The latest news...
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Below (L to R): Palmer Ridge High School
Serteens Meghan Wagner, Claire Wilson, Delia Tharnish, and Hannah Wilson
enthusiastically helped kick off Monument Hill Sertoma’s annual Red Kettle
collection campaign for the Salvation Army at the Monument Safeway on Highway
105. Red Kettles are also available for contributions at the Baptist Road King
Soopers and the Monument Marketplace Walmart on Jackson Creek Parkway. Sertoma’s
volunteer bell ringers appreciate all donations and the opportunity to serve our
community provided by these Safeway, King Soopers, and Walmart stores to make
Christmas a little brighter for those in need. Photo by Mike Wicklund,
Sertoma project coordinator.
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Below: On Nov. 7, Monument’s Town Inspector Greg
Maggard observed the final lift of asphalt being installed on Third Street by
the Santa Fe Trail crossing. Director of Development Services Tom Kassawara and
general contractor Pioneer Sand Company, Inc. have worked together to coordinate
solutions to numerous difficulties and surprises discovered during excavation to
relocate numerous buried utilities in order to make room to bury a new 36-inch
to 48-inch diameter stormwater drainage system. Pioneer also installed curb,
gutter, and sidewalk for the widened roadway between Beacon Lite Road and Front
Street. Final striping began Dec. 1. The project was completed well ahead of
schedule and under budget, with sufficient savings in town funding to provide
all the money needed for installing landscaping along the new roadway in the
spring. The town received a $120,000 Community Development Block Grant from the
state’s Department of Local Affairs to help pay for the project. Photo by
Mike Wicklund.
Tentative $1 million per year water lease agreement announced
By John Heiser
On Nov. 18, at the monthly meeting of the Lower Arkansas
Valley Water Conservancy District (Lower Ark), John Schweizer, a Rocky Ford
farmer and president of the Super Ditch Co., announced that a tentative
agreement had been reached for the members of the Pikes Peak Regional Water
Authority (PPRWA) to lease 2,000 acre-feet per year from Super Ditch starting in
2011 at a cost of $500 per acre-foot per year. An acre-foot is 326,851 gallons.
Details yet to be defined include which farmers will
participate in the deal, how the dried-up lands will be accounted for, and how
water will be moved to the districts that are purchasing it.
The members of Super Ditch are the Bessemer Ditch, Highline
Canal Co., Oxford Ditch, Catlin Canal, Otero Ditch, Holbrook Canal, and Fort
Lyon Canal.
Formation of the Super Ditch Co. in 2007 was supported by the
Lower Ark as a way for agricultural water rights owners to temporarily fallow
lands on a rotating basis and lease the associated water rights to other users.
This is an alternative to the traditional "buy and dry" method under
which municipalities and others purchase agricultural land in order to obtain
the associated water rights. Under the Super Ditch Co., farmers would continue
to own the water rights, which would generate a continuing income from leases,
and the lands would only be temporarily dried up.
The members of the PPRWA are the Cherokee Metropolitan
District, the City of Fountain, the Donala Water and Sanitation District, the
Town of Monument, the Town of Palmer Lake, and the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation
District.
Gary Barber, manager of the PPRWA, said, "We are in
agreement in concept for price and quantity, starting in 2011, with
contingencies, such as whether Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) will convey the
water and at what cost." He added, "The contingencies are huge.… If
we ever do get a deal, it will then be subject to approval by the member
entities of the PPRWA."
PPRWA members are pursing a connection with the CSU
infrastructure as a way to transport water to the Tri-Lakes area. The Southern
Delivery System (SDS) pipeline being built by a consortium led by Colorado
Springs would be an important element in that infrastructure. The SDS pipeline
is scheduled to begin operation in seven or eight years.
At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Lower Ark board unanimously voted
to direct Peter Nichols, their water attorney, to file a case in water court to
change the use of Super Ditch water from agricultural to municipal.
Nichols noted that the amount of water leased to the PPRWA
could increase up to 8,000 acre-feet per year over the next 20 years.
PPRWA meeting strikes a more subdued tone regarding deal
At the Nov. 18 regular monthly meeting of the Pikes Peak
Regional Water Authority (PPRWA), reporting on a Nov. 17 meeting with the Super
Ditch Co. board, Rick Fendel, the PPRWA’s attorney said, "We’re working
slowly through the issues of a contract for the lease of water. We are making
some progress."
