2 Pikes Peak Courier
December 30, 2015
www.PikesPeakNewspapers.com
WP planning approves large drainage culvert at Loy Gulch Best Western plan on hold again By Norma Engelberg njengel60@gmail.com Before construction can begin at Valley View Apartment complex, the site needs a driveway. To construct a driveway, builders need to install a culvert in Loy Gulch Special Flood Hazard Area. Before they can do that they needed a Flood Hazard Development Permit from the Woodland Park Planning Commission. Keith Meier, project manager for the AmericaWest Housing Solutions’ 25-unit workforce-housing project, presented plans and made the request at the Dec. 10 commission meeting. Planning Director Sally Riley explained that floodplains typically have three parts: a stream channel, typically the lowest section of the stream bed; the floodway that spreads out from the channel when water overflows the streambed during a typical 2-year or 5-year storm, and the fringe on either side of the floodway where the special flood hazard area is located. This area is often called the “100-yearfloodplain.” At the top of the fringes is the Base Flood Elevation. Construction projects are supposed to be designed so that storm drainage will not make the stream rise above the Base Flood Elevation. The culvert being installed at Low Gulch will be 30-feet wide for the driveway roadbed, 20-feet long along the streambed and 6-feet tall. The driveway will line up with Columbine Village Drive across Valley View
Drive. Meier said the construction site, which right now is almost “too flat for good drainage,” will be sloped so that runoff over impermeable roofs and parking areas will drain south into a detention pond to be located between the complex and Loy Gulch. It will be designed to detain 100 percent of runoff from both a 100-year storm and a 5-year storm and 75 percent of a 2-year storm. One neighbor, Lynne Pierce, who is buying a house north of the complex in Teller County, had some questions about drainage. Pierce is formerly from New Orleans, where “100 year floods happen every two years,” she said. She also worked on drainage projects in central North Carolina before retiring and relocating in Woodland Park. She said she and her neighbors are concerned that once the drainage is changed it can’t be undone. Public Works Director William Alspach said Colorado law doesn’t allow for stormwater to be retained, but does allow it to be detained. Collected stormwater will be released at normal historic flow rates downstream from the culvert. “I worked on water systems in New Orleans for about three months after (Hurricane) Katrina and I recognize issues with drainage and impermeable surfaces,” he said. “We have strict codes that protect homes and also allow for growth. We are state of the art.” Pierce didn’t seem quite convinced. “I’m sure you will try to get it right,” Pierce said. “I just hope and pray that you do get it right.” Planning commissioners approved the
Calendar Dec. 31 What: New Year’s Eve Dance When: Thursday, Dec. 31; Doors open 7 p.m., band starts 9 p.m. Where: Ute Pass Cultural Center, 210 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park Cost: $10 per couple; $7 per single Info: Lori Frost, Ute Pass Saddle Club, 661-6755346 Dec. 31 What: New Year’s Eve Karaoke When: 7-11 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31 Where: Woodland Country Lodge, 723 U.S. Highway 24, Woodland Park Cost: Free Info: email: info@woodlandcountrylodge.com
Jan. 4 What: Beer Run & Ride 5K, 10K, walk, jog When: 5:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 4 Where: Meet at Historic Ute Inn, 204 W. Midland Ave., Woodland Park Info: thebeerrunwp@gmail.comContact: ButteTheater.com or 719-689-3247
permit by a vote of 7-2. Commissioner Ken Hartsfield voted against issuing a permit because it doesn’t require sidewalks. Commissioner Marti Propes didn’t explain why she voted against the permit but she did ask several questions about keeping kids out of the culvert. In other business, the commissioners voted to table the planned unit development amendment for the Best Western Hotel at Gold Hill Square South to Jan. 14.
This is the third time this item has been delayed by applicant Bill Page. At the Aug. 27 planning commission meeting, the project was continued to Oct. 22 so that Page and Best Western could cut the size of the project from 80 units to 60 units. It was tabled at the Oct. 22 meeting to the Dec. 10 meeting. “He is making progress,” Riley said. When the meeting ended, commissioners adjourned into a work session to continue discussing city Zoning Code amendments.
Cripple Creek Council formalizes voter action from 2003 By Sonja Oliver Contributing Writer In a bit of long-overdue housekeeping, the Cripple Creek City Council formally passed an ordinance enacting a 2003 voter-approved raise for the mayor and council members. The city lawmakers have been receiving their pay the past dozen years, but there was never an official action by the council to enact what voters approved in 2003. Finance Director Paul Harris said the city’s municipal code needed to be updated to reflect voter passage of the compensation package. In Colorado mountain towns, the salary or compensation that elected officials receive varies. In Cripple Creek, both the mayor and council members receive a salary beginning at $500 with yearly cost of living increases according to a formulated Consumer Price Index (CPI) that is reflected in city employees’ salaries each year. For the 2016 budget, an across-the-board 2 percent CPI was incorporated into employees’ salaries.
