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Above: Anne Shimek in Palmer Lake Town Hall
Below: Brian Bray in front of Monument Town Hall
By George Barnes
Day 57 of the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay began early in the
Tri-Lakes area on January 31st. Despite slushy, slippery conditions and the
extremely cold temperatures, a festive crowd of Tri-Lakes citizens and
well-wishers assembled at the Palmer Lake Town Hall at 9 am., to publicly
celebrate and recognize Anne "Red Hawk" Shimek, the town’s lone
relay runner. The highlight of the ceremony was the surprize presentation to Ms.
Shimek of a $335 check. This gift from friends allowed her to purchase the torch
she used during the relay.
Afterwards, the celebration moved eastward to the Safeway
parking lot in Monument, where as many as 15 runners awaited the start of the
relay through the town.
[Due to limitations imposed by our press deadline, the
following events are listed as previously planned.]
At approximately 1:15 pm, the first runner, Brian Bray, was
scheduled to place his silver, copper, and glass relay torch up to the special
lantern holding the Olympic flame, and thus would continue the daily odyssey
that began on November 19, 2001, in Olympia, Greece.
Escorted by a Corvette pace vehicle provided by the relay’s
official sponsor, General Motors Corporation, Mr. Bray is then expected to trot
out to Highway 105 and proceed south. His flame in turn is to be passed to the
icicle-like torches of the other honored runners: Jeff Nowak, Warren Ary,
Mildred Brodbeck, Frank DeAngelis, Thomas Weyer, Terrance Callow, Virgina
Keatley, Taylor Smith, Brandon Dickerson, Stephen Smith, Anne Shimek, Chessa
Ronning, Thomas Herman, and a final unidentified runner. Each individual
participant will carry his or her personal torch for a distance of 0.2 miles.
The official route travels down Highway 105 to 3rd Street,
then west to Front Street, south to 2nd Street, up to Jefferson Street, along
Santa Fe Avenue, and finally down to the Soc N’ Roll via the Old Denver
Highway.
At 2:45 pm, following the completion of the historic run
through the town, the mayors of Monument and Castle Rock, along with other
distinguished guests, are expected to convene at Lewis Palmer High School and
formerly acknowledge the runners and their support personnel. It is an event
made notable by the unique circumstances surrounding the relay and it’s theme
of “Light the Fire Within,” a symbol for every Olympian’s desire for
competition and victory.
The Olympic flame is scheduled to leave Colorado after
February 2nd, and will continue it’s amazing trip en route to the 2002 Olympic
Winter Games. It will arrive in Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 8th, and be
used to officially inaugurate the opening day ceremonies at Rice-Eccles Olympic
Stadium.
The present Olympic flame was transported in a specially
constructed lantern to the site of the last Olympics, Atlanta, Georgia, and
arrived there on December 4, 2001. Eventually, the flame will have traveled more
than 13,500 miles, and have been carried by over 11,500 participants in 46
states. The flame travels an average of 208 miles per day, and although
transportation on foot is the most visible method of carrying the flame,
ultimately it will also have been borne by automobile, airplane, train, ship,
dog sled, skier, snowmobile, covered wagon, and horse-drawn sleigh. It will be
extinguished on February 24th, at the conclusion of the Salt Lake Olympic games.
According to the official Olympic website
(www.saltlake2002.com), the key elements that comprise each individual torch
(i.e., glass, silver, and copper) symbolize various qualities. The glass is
meant to resemble light, winter and ice. The aged silver finish represents the
West and melting water, while the highly polished silver reflects the heart and
speed of the Olympians. Copper is used as a metaphor for fire, passion and the
history of Utah.
The EL Paso County Planning Commission hearing on the Forest
Lakes Residential Project has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 26, 9 am,
County Building, 27 E. Vermijo, 3rd floor hearing room.
If the planning commission arrives at a recommendation for
approval or denial at that hearing, the Board of County Commissioners will then
hold a hearing and make a final decision. Opinions and comments concerning this
project should be sent to the El Paso County Planning Department (Attn: Carl
Schueler), 27 East Vermijo Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
The proposal, based on a sketch plan approved about 15 years
ago, calls for 467 dwelling units on approximately 990 acres located at the
western end of Baptist Road, primarily on the former Beaver Creek Ranch. The
land is currently zoned for five-acre parcels. The proposed preliminary plan and
rezoning request calls for a clustered design with areas of urban density
coupled with open space and recreational use of two lakes.
Further information on the Forest Lakes Residential Project
is at www.ourcommunitynews.org. Our Community News carried the story “December
hearing planned for controversial Forest Lakes project” in our November 2
edition.
By John Heiser
The Monument Planning Commission held meetings January 8, 14,
and 16 to discuss the draft update to Monument’s comprehensive plan. Each
meeting drew 50 or more people. The meetings on the 14th and 16th held in the
town hall were standing room only. By a show of hands, approximately half of
those who attended were Monument voters. These meetings are the latest step in a
process that started in June 2000 to develop a collective vision of the future
of the Town of Monument.
In opening the first meeting, Monument Mayor Betty Konarski
noted that the purpose of the plan is to capture “What you would like to see
happen.” Planning commission chair, David Mertz added that this effort can
affect “how this town is going to go in the next 5, 10, 20 years. We are all
ears. It is your document.”
Mike Davenport, Monument’s Assistant Town Manager and
Planner, led the discussion at the meetings on January 8 and 16. Barbara Cole,
President of Community Matters, the town’s consulting company for the
comprehensive plan project, led the discussion on January 14.
Davenport noted that the town has experienced, “9% growth
per year over the past 20 years.” He added, “When the 1983 comprehensive
plan was approved, Monument was growing by 5 to 10 houses per year. Now it is
growing by 5 to 10 houses per week.” This growth has left the 1983 plan
seriously out of date. It does not cover the areas east of I-25 such as Jackson
Creek or those south of Baptist Road such as the proposed Forest Lakes
business-industrial park.
The existing land use table on page 9 of the draft plan shows
2,090 acres of vacant land in the town with 233 acres of residential (2398
dwelling units); 164 acres of commercial or office; 63 acres of light
industrial-manufacturing; 62 acres of schools, churches and other public or
quasi-public buildings; 58 acres of parks and open space, and 365 acres of
right-of-way. Cole said, “What worries me is that people think the vacant land
will remain open space.” She added, “The development of the vacant land
depends on the political will of the planning commission and town board.”
Although each meeting was intended to focus on a separate
area (Jackson Creek, residential neighborhoods west of I-25, and downtown and
other business areas), there was considerable overlap in the discussions at the
three meetings.
At each meeting, it was emphasized that the comprehensive
plan does not change the zoning on any parcels. The Board of Trustees, through a
separate set of hearings, makes zoning changes. Davenport noted that zoning
changes usually come at the request of landowners. Cole said that in areas where
zoning changes are not made, design standards and performance criteria could be
used to constrain building size, appearance, height, setbacks, and landscaping.
Chapter 10 of the draft plan calls for an 80-foot landscaped setback along I-25.
When challenged on this proposal by concerned landowners, Davenport said, “The
town has the power to make changes to the zoning regulation.” He added, “Parking
might be allowed within the 80-foot setback, especially for narrow parcels.”
Mike Wicklund, Manager of the Monument Sanitation District, noted that the
80-foot setback could restrict development of parcels that face Beacon Lite Road
and back up to I-25.
Also at each meeting, concern was expressed about the large
areas on the draft future land use map shown as PI (Planned Industrial).
Davenport explained that when Jackson Creek, then known as Regency Park, was
annexed to the town in 1987, the area just east of I-25 was “intended as a
regional shopping mall.” He added that PI is described in the draft plan as
“encouraging light industrial.” He said that light industrial, sometimes
called manufacturing, is distinguished from heavy industrial that produces “objectionable
levels of emissions.” Davenport noted, “For a town this size, it is a lot of
industrial land.” Cole said, “What was put in place is way too much.” Cole
also noted that due to difficulties crossing the Santa Fe Trail, “A large
portion [of the industrial land west of I-25] is going to be tough to develop.”
Cole asked the question, “Should heavy industrial be
allowed and where?” Many in the audience at the January 14 meeting expressed
the view that heavy industrial should not be allowed anywhere in the town. At
the January 16 meeting, Bill Simpson, owner of the parcel on north Washington
Street proposed for a Transit Mix concrete batch plant said, “We don’t plan
to let our Planned Heavy Industrial District zoning get away from us.”
Davenport responded, “We haven’t found the documents that establish that
zoning. It is an area subject to further research.” Simpson and Transit Mix
are engaged in an ongoing lawsuit against the town over the April 2000 denial of
the proposed concrete batch plant.
The areas west and south of Lewis-Palmer High School, shown
in the draft future land use map as Planned Industrial, also drew concern.
Konarski said she thought mixed use would be a better designation since it could
accommodate the development of a cultural, recreational, and educational center.