Barber added, "The most significant thing that happened
at the meeting yesterday was that they all showed up … and we had a pretty
substantive conversation."
Dana Duthie, manager of the Donala district, asked,
"What will they need to start their process, a signed contract?"
Fendel replied, "No. It doesn’t have to go that far.
They do have to have a signed contract before it can go to water court."
Duthie added, "So when we’re satisfied with their
engineering report and the fact that the water is there and we sign a contract,
then they’re off and running. The contract would be contingent on them
changing their bylaws."
Some of the Super Ditch Co. members are governed by bylaws
that preclude water from being exported outside the Arkansas Valley.
Barber projected the water court case could be filed in
December 2010.
Duthie said, "What gets me about this whole thing—we’re
doing everybody’s work for them. Even Colorado Springs’ work. We’re
signing up for water, even if we don’t need it, to get this thing moving. We’re
going to be doing a lot of work that will benefit those who join in later. We
need to recoup those costs. This whole deal with Super Ditch is being presented
as if it is dependent on us."
Monument Public Works Director Rich Landreth added, "It’s
a matter of timing. They want money now. Colorado Springs Utilities won’t need
the water for years. (Super Ditch) is looking to us to get some money today,
tomorrow."
Barber said an additional meeting with the Super Ditch
representatives is tentatively planned for some time between Thanksgiving and
Christmas. A joint meeting is also being planned with CSU, Super Ditch, and
PPRWA representatives to discuss how to move Super Ditch water to PPRWA members.
Full article...
By John Heiser
In responding to a November phone survey, voters in the
Donala Water and Sanitation District expressed strong support for the proposed
connection of the Donala district to Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to obtain
water. The voters’ support was based on concerns about the future water supply
and the depleting groundwater aquifers.
The telephone survey conducted by Floyd Ciruli Associates
included responses from 324 registered voters who receive water service from
Donala. Ciruli said the results have a statistical range of accuracy of plus or
minus 5.4 percentage points.
The water pipeline project to connect Donala Water to CSU was
supported by 59 percent of the respondents and opposed by 27 percent. The survey
question noted that the project could lead to a long-term relationship to move
water Donala owns on the Arkansas River or to purchase water from CSU.
Full article...
Board holds preliminary discussion of 2010 budget
By Harriet Halbig
The Board of Directors of the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation
District discussed a draft of its 2010 budget at its meeting Nov. 12. Public
notice of the meeting had been published, but no members of the public appeared
at the meeting to comment.
Manager Jessie Shaffer said that about $75,000 in
construction funds may roll over into the coming year to cover completion of the
White Fawn/Deer Creek sewer project. Funds were added to the budget to cover the
cost of a possible election in the spring, salary increases for employees of the
district (excess funds resulting from a reorganization made this possible), an
increase in water rates of 12.5 percent for residential accounts, and deposits
to the emergency and reserve funds.
Regarding income, Shaffer said that the generous rainfall
during the 2009 irrigation season and the lack of building activity limited the
district’s income for 2009. With an improving economy, he hoped that
construction would pick up in 2010, resulting in increased tap fees for the
district.
The budget will be approved at the board’s December
meeting.
Full article...
2010
budget options proposed
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Below: General contractor Brannan Construction Company
started in-street excavations for the installation of collection lines and
manholes within the residential area of west Wakonda Hills on Nov. 30,
temporarily closing a portion of Spring Valley Way to thru traffic. Engineering
consultant GMS, Inc. is managing the project for the Monument Sanitation
District. Installation of collection lines through the vacant Zonta property to
the south, which will connect western Wakonda Hills to the rest of the
sanitation district’s collection system, is nearing completion. Brannan will
continue to install lines in the residential area as long as the weather
permits. The project will resume next year when the weather is warm enough to
allow paving operations and will be completed in 2010. The second phase of the
Monument Sanitation District’s sanitary sewer collection system expansion in
the Wakonda Hills area has received $2 million in stimulus funds from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Photo by Mike Wicklund.
By Jim Kendrick
On Nov. 19, Monument Sanitation District Manager Mike
Wicklund reported that the Joint Use Committee had approved a clarification of
how cost-sharing rules should apply to capital and ownership costs for the
Tri-Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility. Wicklund provided the board three
options to raise fees $1 to $3 per month in 2010 to cover the district’s
increasing share of costs that will result from this clarification.