Currently, Mayor Bruce Brown and council members Chris Hazlett and Tom Litherland receive $623.14 per month while Steve Zoellner and Milford Ashworth receive $589.95 per month. Cripple Creek’s elected officials are limited to two four- year terms. Salaries in Victor are comparable - a flat $600 for the mayor and $400 for council members with no CPI increase. Compensation is determined by a vote of the Council. According to Victor city employee Sandy Honeycutt, salaries are “set by ordinance at the council’s discretion.” “If they are going to change (salary compensation amounts), they can choose to change it, but it has to be prior to an election,” Honeycutt said. Fairplay compensates its elected officials with a flat fee of $25 and $50 per meeting for council members and mayor respectively. Salary compensation for elected officials in the city of Woodland Park was perhaps the most surprising. “That number is zero. They do not get compensated for their service,” City Clerk Suzanne LeClercq said.
OBITUARY
4.5% LISTING FEE!
Mildred B Harbour
Mildred (Midge) B Harbour was born June 19, 1922 in Denver CO and passed from this life Dec 16, 2015. On April 30th 1977, Midge and Frank married and moved to Harbour Valley Ranch. Midge wrote a weekly newspaper column for many years, in the Flume and Courier and authored “The Tarryall Mountains and the Puma Hills”. (all of you may have a copy as you leave the church). The book is a history about the beloved area she called home, Tarryall. Midge was skilled at painting and created many paintings of local landscapes. In her recent years Midge continued painting pictures, some of which were donated to Memories in the Making, for fundraising. She started a rare coin dealership and eventually grew to one of the largest coin shops in the Denver area at the time. During World War II, she worked as a secretary in Washington DC for the Department of Defense. She was active in The Help U club & TriDelt. She ran for county commissioner (and came very close
to winning). She was one of the leaders in the successful campaign to Save the Tarryall. Midge attended the University of Nebraska and graduated from Colorado University. She is survived by her son Greg Lewis, his wife Laura, stepson Dan Harbour and his wife Patty, Grandaughters Dawnette Diltz Lessenden, her husband Travis; Amanda Diltz; grandsons – Todd Lewis, his wife Amy, Scot Chadwick and his wife Stacie. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank, brother Oscar, daughter Robin Diltz and niece Barbara Scholessman. Midge left an impression on every person she met. She leaves a huge gap in our hearts but we treasure the legacy of her love which continues on. Service will be Jan 4th at 10 AM, at Community Fellowship of Christians, 39633 US Highway 24, Lake George Colorado.
719-238-9530
Happy New Year! 2016
According to LeClercq, the Woodland Park electorate voted that ballot question down twice. “They get all of this abuse for free,” LeClercq said with humor.
In other city business the council: Approved a CDOT grant agreement in the amount of $158,620 which will reimburse/offset costs incurred by the city for administrative and personnel costs for the public shuttle for residents as well as visitors to Cripple Creek. The shuttle also provides service to Victor and Woodland Park on a daily and weekly schedule. Approved the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant which involves an intergovernmental agreement between the RE-1 School District and the city. Because the city Park and Recreation Department has the only licensed child care facility at this time, the city is reimbursed for employees it provides for infant an toddler care at the school. The hope and goal is for other licensed facilities to eventually participate in this program.
BIZ BUZZ BY PAT HILL
• According to the Roshek Report, 56 homes sold in Teller County and Ute Pass in November. In Woodland Park, of 26 homes sold, the highestpriced, at 15544 W. U.S. 24, was $895,000, the lowest, at 401 Forest Edge Rd. #A-6, was $117,000. In Divide, of 11 homes sold, the highest-priced, at 152 County Rd. 511, was $489,000, the lowest, at 69 Golden Ln., was $132,900. In Florissant, of 15 homes sold, the highest-priced, at 8823 Cedar Mountain Rd., was $357,900, the lowest, at 631 Gold Creek Rd., was $82,900. In Ute Pass, of four homes sold, the highest-priced, at 9150 Chipita Park Rd., was $490,000, the lowest, at 4660 Fountain Ave., was $259,000. • Teller County Commissioner Dave Paul was re-elected as the chair of the Pikes Peak Workforce Center Board of Directors.