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By Judy Barnes
Between 300 and 400 people turned out at Lewis-Palmer High
School for a presentation of the El Paso County Water Report prepared by
the El Paso County Water Authority. Roy Heald of the Stratmoor Hills Water
District and President of the water authority opened the meeting, explaining the
reason for the report by saying, "before we figure out where we’re going,
we’ve got to figure out where we’re at." He also explained that the
authority "has no authority" and that at this meeting they could not
answer questions about growth.
Bruce Lytle, vice president of John C. Halepaska and
Associates, Inc., the consulting company that prepared the report, gave the
presentation on the report, first informing the audience that all the slides
were available at the county website. Lytle explained the water designations and
supply sources in El Paso County. The Denver Basin aquifers provide most of the
water for the northern part of the county, and that water is nonrenewable. Water
levels are dropping at a rate of 10 to 30 feet per year in the aquifers with the
heaviest use. Water conservation and water reuse are two ways to maximize the
efficiency of use of these limited water resources. The "ultimate
solution," Lytle explained, is to develop trans-basin water supplies -
bringing water from the eastern slope to the western slope for example - which
would create a win-win situation for the Front Range, benefiting southern and
northern water providers. Increased storage and reuse capabilities are also part
of the solution.
After the formal presentation, about 60 people stayed to ask
additional questions, most of which related to growth. "At what point do we
say enough is enough and allow no more people on the property to consume
water?" "How can we talk about conservation without talking about
growth?" "How many people can be sustained over the long-term with
what we have now?" Several people asked the latter question, frustrated
that it was not being answered. They said these numbers would be useful
information for the county commissioners to plan for growth. About two-thirds of
the people who remained for this question-answer session were concerned owners
of private wells. Gary Schinderle addressed the group and announced a newly
formed citizen advocacy group for Denver Basin aquifers well users called POW,
Protect Our Wells. The organization will hold a meeting in early November.
**********
The entire water report is available on the county’s web
site at www.elpasoco.com. It is the first
link on the main page under "Current Topics." The executive summary of
the report was printed in the September issue of Our Community News.
Gary Schinderle and POW can be reached at 495-1809 or golfenviro@worldnet.att.net.
View photos from the Water Authority Meeting Oct. 2
By John Heiser
On September 21, after almost eighteen months of behind the
scenes negotiations and several cancelled appointments for a submittal meeting,
a partial application was filed with the El Paso County Planning Department for
a Wal-Mart supercenter to be built on the 30-acre parcel on the south side of
Baptist Road directly across from the King Soopers. At OCN press deadline, the
application was still not complete. For example, the adjoining lot owners had
not yet been notified by certified letter as required by the county. . At the
September 25 meeting of the Triview Metropolitan District, district manager Ron
Simpson estimated that if the issues with the project are promptly resolved and
the county commissioners approve the project, the store could possibly open in
the fourth quarter of 2003.
The parcel is just outside the limits of the Town of
Monument. It was zoned about 20 years ago as R-4. The commercial form of the now
obsolete R-4 zone is approximately equivalent to the county’s Planned Business
Park (PBP) zone district for commercial uses intended to serve the adjacent
neighborhoods. Wal-Mart is considered a "magnet" store, an element of
a regional retail center. The required zone for a Wal-Mart supercenter is
Planned Business Center (PBC). PBC is the most intense commercial zone in the
county code. PBC is two steps more intense and a significant departure from PBP.
History of the Wal-Mart application to the Town of
Monument
The Wal-Mart application to the county comes after
negotiations with the Town of Monument broke down over the question of
infrastructure improvements.
Goldberg Properties, representing Wal-Mart, approached the
Town of Monument in about 1998 and submitted an application in mid-1999. The
application called for annexation of the 30-acre parcel to the town, zoning to
C-1, and site plan approval. The project was scheduled for a March 15, 2000
hearing before the Monument Planning Commission and an April 3, 2000 hearing
before the Monument Board of Trustees. Due to a heavy snowstorm March 15, the
planning commission hearing was cancelled. The rescheduled planning commission
hearing March 27 was not properly announced and so, to avoid a potential legal
challenge, Goldberg withdrew their item from the March 27 agenda.
The election April 4, 2000 resulted in a change in the
political climate in Monument. The new Monument board of trustees instituted a
three-month moratorium on new applications and changed the land use procedure to
require all applications to go before the public works, parks and landscape, and
police advisory committees before being heard by the planning commission.
Previously, the board of trustees held hearings on some projects that had not
been reviewed by all the committees. This change in procedure meant the Wal-Mart
application had to be reviewed by the public works committee. That committee
insisted a plan be presented for making significant improvements to Baptist Road
prior to opening the store. Wal-Mart’s position, as presented by Goldberg
Properties, was that the town should allow the store to open with minimal
improvements to Baptist and then use the resulting sales tax revenue to pay for
additional road improvements. That approach was unacceptable to the public works
committee, which refused to give a recommendation for approval. In July 2000,
Wal-Mart put their application with the town on hold.
Going to the county – the Triview connection
A March 30, 2001 article in the Gazette reported that
Wal-Mart would not pursue annexation to the town and would instead seek approval
of the project by the county. This would require rezoning the parcel from R-4
(neighborhood commercial) to PBC (Planned Business Center) and approval of the
preliminary plan and final plat.
A key to the new proposal was that the Triview Metropolitan
District would supply water and sewer service. Many in the Town of Monument were
under the impression that the Triview district would not supply services to the
development unless the parcel was annexed to the town. Goldberg Properties
seemed to be under the same impression since they spent several months trying to
work out a way to obtain service from the Donala Water and Sanitation District
that serves Gleneagle. Due to the distances involved, it would have cost several
million dollars to connect to the Donala system. There may also have been some
difficulty in obtaining easements needed for the connections. Problems obtaining
utility service reportedly held up the project for many months. The Triview
district’s current position is that there was never any understanding with the
town and there is no reason they cannot supply service to the parcel.
As reported in the September 7, 2002 issue of OCN
("Triview metro board authorizes PIC for Wal-Mart"), on August 28, the
board of the Triview district unanimously authorized creation of a private,
non-profit Public Improvement Corporation (PIC) to finance the infrastructure
improvements required for county approval of the Wal-Mart application. Since the
PIC was authorized by a public entity, it can issue tax-exempt debt.
In the proposal to the Town of Monument, the town and the
Triview district would have each gotten half of the 3% local sales tax collected
on taxable items sold at the store. Goldberg has estimated that the local sales
taxes collected by the project would be about $1.4 million per year based on
initial annual sales of about $45 million. The county gets the same sales
taxes regardless of whether the store is built in the Town of Monument or not.
With the current plan to seek county approval, the Town of Monument would not
receive any tax revenues from the store and would suffer tax losses from reduced
sales at Safeway, King Soopers, Brookhart’s, the Texaco/Shell and Total
stations, and the other stores in the town. Representatives of Goldberg
Properties have admitted that it is likely that many of the local small
businesses will close.
According to Triview district attorney Peter Susemihl,
through a contractual arrangement, the Wal-Mart PIC would "receive a 3%
retail sales fee basically in perpetuity from sales at the store." It would
use half of the fee to pay off the infrastructure bonds and would pay the other
half of the fee to the Triview district. When the infrastructure bonds are paid
off, Susemihl said Triview would receive the entire 3%.
Susemihl estimated that approximately $3 million in bonds
would be needed to make the required improvements to Baptist Road and Jackson
Creek Parkway and the bonds would be paid off in three to five years. Later, Ron
Simpson, Triview district manager, estimated it might take five to seven years.
If Wal-Mart were to shut down the store or use it as a
warehouse, the fees would stop and the bonds would become worthless. Susemihl
said, "I think Wal-Mart will purchase the bonds." In that case,
Wal-Mart would receive the tax-exempt interest on the bonds. Such bonds are
typically issued at significantly above market rates. Susemihl suggested that
Wal-Mart might pledge the 30-acre site to guarantee the bonds.
The proposal
The proposal is for a 24-hour per day supercenter with a
186,245 square foot (4.3 acres) store encompassing a grocery store, garden shop,
and tire-lube-tune-up express. There would be parking for about 960 cars. The
store would be at the eastern part of the parcel with the parking lot to the
west.
The plan includes two additional lots for satellite retail
businesses. Lot 2 (1.4 acres) on the northwest corner is proposed to be a
Wal-Mart gas station. Anticipated uses for Lot 3 (0.98 acres) on the southwest
corner could be for a fast-food restaurant or bank with drive-through
lanes.
There are proposed to be three points of access to the store.
At the western edge of the proposed development, Jackson Creek Parkway is
already a full-motion intersection with a signal light. Two entrances to the
parking lot would be on the extension of Jackson Creek Parkway south of Baptist
Road. The third would be a right-in/right-out directly onto Baptist Road toward
the eastern end of the store.
Drainage from the approximately 25 acres of impervious area
would be collected in a roughly 2.5-acre snow storage and run-off detention area
on the southeast corner of the parcel. Passive systems including a perforated
standpipe are proposed to address water quality issues including contamination
with petroleum products from the lube facility, gas station, and vehicles on the
parking lot. Those pollutants would be carried into the detention area by storm
water. The outflow from the detention area would flow west into a drainage ditch
and from there into nearby Jackson Creek and the associated wetlands.
Next Steps
According to Carl Schueler, Assistant Director of the El Paso
County Planning Department, once the application is complete, a minimum of 60
days will be required for agency review prior to holding a planning commission
hearing on the rezoning and preliminary plan. After the planning commission
renders a recommendation, there must be a minimum 30-day notice prior to holding
a hearing before the board of county commissioners. That would mean the board of
county commissioners hearing could come as early as December or January. If
approved, this would be the only Wal-Mart in El Paso County not contained in a
municipality.