Davenport noted that the industrial and commercial areas
could also accommodate office buildings. An issue of considerable interest was
the prospect of the area being overrun with big box stores. This is often
characterized as the “North Academy look,” referring to what happened to
north Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs.
In discussing this, Davenport referred to the distinction
made on the draft future land use map between CC (community commercial), HC
(highway commercial), and RC (regional commercial). CC is for businesses such as
grocery stores designed to serve the local neighborhoods. HC is for businesses
such as gas stations, restaurants, and motels designed to serve the traveling
public. RC is for businesses such as big box stores expected to draw customers
from throughout the region.
Davenport noted, “Most towns get more revenue from sales
taxes than from property taxes.” Commercial property owner, John Dominowski,
said that Monument gets five times as much revenue from sales tax as from
property tax. Cole said, “Houses do not pay their way. We need to balance land
uses to insure the fiscal future of the town.”
In response to a question about how the town can affect
proposed developments, such as Wal-Mart, outside its boundaries, Davenport said
the town could enforce its master street plan. The town could also adopt an
intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the county; however, none is in place at
this time.
Davenport added that good planning practice and the county’s
master plan call for intense development, including large scale commercial
projects, to be within the municipalities where it can be better controlled and
where services can be provided more economically. At meetings of the
comprehensive plan steering and advisory committees, it was agreed it would be
better if big box retail was within the town rather than in the county adjacent
to the town, as Wal-Mart is proposing; however, the question of whether the plan
should accommodate big box retail at all was left hanging. The draft future land
use map shows large areas of regional commercial. At the January 14 meeting,
Cole went through a cursory analysis of potential sites for big box stores and
concluded that most sites outside the town would have significant development
difficulties. This would seem to indicate that the town does have a choice as to
whether to allow big box retail or not.
Another issue was building heights. The Jackson Creek/Regency
Park development agreement signed by the town in 1987 allows buildings up to
90-foot or 100-foot tall. Cole said, “The circle road near I-25 is a
nightmare. Those 90-foot to 100-foot buildings would be hanging over I-25.”
Davenport noted that heights above 60 feet create significant firefighting
constraints. Monument Trustee Christopher Perry, a volunteer with the Black
Forest Fire Protection District, added that buildings over four stories require
special firefighting equipment.
“The weakest part of the map is the parks and trails,”
according to Konarski. Much of the area shown on the draft future land use map
as open space is Prebles’ Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat and off-limits for
recreational use. An attendee asked, “Where are the active recreational areas?”
Another said, “We need parkland for people not just parkland for mice.”
Parks and trails have been a planning commission priority.
Chris Pollard noted that some areas outside the town, such as
the northeast corner of Knollwood and Highway 105, shown as open space, are
actually approved for commercial use. Cole added that Wal-Mart developer Mark
Goldberg is upset that the draft future land use map shows the parcel across
from King Soopers as open space.
The designation of the area around Monument Lake was also
criticized. Some feel this should be developed into an amenity for the entire
area. A mixed-use designation was suggested as more appropriate than the draft’s
depiction of large areas of single family residential.
According to Davenport, “This document is nowhere near the
final document. There is a three or four month process from here.” The town’s
consultant, Community Matters, will incorporate public comments into the draft
plan. The revised draft will be reviewed by the comprehensive plan advisory and
steering committees. Then the planning commission will schedule one or more
public hearings to consider adoption of the update as the town’s new
comprehensive plan. If the planning commission decides to adopt the document, it
will likely be forwarded to the Monument Board of Trustees, perhaps in May, for
possible endorsement.
Although much was discussed, few conclusions were drawn
except that the draft needs a lot of work. Wicklund summed it up by saying, “Who
made the decisions on future land use? Everywhere I look it is like someone
threw darts.”
On a positive note, landowner Lee Kilbourn said, “This
[process] is a marvelous thing. It is vital to have attractive businesses come
here. We need to influence how our community is going to develop.” Davenport
added, “People are drawn to places that are better planned with a more
consistent design.”
Copies of the draft plan are available at Monument Town Hall,
166 Second Street. For further information, call the Monument Planning
Department at 481-2954. Comments should be sent to the town planning department.
Monument planning commission recommends approval of
new site plan for Foster's storage
By Lowell Morgan
At the Monument Planning Commission meeting Wednesday January
9, 2002, the only public hearing was for a second amended preliminary PD site
plan for Foster’s Storage on Old Denver Highway. Mr. Foster request for larger
storage units on his site was approved. Outdoor storage of RVs was previously
denied.
The planning commission also reviewed their goals and
projects for 2002. These included compliance and code enforcement issues and
anticipation of possible rezoning issues. This last will be a discussion item at
the February 13 meeting. The commission also discussed its role in the
comprehensive plan update and received an update on land use regulations and a
“refresher” from Town Attorney Gary Shupp on the do’s and don’ts of
being a planning commission member.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Monument Planning
Commission will be held Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at 6:30 pm at Monument Town
Hall, 166 2nd Street. For information on the items to be heard, contact the
Monument Planning Department at 481-2954.
By Judy Barnes
Mike and Ingrid Elliott appeared before the Palmer Lake
Liquor Licensing Authority to request, and were granted, a hotel and restaurant
liquor license for Bella Panini, at 4 Highway 105. They are planning to serve
beer and wine and to be open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, 5-9, and maybe
Sundays. They hope to begin on February 1.
Randall Schoenberg appeared for the renewal of the business license for his
sporting goods shop, Outbound Trading Post at 790 Highway 105. Trustee Susan
Miner remarked that when he first applied for a business license, Mr. Schoenberg
told the board that guns would be just a part of his business. Now it seems that
his main business is selling firearms. Mayor Nikki McDonald, Trustee Miner, and
Trustee Randy Jones all encouraged Mr. Schoenberg to have more balanced
inventory and to broaden his marketing to advertise his full line of
merchandise, in his window and in his newspaper ads. The town council approved
renewal of Mr. Schoenberg’s license.
The board also approved an increase in dog licensing fees from $5 to $6 for
neutered and spayed dogs and from $15 to $16 for non-neutered and non-spayed
dogs. Fees involving violations of ordinances were doubled. The impound fee and
the daily fee for care are now $20. The posting of notice fee is now $10. The
council also decided to review the ordinances for possible revision.
Todd Abrahamson appeared before the board to address the issue of automatic
mutual aid between Palmer Lake and Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District. Palmer
Lake has terminated its automatic mutual aid agreement with Tri-Lakes, but still
has automatic mutual aid with five other area departments. Mr. Abrahamson has
been urging the board to reconsider its decision. He also inquired about how the
meeting on January 7 between representatives from Palmer Lake and the Tri-Lakes
district went. That meeting had been scheduled in response to concerns voiced by
citizens at the last council meeting. Trustee Miner replied that there were
definitely some points of impasse, that they identified items of agreement and
disagreement. The greatest impasse, according to Trustee Miner, was to keep egos
out of the discussion. Todd commented that personality conflicts shouldn’t be
an issue with professionals. Trustee Scott Russell, Fire Commissioner and a
former volunteer firefighter with the Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department,
said he is concerned about the safety of the Palmer Lake firefighters. “We
have trained with the other departments, but not with Tri-Lakes. There’s a
level of trust when you’ve trained with a team.” Chief Sheldon, Assistant
Chief Rackl, and Assistant Chief Burns from Donald Wescott Fire Department were
there to speak in support of Palmer Lake’s position. Chief Sheldon explained
that the North Group had voted Tri-Lakes out of the group because Tri-Lakes
wouldn’t work with the whole team. “We have a Pikes Peak Fire Chief’s
Forum, and some groups are conspicuously absent,” noted Chief Sheldon. Chris
Stine, Palmer Lake’s captain in charge of fire training and wild fire
prevention commented, “They don’t show up when we invite them to training.
If they refuse to train with us, it’s not in my best interest to send one of
my firefighters in with one of theirs.”
By John Heiser
At the regular monthly meeting January 22, Oscar Gillespie,
President of the Board of Directors, was absent due to illness so Director
Charlie Pocock presided.
Chief Keith Jensen expressed thanks for the many letters of
support and gifts received at the firehouse, including $250 from one family and
$100 from another, received over the holidays.
The district ended 2001 more than 5% (about $40,000) under
budget for the year. The district responded to 794 incidents and logged 1700
hours of training time. About one-third of the incidents were fire-related. The
other two-thirds were calls for medical attention and assistance at traffic
accidents. A new ambulance is to be put in service January 24.
Jensen reported that the Donald Wescott district is
protesting the approved inclusion in the Tri-Lakes district of the proposed
subdivisions in Walden east of Highway 83.