Full article...
Officer
joins Monument Police Department
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Below: Marcy Hudson pins on her husband John’s new
Monument Police Department Badge in Town Hall on Nov. 2 after he was sworn in by
Town Clerk Scott Meszaros. Hudson has served 13 years with the Arcadia Police
Department in California and the previous year with the Denver Police
Department. Photo by Jim Kendrick.
By Jim Kendrick
John Hudson was sworn in as Monument’s newest police
officer at the start of the Nov. 2 Board of Trustees meeting. Chief Jacob Shirk
noted that Hudson served 13 years with the Arcadia Police Department in
California and the previous year with the Denver Police Department. Town Clerk
Scott Meszaros administered the oath of office to Officer Hudson, and his wife,
Marcy, pinned on his new badge.
The board also unanimously approved an amendment to the town
zoning code that creates "use by special review" regulations for
medical marijuana dispensaries and added a few new restrictions to those
previously approved by the Planning Commission in October.
Full article...
FBI
agents present award
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Below (L to R): Monument Police Chief Jacob Shirk
and Detective Larry Dyer of the FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force
watch as Monument Detective Steve Blaskowsky is presented an award from FBI
Supervisory Special Agent Steve Smith at the Nov. 16 Board of Trustees meeting.
Blaskowsky’s award from FBI Director Robert Mueller recognized him for his
critical investigative role the led to an inter-jurisdictional arrest of Jeff
Gaylord, a serial bank robber in Littleton. Photo by Jim Kendrick.
By Jim Kendrick
At the Nov. 16 meeting of the Monument Board of Trustees, two
FBI agents presented an award to Monument Police Detective Steve Blaskowsky for
his pivotal role in the arrest of a formidable serial bank robber in Littleton.
Full article...
Monument
Ridge plans approved
By Jim Kendrick
On Nov. 10, the Monument Planning Commission unanimously
approved the preliminary planned development (PD) Amendment 2 and Replat No. 3
for Lot 10 of the Monument Ridge center on the southeast corner of Baptist and
Struthers Roads. Amendment 2 is a major amendment because the proposed change in
land use requires Board of Trustees approval.
Full article...
Vote
on water rate increase delayed
By David Futey
On Nov. 12, The Palmer Lake Town Council tabled a decision on
a water rate increase until Dec. 3. The council also agreed on changes in their
areas of responsibility.
Full article...
District will pursue federal grant for staffing
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in
Below (L to R): Battalion Chief Mike Dooley,
Battalion Chief Bryan Jack, and Fire Chief Robert Denboske during Jack’s
presentation to the TLMFPD Board of Directors on personnel and salary issues. Photo
by Bernard Minetti.
By Bernard L. Minetti
At the Nov. 18 meeting of the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire
Protection District, Battalion Chief Bryan Jack received permission from the
board to discuss an item that was not on the agenda. SAFER (Staffing for
Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) is a federal grant program designed to
help local fire agencies achieve optimum staffing and to add "front line
firefighters" to the community staffing levels.
The application period for grants opened Nov. 16 and closes
Dec. 18, Jack said. The district previously had added seven firefighters through
a SAFER grant.
Jack said that the present staffing ratio is at 2:2, while
the optimum manning ratio is 4:2. The first number in the ratio indicates the
fire truck manning and the second refers to the ambulance complement.
Jack also indicated that he was pursuing other methods of
increasing the manning ratio that involved amalgamation of assets and cross
coverage of responsibilities with other fire protection service entities. Jack
felt that if this could be accomplished, he could raise the manning ratio to 4:2
without any additional costs to the district.
The board gave its permission for Jack to go ahead with the
application.
Full article...
New board member installed; budget process discussed
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Photos by Harriet Halbig
Below: New board member Jeff Ferguson is sworn in by
outgoing President Dee Dee Eaton.
Below: Board member Mark Pfoff tells of his gratitude to
Dee Dee Eaton for her help in introducing him to life as a board member.
Incoming President John Mann presented Eaton with flowers for her tenure as
president.
By Harriet Halbig
Dr. Jeff Ferguson and returning members of the Board of
Education were sworn in at the Nov. 19 meeting of the board. Departing President
Dee Dee Eaton administered the oath to all, including re-elected Gail Wilson who
was unable to attend and was installed the previous evening.