Once copies of the full application are available, future
issues of OCN will look at a variety of issues including projected traffic
impact, potential environmental impacts, and likely impact on local businesses
and the Monument tax base.
**********
For more information on this project and to provide comments,
contact Carl Schueler, Assistant Director, El Paso County Planning Department,
520-6300, CarlSchueler@elpasoco.com.
Mail comments and questions to the El Paso County Planning Department, 27 E.
Vermijo, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903-2208.
Additional information is available:
View a map showing the location of
the proposed store.
By George Barnes
Approximately 25 distinguished guests, dignitaries, and
interested onlookers met in Monument on September 20 to officially welcome the
long-awaited I-25/State Highway 105 interchange construction project. The ground
breaking ceremony took place at the Monument park-and-ride, and the featured
speakers included State Senator Doug Lamborn, State Transportation Commissioner
Dan Stuart, Town of Monument Mayor Betty Konarski, and Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) project manager Mark Andrew. The event was moderated by
Bob Torres, the Region 2 Transportation Director for CDOT.
Construction on the estimated $27-30 million interchange
project has begun and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2005. There
will be four phases to the project. Ultimately, these will involve the
continuation of the present Jackson Creek Parkway northward from Baptist Road to
Highway 105, improvement of the acceleration/deceleration lanes along the I-25/SH
105 interchange, regulation of the traffic flow on Highway 105 between Second
and Third Streets in Monument, and the construction of a new park-and-ride on
Woodmoor Drive.
**********
Further information on the I-25/SH 105 improvement project
can be found by visiting the CDOT website, www.interstate25.com,
or by contacting CDOT representatives Bernie Guevara and Mark Andrew at
719-520-5800.
View photos of the ground breaking for 105 interchange
and the district’s 2003 budget
By John Heiser
The Triview Metropolitan District Board of Directors held its
regular monthly meeting September 25. The only Jackson Creek residents in
attendance were directors Martha Gurnick and Linda Jones.
Wal-Mart
Triview District Manager Ron Simpson reported that as noted
on page 1 of this issue, Wal-Mart has submitted the first portion of their
application to build a supercenter across from King Soopers.
In response to a question from Director Gurnick, Simpson
estimated that if the issues with the project are promptly resolved and the
county commissioners approve the project, the store could be operational in the
fourth quarter of 2003.
The water study and potential competition between Tri-Lakes
area well users and district residents for groundwater
Simpson also reported on the efforts of the El Paso County
Water Authority. He noted that owners of domestic wells came to the authority’s
meeting September 4 and expressed concerns about the potential for their wells
going dry in the event the northern water suppliers build a satellite well field
and pump water from less dense areas to the higher density areas. Simpson said
he thought similar concerns would be raised at the public meeting on the water
study scheduled for October 2.
Peter Susemihl, attorney for the district, said, "Under
Colorado law, no one has a right to maintain the water level under their
property." He said this principle is clear in state law. According to
Susemihl, "If your well goes dry, you drill a new well." He said that
shallow wells that draw from the Dawson aquifer "may be an issue."
Simpson said the water providers in the northern part of the
county are looking at a variety of water sources including the controversial
satellite well field concept. Projections show a potentially serious water
problem 30 to 50 years from now. According to Simpson, one of the biggest
threats is, "If Denver gets serious about going after groundwater."
When Gurnick asked about slowing growth as a way to address
the problem, Susemihl dismissed the suggestion saying, "It would be more
devastating on the economy than the gas [tap] moratorium."
Water consumption and a new well
Simpson noted that the district’s residents are averaging
0.78 acre-feet per year (255,000 gals per year, 21,245 gals per month, 698 gals
per day). The average across the county is about one-third of an acre-foot per
house per year. Woodmoor residents use about 0.38 acre-feet per year. So Jackson
Creek residents are using 2.4 times as much water as average and twice as much
as Woodmoor residents. According to Simpson, there is significant excess
irrigation as evidenced by the amount of water being carried by the under-drain.
This led to a general discussion of possible ways to reuse the runoff including
possible injection to replenish the groundwater.
Simpson said the district needs to drill a new well as soon
as possible. He said the next well would most likely be into the Denver aquifer.
Such a well could supply about 200 houses. To serve 300 to 400 houses would
require a more expensive well into the deeper Arapahoe aquifer. Simpson said 910
single-family equivalents have been platted. There are currently 535 occupied
houses.
To forestall anticipated questions, Susemihl said, "We
have water for Wal-Mart."
Monument Report
Ron Simpson read a memo from Monument Town Planner Mike
Davenport giving the status of various land use planning items.
-
The submittal for 89 lots north of King Soopers is
incomplete.
-
There is a proposed four-pad commercial development off
Lyons Tail Way although no formal submittal has been made. Simpson noted
that the intent is that there be no commercial development off Lyons Tail.
-
The Regency Park Plan zoning plan amendment 2 to reflect
past approvals and mouse habitat has been in the works for months. The
planning commission continued the hearing on it.
-
An environmental impact study of the US Air Force Academy’s
Aardvark airport located toward the northern part of the USAFA property has
been released. The report identifies zones of high aircraft noise and zones
that must be free of tall structures and flammable materials. The noise
zones include some of Triview’s mouse habitat areas and some of the land
east of Brookhart’s. Simpson noted that there is significant impact on
Forest Lakes.
-
Monument’s comprehensive plan update project is
expected to resume with a meeting in November. Director Jim Perry was
confirmed as the district’s representative for those meetings.
District engineer’s report
District engineer Chuck Ritter of Nolte and Associates
reported that the district’s application for reuse water for irrigation at
Creekside Middle School has continued to be delayed. The Donala Water and
Sanitation District’s request for reuse water irrigation of the Gleneagle golf
course has been combined with the Triview application. Director Perry said,
"The delay is unacceptable."
Ritter said a certificate of insurance coverage is being
obtained for construction of the railroad crossing for access to the wastewater
treatment plan. Once the district has the coverage, work on the crossing can
begin. Ritter noted that there are four fiber-optic lines in the railroad
right-of-way. If they have to be lowered, the additional cost would be about
$15,000 each. Assuming all four have to be lowered, the total cost for the
crossing project will grow to more than $150,000. The costs are to be shared by
the Triview, Donala, and Forest Lakes Metropolitan districts. $21,000 was
unanimously approved as Triview’s portion of the initial funding increment.
The district is awaiting guidelines from the new Federal
Homeland Security Administration regarding security issues.
A proposal has been received from Timberline for a $41,000
Supervisor Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to control drinking water
treatment at Water Treatment Plant-B. This is like the system the Donala
district uses on WTP-A. The proposed system enables remote sensing using 71
sensors and remote control of operations at the plant. Additional research is
being done on the proposal.
The board unanimously approved an expenditure of $2,650 for a
chlorine analyzer required by the state to monitor chlorine levels in the
drinking water.
Mouse habitat
Simpson reported that there continues to be trespassing on
the Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat. The areas are surrounded by three
rail fences. The district is getting bids on signs that would warn trespassers
about fines of up to $25,000 per day and possible imprisonment. The penalties
could be levied against the district and its taxpayers.
Parks, trails, open space and landscaping
Simpson reported that he has received proposals for landscape
improvements to Leather Chaps from Baptist to Tareva.
The board unanimously approved a $3,224 contract to prepare
an application to seek a lottery funds grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
to improve the district’s trails. Future GOCO grants may be sought for
additional landscaping and trail planning.
Susemihl reported that he met with Classic Homes and they are
willing to help organize an effort with other builders to assist with the cost
of landscaping improvements. He said they also expressed willingness to help
with the restructuring of the district’s debt.
Mosquito Control
Based on the continued threat of West Nile virus, Simpson
reported that the district has placed additional insecticide briquettes in the
ponds. The briquettes are intended to kill mosquito larvae and are reportedly
effective for about a month. No fogging is planned at this time.
Plan Review and Comment Fee increased
The board approved an increase in the fee for review and
comment of plats and building plans from $75 to $200 per lot. If the actual cost
is less the excess will be returned to the builder.
2003 Budget
Simpson distributed copies of a draft 2003 budget. He
identified three variables in the budget:
-
Use of the Donala district for billing, operations, and
maintenance
-
Construction of the proposed Wal-Mart
-
Addition of a clerk to the staff.
Simpson noted, "The cost [of using Donala] keeps going
up and up and up." He said the cost started at about $50,000 per year and
with 535 occupied houses is now about $300,000. Even with hiring a clerk to help
with billing and operations, Simpson estimated there would be a savings of about
$25,000 to $30,000 per year by eliminating the use of Donala. Director Perry
said, "We can’t pass up that savings, it seems to me."
By paying for preparation of Wal-Mart’s water resource
report and authorizing formation of a Public Improvement Corporation (PIC) to
implement infrastructure improvements and funnel half the retail sales fee back
to Triview, the district has done what it can at this point to facilitate the
Wal-Mart proposal.
On the third point, the board agreed that regardless of the
other factors, the district should hire a clerk.
Simpson said he would update the budget based on the
discussion and prepare a plan for transition of the operations and maintenance
tasks to district personnel.
**********
The Triview Metropolitan District Board of Directors meets on
the fourth Wednesday of each month, 6:30 pm, at the district offices, 174 North
Washington St. The next meeting will be on October 17. Due to conflicts with the
holidays, the last two meeting of the year are scheduled for November 20 and
December 11.