Pocock reported on the issue of providing ambulance service
to Palmer Lake. He said the Tri-Lakes district has been providing service to
Palmer Lake for the past 25 years. The Tri-Lakes district’s response time to
Palmer Lake averages 5 minutes and 50 seconds and he estimated the response time
from Larkspur would be 15 to 18 minutes. He noted that it is important “the
two communities recognize that they need each other.” Duane Hansen has agreed
to serve as a mediator to help with the dispute between the town and the
district. Director Glenn Scott noted that the outcome of the current emergency
services planning study should help resolve this issue.
Jensen reported that the consultant developing the study has
obtained information from the Tri-Lakes district and is preparing a matrix of
equipment, salaries, skills, etc.
Directors John Hildebrandt, Charlie Pocock, and Glenn Scott
are up for reelection to four-year terms. Chief Jensen was appointed as the
election official for the May 7 election. The present term limit for board
members is two four-year terms. The board voted two to one (Hildebrandt and
Pocock in favor, Scott opposed) to put an issue on the ballot to eliminate term
limits for board members. The firehouse will be the designated polling place.
Anyone who wishes to run for the board must submit a notarized self-nomination
form between February 6 and 28. Forms are available at the firehouse on Highway
105.
By Russ Broshous
A meeting on January 7, 2002, between representatives of
Palmer Lake and the Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District was intended to iron out
differences between the two jurisdictions that were highlighted at the December
13 meeting of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees. Unfortunately, the meeting
degenerated into acrimony with little to show for it.
In December, residents of Palmer Lake questioned the decision
of the Town Board of Trustees to terminate their existing ambulance service
arrangement with the Tri-Lakes district in favor of a new contract with the
Larkspur Fire Protection District. The Board took this action because members
objected to what they perceived as unacceptably low standards of service
provided by Tri-Lakes to Palmer Lake residents. At the meeting, however, some
residents noted that Larkspur District facilities were farther away from the
town than the Tri-Lakes firehouse on Highway 105, and that the most direct
access from Larkspur to Palmer Lake is along Spruce Mountain Road, a route
subject to the vagaries of Colorado’s winter weather. As a result, they
believed that the decision to terminate the town’s relationship with Tri-Lakes
should be reconsidered by the town board.
While town board members questioned this assessment, the
board agreed to meet with Tri-Lakes district counterparts to see if outstanding
issues could be resolved. That meeting took place January 7 with less than
desirable results. Both jurisdictions were represented by more than two board
members, a fact making the meeting subject to Colorado’s ‘sunshine law.’
In that the meeting was not open to the public and was purportedly not ‘noticed’
in a timely fashion, at least one town resident questioned whether the meeting
was legal at all. When contacted, representatives of both sides maintained that
there was no intent to conduct an illegal meeting if it indeed was, that if
violations occurred they were inadvertent, and that no substantive decisions
were made at the meeting in any event. They added that ‘sunshine law’
strictures would be carefully adhered to in any future meeting.
‘Sunshine Law’ issues aside, the January 7 meeting soon
degenerated into a heated discussion that went nowhere… with each side
presenting to the other contractual language they wanted to govern any future
relationship. According to Palmer Lake Trustee Susan Miner, the town feels it
necessary and prudent for the safety of Palmer Lake residents to insist on
service standards they believe Tri-Lakes has not previously been providing,
e.g., the presence of a paramedic on each emergency service call. Larkspur
apparently would agree to do so. Tri-Lakes, on the other hand, according to
Tri-Lakes Chief Keith Jensen, believes that Advanced Life Support-qualified
personnel have been present on each such call; and that this is more than
adequate for Palmer Lake service – in fact, it is the same service standard
provided to Tri-Lakes District residents.
Now, although some uncertainty exists as to whether further
meetings will occur between the parties, especially in light of a more recent
exchange of letters between the two, we are told that Palmer Lake is expecting a
second meeting to take place, this meeting to be held with attendance limited to
no more than two board members from each jurisdiction, and with a mediator
present to keep the meeting focused on issues at hand… and, hopefully, with
tempers in check. If agreement can be reached at this meeting, the problem will
be resolved. If it cannot, all involved hope that the parties can agree to
disagree in an amicable way. This sentiment is shared by virtually everyone,
even those not immediately affected by the dispute. Woodmoor-Monument Board
Chairman, Dick Crowell, for example, hopes the issues “…can be resolved in
the short term to the satisfaction of both parties… but, if not, that both
parties will keep the dialogue open until results of the on-going joint
consultant study are known. The study is being paid for, after all, by all three
of us, Woodmoor-Monument, Tri-Lakes and Palmer Lake, and it was commissioned
specifically to recommend the best way to provide emergency services to all
Tri-Lakes area residents.”
Here is a list of upcoming Saturday programs at the Western
Museum of Mining and Industry:
February 9: Is it Magic, or Electricity? Celebrate
Thomas Edison’s birthday at the museum. Marvel as his 123-year-old invention
operates today. Learn about the how, who, where, and when of electricity, and
then generate your own electricity using a potato.
March 9: Pack Your Burro: Discover the Pikes Peak Region.
Maps, photos, supplies and stories - gather the information you’ll need to
explore the geography, history and economics of the Pikes Peak Region in the
1800s. Afterward, weather permitting; help pack the museum’s 400-pound burro
(donkey) mascots.
April 13: Reclamation and Wildlife Wonders. What
critters hide in yonder pond? Environmental science is an important part of mine
reclamation. Join us as we define habitats, describe invertebrates, calculate
stream flows, and identify plant life on the museum’s 27 ac. of prairie,
riparian, and wetland life zones.
May 11: Children’s Championship Gold Panning. How
much gold could a gold panner pan if a gold panner could pan gold? In
celebration of Colorado’s Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month, the
museum is hosting this contest to demonstrate the skills of early miners.
October 12: Boo! Spooky hiStories. The best stories
are true, and mining stories can be scary. Come listen to tales of ghosts,
cave-in, and lost treasure. This is an historical (and hysterical!) way to kick
off the fall season.
November 9: Rock Odyssey. What’s mined is yours!
Through music, games and demonstrations, you’ll examine geology and how we use
minerals, the building blocks of rocks, in our every day life. Rock on!
December 14: Mining Camp Craft Day. Are you looking
for that perfect holiday gift? How about making it yourself? Learn about the
games and toys of mining town families. Afterward, make your own craft to take
home!
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm.
Location: 125 Gleneagle Drive at the southern edge of the
Tri-Lakes area. Take I-25 to the Gleneagle Drive exit. The museum entrance is
immediately east of the interstate.
Admission: $3 per person. Please call for reservations and
more information at 488-0880.
By Sue Buell and Roth Hyland
On Tuesday evening, Jan. 22, the Town of Palmer Lake Planning
Committee held a public briefing of some preliminary concepts for improving
State Highway 105 in the center of the town.
“This effort stems from previous recommendations and
intentions of the Economic and Community Development Committee and a graduate
architecture urban planning student of CU Denver,” noted council member Susan
Miner. The committee saw the need for better parking, sidewalks, traffic speed,
and pedestrian crossing. At present there is 1) not enough parking, 2) dangerous
parking, 3) no designated safe crosswalks, 4) no connections to the lake and
trails, 5) speeding traffic, 6) no safe sidewalk areas, and 7) lack of proper
roadside drainage. The improvement concepts aim to address these issues by
providing for a combination of widened roads, drainage ditches, crosswalks,
sidewalk paths, along the road and off-road parking for the restaurant and art
center areas.
This initial study was sponsored, in part, by the Colorado
Center for Community Development (CCCD) and students from the CU Department of
Environmental Planning. They developed three preliminary concepts and will use
public input to create one master plan. Based on the approval of a final plan,
the town will then be able to apply for grant money for the construction of the
improvements. Scaled layouts were created using satellite photos of the town
taken 5 to 10 years ago. Besides the addition of central parking areas, the
proposed designs use the idea of a gazebo and grass park area on the west side
of the lake, connected by exercise stations and trails to the town’s retail
area, and provide centralized off-street and over-flow parking for major events.
Some of the design concepts used more parallel and
straight-in parking along the road, while the others used off-street parking or
a mix of off-street sites and street-side parking near the restaurants and art
center. Also included were additional street lighting and landscaping including
planters. Some kind of signage at each end of the old town was also proposed
using poles or a center island. Another of the designs included a tree-lined
walkway and drainage systems along the road.
Participants placed comments and corrections on the drawings.
The results of this first round of three concepts will be corrected and reduced
to two alternatives and presented to the committee. The goal then will be to
agree on one working concept for recommendation to the planning commission and
then the town council. Jim Fitzgerald has volunteered to head a committee to
study enhancements to the remainder of Highway 105 down to the bowling alley.
“We are at a crossroads for decisions about how the Town of
Palmer Lake is prepared to take advantage of new developments with the improved
interchange in Monument coming and the possibility of easier access to our town,”
said Miner.