John Mann will serve as president, Robb Pike as vice
president, Ferguson as secretary and Mark Pfoff as treasurer. Staff members
Cheryl Wangeman (assistant superintendent of Operations) and Vicki Wood
(superintendent secretary) will serve as assistant treasurer and assistant
secretary.
The 2010 district budget was the primary subject for
discussion during the meeting. Superintendent Ray Blanch reported that he had
hosted several meetings of district staff and others earlier in the month
regarding the need to cut $3 million from next year’s budget. He said he is in
the midst of meeting with the Building Accountability Committees (BACs) in the
district.
Full article...
By Harriet Halbig
On Nov. 10, the District Accountability Advisory Committee (DAAC)
heard Superintendent of Schools Ray Blanch explain the need to cut $5 million
from the district’s budget over the next three years.
Blanch said that due to a decrease in enrollment, increasing
utility costs, loss of tax revenue, and cuts on the state level, it would be
necessary to cut the district’s budget by $3 million in the 2010-11 school
year and an additional $1 million for the following two years.
Full article...
Fleury seeks improved communication
By Harriet Halbig
The Special Education Advisory Committee met interim Director
Mary Ann Fleury at its Nov. 11 meeting. Fleury, who came to the district as a
special education facilitator at the beginning of the school year, became
interim director in October. She told the committee of her educational
background in special education and her work experience in Denver and Douglas
County schools.
Full article...
I-25 Baptist Road interchange completed for this year
By Jim Kendrick
General contractor Lawrence Construction Co. and its
subcontractors have concluded Baptist Road interchange expansion operations for
this year. Lawrence will return to the site next spring to perform final grading
and construction of the storm sewer, right turn lane, curb, and gutter on
westbound Baptist Road along the Diamond Shamrock truck stop frontage.
Full article...
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Below: Due to very cold and windy winter weather, the
Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority held an indoor ribbon-cutting
ceremony with Lawrence Construction Co. at Monument Town Hall on Nov. 23 for the
full-motion opening of the I-25 Baptist Road interchange. In the front row (left
to right) are Lawrence’s Superintendant Bob Laur and Project Manager Dustin
Krapf. In the back row, are the BRRTA board members: County Commissioner Amy
Lathen, Monument Mayor Travis Easton, County Commissioner Wayne Williams,
Monument Trustee Rafael Dominguez, and County Commissioner Dennis Hisey. Photo
by Jim Kendrick.
By Jim Kendrick
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Lawrence completing
all construction for full access to the I-25 Baptist Road interchange expansion
three months early and below cost was held Nov. 23 in Monument Town Hall rather
than at the interchange due to cold weather, high winds, and a sub-freezing wind
chill. County Commissioner Wayne Williams, who represents all of the Tri-Lakes
region, hosted the ceremony, which had been originally scheduled for next May.
Williams noted that Lawrence had also finished construction of the I-25 Monument
interchange ahead of schedule and below cost. He acknowledged the contributions
of all the project participants:
 |
Lawrence Construction and its numerous subcontractors |
|
Contract manager Jacobs Engineering Group |
|
El Paso County Transportation Department personnel |
|
El Paso County Highway Advisory Committee |
|
Colorado Department of Transportation |
|
Project design engineer PBS&J |
|
Town of Monument staff |
|
Former Mayor Byron Glenn and County Commissioner Duncan
Bremer |
|
Regional utility companies who frequently changed their
relocation schedules to keep up with Lawrence’s accelerated completion
milestones |
|
Design Engineer Steve Sandvik of PBS&J |
Monument Mayor Travis Easton noted the projects improvements
to address safety, capacity, volume, inadequate ramps, water and wastewater
service, drainage and water quality. He noted that this project was a
"perfect example of local governments working together."
Contract manager Bob Torres of Jacobs Engineering and
Williams thanked the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, BRRTA District
Manager Denise Denslow and Meredith Miller of R.S. Wells LLC, and BRRTA attorney
Jim Hunsaker of Grimshaw and Harring PC for their assistance and prompt payments
of the various contractors. Williams also thanked all the contiguous property
owners who donated land for right-of-way of the much larger interchange, which
kept the total project cost under budget.
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