For further information, contact the Triview Metropolitan
District at 488-6868.
By John Heiser
In addition to the other regular business at its monthly
meeting September 17, the Board of Directors of the Tri-Lakes Fire Protection
District heard about the tremendous response to the call for volunteers and the
planned comprehensive volunteer training program.
Volunteer Program
Chip Fleming reported that applications from twenty-four
volunteers have been received. He said, "We haven’t had an interview yet
we were disappointed with."
Fleming reported preparations for the new class for
volunteers are progressing well. He said, "This class is going to set a
high standard." Additional classes will be held each quarter.
Treasurer John Hildebrandt noted that some in the Woodmoor-Monument
Fire Protection District have mentioned that they need to add volunteers to
their staff.
Financial Report
Hildebrandt reported that the district’s expenses are
running about 7% under budget as of the end of August. Property tax revenues are
projected to increase about 9% next year vs. a yearly increase of more than 20%
in recent years. Board president Charlie Pocock said he thought this might be
due to the impact of the homestead exemption. The state is expected to reimburse
the district for the shortfall due to the homestead exemption; however, Pocock
reported that the assessor’s office said the reimbursement might be delayed
due to the state’s budgetary problems and the downturn in the economy.
The October 17 meeting will address the district’s budget.
Funds for two additional paid personnel are anticipated for January 2003.
Chief’s Report
Chief Robert Denboske reported that the district has handled
83 responses since the August 27 board meeting for a total of 668 responses so
far this year. Two additional Explorer Scouts have been added to the roster
bringing total personnel to 48.
The chief reported that the Karval Community Fire Department
in Lincoln County accepted donation of Rescue 1, an excess, underpowered pumper
truck with a three-man cab. Denboske said, "We told them all the problems
[with the truck] but they were happy." The Karval department has four
vehicles they built themselves.
The chief reported the Tri-Lakes district has supplied
information to the sheriff’s office to update the 9-1-1 response matrix for
automatic mutual aid with the other fire districts in the North End Group of
fire chiefs.
Denboske reported that the planned Lewis-Palmer school site
in Walden is not currently in a fire district. The architects for the project
say they will not build the school until it is included in a district. A motion
was unanimously passed authorizing the chief to commit to provide service to the
school site.
The chief reported that there were ten attendees at the
Firefighter I training conducted in Palmer Lake. Joint Firefighter II training
with the Black Forest district is planned for early fall.
EMS Report
Emergency Medical Services Manager Ron Thompson reported that
the district received an extensive presentation on an EMS software package that
automates billing and report writing. Thompson said, "The [district’s]
present system is very antiquated." There is an April 2003 deadline for
electronic billing to Medicare.
Thompson reported that the district participated in a
Colorado Springs-wide disaster preparedness exercise August 28. The district’s
role was to assist hazardous material decontamination at Memorial Hospital.
Thompson said, "This was a good learning experience for everyone. It helps
with training for I-25 and railroad hazmat incidents."
Fire agency study working group
Pocock reported that the working group, composed of two
representatives each from the Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the
Tri-Lakes district, and the Woodmoor-Monument district, has been meeting
regularly with a goal of implementing some form of unification in January 2004.
He said, "We are making giant strides." Noting the alignment with the
Woodmoor-Monument district on pay scales, policy and procedures manuals, and
accounting structure, Pocock added, "I have some fear that we may be moving
too fast." He added that he thought the unification schedule was too
ambitious. "We need to tend to business," he said, referring to the
need to keep each of the districts running smoothly during the transition.
Hildebrandt added that a common chart of accounts has been
agreed. A motion was unanimously passed to switch to the accounting program
Quickbooks Pro. This is the same program favored by the Woodmoor-Monument
district and is also used by the Black Forest and Donald Wescott districts.
Pocock said the working group is in the process of selecting
a law firm to work on the legal issues surrounding unification of the districts.
**********
The Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District board normally meets
at 7 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the district firehouse, 18650
Highway 105 (near the bowling alley). The next meeting will be held October 17.
For more information, call Chief Denboske at 481-2312.
View a recent photo of the TLFPD
Board of Directors
open house October 5
On Saturday, October 5, from 10 am to 3 pm, the Palmer Lake
Volunteer Fire Department is hosting an open house at the fire station. This is
your chance to see a Flight for Life chopper! Activities and refreshments are
planned for children and adults, although the children’s activities sound like
the most fun. Adults can get free blood pressure and glucose checks, while kids
can jump on the spacewalk and climb on the new fire truck. Now, which would you
rather do? Spacewalk vs blood pressure check, let me think….
Children can become junior firefighters, receiving a fire hat
and certificate, by attending the fun Junior Fire Academy. For $3, you can get a
Polaroid picture of you or your child on the fire engine. So, maybe adults are
allowed to climb on the fire truck after all. Come on down for fun, food, and
interactive demonstrations. Update: The famed fire station elk head has
vanished! Chief Lokken received a ransom note demanding $1,000 at the open house
for the return of the elk head. We’re talking about a valuable relic here,
folks. According to former fire fighter Harry Krueger, the elk was bagged around
1944 by Byron Medlock, first fire chief of Palmer Lake. Chief Medlock gave Bosco,
as the elk was named, to the fire station. Save Bosco! Come to the fire station
open house on October 5.
By Charles Pocock
President, Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District
In July 2002, the Emergency Services Education Consulting
Group (ESECG) presented their final report on the feasibility of merging the
Palmer Lake, Woodmoor-Monument, and Tri-Lakes Fire departments. The study group
concluded that a merger is feasible and they proposed several steps to more
closely align the three departments, should the Town of Palmer Lake Town Council
and two fire protection district boards decide to go ahead with the merger.
Since receiving the final study report, joint meetings have been held,
sub-committees appointed and progress made on the functional or administrative
alignment of the three departments. Once the functional alignment tasks are
completed, work will start on the operational alignment. This is one of a series
of articles to inform Tri-Lakes area citizens of the status of this project.
The three boards have agreed on a Joint Resolution and
established common goals and objectives. Each board has appointed two members to
work together as a Joint Working Group (JWG) to further define and track
progress in achieving the objectives. This JWG has appointed an Operations
Sub-committee consisting of the fire chiefs of the three departments.
The ESECG study also made recommendations to each fire
department. The JWG is tracking progress by the departments in implementing
these recommendations.
The Personnel Policies Manual recommended by the Special
Districts Association has been adopted and modified by the WMFPD and TLFPD. The
two manuals are now under joint review by all three departments. Once a common
manual has been adopted for the paid staff, this effort will be expanded to
include a common manual for the volunteers.
The Tri-Lakes district’s board of directors has approved
and adopted the Woodmoor-Monument Pay and Allowance Schedule for paid members. A
uniform Pay and Allowance schedule is essential to a merged single district.
The Woodmoor-Monument and Tri-Lakes boards have recently
adopted a common accounting system and chart of accounts to be effective in
2003. Thus, in the event of a merger, the budget line items will be the same and
both districts will be familiar with the accounting system.
Progress is being made on selecting a legal firm experienced
in special district mergers to advise the JWG from a legal standpoint on the
best of the three alternatives to achieve a merger. Consolidation, inclusion and
formation of a fire authority are the methods provided for under Colorado
statutes and each method has distinct advantages, disadvantages and risks.
The TLFPD is in the process of selecting an electronic report
writing and billing system for its ambulance service. Medicare and most
insurance companies will require electronic billing in a specified format by
April 2003. It is anticipated that a merged district will also use this system.
The Donald Wescott Fire Protection District, which shares a
long common border with Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District, has been invited to
provide an observer to the JWG and has accepted. The decision as to whether or
not the DWFPD will be a party to any merger is still an open issue.
A great deal of time and effort is going into the plans for a
merger, which is important to the future of emergency response capability in the
Tri-Lakes area. At the same time, our primary goal remains that of providing the
best possible fire, rescue and emergency medical assistance to our respective
citizens and taxpayers on a daily basis.
Superintendent Bauman to retire, BRRTA fee rejected
Retirement of Superintendent Bauman
Dwight "Ted" Bauman announced that he will retire
at the end of this contract year, June 30, 2003. Of his thirty years in public
education, fifteen have been spent in district 38. He came here in 1988 to open
Kilmer Elementary School. He was named assistant superintendent in 1991, and was
hired as superintendent in 1998 when Dr. Dallas Strawn resigned to take a
position in Cherry Creek School District. He spoke of his pride in having worked
in "one of the premier school districts in this nation," and credited
his success to the board, administrative leaders, the teaching and support
staff, and gave special thanks to his secretary, Joanne Jensen. The school board
will discuss plans for a superintendent search in the near future.
Special Education Services
The board is considering whether or not to change its
membership status with Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Educational Services.
PPBOCES provides most of the special education services to its member districts.
By having an enrollment of over 4,000, or by having more than 400 special
education students, a district may elect to become its own administrative unit;
district 38 qualifies on both counts. There are financial implications, and this
item will be further discussed at the October meeting. If the board decides to
move to an associate member status, application must be made to the Colorado
Department of Education and PPBOCES by November 1; if accepted, the status will
become effective for the 2003-2004 school year.