As reported in Our Community News last month, a fund
drive is under way to raise a minimum of $15,000 to purchase an MSA 4000
hand-held infrared viewing device that will be shared by our eleven local area
fire stations. Any funds raised over the target will go toward a second unit or
for support telemetry equipment used with the MSA 4000. Fire Marshall Raymond
Blake of the Woodmoor-Monument Fire District has expressed the need in our
community for the infrared viewing device. Although the unit would be kept at
the Woodmoor-Monument Fire Department, all fire stations in the greater
Tri-Lakes area would use it in their search and rescue missions. The Greater Tri
Lakes area encompasses a 17-mile radius containing roughly 55,000 homes.
The device is used to locate people and animals trapped in
burning buildings. The infrared tool is also extremely valuable for locating
people in dense vegetation who may have been thrown from their car in an
accident and night rescue missions where normal vision is inadequate. The device
can save homeowners and businesses thousands of dollars by early detection of
smoldering fires after lightening strikes or other ignitions.
Donations are urgently needed. Make checks payable to the
Woodmoor-Monument Fire Protection District. Donations for the purchase of the
infrared viewing device are tax-deductible. Mail your donation to MSA 4000
Device, c/o A Chick & A Windshield, P.O. Box 1313, Monument, CO 80132.
Donations should be mailed no later than February 14, 2002.
Receipts for tax purposes will be mailed after the close of
the fundraising drive, February 14. Please include a correct return mailing
address with your charitable donation to receive your donation receipt. Also
watch for the donation canisters at local participating clubs, churches,
schools, and businesses in your community.
If you would like more information or wish to help with this important
fundraiser, please contact:
Karen Evans, Owner
A Chick & A Windshield
Mobile Service Company
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Parish education center approved, lights for trail crossing
selected, purchases and hiring delayed
By Judy Barnes
The first board of trustees meeting of the New Year began
with a full house, standing room only. Most of the audience, parishioners of St.
Peter’s Catholic Church, stayed only for the public hearing concerning St.
Peter’s Parish Education Center Final Plat and Combined Preliminary Plat/Site
Plan. Town Planner Mike Davenport presented the application, which was approved
unanimously with the following conditions.
All new lighting that serves the parking area north of the
existing Catholic Church should be modified to be downcast and shielded, and
reduced to the lower wattage currently in use along the alley.
Signs and striping should be added to show safe walkway
areas, as shown in the approved traffic study.
The alley behind the building should be paved.
Christopher McKay, a parishioner and a member of the Public
Works Committee, noted that the education center will be a great addition to the
community as it may be used by groups such as Boy Scouts. Construction on the
center could begin in February and is expected to take 8 months.
The board again considered options for electrical service to
lights along Beacon Lite Road south of Second Street, including the crossing at
the Santa Fe Regional Trail. Town Manager Rick Sonnenburg reported that the
solar option for the trail crossing light would cost $13,800. This option would
not include streetlights. The board unanimously passed a motion to accept the
option through Mountain View Electric Association that includes a trail crossing
light and streetlights for the whole block. This option will cost between
$17,745 and $19,745, depending on whether any adverse conditions are encountered
during the work. The money can come from impact fees collected from new
residence and commercial construction.
The next issue before the board was discussion of possible
revisions to the rules and regulations for the Community Development Fund. Each
year, the same amount of money received by the town for business licenses goes
into a special fund, the Community Development Fund. This fund was established
to promote projects designed to improve the Town of Monument. At a previous
meeting, Tommie Plank, representing the Historic Monument Merchants’
Association, had questioned aspects of the procedures for applying for a grant
from this fund. It was decided then to review the rules and regulations for
possible revision. After some discussion, the board agreed to the following
revisions:
Application forms for grants from the fund must be supplied
by the town before the board meeting.
Each year, during the budget process, unused money shall be
retained in the fund.
Other options in the previous version of the ordinance for
these two conditions were stricken.
The board unanimously approved the Pikes Peak Regional
Building Department’s permit fee schedule. According to a memo from Regional
Building Official Rolf Philipsen, an average increase of 8 to 12 percent in
residential permit fees and approximately 18 percent for non-residential permit
fees is needed to support the anticipated number of inspections. Fees are based
on the effort expended on a per permit basis.
The board unanimously passed resolution #1-2002, the annual
approval of the public place for posting of meeting notices, which will continue
to be the entryway bulletin board of Town Hall. The Colorado Sunshine Law
requires that such notices be posted at least 24 hours prior to the holding of
any meeting at which the adoption of any proposed policy, position, resolution,
rule, regulation, or formal action occurs or at which a majority or quorum of
the body is in attendance, or is expected to be in attendance. The board
discussed the need for additional posting sites, perhaps in Jackson Creek. Mayor
Konarski suggested a glass display case for posting notices in locations such as
King Soopers. Town Planner Mike Davenport suggested having a kiosk. These
options will be discussed at the upcoming joint meeting with the Triview
Metropolitan District and Jackson Creek Land Company. Earlier in the meeting,
the board chose February 11 at 6:30 pm, for that joint meeting.
Next, the board considered resolution #2-2002, adopting the
FY2002 salary range structure. The new structure includes an increase of 4.5%
over last year’s salary ranges to keep up with inflation. Range implementation
rules include increasing all employees to at least the minimum of the range if
they are below the range, and freezing the salary of employees above the range.
The motion passed 6 to 1, with Trustee Glenda Smith dissenting. The board also
addressed setting the outer limits of employee raises for merit pay. A motion to
accept the range of 2.5%-7.5% for merit ranges passed unanimously.
Trustee Fay Elbaum expressed concern that input from the
public was not being incorporated into the master plan. In particular, Trustee
Elbaum observed that the 1983 plan had no heavy industrial zoning, whereas the
new plan specifies ‘planned industrial’ in some areas without indicating if
that means light or heavy industrial use. Mr. Davenport explained that the plan
doesn’t change anyone’s zoning, although changes in zoning can be adopted. A
small portion of property is zoned for heavy industrial use, but most is light
industrial. Mr. Davenport pointed out that the new plan shows less industrial
zoning than the old plan. He also mentioned that consultants have recommended
changing the heavy industrial zoning to light industrial.
Tom Wall, Public Works Director, presented to the board a
request from the Public Works Committee for a study of the possibility of
building a road, with a bridge across the railroad tracks, between Old Denver
Highway and Mitchell Avenue at the south end of current development along Old
Denver Highway and the Synthes property. Federal funding and/or money from the
Colorado Department of Transportation might be available for such a study. Also,
Mr. Wall brought up the need to inform the public that plowing snow onto a
public right-of-way, such as a road or sidewalk, violates a town ordinance. Mr.
Wall also reported that in December, Monument Meadows Mobil Home Park used over
two million gallons of water, one third of the water the town produced that
month. The owner of the park continues to try to locate and fix the source of
the water loss. Meanwhile, the town attorney, Gary Shupp, will investigate the
town’s options for handling this situation.
Rick Sonnenburg, Town Manager, reported that at a meeting of
the heads of each department, they decided to delay acquisition of the following
until the numbers were all in for FY2000 and FY2001: New truck and skid loader
in Public Works, new streets/parks technician position in Public Works, new
water technician position, two replacement police cars, and police copier and
computer. Also, Mr. Sonnenburg assured the trustees that future special meetings
would only be called if absolutely necessary. Trustee Byron Glenn mentioned that
he would like to see the town follow up on former mayor Si Sibell’s idea of
forming an Economic Development Committee.
Museum receives funds, Homestead North and the Village at
Monument approved, grant sought for trail and open space planning
By Judy Barnes
Mayor Konarski began the meeting with a discussion of the
meeting process. The trustees agreed to raise a hand when they want the floor
and to wait until they are called on so that the transcriber will hear the name.
All the trustees wanted to be called by their first name.
Mr. Rogers Davis from the Lucretia Vaile Museum received a
check for the museum from the town of Monument. The museum, located in Palmer
Lake, displays and maintains historical documents and items of importance to
Monument and the Tri-Lakes area. The board decided to give $3000 to the museum
to help fund its preservation work following a request at the November 5, 2001
meeting by Jim Sawatzki, of the Palmer Lake Historical Society and the Vaile
Museum.
Next on the agenda was a public hearing for Homestead North
at Jackson Creek: Final plat, combined preliminary plat and final PD site plan
and an amendment to the Regency Park development and zoning plan for a proposed
70 single family detached lot development on a 27 acre site east of the
intersection of Leather Chaps Drive and Creekside Drive. The smallest lot will
be 9,113 square feet, and the largest is 43,158 square feet. The applicant
requested and received approval for the preliminary and final applications to be
considered at the same time due to delays stemming from the need for Triview
Metropolitan District, the water and sewer provider, to develop a habitat plan
for the Prebles’ Meadow Jumping Mouse, a protected species found in the area.
