sat., Oct. 18, 11-1 p.m., Doug Freed, Over Hill and Over Dale; 12-2 p.m., Andrew Singer & Stacy May, Now Is the Time and She Journeys. 105 Second Street, Monument, 719-481-2665. • Restyle Your Fur, Mon.-Tue., Oct. 20-21, 10 am-5 pm. See ad on page 10. • St. Peter Catholic School Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival, Fri., Oct. 24, 5 pm-7 pm. See ad on page 2. • Monument Professional Firefighters Annual Pumpkin Giveaway, Sat., Oct. 25, 10 am-2 pm. • Downtown Monument Safe Trick or Treat, Fri., Oct. 31, 4 pm-6 pm. • TLWC's Joys of the Holiday Season Holiday Home Tour, Fri.Sat., Nov. 21-22, 10-4pm. See ad on page 8.
In this issue Palmer Lake News 1-6 Monument News 1, 6 D38 News 6-10 Fire District News 10-12 Water & San District News 12-14 County & HOA News 14-16 Letters 16-17 Columns 17-19 Snapshots 19-21 Notices and Calendar 22-23 OCN Info 1, 21, 23
Above: Trinity Community Park continues to expand. It’s added three more elements, a meditation labyrinth, a sensory trail and a small dog park. Ribbon cuttings were held on Sept. 21. The sensory trail contains colorful metal sculptures that children can hit with mallets to make music (see photo). Executive Director Tamara Schwarz, quoting her husband, Ron, told the crowd, “Children represent 17% of our population, but they represent 100% of our future. Giving them a safe space to come and play and be kids and enjoy life, isn’t that what it’s all about? That’s what Trinity Community Park is all about.” In the photo, 1-year-old John Morgridge plays music at the sensory trail. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Sept. 25
New board members seated; annexation ordinance becomes law By James Howald and Jackie Burhans The Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) canceled its first regular board meeting of the month, scheduled for Sept. 11. At its Sept. 25 meeting, Beth Harris and Roger Mosley took seats on the board. Mayor Pro Tem Amy Hutson ran the meeting in place of Mayor Dennis Stern, who did not attend. The newly constituted board adopted an ordinance that requires annexations to be approved by a vote of the people and filled a vacancy on the Planning Commission. The board heard an update from Town Attorney Scott Krob regarding pending litigation against the town and staff reports from Town Clerk Erica Romero and Interim Town Administrator Glen Smith. During the public comment period, resident Gary Atkins and County Commissioner Bill Wysong, among others, commented on the contentious special election held Sept. 9. The board heard a presentation on the Fountain Creek Watershed Dis-
trict’s (FCWD) Creek Week Cleanup. The meeting ended with an executive session.
Harris and Moseley sworn in
The Sept. 25 meeting opened with Town Clerk Erica Romero administering the oath of office to Beth Harris and Roger Moseley. Harris and Moseley were elected to replace Trustees Shana Ball and Kevin Dreher who were recalled on Sept. 9. As Harris and Moseley took their seats on the board, the audience gave them a prolonged round of applause.
Annexation ordinance adopted
In the special election that replaced Ball and Dreher with Harris and Moseley, the voters also approved a ballot initiative requiring all future annexations to be approved by the voters. At the Sept. 25 meeting, the newly constituted board adopted Ordinance 05-2025, the final step in making it law. Krob told the board that Exhibit A, which accompanies the ordinance in the board packet, shows the com-
plete text of the town’s code governing the annexation of land. The language added by the initiative is underlined. He directed the board’s attention to Section 8 of the exhibit: Requirement for Voter Approval. That section requires a special election to approve any annexation but does not specify when that election should take place, Krob said. That election could be held at the beginning of the annexation process, but Krob recommended it occur after eligibility had been determined, because only then would the electorate know exactly what it was voting on. Hutson suggested the question of timing be decided at the next board meeting, since it was not on the agenda for the Sept. 25 meeting. Harris asked Krob if he had made any changes to the language from the initiative when he incorporated it into the town’s code. Krob said he had made one change: the date of Oct. 30, 2025 was used instead of the phrase “one year before” to make it clearer exactly what
PL BOT (Cont. on 2)
Monument Town Council, Sept. 2 and 15
Growing budget deficit; Town lays off five people By Marlene Brown On Sept. 2, the Monument Town Council had its regular meeting for nine minutes and then adjourned the meeting and began the poststudy session to discuss the proposed preliminary budget for 2026. Jennifer Phillips, finance manager since July 2024, presented the 2026 preliminary budget. It highlights anticipated revenues, planned expenditures, and shows a loss in the next two years and beyond should the town continue the financial road they are on right now. Where should they cut back to reduce the deficit growing every day? The town laid off five employees because of the budget shortfall, and one retired rather than be let go.. Those laid off were Civil Engineering Inspector Tom Martinez, who’d been with the town more
than a decade, Deputy Town Clerk Sylvia Simpson, Support Services Administrative Assistant Jennifer Holmes, Park Tech Kellyn Bryan and Public Works Administrative Assistant Jenny Pena-Garzon. Facilities Superintendent Ron Rathburn elected to retire after 40 years rather than being laid off. With the layoffs of Simpson and Holmes, only Mirielle Bock is left manning the front desk at the Town Hall. That means when Bock takes a lunch, the office is closed for an hour.
Revenue projections
The preliminary budget projects total revenues for the fiscal year based on a combination of property taxes, sales taxes, state and federal grants, service fees, and other revenues. Notable factors influencing revenue estimates: • Sales tax collections are down
due to people not spending as much. • State or federal funding/grants for infrastructure and community projects. • Revisions in service fees to be passed on to customers. Expenditure overview Some major expenditure categories that wouldn’t be reduced or increased at this time, prioritizing essential services: • Public Safety: Continued funding for police, fire, and emergency services, with potential increases for staffing and equipment upgrades. (Would not fill three vacancies in the Police Department, which is actively searching for candidates.)
MONUMeNT (Cont. on 8)