Dispute over BRRTA Fee
Kelly Dude, attorney for the district, presented historical
information concerning a disagreement the district has with the Baptist Road
Rural Transportation Authority. In December 2000, BRRTA’s attorney advised the
district that an impact fee of $1.00/square foot (over $100,000) was being
assessed against the new Creekside Middle School in Jackson Creek. BRRTA states
that the "rationale for imposing impact fees was to have development pay
for the cost of improvements on Baptist Road that are necessitated by the
development as it occurs." The school board has taken the position that the
district did not create the growth that necessitated the improvements to Baptist
Road, but rather responded to growth by building the school; that the voters did
not approve this expenditure of tax dollars when they approved the bond issue
for building the new middle school; that the school district is totally
supported by tax dollars; and this "fee" is an unauthorized attempt to
collect tax dollars from the patrons of the district; and that such a
"fee" would result in double taxation of some of its patrons, while
taxing others that do not use Baptist Road at all.
Glenda Smith, trustee of the Town of Monument and a member of
the organizing BRRTA board of directors, and (retired) Colonel Phil Weinert, one
of two voters that originally approved the formation of BRRTA, were in
attendance. Neither of them recalled that schools were intended to be impacted
by fees imposed by BRRTA. Former Monument Trustee Dr. Lowell Morgan pointed out
that the Monument Board of Trustees passed a resolution (#13-2001) in March
2001, supporting the school district’s request for BRRTA to "waive,
exempt, or restructure retroactively the special assessment on non-profit
organizations including the new Jackson Creek Middle School." Two of the
five-member BRRTA Board must be Monument trustees, and since a
"super-majority" is required for action by BRRTA, he questioned
whether that resolution would need to be rescinded by the present board of
trustees in order for the current BRRTA board to proceed with this action.
School board member Tommie Plank adamantly spoke against
negotiating the fee to a lesser amount, saying she believes to do so would set a
dangerous precedent. She further advised that future district 38 boards should
carefully consider the wisdom of building any new schools, or expanding existing
schools, in Jackson Creek or other developments that may at some time be taken
into the BRRTA boundaries. The board asked Mr. Dude to meet with Superintendent
Ted Bauman to draft a response to BRRTA.
Contract for energy and renovation projects
The Board approved a Performance Solutions Contract with
Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. and Hagen Design for district-wide energy
and renovation projects. This is a nearly $3 million upgrade across the
district, with the major projects including lighting district-wide, cooling at
Lewis-Palmer Elementary, and renovation at the central administration building.
Consideration is being given to expanding the project to fully renovate the
administration building as well as construct a new transportation facility.
These items will be further discussed and considered for approval at the October
meeting.
**********
For further information on any of these topics, contact
Lewis-Palmer District 38 at 488-4700.
School board meetings normally are held on the third Thursday
of each month at 7 pm at the administration building, 2nd and Jefferson in
Monument. The next meeting will be held October 17.
By George Barnes
Helen Lucinda Owen was born November 5, 1914 and died
February 10, 1998. As part of her legacy, this long-time Palmer Lake resident
left $136,000 to the Town of Palmer Lake. The Lucy Owen Gift Committee was
formed in November 1998. This committee decided to give a portion of the gift to
Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, a portion to help save Ben Lomond Mountain, and a
portion to build a new municipal building. A feasibility committee formed in
February 1999 to study the options for a new building. During the summer of
2002, a modular building was installed and town employees moved out of their
cramped quarters in the old town office building, leaving it for use of the
police department.
The new Lucy Owen Municipal Center was dedicated on September
14. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor Nikki McDonald read a poem, written by
her husband, which included these words: "She was a woman of love and
caring, Her lifelong trait was her endless sharing. To Palmer Lake she gave from
her heart, For hers was a passion for children and art…Thank you, Lucy, for
all you’ve done. You’ll remain in our hearts for years to come." Our
community thanks Lucy Owen. Her legacy lives on.
View photos of the dedication
of the new Palmer Lake Town Building
By Judy Barnes
Water supply issues
Melissa Wetzig of RTW Professional Engineers and Consultants,
Inc. discussed the current status of Palmer Lake’s water supply system
according to the RTW report. Wetzig emphasized the need to look for renewable
water sources. Deep aquifers such as the Arapahoe and the Denver are not
renewable. Those are the aquifers into which the town’s wells are drilled.
Wetzig said the town would have to look at water restrictions next summer, as
basically the town is tapped out. Trustee Eddie Kinney questioned RTW’s
figures. "I’m not in favor of not issuing water taps," said Kinney;
"It’s a big loss of revenue." Wetzig replied, "These numbers
show that you’re right where you should be. If you add taps, the picture will
change."
Reports
Water: Trustee Chuck Cornell noted the static water level
of well A-2, the new well in the Arapahoe aquifer, dropped 44 feet since it was
first tested. He also reported that the reservoir water level was down over four
feet. Cornell estimated at that level the reservoir held about 34 million
gallons of water. August water usage for the town was 5.8 million gallons.
Police: Trustee Kinney reported that the new police
officer has been busy; 47 traffic citations were issued in August, along with 35
warnings. Four water warnings and one dog citation were also issued.
Parks: Trustee Cindy Allen reported that the Parks
Department received two donations. Patty and Mike Brickell donated $100 for Glen
Park, and Les Kregar donated $50 for Columbine Park. Allen warned Palmer Lake
residents to be careful of bears, which are out and hungry. The cleanup day in
Glen Park on August 17 was a big success, with around 40 people participating.
Emily Moss from the Student Conservation Association (SCA) organized the event,
and Ben Dalrymple provided drinking water to the volunteers. Along with the SCA
team of four, the volunteers cut brush and dead trees and hauled it all out in
14 dump truck loads.
Roads: Trustee Randy Jones reported that the town was
trying free crushed asphalt received from the Colorado Department of
Transportation. He wants a paved wheel chair path to the ramp at the new
building. Bob Radosevich, Roads supervisor, noted that George Reese’s well is
on line and he has offered the town water for roads and fire department
training.
Mayor’s report: Mayor Nikki McDonald described the new
town office building that was paid for by a bequest from Lucy Owen.
Brush cleanup: Bob Radosevich reported the town would be
collecting slash during the last two weekends of September. He was investigating
the purchase of a chipper at $10,200. Rental for a chipper costs $2,000 for an
8-hour day. There might be a fire-mitigation grant available from FEMA for
$5,100 plus a match from the town. The money is in the budget. In three
weekends, the slash/mulch site raised $1,300 in cash plus food donations.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm.
By Judy Barnes
Donations and Awards
Chief Sheldon, Chief of Donald Wescott Fire Protection
District, presented a check for $5,000 to the Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire
Protection District from Intel Corporation. Some Palmer Lake residents who are
Intel employees asked the company if a donation were possible, and it was, said
Sheldon.
Palmer Lake Historical Society President Sam DeFelice
presented an award to the town for its support of the society in 2002.
The Coleman family presented the town with a framed print for
the new town office building. Local artist Pat Manning painted the picture of a
train in Palmer Lake. Manning donated the print and the Colemans had it framed.
Business Licenses
Bella Panini: Kenneth Trombley and Patricia McClelland
were approved for a liquor license and a change in ownership of the restaurant
at 4 Highway 105.
Auto Refresh: Nick and Brenda Casale received a new
business license for a car detailing business.
Water Issues
Larry MacDonnell reported on ways the town could get funding
for water supply issues, flood damage minimization, water quality, and watershed
orientation.
Trustee Eddie Kinney presented a report based on figures for
water usage from the water department and the report given by RTW at the
September 5 workshop. He disagreed with the total water usage per user tap in
the RTW report. Kinney concluded that the A-2 well could meet Palmer Lake’s
water needs for six months of the year, supplementing the reservoirs. He
recommended the town start issuing water taps when the A-2 well comes on line.
Kinney made a motion to go back to normal water rates after
the September billing, but the motion was not seconded. The trustees did not
want to send a message that there is now plenty of water available to Palmer
Lake. They agreed to study the rate issue.
Joint resolution between the Town of Palmer Lake, Tri-Lakes
Fire Protection District, and Woodmoor-Monument Fire Protection District
The board unanimously approved the resolution in preparation
for the possibility of consolidation of the three fire protection districts.
Adelphia Bankruptcy
The board passed a resolution to join the coalition of
municipalities in the Adelphia Cable Television bankruptcy court case. The goal
of the multi-city effort is to protect the franchise tax interests of the
municipalities. Palmer Lake currently receives about $5,000 annually in
franchise taxes from Adelphia.
The meeting adjourned at 9 pm.
By Judy Barnes
Fall Festival
Ms. Suzanne D’Innocenzo of the Historic Monument Merchants
Association appeared before the board to announce the Fall Festival and
Scarecrow Decorating Contest. The fall festival will take place October 5, 2002,
from 10 am through 4 pm.
Ordinance #23-2002: Providing for suspension of the ban on
open burning
Emergency Ordinance #17-2002, adopted in June, enacted a ban
on open fires. The state and El Paso County have suspended their bans on open
fires. The board unanimously approved an ordinance that grants the board the
authority to suspend or to enact a fire ban by motion. The June fire ban will be
suspended on October 24 at 11:59 PM when the new ordinance goes into effect.
Agreement with GMS, Inc. to design Second Street
sidewalk
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) awarded the
town an Enhancement Grant for curb, gutter, and sidewalk on the north side of
Second Street from Beacon Lite Road east to State Highway 105. Construction is
planned during 2003. The total project cost is $143,643. GMS has proposed a
design and construction administration agreement not to exceed $28,800. After
discussion of several issues, including the design cost, Trustee Glenn suggested
continuing the consideration of the agreement until past projects could be
examined for cost overruns. Trustee Glenn agreed to do the research, and made a
motion to continue the matter until the next meeting October 7. The motion
passed six to one, with Trustee George Brown dissenting.