Several boundary changes in the proposed subdivision resulted from the habitat
plan and relocation of a proposed trail corridor in order to connect with a
county trail extending east to the regional park. In addition, a small park area
was added near the Creekside Drive entry into the subdivision. Trustee Byron
Glenn commented on the location of the park at the edge of the subdivision on a
collector street. He would prefer to see a play area in a more protected
location in the heart of the development. John Maynard, the land planner from
N.E.S. Inc., replied that the park was an afterthought, but that the topography
of the site was suitable for a play area. A berm will be built to keep balls and
children from going into the street. Trustee Christopher Perry asked if the
Tri-Lakes Fire Protection people had seen the final rendition of the plan when
they wrote a letter approving the flag lots in the subdivision. Trustee Perry, a
volunteer firefighter, voiced his concern about the difficult access to the flag
lots in the subdivision, and remarked that he would have objections to the lots
for that reason.
The planning commission recommended approval of the final
plat and combined plan/plat, subject to the following conditions: The applicant
has made revisions requested by town staff and consultants, to their
satisfaction; the applicant contribute its proportionate share to an escrow fund
for the construction of traffic signals at the Baptist Road interchange per
request by the Colorado Department of Transportation. Trustee Ed DeLaney
suggested that all the burlap be removed from the root balls of trees and shrubs
being planted in the subdivision, since the burlap doesn’t break down in our
soil. This became a third condition. The plan with conditions was approved
unanimously.
The Village at Monument received a continuation due to the
need for more time to complete the documents for their Subdivision Improvement
Agreement
At the special meeting on December 27, former mayor Si Sibell
suggested forming an Economic Development Committee to bring more business into
town. Since the Chamber of Commerce recently established an Economic Development
Committee, the board decided to work with them instead of duplicating the
Chamber’s efforts. Trustees Byron Glenn and Christopher Perry volunteered to
serve with the Chamber’s committee. Mayor Konarski requested that they
investigate what incentives other communities offer to businesses. The Konarski
said that she’d recently been asked by several businesses about incentives for
coming to Monument. Synthes is one of them, but the mayor declined to reveal the
identity of the others.
Mountain View Electric turned off their six lights on Second
Street during the week of January 7-11 so the downtown merchants could evaluate
the lighting. Tommie Plank, representing the Historic Monument Merchants
Association, reported that, so far, she’d heard no objections to the lights
being turned off. She will report back to Mr. Sonnenburg after the Merchants
Association meeting. Town Manager Rick Sonnenburg agrees that the lights could
be left off and the town would save $600 per year. Police Chief Kissell also
agreed that the light from the decorative street lamps was adequate.
Next, the board considered options for Short Term Disability
(STD), Long Term Disability (LTD), and life insurance coverage for town
employees. After some discussion, it was decided that Mr. Sonnenburg would do
more research about coverage options and costs.
The board approved the donation of a town property remnant to
CDOT for the Second Street intersection with S.H. 105 This is a flagpole-shaped
remnant south of Rocky Mountain Oil Change Center, most of which is 6.5 feet by
170 feet. In September 2000, CDOT was considering a purchase of the 2,248 square
foot parcel plus a 270 square foot temporary easement to facilitate construction
of the new I-25/State Highway 105 interchange. In return for the donated land,
CDOT will build a pedestrian and bike lane on the new Highway 105 bridge.
Trustee Smith was selected and agreed to act as mayor for the February 4 board
meeting, when Mayor Konarski and Mayor Pro Tem Ed DeLaney will be out of town.
The next agenda item was notification of neighborhood
boundaries for Dagny’s Restaurant. Dagny’s Place, Inc is applying for a beer
and wine license, and will be open for breakfast and lunch only in a building,
65 Second Street, that once housed a similar business, The Golden Swan, and
later housed the Cook’s Nook. The board accepted both the application of Dagny’s
Place, Inc for a beer and wine license and the definition of the downtown
neighborhood.
Mayor Konarski explained her budget philosophy to the
trustees. Please see the Mayor’s letter to the editor for details. The mayor
noted that for FY2002, it looks as if town staff had under-projected their
estimates of the town’s income. The town might not be as much in the red as
previously thought.
Next was a discussion of possible acceptance of a partial
grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, GOCO, for parks, trails, and open space
planning. Last fall, the town applied for a GOCO grant to prepare a parks,
trails, and open space plan for the town of Monument. The request proposed
$7,500 (25%) town funds to match $22,500 (75%) GOCO funds to develop a $30,000
plan. GOCO has indicated an interest in providing $10,000 in funds and a staff
member to assist in developing the plan. The town contribution would remain
$7,500. Graduate university students could be used instead of a consulting firm,
saving money. CU Denver and CSU have graduate education and community service
programs that can do park planning. The town may revise its proposal to be based
on the above resources instead of developing a plan that would cost the $30,000
mentioned in the grant application. A motion was made and passed to check on the
projected money coming in, and if it’s high enough, to go ahead with the
proposal, using the graduate university students to do the planning.
The mayor announced that Trustee Glenn was accepted to the
Regional Building Department’s commission.
By Russ Broshous, President, Tri-Lakes Parks and Recreation
District
In November 2000, voters authorized the formation of the
Tri-Lakes Parks and Recreation District – or Tri-Rec, as it is known – by a
margin of almost two to one; but, when it came to authorizing the funding, the
vote was almost as lop-sided the other way opposing the funding. The obvious
question, of course, was “why.” Some said it was the dreaded ‘T’ word
– taxes. But, if taxes were really the issue, why authorize the district at
all?
This was the question facing the newly formed Tri-Rec Board
of Directors, and the board decided to confront it head on. With the financial
support of local residents, a survey was prepared and mailed to a random sample
of 1700 voters throughout the area. Those voters were asked to provide
responses, anonymously if they preferred, as to whether they had voted for or
against the district, for or against funding its programs, and which of a
variety of reasons may have affected their vote.
The results are shown in the “Tri-Rec Survey Results
Summary” table below.
But what does it all mean? Going down the left side of the
table, the respondents were classified in a number of ways: ‘Presumed
supporters’ versus all others (those not known to be supporters, but on the
voter registration list), those living north of Baptist Road versus those to the
south, those who voted for the district and its funding (committed supporters)
as opposed to those voting only for the district formation but no funding
(qualified supporters) and those voting ‘no’ to both (opponents). Finally,
separate tallies were kept of those respondents who wished to remain anonymous
and those who were willing to put their names on the survey.
What seems clear from the numbers is that voters thought the
program was too broad and not adequately defined. There also appeared to be
substantial concern that the funding authorization as it was proposed in the
ballot seemed too risky for the taxpayer. As to program specifics, a majority of
voters seemed to feel that an ice rink and various lake amenities were frills,
while a significant majority favored a recreation or community center as well as
the acquisition and development of trails and publicly accessible open space.
Additionally, respondents were asked whether they would
prefer funding the program through a sales tax – on a scale of –2 for ‘definitely
not’ to +2 for ‘absolutely yes.’ The statistical results seemed to suggest
a modest preference for the property tax; but a large number of voters added
written comments on the survey noting that such taxes should be requested only
after alternative funding sources had been tapped to the fullest.
As a result of this survey, the district board is
contemplating funding issues for the May 7th special district election, issues
that would be based on a significantly restructured program.
First, $130,000 per year of funding from Great Outdoors
Colorado has been obtained, and developer impact fees are being sought as well.
These will be applied to offset operating costs.
Second, the program has been pared down to include only a
community center, a facility for all age groups, with no third party involvement
and no user fees for district residents beyond the real estate taxes they would
pay.
Third, funds would be requested to ‘build-out’ the
86-mile Tri-Lakes Comprehensive Plan trail network over 6 to 8 years, as well as
to acquire Ben Lomond Mountain (among other selected parcels) and configure it
as a public park, with athletic fields to be constructed along County Line Road.
Finally, two separate ballot issues would be offered to
voters - one for the community center and one for the outdoors portion of the
program - so voters could select one or the other, or both.
Who says the public doesn’t have a voice?
Comp plan meetings set for February 4 and 11, May 7 election of
two director positions planned, draft Wal-Mart water study completed
By John Heiser
The district held its regular monthly meeting on January 24.
Monument Comprehensive
Plan Update
Mike Davenport, Monument Assistant Town Manager and Planner,
reported that a joint meeting is scheduled for February 11, 2002, 6:30 pm at
Monument Town Hall (166 2nd Street) between the Triview Metropolitan District
Board of Directors, the Monument Board of Trustees, and the Monument Planning
Commission. Major Jackson Creek landowners have been specifically invited to
this meeting. A primary point of discussion is the ongoing revision of the
Monument Comprehensive Plan.
Peter Susemihl, attorney for the Triview district, stated
that the present draft shows, “many recommended zone changes. The existing
master plan [for Jackson Creek] was totally ignored.”
Rick Blevins of Jackson Creek Vision Development Company and
a representative of the district’s principal bondholder, added, “The changes
would affect revenue from the district. Why can’t the comp plan match the
zoning?”
Davenport said, “This plan would not change anyone’s
zoning.”
Ron Simpson, Manager of the Triview district, said that the
plan for the Carriages project varies from the draft comprehensive plan.
Davenport said the comprehensive plan will be revised to show single family
detached rather than single family attached (i.e., town home) residences in that
area.
Davenport added that, “There is a three or four month
process from here.” Public comments will be incorporated by the consultant to
produce a revised draft that will be discussed by the advisory and steering
committees. The resulting draft will be addressed during one or more planning
commission hearings. If the planning commission decides to adopt the document,
it will likely be forwarded to the Monument Board of Trustees, perhaps in May,
for possible endorsement.
Triview director Bud Weis noted, “Our comments are coming
in at the right point. The February 11th meeting will be a good opportunity for
the district to express their concerns.”
Subdivision Status
Davenport also reported that the Monument Board of Trustees
approved the Homestead North development. The number of lots in this project has
been increased from 62 to 70 lots. Davenport noted that the final plat and site
plan for the Carriages at Jackson Creek is due to be submitted by January 25.
Davenport noted that there is an ongoing need for an
infrastructure plan to define what will initiate trigger trail and open space
projects.
Speaking as construction manager, Blevins said landscaping
efforts along Leather Chaps, Lariat Ranch, and within Homestead Park are
continuing despite snow and frozen ground. Detention ponds also need work. The
developer has decided to retain and improve a pond on the north side of Leather
Chaps because it is cheaper to eliminate the two lots from the plan than it
would be to pipe the storm water to another pond. Simpson noted, “The [Creekside
Middle] school’s pond does not drain. They built a bathtub with no drain.”
The board approved additional fencing at $10.75 per lineal
foot. It was noted that a sidewalk required by the town cost the district
$8,000.
Blevins reported that Classic Homes is proceeding with the
Creekside development and Keller Homes is proceeding with the nine-lot Jackson
Creek Filing 4. “About half the houses in the Keller project are sold already.”
Special Meeting of the Board
The Triview board decided to hold a special meeting Monday,
February 4, 11:30 am, at the district office to prepare their comments on the
Monument comprehensive plan update and to discuss agenda items for the February
11 joint meeting.
Election
Directors Weis and John Riesberg are up for reelection May 7.
Candidates must file a self-nomination form signed by one other elector as
witness between February 6 and February 28. Forms are available at the district
office. If no other candidates file by March 1, the district can cancel the
election and declare the incumbents reelected. Dale Hill was appointed as the
official to conduct the election. The board concluded that using a mail ballot
would be too expensive so a polling place will be set up at Creekside Middle
School. If the school is unavailable, the district office will be used as the
polling place.
Agreement signed with the YMCA
Blevins reported that a letter of intent has been signed with
the YMCA for 12 acres west of Lewis-Palmer High School. The southern edge of the
property would be 200 feet to 300 feet north of Higby Road but the exact
location is still being determined. Blevins noted that zoning concerns led to
the latest location. A ball field is planned for completion within a year. A
recreation center is planned for construction in about three years. The project
would be funded through contributions. No tax moneys would be involved. The
project would be served by the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District and be
covered by Woodmoor covenants and design standards.
Bond Refinancing
Blevins reported that since the district’s financial
advisor does not sell bonds and cannot answer questions about marketability, the
district must retain a bond underwriter. Susemihl noted that underwriters might
be willing to do the analysis and render an opinion as a way to capture the bond
underwriting business and the associated fees. He added, “The IRS is
scrutinizing bond issues held by developers or developer-controlled entities.”
Water Reuse
Chuck Ritter from Nolte Associates, the district’s
engineer, reported that the plan for using water treatment plant reuse water for
irrigation at the school and parks is almost ready for submission to the state.
The state process takes about 45 days. An agreement with the school district is
ready for signature. The agreement would let the district cut off reuse water if
the water is not used in accordance with state rules. The district has one reuse
water holding tank now but will need two more if the state approves the plan.
Wal-Mart Water Resource Report
Ritter reported that Nolte Associates has completed a draft
of the water resource report needed for submission with the Wal-Mart application
to the county. Ritter said the draft is, “ready for review by the district.”
Simpson will arrange a closed-door meeting of district personnel to review the
draft.
Sales Tax Payments
Dale Hill, district administrator, announced that the town
has paid all sales taxes due through December 2001. Hill also reported that
Monument Town Manager Rick Sonnenburg has sent a letter to the state requesting
refund of sales taxes for Texaco and Cost Cutters erroneously sent by the state
to the City of Colorado Springs.
Mouse Habitat
Blevins reported that deed restrictions and covenants are
being put in place to address mouse habitat restrictions such as not letting
pets into the habitat. Enforcement of covenants is a matter between property
owners.
Exclusion of the “Park Trade” parcel
The board unanimously voted to exclude from the district a
parcel on the west side of I-25 that is within the Triview district and the
Monument sanitation district. The parcel was involved in a parkland trade with
the county. Simpson noted that the action is, “subject to bondholder consent”
and added that he spoke with “Tim [Phelan] yesterday.” A court decree is
needed to complete the exclusion.
Wastewater interceptor status
Simpson reported that a big issue with the project is the
presence of mouse habitat. He said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is
requiring a habitat conservation plan for projects that exceed 1/10 of an acre.
Simpson said, “This project is on hold until the mouse issue is resolved.”
Ritter noted, “The road is in the habitat.” The interceptor would be needed
to serve industrial properties on the west side of I-25. There is no project in
Triview with an immediate need for the line.
Inspection fees
In reporting on his survey of fees charged by Colorado
Springs and El Paso County, Simpson, noted, “The county has humongous fees.”
New fees adopted by the county and the City of Colorado Springs are being phased
in over several years. Simpson concluded there is no local jurisdiction
sufficiently similar to Triview’s situation. The district has experience with
the cost of reviewing and inspecting residential properties. The cost averages
about $250 per lot for single family and $150 per lot for multi-family. The
district has difficulty quantifying the costs for commercial, office, and
industrial projects such as Wal-Mart. This will be further addressed at the
February 28 board meeting.
Potential wastewater connection
to Colorado Springs
Representatives of the Triview, Donala, and Forest Lakes
districts met with Colorado Springs Utilities personnel to explore the
possibility of connecting into the city’s wastewater treatment system. Simpson
said the cost, estimated at $8.8 million without any provision for reuse water,
is prohibitive. In addition, the tap fee would be 1.5 times what city residents
pay. Simpson said the Donala district is still interested. One of the problems
with the proposal is that the northern expansion of the city did not include any
excess capacity, so the districts would have to pay for piping all the way to
the new Garden of the Gods facility.
Correction
Our Triview metro district story on page 6 of our January 5
edition, reported that 7% sales tax applies in Monument. The correct figure is
6.9% composed of 3% for Monument, 2.9% for the state, and 1% for the county.
Thanks to Gayle Wade of Monumental Miniatures and Toys for this correction. The
same story stated, “Simpson reported that the water treatment plant used by
Triview is one of only two tertiary treatment plants in Colorado.” Ron
Simpson, district manager, noted that while the statement was true at the time
the project was started, there are now many such plants.
By John Heiser
At its January 15 hearing, the El Paso County Planning
Commission recommended approval of final plats for three residential filings
totaling 82 lots that complete the center of the Walden development just east of
Highway 83 and south of Walker Road.
Also recommended for approval was a final plat for Forest
View Estates filing 3 with 14 lots located along Mount Herman Road one mile west
of Monument and one mile south of Palmer Lake.
The commission also recommended approval of a variance of use
for a wireless communications tower disguised as a 50-foot tall cross to be
placed next to the Family of Christ Lutheran Church at 675 Baptist Road. The
vertical and cross member will be 18 inches square. The design was changed from
the previously proposed lighted flagpole in response to the concerns of
residents.
All of these items will now be forwarded to the Board of
County Commissioners for a final hearing. For information on these and other
county planning items, call the county planning department at 520-6300.
West elevation of the stealth tower on Baptist Road:
By Tommie Plank
At its January 17 regular monthly meeting, the Lewis-Palmer
Board of Education began a review of the district’s Code of Conduct and Zero
Tolerance policies. Ted Belteau, Executive Director of Student Services,
reported on the meetings he held with every Building Accountability Committee
during the months of November and December. Most parents with students in the
elementary and middle schools support the current policy as it stands. At the
high school level there are mixed feelings, with some parents feeling that
expulsion for a first time offense of possession or consumption of drugs or
alcohol on school property or at school-sponsored events was too harsh. Five
people addressed the board on this topic; two were from the Zero Tolerance
sub-committee of the high school Accountability Committee, and spoke in favor of
lessening the penalty for a first time offense; three people, including a
student from the high school, spoke in favor of keeping the policy as it now
stands. The board will review this information, and will have more discussion
about the policies at the February meeting. Discussion and deliberation are
expected to carry on into the summer months. Whether or not the board makes a
final decision to alter the policy, no change will be made before this school
year ends.