Planning and Development
Town Planner Mike Davenport reported the following planning
and development activities:
Planning Commission: At its meeting September 11, the
planning commission continued the following items to its meeting October 9:
-
Request to approve Valley Ridge minor plat and final PD
site plan
-
Request to update Regency Park zone map
-
Request to rezone 10 acres east of King Soopers from
PRD-10 to PCD
-
Recommendations to update zoning and subdivision
regulations
P&L Committee: The Parks and Landscape Committee
reviewed the following at its meeting September 10:
-
The Colorado Center for Community Development (CCCD) of
the University of Colorado at Denver presented different images that could
be incorporated into an entry to town at the intersection of Highway 105 and
2nd Street. The committee recommended, as a general direction, that the
design for the entry should emphasize the location as an entry to the
Historic Downtown area.
-
The committee favorably reviewed the landscaping plan for
the proposed Peoples Bank/Starbucks facility on Highway 105.
Plans and Studies:
-
Heritage Tri-Lakes Plan: On September 13, Transplan
presented projects and costs needed to accommodate future growth in traffic.
On September 20, the planning committee will discuss future cooperative
efforts among entities in the Tri-Lakes area. Completion of the Heritage
Grant project is scheduled for September 30.
Colorado Springs National Bank – The application was
received September 6.
El Paso County referral: An amendment to the Struthers
Ranch sketch plan for a subdivision consisting of 107.35 acres, presently zoned
RR-2 (2.5-acre lots). The proposed development is for 188 single family lots at
a minimum of 6,000 square feet and an average of 7,000 square feet each; 8.8
acres of planned business center (PBC); and 42.8 acres of open space, landscape
buffer, drainage detention, and habitat preservation. The gross residential
density, less PBC uses, is 1.91 lots per acre. The property is generally in the
Gleneagle area, east of I-25, just south of Baptist Road.
-
The revised plan appears to reduce the area for business
by about 25%, which is consistent with the Tri-Lakes Plan policy that
businesses should be encouraged to locate within the existing towns.
-
The project will impact Baptist Road so it should be
included in the Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority, BRRTA.
-
A better buffer or density transition with Chaparral
Hills is desirable.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.
By Judy Barnes
With the hope of making your voting decisions on election day
Tuesday, November 5 a bit easier, I have abbreviated the ballot issues,
including arguments for and against. For more detailed information on the
issues, refer to the blue 2002 Ballot Information Booklet that was mailed to all
registered voters, or visit www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/balpage.htm.
Amendment 27: Campaign Finance (a proposed amendment to the
Colorado Constitution)
-
Limits amounts that individuals, political parties, and
political committees can contribute to candidates and political
organizations;
-
Bans unions and corporations from directly contributing
to candidates;
-
Sets voluntary spending limits for political races;
-
Requires reporting and disclosure of money spent for
certain political advertisements.
Arguments for Amendment 27
-
It may reduce the influence of special interests,
including corporations and labor unions, on the political process and
increase the influence of individual citizens.
-
Voluntary spending limits may encourage more people to
run for public office.
-
Currently, some types of political advertisements can be
paid for anonymously. This proposal gives people information about who is
paying for these advertisements right before an election.
Arguments against Amendment 27
-
Contribution limits may benefit incumbents, since
challengers generally must outspend incumbents to overcome name recognition
and other advantages of an officeholder. Wealthy candidates also may have an
advantage as they can spend an unlimited amount of their own money on their
campaign.
-
Voluntary spending limits restrict the amount of money
for candidates to communicate their positions to voters. Consequently,
voters will have less information about candidates.
-
Interest groups will spend money in elections through
indirect forms of political support that do not need to be reported to
election officials or the public.
Amendment 28: Mail-in Ballots (a proposed amendment to the
Colorado Revised Statutes)
-
Requires most elections held after January 2005 to be
conducted only by mail ballots and eliminates voting in precinct polling
locations.
-
For elections involving political party candidates,
election officials must maintain polling booth locations on election day at
public high schools prior to 2010. Beginning in 2010, they need only
maintain at least one polling booth location in the county.
Arguments for Amendment 28
-
Voting by mail is convenient and may increase voter
participation. In the November 2001 election, counties with mail ballot
elections had an average turnout of 41%, compared with a turnout of 32% in
counties using traditional polling places.
-
The proposal will improve the security and uniformity of
our elections.
-
Mail ballot elections may be less expensive for
governments to conduct.
Arguments against Amendment 28
-
Mail ballots are vulnerable to fraud, as they are out of
the control of voters and election officials while being delivered. Also,
some mail ballots may be disqualified for procedural reasons such as not
signing or dating the envelope.
-
People who vote by mail may be pressured by family
members, employers, or interest groups to vote a certain way, or to hand
over their signed mail ballot.
-
This proposal is unnecessary because voters can already
choose to vote by mail by using an absentee ballot.
Amendment 29: Election Reform (a proposed amendment to the
Colorado Revised Statutes)
-
Ends the caucus and assembly process of selecting
candidates for the primary ballot;
-
Requires all major political party candidates to obtain a
requisite number of petition signatures to appear on the primary ballot;
-
For most offices, greatly reduces the number of petition
signatures required and increases the time allowed for collecting
signatures, from roughly two months to roughly six months;
-
Does not require the election official to validate the
signatures. A person protesting the election official’s decision must
identify specific names being challenged and the reason. A protestor could
be charged a fee to cover the official’s cost of validating the
signatures.
Arguments for Amendment 29
-
Most candidates in Colorado have been placed on primary
ballots through the caucus and assembly process. Since caucus participation
has been low, a relatively small number of party activists can control this
process.
-
This proposal may open up the political process to more
candidates, giving voters more choice at the primary election. In 2000, only
one in eight primary races was contested. With more choices, people may be
more likely to vote in primary elections.
Arguments against Amendment 29
-
Eliminating caucuses and assemblies might discourage
citizens from being active in major political parties. Thus, the proposed
system might give voters less information about candidates and fewer
opportunities for direct interaction with candidates.
-
Colorado’s current system offers more options for
candidates, who are already allowed to petition onto the ballot. The
proposal removes an incentive for attending party meetings, which might
cause Colorado’s political parties to become fragmented and less able to
set a cohesive statewide agenda.
Amendment 30: Election Day Voter Registration (a proposed
amendment to the Colorado Constitution)
Arguments for Amendment 30
Arguments against Amendment 30
-
A safeguard against multiple votes will be eliminated.
Also, because of voter confusion, some states have eliminated, or are
considering eliminating same-day voter registration.
Amendment 31: English Language Education (a proposed
amendment to the Colorado Constitution)
-
Requires that all public school students be taught in
English unless they are exempted under the proposal;
-
Requires non-English-speaking students to attend an
English-language immersion program for a year, then be transferred to a
regular classroom.
Arguments for Amendment 31
-
Current programs have not adequately addressed the needs
of English learners, and this proposal offers a different approach.
-
Colorado needs a uniform statewide policy so that English
learners who move between school districts won’t have their academic
progress delayed by encountering different programs.
Arguments against Amendment 31
-
The proposal restricts parental choice and local control
of education.
-
Law cannot mandate the speed at which a student learns.
The proposal creates an unrealistic expectation that all children can learn
English in one year. If programs are too rigid, students’ individual needs
may not be met.
Referendum A: Exempt District Attorneys from Term Limits (a
proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution)
Arguments for Referendum A
-
This proposal allows judicial districts to retain the
expertise and experience of their district attorney.
-
Term limits are unnecessary because district attorneys
are already accountable to the public. Also, smaller rural districts may
have trouble attracting a qualified candidate.
-
Of the 17 states with term limits, only Colorado limits
the length of service for the district attorney. Term limits might
discourage skilled attorneys from running for district attorney, as their
prosecutorial career could end after two terms.
Arguments against Referendum A
-
Term limits could lessen any concern the public may have
that politically motivated decision-making occurs within the office. In
2004, term limits will affect district attorneys for the first time, and
this proposal removes term limits before their effect can be evaluated.
-
Term limits could result in more candidate choices for
the voter, and could bring more new ideas to law enforcement.
-
More competition for the office could lead to more
aggressive prosecutorial policies and greater responsiveness to public
opinion.
Referendum B: Public/Private Ownership of Local Health Care
Services (a proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution)
Arguments for Referendum B
-
This proposal could expand the range of health care
services available in communities.
-
Health care partnerships may help provide new sources of
revenue to keep existing health care facilities open, particularly in rural
areas. Local governments will determine which services to provide.
Arguments against Referendum B
-
Governments should not risk public funds by investing in
private companies, and private companies should not be given the chance to
benefit from the investment of public funds.
-
The interests of private companies or individuals may not
always be to the public’s benefit. Companies could influence the types or
delivery of health care services provided by partnerships, resulting in
changes in health care services for higher profits.
Referendum C: Qualifications for County Coroners (a proposed
amendment to the Colorado Constitution)
Arguments for Referendum C
-
Complexities of coroner responsibilities require that the
officeholder meet minimum qualifications.
-
Training promotes efficient, thorough, and accurate
investigations, and greater cooperation between coroners and the agencies
and people with whom they work.
Arguments against Referendum C
-
The constitution should only be changed if a significant
problem exists. Currently, 75% of counties have coroners or staff members
who are certified death investigators, and all counties have access to death
investigation educational programs.
-
Allowing the legislature to establish qualifications and
training requirements may narrow the pool of possible candidates. Rural and
smaller counties may have trouble filling the office.