The board received a proposal for a new evaluation system for
district employees. The Evaluation of Learning shifts the focus to student
learning, and away from teacher actions. It reflects a new philosophy of
evaluating and reinforces the district’s commitment to the standards-based
movement. The proposal, representing hundreds of hours of work by a committee of
teachers and administrators, took a year and a half to develop and fine-tune.
When fully implemented, it will be used to evaluate all district personnel, this
year numbering over 600 employees.
The board also heard the first reading of the proposed
Professional Development Model. The philosophy of the board is that professional
development for teachers and staff is critical to instructional improvement, and
increases the likelihood of student achievement and proficiency. These two
proposals will be discussed and considered for adoption at the February meeting.
On January 24, the board met in a work session with members
of the Monument Town Council, the Town Manager, and the Town Assistant Manager
and Director of Planning to receive a presentation of the preliminary
comprehensive plan. Discussion followed concerning the future of Monument and
the school district, and how both governmental bodies can work together as we
continue to see growth in the Tri-Lakes area.
The last part of the work session was spent in planning with
Superintendent Ted Bauman, High School Principal Keith Jacobus, and Assistant
Superintendent Dave Dilley. The focus of the discussion was the presentations to
be made this spring addressing the future of the high school. Growth at our
current rate will have our present high school facility at capacity enrollment
within four to five years. The board is considering two educational concepts: an
expanded campus at the present site or a duplicate school in another part of the
district. Because of the time required to pass a bond election, design, and
build a facility, a decision must be made within the next year. The board is
seeking community input. Over the next few months, several presentations are
being planned to receive this feedback.
Right now, much is being done to shape the immediate future
of our community. Even in a mobile society, it is imperative that we pay
attention to our surroundings, that we nurture our quality of life, protect our
investments, and maintain our sense of community. Demographically diverse as we
are, this can mean different things to different people.
As we notice vacant land on the verge of development, it is
key that we balance needs, rights, and desires of everyone affected, as best as
is possible. This also must be matched by the needs of the town as a whole. This
is a considerable, but not impossible, challenge. There is no single growth
issue that stands alone. Every decision made has a domino effect.
Come to town meetings, observe, and be heard. Be informed by
facts, rather than rumors or personal agendas. I know time is a precious
commodity to everyone. Be creative, consistent, and persistent in your
involvement. Husbands, wives, friends and neighbors could alternate attendance
at meetings. The town council, staff, and committees need your involvement as
much as you need ours.
The future of our town is happening now.
Katy Page, Trustee, Town of Monument
I was glad to see Joan Murphy’s article, in your January
issue, about the Yule Log Ceremony in Palmer Lake. However, the article did not
mention the names of all the people whose work and talents made the event
possible. I would like to acknowledge all those individuals, including:
Patricia Atkins, leader of the ceremony; Virgil Watkins,
Master of Ceremonies; David Quintana and family, presidents of the Palmer Lake
Yule Log Association; Rollin, Joan, and Mollie Murphy, vice presidents; Joan
Steininger, secretary and treasurer; Gary and Pat Atkins, Yule Log
Aficionados; Tim Watkins and Tom Allen, trail leaders; Rich Kuehster and Kevin
LaBella, log cutters; Duane Hanson, Rodger Voelker, and Harry Krueger, wassail
makers; Sam Swancutt, bagpiper; Betty Jenik, leader of the Tri-Lakes Community
Handbell Choir; Genevieve Newton, pianist; Jeff Slone, trumpeter; Dennis Book,
Don Graber, Gayle Preheim, and Lynn Roth, men’s quartet from the Mountain
Community Mennonite Church; and Joan Murphy and family.
Thank you.
Jodie Watkins
It was a bright and warm September afternoon as I returned
home from visiting my terminally ill grandfather in Sterling, Colorado. The air
was still as my wife and I sadly listened to the horror on the radio as clean-up
efforts continued at the World Trade Center incident. My heart was heavy as I
heard of all the children who were left without a father as over 300 fire
fighters were missing.
The news of this started me thinking of how we (local fire
fighters), might be able to assist the families of fallen or missing fire
fighters. Nancy and I began discussing ideas and creating a plan. Upon returning
to work, Chief David Youtsey and I met and talked about ideas of raising funds
for the families of the World Trade Center fallen fire fighters. I contacted
Safeway and asked the management for permission to set up a table in the
entrance area. Safeway, as usual, was very willing to help in any way. We were
unsure of what to expect.
The B shift staff set a bucket on a table with a sign that
read, “help WTC fire fighters.” American flags stuck out from the top of the
bucket as our fire helmets sat on the table to represent those who were there to
help. We were barely set up when we had Safeway shoppers coming from every
direction to give all they could. Few had questions of where the money would go
and many had hugs and tears, as they were so appreciative of the jobs we do as
fire fighters. One family wrote a check, put it into the bucket and quietly
walked away. Someone at the table made mention that the check had been written
for two hundred and fifty dollars. I pulled the check from the bucket and ran
outside to catch the family. As I approached them I told the family that we did
not make it a habit to look at check amounts but we noticed that “you gave two
hundred and fifty dollars.” The man and lady shook their heads and held out
their arms to hug me as they thanked us for raising money for such a great
cause. Tears streamed down my face as I realized that we were no longer just the
greatest country in the world but we were now the greatest family in the world!
Members from all three shifts at the Woodmoor-Monument Fire
Protection District were involved in this fundraiser that lasted less than four
days. In those four days, with your help, we sent over $17,000 to the families
of NYC fallen fire fighters. Thank you to all who contributed to the World Trade
Center Fire Fighters Fund. We worked together as a community for a great cause.
The Woodmoor-Monument fire fighters are proud to protect and serve the great
people of our district. May God bless you all!
Ty Rinaldo, Fire Captain, Woodmoor-Monument Fire Protection
District
This is a response to open letters to the Town of Monument
Board of Trustees and the community from Mr. Leon Tenney concerning the 2002
Budget adopted December 27, 2001. Because personally addressed and signed
letters were placed in my mailbox, I believe a personal response is warranted.
I agree with Mr. Tenney that before we can address the 2002
Budget we should look at 2001. When we do that, we expose a fundamental
difference between us in how to manage a budget. Let me explain.
I look at the Town of Monument as two service “businesses,”
owned by the taxpayers with a representative Board of Trustees to oversee
policies and a hired manager to “run the stores.” One “business”
provides the infrastructure for managing our water resources and ensuring that
we provide clean, dependable water to its owners. This “business” is
operated out of the Water Fund. The other “business” is running the town’s
services such as roads, licenses, police and land use planning. That second “business”
is operated from the General Fund. Each of these “businesses” has an
operating budget. Each of these “businesses” has chosen to establish certain
impact fees and tap fees to build reserves in order to fund future capital
projects. It is here where Mr. Tenney and I disagree.
I believe it is the Board’s responsibility to see to it
that these two “businesses” operate within their operating budgets without
using monies collected for capital and infrastructure purposes to balance over
spending in operations. The issue is that we shouldn’t combine operations and
capital because it obscures how much it really costs the “business” to
operate. We should not be covering salaries and other operational expenses with
monies earmarked for specific capital purposes.
Let us look at how that difference in philosophy plays out in
the 2001 financial picture. We now have income and expenditures figures for
eleven months of 2001, January through November. I’ll just use the General
Fund for illustration. These figures do not include income from special targeted
fees (like tap fees) nor expenses for capital projects that we have a choice
whether or not to undertake (like new equipment). Numbers include operating
income and operating expenditures including recurring expenses like lease
payments on police cars. In other words, just the income and expense of “running
the store.”
General Fund: What it takes to “run the store”
Operating
Income
Expenditures for
2001
Operations 2001
|
Budget
(12 mo) |
Actual
(11 mo) |
Budget
(12 mo) |
Actual
(11 mo) |
|
$1,668,943 |
$1,941,232 |
$1,519,936 |
$2,208,766 |
As we can see, the 2001 budget predicted income more than
adequate to cover predicted expenses. But even with higher than predicted
income, actual expenditures are overspent requiring the use of Reserves to
balance the budget. Those Reserve Funds have been built up over the years for
special capital projects like the construction of 2nd Street and
Beacon Lite Road. If we keep stealing money from Reserves to pay for “running
the store” those future capital projects cannot be funded.
What should we do? I believe that first and foremost, the
town should annually prepare a balanced budget in its operations. I then believe
we should have a variety of capital expenses that we would like to see funded
during that year, with costs outlined. On a quarterly basis, I believe the town
should look at its Budget to Actual in Operations to determine whether income
will cover ongoing expenditures. If so, we can begin releasing approvals for the
capital expenditures targeted for that year. If not, we do not have ourselves in
the situation where we have already spent money on capital improvements and then
need to take the money out of Reserves, as we do for 2001. (I have no objection
to taking money out of Reserves for special projects for which the Reserves were
established, e.g. Beacon Lite Road and Second Street.)