Referendum D: Repeal of Obsolete Constitutional Provisions (a
proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution)
Arguments for Referendum D
-
The proposal updates the constitution by deleting an
unconstitutional provision, irrelevant language, and procedures that no
longer serve a useful purpose. The state constitution should not be
cluttered with obsolete provisions.
Arguments against Referendum D
Referendum E: Cesar Chavez State Holiday (a proposed
amendment to the Colorado Revised Statutes)
Arguments for Referendum E
-
Cesar Chavez was a nationally respected voice for social
and economic justice for farm workers, especially Hispanics, and a role
model for his nonviolent approach to social change. He should be honored
with a state holiday rather than an optional holiday.
Arguments against Referendum E
At a special meeting on September 24, the Palmer Lake trustees
voted to cancel ballot issue 2B, occupation tax on lodging, because of confusion
in its wording. Issue 2B will still appear on the ballot November 5, but its
votes will not be counted. The occupation tax could be a significant source of
revenue for the town in the near future, with new inns in the works. A levy of
$2 per day would apply to lodging rooms occupied for less than 30 consecutive
days.
By John Heiser
September 17: The El Paso County Planning Commission
recommended approval of three Tri-Lakes area subdivisions: Misty Acres Filing
#1, Falcon View, and Hay Creek Ranch.
Misty Acres Filing #1
Misty Acres Filing #1 is the first portion of the 124-acre
Misty Acre project to be carried to the final plat stage. The project is east of
Monument Hill Road, south of County Line Road, and west of Doewood Estates.
Filing #1 covers 35.3 acres and consists of 26 single-family lots with a minimum
1/2 acre each and one multi-family lot. Misty Acres Boulevard would be
constructed through the project connecting south to Monument Hill Road. Two road
connections to Doewood Estates are part of the plat.
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation has committed to provide water
and sewer service. At the preliminary plan stage, the developer, Serenity Ranch,
LLC, projected a total of 444 dwelling units (128 single family and 316
multi-family) for final build-out of all filings in Misty Acres.
The final plat for Misty Acres Filing #1 was approved on the
consent agenda since no one requested a full hearing.
Falcon View
The commission also unanimously recommended approval of the
proposed Falcon View Preliminary Plan and Final Plat with 138 single-family lots
on 30 acres. The project is approximately 3/4 mile north of Northgate Road, just
south of the Academy View mini-storage, and east of Struthers Road. The
surrounding densities vary. To the north, there are lots that average 8,300
square feet. The lots to the east average about 13,000 square feet. To the
south, there are townhouses with an average of about 7,500 square feet per
dwelling unit. The land to the west between Struthers Road and I-25 is vacant
but zoned for commercial development. The lots in the plan vary from 5,000
square feet to over 20,000 square feet with an average somewhat greater than
6,000 square feet.
The Donala Water and Sanitation District that serves
Gleneagle has committed to provide water and sewer service for the development;
however, since Donala cannot satisfy the county’s requirement for a 300-year
water supply, a waiver of that requirement by the Board of County Commissioners
will be required if the Falcon View project is to go forward.
Hay Creek Ranch
In May, the Board of County Commissioners denied a plan for
fifteen lots on the 50-acre Hay Creek Ranch parcel. ("County
commissioners disapprove Hay Creek Ranch subdivision," OCN June
1, 2002). A major issue was, as the planning department said,
"inconsistency with the Tri-Lakes small area plan in regard to
density."
The land, located on Hay Creek Road that connects to the
western end of Baptist Road, is currently zoned RR-3 (Rural Residential, five
acre minimum lot size). The steep terrain with Hay Creek running through the
property complicates development.
The revised plan presented to the planning commission reduces
the number of lots to ten. The lots would range in size from 4.1 to 7.6 acres
with an average of 5.02. Included on the lots is 16.7 acres of dedicated open
space, 1/2 mile of creek, and 1/3 mile of access road.
Unlike the hearings on the higher density proposal, no one
from the area spoke against the project. Jamie Hull appeared representing the
Hull family. Planning commissioner Robert Roulier said to Hull, "I, for
one, would like to congratulate you on the changes."
The planning commission unanimously recommended approval of
the revised plan and the associated planned unit development (PUD) rezoning.
Planning commission recommendations are forwarded to the
Board of County Commissioners for a final decision.
**********
For more information on these and other projects within the
county, contact the planning department at 520-6300 or visit www.elpasoco.com/planning.
By Judy Barnes
"County commissioners delay Doral Way hearing" in
the September 7 issue of OCN reported on the proposed Doral Way extension
that would turn the small cul-de-sac off Gleneagle Drive into an access for a
new development of about 100 homes.
To date, 640 people have signed the petition to deny access
via Doral Way. Documents at the County Engineer’s office show a possible
round-about intersection at the city boundary. Meanwhile, the developer, Picolan,
has been surveying Doral Way and its land to the south.
Bethesda and Picolan have not brought the matter back to the
County Commissioners since the delay was granted on August 16.
If the use of Doral Road is denied, two alternatives have
been suggested. The first would be directly to the south, bridging Smith Creek
to join Northgate Road south of the Ridge Pointe development. The second would
be to extend Walsen Road to the west. The latter proposal has prompted serious
concern among Sun Hills residents.
View a map of the vicinity of
Doral Way
By Judy Barnes
Adjoining property owners received notice that the El Paso
County Planning Commission would hear an amendment to the Struthers Ranch sketch
plan on October 15. The commission will have a full agenda for that meeting, so
the Struthers Ranch hearing could be delayed until October 27.
The 107-acre property is east of I-25 just south of Baptist
Road, adjacent to Chaparral Hills, Glenneagle and Falcon’s Nest. The zoning
for the property is RR-2, requiring 2.5-acre lots. The original sketch plan was
approved, with conditions, by the county planning commission November 21, 2000.
One condition required that any residential lots on the north boundary must be
at least one acre, with a buffer of at least 100 feet from lots in the Chaparral
Hills Subdivision. The Board of County Commissioners later approved the sketch
plan with the added condition that the lots on the north side could not be
developed until the northbound Struthers Road/Baptist Road intersection was
improved.
The approved plan was for 75 town homes in the southeast
portion of the development, and 50 single-family homes in the northwest portion.
The amended sketch plan proposes 75 single-family homes instead of the 75 town
homes, and 113 single-family homes instead of the 50 approved for the northwest
portion. In the amended plan, average lot size is 6,000 square feet on the south
side and 7,000 square feet on the north. A neighbor who would have had two lots
behind him with the original sketch plan would have10 to 12 lots behind him with
the amended sketch plan. In addition, there is no longer a 100-foot buffer
between all the lots of Chaparral Hills and the first lots of Struthers Ranch;
at some lots there is no buffer at all. These deviations from the original plan
are troubling to nearby Chaparral Hill residents. An additional concern is that
instead of waiting until the access north to Baptist Road is improved, the
applicant now proposes to direct all traffic south on Struthers Road until
completion of the improvements.
The amended sketch plan does have some improvements over the
original. The road layout better follows the contours of the land and most
residents on the south side prefer the 75 single-family homes versus the town
homes originally planned. The main concern is the increased density. The
approved plan was for 125 dwelling units. This plan is proposing 188 units. The
current RR-2 zoning would allow no more than 42 units. A zoning change to PUD
(planned unit development) will be required to accommodate the revised plan. It
is expected that a large number of homeowners in the adjacent subdivisions will
attend the October 15 meeting.
View a Struthers Ranch
vicinity map
View the Struthers Ranch
Sketch Plan
By Barbara Cook, TLWC Grants Chairperson
Over the past 26 years, with money earned from the Pine
Forest Antiques Show & Sale, the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club has been able to
give almost $350,000 back to our community in the form of grants to other
non-profit organizations. In July, the 2002 granting process was completed and
the proceeds from the Pine Forest Antiques Show held in April of this year were
distributed to qualified recipients in the Tri-Lakes community. More than
$36,000 was awarded to the following public agencies and schools:
-
Monument Police Department
-
Palmer Lake Police Department
-
Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department
-
Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District
-
Woodmoor/Monument Fire Protection District
-
Woodmoor Public Safety
-
District 38:
Assistive Technology
Occupational Therapy
Step by Step Literacy Program
-
Monument Charter Academy
-
Grace Best Elementary
-
Lewis-Palmer Elementary
-
Palmer Lake Elementary
-
Prairie Winds Elementary
-
Creekside Middle School
-
Lewis-Palmer Middle School
-
Lewis-Palmer High School
Art Department
Food Service
Girls’ State
Special Education
**********
The Tri-Lakes Women’s Club holds monthly meetings,
September through May and offers several interest groups throughout the year.
All interested women living in School District 38 are invited to participate in
the organization.
The next meeting of the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club will be
Friday, October 18 at the Air Force Academy Officer’s Club at 11 am.
Reservations must be made with Kristen Kelly at 488-9581 or rich.Kelly@grubb-ellis.com
by October 14.
Information about TLWC is available at www.tlwc.net
or by contacting Susan Shekerow at sjsdance@aol.com
or Diana Woods at 488-3135.
People in the Tri-Lakes area will be able to support a local
cause and have a hearty meal in a very social environment during the 2002 Empty
Bowl Dinner.
The annual event, sponsored by the Monument Hill Sertoma
Club, will be held Wednesday, October 16 from 5 to 7:30 pm at Lewis-Palmer High
School. Proceeds support Tri-Lakes Cares that helps feed the hungry in our
community.
Held in conjunction with World Hunger Month, the supper of
soup, bread and dessert is home-cooked. Ticket holders take home their hand-made
pottery bowls, donated by local potters and art classes.
Tickets are available for a $15 donation to Tri-Lakes Cares
and must be purchased in advance. The number of tickets is limited so get yours
now at:
Covered Treasures Bookstore-Monument
Petal Pushin’-Monument
Pankratz Studios & Gallery-Monument
Rock House Ice Cream & More-Palmer Lake
Salon 105-Palmer Lake
Tri-Lakes Printing-The Woodmoor Center
Tri-Lakes Tribune-Monument
therapeutic equestrian facility
By Julie Christian, President
Pine Creek Foundation
High Point Academy is a new riding center located in the
Monument area. It is a program of Pine Creek Foundation, a not-for-profit
501(c)3 organization. Therapeutic riding lessons given on the beautiful 35-acre
pastoral property target the needs of the disabled community. However, some
classes are offered to able-bodied students. Service is provided to the greater
Denver and Colorado Springs areas.
Therapeutic riding provides benefits in the areas of physical
therapy, education, sport, recreation and leisure. The experience of being on
horseback creates a new joy and freedom for our students. Participation in this
program results in positively contributing to the cognitive, physical, emotional
and social well-being of children and adults with disabilities.
Equine assisted therapy is conducted as a team approach with
the horse, student, instructor and volunteer. It achieves improvement toward
physical, psychological, cognitive, behavioral and communication goals. The
therapy is provided by a licensed health care professional. It is sometimes
referred to as Hippotherapy which originates from the Greek word for horse,
hippos. It literally means "treatment with the help of a horse."
Achievement of educational goals for people with physical,
mental and psychological impairments is possible with horse-oriented activities.
These goals are incorporated into the program plan while teaching adapted
riding, driving or vaulting. The horse is a strong motivator for accomplishing
these goals.
The therapeutic riding instructor will design and implement a
program to suit individual needs, whether the student’s interest is in sport,
recreation or leisure. The experience can be enjoyable and relaxing, creating a
bond with the horse and extended family of individuals who contribute to our
program. There is also a place for a rider who wishes to compete.
The team at High Point Academy is dedicated to helping
individuals achieve their personal goals for therapeutic riding. We ensure the
safest possible environment for our students, volunteers and horses. Instructors
are certified by North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA).
Our overarching goal is to increase the quality of life for our students and
empower them to lead a more meaningful life.
Fees for our therapeutic riding program are available on an
individual lesson basis. Special discounts are available by purchasing quantity
lesson packages. The High Point Academy staff will also work with families
requiring scholarship assistance. Contact us at highpointacademy@pinecreekfoundation.org
or (303) 663-8424 for more information.
There are many opportunities to become involved in High Point
Academy or Pine Creek Foundation. Visit us at our web site: www.pinecreekfoundation.org.
Please join with us in our efforts to make a difference in the lives of others
and leave a legacy for future generations.
By Daniel Dickinson, Lewis-Palmer Senior
The University of Lewis-Palmer. It has a nice ring to it. Not
to mention the fact that the quaint little high school actually is becoming more
and more reminiscent of a college campus. The classes are crowded, the
underclassmen can’t park, and there are more security guards than Fort Knox.
Virtually all students have noticed that the halls of Lewis-Palmer High School
are more congested than ever. Passing periods are becoming a joke, as the halls
in some places are impassable.
The 2002-2003 school year has seen a giant influx of new
students…176 of them, to be exact. Even with the recent addition of the school’s
east wing, LP’s collective waistband is starting to feel a little tight. Where
have all of these new students come from? Naturally, the high school grows every
year. However, this year’s increase represents an unusually large influx of
new students, and it can be attributed to several factors.
First, the area we live in is rapidly becoming more developed
and thus more populated. LP’s growth is simply a matter of necessity.
Lewis-Palmer is the only high school in the immediate area of Monument, Palmer
Lake, Woodmoor, King’s Deer, Bent Tree, and the countless other new
developments that have sprung up in the past couple of years. It stands to
reason that its student population should increase fairly consistently.
Also, Lewis-Palmer High School has been recognized statewide
as being an outstanding institution of secondary education. The school’s
A-rating on the CSAP, as well as its stellar reputation in the local community
have greatly contributed to the school’s appeal. Combine that with the
multiple state championships Ranger athletics have accumulated over the past
several years (boys’ soccer, boys’ and girls’ cross country, volleyball),
and it is easy to see why students are attracted to LP.
The problem is getting worse. The senior class this year, the
class on its way out, is the smallest class in the school with some 345
students. The freshman class on the other hand, the class that will set the
trend for the next four years, is the largest class in the school, containing
423 students. The sophomore and junior classes lie somewhere in the middle with
394 and 416 students, respectively.
One of the most imminent problems being caused by the growth
is a lack of student parking. This year has seen the inauguration of a new
school parking policy, where sophomores are not allowed to park at all. Seniors
were given the first priority with respect to parking permits and the remaining
passes were allotted to a few lucky juniors.
To help combat the parking dilemma, the lot was re-lined and
re-striped to allow for more efficient use of the space. In addition, a
significant portion of the faculty parking was converted into student parking.
Even with the added student spaces, parking is far from adequate. There are
approximately 500 parking spaces available to students and at least twice that
many students who want to drive to school. The administration is currently
counting the spaces in the north and south lots to make sure no space goes
unused. In the event there are still available spaces, the vacant spaces will
raffled off to juniors. Looking ahead to the next couple of years, the
administration admits it is unrealistic for sophomores to expect to park unless
the campus is expanded or a second high school is constructed.
Another issue of increasing concern is the number of students
in classes. Virtually every department in the school is suffering from the
effect of the larger student body. The Algebra II program, for example, faced a
shortage of books due to the unexpected number of students who signed up for the
class, creating some obvious problems.
One seemingly positive aspect of the growth is that it has
allowed the introduction of some new classes. A P Chemistry is being offered
this year, something the school has not been able to do recently due to lack of
interest. At the same time, however, while Chemistry did receive enough interest
to warrant hiring a new teacher to head up the class, it might have received a
little too much interest. There is only one period of the class scheduled all
year long, and the class is very crowded. Nary a desk goes unused in this class,
which is arguably the most difficult of all the science courses offered at the
school. One can’t help but wonder whether that is the best environment for
such inherently difficult material.
The growth of Lewis-Palmer High School is a very hot issue
right now. The school board is already diligently working, analyzing the trends,
trying to determine the most suitable course of action to address this problem.
It is important to realize that lil’ old Monument isn’t so little anymore.
It won’t be long before LP is forced to undergo drastic changes unlike
anything in its history.
By Judith Pettibone
While we haven’t carved our pumpkins or determined the
results of Monument’s Fall Festival scarecrow contest, some townsfolk are
already doing their holiday shopping. I know, I know; it’s early in the season
… I won’t be writing about Santa books. However, one does not get tired of
writing about Colorado, or reading about it. So here are some great gift
suggestions, holiday or otherwise, each one about our magnificent state.
John Fielder’s Best of Colorado
John Fielder, $29.95
165 Top Scenic Places
Does anyone know Colorado better than renowned Colorado
photographer/author John Fielder (Colorado Then and Now: 1870 – 2000)?
What fun to have a book with his favorite hikes, B & B’s, restaurants,
hotels and trails. He includes a wildflower and fall foliage guide as well as
photo tips from the pro. The book is divided into regions with a number of maps,
and is organized in an easily accessible format.
Colorado; Rocky Mountain Wide
Jim Keen, $49.95
A most favorite book of the Covered Treasures staff, and we
love to recommend it. As the title suggests, the photographs are in a panoramic
format taken in Keen’s unique "Panographic" photo process. Each page
is magnificent. What is especially lovely about the book is the attention to the
tiny image as well as the grand. You will find photographs from Fox Run Park as
well as the more famous and expected places. Keen, a Colorado Springs resident,
includes a CD to help you find the sites as well as tips on nature photography.
If nothing else, this book will make it utterly clear that we live in one of the
most breathtakingly beautiful places on this planet.
Keen will be in the store for an autographing session on
Saturday, October 5th from noon until 2:00 pm as a part of Fall Festival.
The Guide to Colorado Wineries
Alta and Brad Smith, $16.95
2nd Edition
It surprises folks to find a book about Colorado wineries on
our shelves; there are even a few laughs. But as the editor of 5280 Magazine
says, "Colorado’s wine industry is exploding, and the Smiths’ expertise
is a necessity for your next trip to Colorado wine country, not to mention your
next trip to the local wine shop." For those of you who didn’t know we
HAD a wine country, we do. There are currently 35 wineries in the state, many
close enough for a day trip. Cheers!
Living High and Dry
The Gazette Telegraph, $9.95
An Essential Guide to Home and Health in the Pikes Peak Region
What a great little book! It would be the perfect
house-warming gift for a new neighbor or friend moving in from low altitudes,
but also has tips for those well acclimated. The book covers everything you need
to know about living at around 7,000 feet, including: home care, gardening tips,
protecting your skin, allergies, hydration, and cooking information. Did you
know that even your musical instruments need special attention in our dry
climate?
Colorado Seasons
Todd Caudle, $14.95
This local Colorado Springs photographer first gained notice
with publication of his yearly calendar entitled "Colorado - Magnificent
Landscapes." Colorado Seasons is his first book and represents his
photographic journey "… from pristine alpine lakes to snow-covered
mountain peaks and golden aspen forests that are the changing faces of Colorado’s
seasons." This book is a wonderful way to share our state with anyone on
your gift list. Caudle also has a smaller book on the market called Magnificent
Colorado ($9.95).
"John Fielder’s Little Books" Colorado
Skies
Wildflowers of Colorado
Colorado Reflections, $14.95 each
This series of 7"x7" hardcover books are samplers
of Fielder’s work. Covered Treasures’ Paula has given four copies of Colorado
Skies to friends moving away. She says, "The one thing that everyone
misses is the skies, and Fielder’s book keeps the memories alive."
Indeed. Any book in this series makes a perfect welcome, goodbye or ‘happy to
be here’ gift.
Denver: Then and Now
Joshua Dinar, $17.98
This pictorial essay is one in a series from Thunder Bay
Press. If current and historic Denver is of interest to you or someone on your
list, this would be a great selection. With over seventy-five ‘before and
after’ photographs, one gets a wonderful sense of Denver and its history. A
particularly interesting peek into the past is the pair of photos showing the
Denver Botanical Gardens today, and the cemetery it was in 1937. The publisher
produces similar books on several other cities, including Seattle, St. Louis,
and Atlanta. They are available by special order.
It was not easy to choose the books included here. There are
so many worthy choices, including trail guides and maps, cookbooks, other
photographic interpretations, histories, biographies and, of course, calendars.
In fact, we carry about 280 titles that include the word "Colorado".
And that’s just one more indication that we live in a place worthy of sharing
with others.
Stretch Your Outside
Watering
Most everyone on the Front Range is well aware of the weather
we have witnessed over the past summer - hot and dry. The cause was a
high-pressure system that was stuck high above Colorado for three months. It
didn’t allow the typical jet stream to enter our state and the result was a
severe lack of the moisture that we usually receive from the Great Northwest.
The presence of that high-pressure system also conflicted with common
low-pressure systems we usually get from the south and southwest that typically
bring moisture up from the Gulf. The result is an amazingly low amount of
moisture available to the Front Range. A recent report in the Gazette stated
that we have about 1.4 years of reserve water at this time and water
restrictions of some kind or another have been imposed all along the Front Range
cities and towns to conserve our precious water resource. If trends continue,
watering outside in the Denver area may be banned and tighter restrictions may
be enforced all along the Front Range including Monument and the surrounding
areas.
With tighter restrictions, plants, trees and shrubs may
suffer. What can you do to save your plants this winter and in the summer to
come? Water smart, water deep, and mulch all of your plants. You can water smart
even in the tightest of restrictions. Use any available water source you can.
Roof water is usually run-off and can mostly be seen just draining away. Catch
the water from any rainfall using your roof eaves troughs and down spouts as
collection devices. Plastic garbage cans or barrels make easy, basic containers
to facilitate the process. Use a small pump to transfer the water to your shrubs
and trees when other moisture is unavailable.
When you do water your plants, whether through city taps or
your own collected run-off, remember to water deep. Surface water does very
little for a plant. The moisture must reach the roots in small increments to be
able to let the plant absorb the water. This is done easily by letting a hose
trickle for about 20-30 minutes in a "well" or dirt mound that
surrounds the plant. Usually the well is placed near the "drip line"
or where the tree or shrub would naturally let water flow from its branches.
When you use a deep watering technique, it helps the plant require less water
and get used to less frequent watering.
The best thing you can do for your plants is to help retain
the moisture you have given it. Mulch around the base of the tree or shrub out
to the drip line area with a natural bark-like substance. The evaporation loss
will be significantly less and will let your plant reap the benefit of any
moisture it receives.
By Daniel Dickinson, Lewis-Palmer Senior
The Lewis-Palmer High School Serteen Club received a very
prestigious honor. Under the presidency of Rachel Quicksall, the LP Serteen Club
was named the 2001-2002 International Serteen Club of the Year. Lewis-Palmer
bested some 250 other similar clubs from across the United States, Canada, and
Mexico.
The criteria for this great honor are extensive. A club must
show an increase in membership from one year to the next. A club basically has
to win every other award offered to Serteen programs to be eligible, including
such awards as Publicity, Attendance, and Service Hours. Other important factors
include sustained member attendance, average number of service hours per member,
and fund raising efforts.
The LP Serteen Club easily met all of the necessary
requirements. The club increased in size by 23% during Quicksall’s tenure. The
list of activities in which the club regularly participated is quite lengthy.
The average number of service hours per member for the year exceeded the 45-hour
mark, and the club as a whole donated over 5,000 service hours for the year. The
club also received virtually every other award offered by Serteen International.
Perhaps most impressive were the club’s fund raising efforts. $1,340 was
raised for the EPYCS program, when only $500 was needed. The club granted out
$10,000 through the same program. Also, the club raised the most money in the
state for the Salvation Army’s bell ringing program, bringing in more than
$11,000.
To accept this award, Rachel Quicksall and Lewis-Palmer
Serteen sponsor Mark Swanson flew to Toronto, Canada. Rachel gave quite a
showing with her acceptance speech, leaving the audience captivated and
energized.
This year promises to be another productive year for
Lewis-Palmer Serteen. The club has already shown a tremendous amount of growth
over last year, no doubt due to the tremendous success the club has enjoyed of
late. President Matt Miller has very high aspirations for the year, and is
working hard to make sure there is not a letdown after last year’s outstanding
effort.
View photos of Serteen club
members and sponsors
An evening of frightfully, delightfully spine-tingling
stories and music is planned to benefit the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts on
October 26, 7 pm, at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts in the Kaiser-Frazer
Building, 304 Highway 105 in Palmer Lake. Storytellers Nancy Avalon and John
Stansfield will engage the audience with ghastly and ghostly tales, artfully
told and sung. ‘Tis the season to be scary… and to be scared! Bring carved
pumpkins to decorate the stage and enter in a contest for prizes, if you wish.
Nancy Avalon is a storyteller, mime, clown, actress,
puppeteer, musician, vocalist, artist, dancer, and creator of programs that have
thrilled children and adults for over 25 years. Nancy performs her high-energy
(sometimes scary, often comical) storytelling in schools, libraries, national
parks, and museums all over the country. She’s a screeeeeeam!
A professional storyteller since 1979 in Colorado and around
the country, John Stansfield is founder and director of the annual Rocky
Mountain Storytelling Festival held in Palmer Lake. His first book, Writers of
the American West, was recently published. He is never frightened by ghost
stories…much.
Cost: $9, Adults. $4, Children 12 and under. Recommended for
age 8 and up.Tickets available at the door only. Seating is limited. A portion
of the proceeds from the concert will benefit the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts.
For more Information, call Heidi Juell 481-3183.
View photos of Nancy Avalon and
John Stansfield
By Mary Doehrman, Executive Director,
Tri-Lakes Chamber Commerce
Forty-three businesses displayed their wares on Friday,
September 13, at the Second Annual Tri-Lakes Business Exposition held at the
Woodmoor Barn.
From food samples to karate demos, the barn was alive with
the sights and sounds of the Tri-Lakes and north Colorado Springs business
community.
View photos from the Second Annual
Business Expo
The
Society visits the Pioneers Museum
By Leon Tenney
The Palmer Lake Historical Society visited the Pioneer’s
Museum in downtown Colorado Springs on September 21. The Society is a non-profit
organization that owns and operates the Lucretia Vaile Museum in Palmer Lake.
The museum is open every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm year round.
Mike Mayberry, the curator of the Pioneers Museum hosted a
unique behind-the-scenes tour. Over a dozen PLHS members made the trip into
Colorado Springs and they were well rewarded for their effort.
Among the many items the members of the society saw were some
old safes filled with gold ore. These safes even became of interest on the David
Letterman Show as the Geraldo Safe Story, since they had not been opened for
many years and were found filled with gold. To get the inside story on
"Stratton’s gold" and the critical role played by ‘Joe’ of the
ACME Safe Company, you owe it to yourself to visit the Pioneers Museum.
The next area the society saw was the archive held in trust
for later generations. The Pioneers Museum has the mission of collecting,
storing, and preserving local history. They have amassed over 50,000 old photos
in these archives. They have over 50,000 three-dimensional objects as well. (It
looks like a big garage sale.) Further, they have all the original newspapers
and back copies of the Gazette dating back to 1881. They have put
together many exciting exhibits that can be viewed on the 2nd and 3rd floors of
the museum. These include exhibits about Zebulon Pike, the Ute Indians, Helen
Jackson Hunt, the Health Seekers, the American Quilt Collection, William Jackson
Palmer, and Van Briggle Pottery. (No self-respecting museum is complete without
an obligatory area devoted to the broken bits of ancient pots.) The museum staff
is constantly shuffling new parts of the past into current exhibits, since they
do not have enough space to show all their interesting objects at one time.
Mostly the exhibits only show about 10 or 15 percent of the total inventory. The
museum solicits donations so they will have the budget to purchase more items.
The tour was literally topped off by the society members
climbing the clock tower for a spectacular view of downtown Colorado Springs
from seven stories up. Above the cluttered streetscape of Colorado Springs, the
society members could well appreciate the natural beauty of the Pikes Peak
region with majestic mountains amidst glorious blue skies. If you want to rise
in society, join the Palmer Lake Historical Society.
**********
Meetings of the Palmer Lake Historical Society are held the
third Thursday of each month at Palmer Lake Town Hall, 54 Valley Crescent in
Palmer Lake. The next meeting will be October 17 at 7:30 pm. The program will be
"Riding the Colorado Trail by Mule" presented by Leroy and Elenor
Herndon of Stratton, Colorado. For more information, visit www.ci.palmer-lake.co.us/plhs.
The Pioneers Museum is at 215 S. Tejon St. in Colorado
Springs. For more information, call 578-6650.
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