With this kind of quarterly snapshot of operating expenses,
the hire of a Town Treasurer, and the successful completion of Audits of the
past two year’s finances, the Town of Monument should be well on its way
toward sound fiscal control and better equipped to meet the present and future
service needs of its owners, the taxpayers of Monument.
Dr. Betty Konarski, Mayor, Town of Monument
My initial response to Mayor Konarski’s letter is, “Where
did she get those numbers?” This letter is to put before the public the plain
facts of the matter.
Firstly, Mayor Konarski both agrees and disagrees with me.
She agrees that we need to examine FY2001 first. She says she disagrees when she
wants to separate out operations from capital improvements. Note that for
FY2001, I did not separate them for the sake of simplicity, but I did for the
budget for FY2002. I also agree with the mayor’s approach to quarterly review
and balancing operating income with operating expenditures for all town funds.
I agree with her stated principles, but it is when they are
put into practice concerning the actual state of town finances that I take
exception. In those financial figures presented in her letter, Mayor Konarski
only wants to examine the General Fund operating revenues and expenses. So let
us review the numbers in a table comparing Mayor Konarski’s numbers with the
actual Town Financial Report as of the end of November 2001. [See table below]
In addition, the town report separates out capital
expenditures for the purchase of the 2nd Street right-of-way and other capital
improvement expenses. These total $662,228, which is not included in the numbers
above for the town column.
The column above for the town’s expenses and revenues is
taken from the actual report, with seven pages of detail. Mayor Konarski’s
numbers come from her memo, without much more detail than that shown. The town’s
numbers correspond well to those same categories presented in the budget report
for December 2001. As can be seen, Mayor Konarski’s numbers do not correspond
well to any other data heretofor presented. The over $1,000,000 in expenditures
for administration that her numbers show is almost double the town’s budget
numbers used in December 2001. Comparing the bottom lines of Mayor Konarski’s
numbers with those from the town’s financial report, I can’t help but
question what purpose is served by changing a surplus into a deficit. Trustee
Glenda Smith summed up the situation by saying that we need to wait for the
audit for FY2000 and the closeout numbers for FY2001.
Based on the numbers from the town’s financial report, the
conclusion that the operations-maintenance portion of the town’s General Fund
functions in a deficit is incorrect. The town’s General Fund
operations-maintenance surplus of $322,895 for the first 11 months of 2001
indicates that the town is on solid financial ground if these numbers hold up
when the FY2001 audit is performed. However, the town has a problem obtaining
financial reports that are accurate, complete, and timely. This may explain our
current mayor’s lack of knowledge concerning the town’s finances. This
financial reporting problem is what needs to be corrected before it becomes a
financial management problem.
Leon W. Tenney
We in the Colorado legislature are trying to mitigate the
effects of drastic budget shortfalls. Frankly, not many areas will get the
funding they want. We are reduced to picking priorities, and the priority that
seems most pressing is transportation.
Governor Owens has asked that we change the allocation of
sales tax revenue to more adequately represent the percentage of those taxes
produced from transportation-related purchases. This would free up millions of
dollars to help close the gap between transportation needs and financial
realities. He would shift the priority away from construction of government
buildings, which have been favored in years past.
Another issue dear to my heart and likely to be at the
forefront of the legislature this year is health care and health insurance. I am
carrying House Bill 1164, which would provide more choices for small business
owners (“small groups” of 50 or fewer employees) to provide health care to
their workers.
Up to Wednesday, when the House passed it, my primary efforts
were concentrated on my victim’s rights bill. As Chair of the Criminal Justice
Committee, I’ve heard many complaints from victims about the difficulties of
dealing with parole for those who had committed crimes against them. House Bill
1021 would ensure that victims have adequate notice before an inmate comes up
for a parole hearing. This helps prevent the re-victimization and de facto
harassment that some victims suffer when their attackers are up for parole. Now
the Senate will consider the bill.
Lynn Hefley, Rep., Colorado House District 20
The Friends of Ben Lomond Mountain (FOBL) are sponsoring Fitness
Day on February 9 from 9 am to 6 pm at the Pinecrest Event Center in Palmer
Lake. You’ll have a chance to try out a variety of types of exercise and local
instructors.
You can begin your fitness day at 9 am with Iyengar-style
yoga led by Stephanie Streff from the Colorado School of Iyengar Yoga. At 10:30
am learn kickboxing with Janice Jiuditta from Woodmoor Pines Country Club.
Jazzercise with Carolyn Savoren will be at noon. Hatha yoga with Raleigh Dove
will be at 1:30 pm. Pilates with Susie Poetsch and Trish Schwartz from Fitness
Architects will be at 3:00 pm. Weights and full body toning with Trish Schwartz
will be at 4:30 pm. You can choose any or all of the classes for $10 per class
or $25 for multiple classes. Massages from CIMT students will be available from
10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It is a great way to have healthy fun while you support the
Friends of Ben Lomond raise funds to help buy the mountain for publicly
accessible open space.
Directions to the Pinecrest Event Center: Travel west on
Highway 105 until you reach the 30 mph speed limit sign. Take a left onto South
Valley Road (not marked). Take an immediate left onto Spring Street (tight
U-turn). Follow Spring Street until you arrive to a stop sign with a choice to
turn left or right (Greeley Blvd). Turn left on Greeley Blvd, follow the road a
few hundred yards, and turn right onto Pinecrest Way. Once on Pinecrest Way, you
will immediately turn left into the paved driveway for the Pinecrest Lodge. For
more information on this event, contact Sue Buell at 481-2474.
FOBL is also sponsoring an art show March 18th through April
17th at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, Lucille Owens Gallery, in Palmer Lake
with a gala opening reception on Friday, March 22, 7 pm to 9 pm.
-
Artists are invited to submit
original nature-related artworks showcasing Ben Lomond Mountain and the
surrounding area.
-
The cost for entering the show is
$5 per piece entered with a limit of 5 pieces. Tax-deductible checks are to be
made out to the “Trails and Open Space Coalition” with memo line “Ben
Lomond Mountain.” Anyone who donates $25 or more to FOBL will receive a
one-year membership in the Trails and Open Space Coalition. TOSC publishes a
newsletter, sponsors events, and coordinates trail and open space planning in
El Paso County.
-
All artwork must be available for
sale. There will be a tax-deductible donation of 30% of the sale price for all
pieces sold. The donation will be split between FOBL and the Tri-Lakes Center
for the Arts.
-
All artwork must be brought, ready
to hang, to the Tri-Lakes Center between Saturday, March 9th and Friday, March
15th.
For more information on this event and registration forms for
artists, contact Paula Primavera at 481-4760 or primo2@ix.netcom.com.
Nutrition
for Success
By Marylou Doehrman, Executive Director, Tri-Lakes Chamber of
Commerce
You’ve all heard this before: “Many people care more
about the kind of fuel they put in their cars than the kinds of food they
consume.” But just like certain types of gasoline fuel a car’s performance,
the kinds of food we consume are directly related to how we perform on a daily
basis and how we succeed long-term in all avenues. Nutrition awareness and
exercise commitment are vital to our overall health and essential to a rich and
fulfilling life. How about those New Year’s resolutions? I bet 50 percent of
you resolved to improve your eating habits. That may be due to the fact that
approximately 50 percent of American adults are overweight.
Margo Gasta is a Monument nutritionist who has just started
her own nutritional consulting business, Nutrition for Life. Gasta, a
registered dietician for 13 years, has a master’s degree in nutrition and
consults for Pikes Peak Mental Health. Gasta followed up the above statistic
regarding overweight Americans by citing the major causes of weight gain –
overly large meal portions, empty calories, junk foods and too little activity.
No surprises there! However, even if you tend toward the lean side but you are
not ingesting good nutrients, the effects of an unbalanced diet will eventually
catch up with you and compromise your health.
“The problem with weight loss diets,” said Gasta, “is
that they do not address individual needs and lifestyles.” As a registered
dietician, Gasta is trained to intercept lifestyle roadblocks to optimum eating
habits and address various strategies to combat chaotic eating patterns. “We
have to look at lifestyles and personalities - the bigger picture – when
confronting nutritional issues and/or weight considerations,” said Gasta.
Gasta believes most people know they are not eating right but the tough part is
breaking the habit.
An advantage to working with a nutritionist or dietician is
the individual attention one receives. Like a personal trainer or career
councilor, Gasta acts as a nutritional coach. Our mental health is at risk when
we follow an unhealthy and nutrient-deprived diet. A poor diet can be connected
to depression, chronic fatigue, and lack of focus. Gasta also works with
individuals who have severe eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia. There
is a continuum of eating disorders or disordered eating patterns among the
populace, and Gasta knows the significance in viewing the whole person when
working to revise eating habits.
Margo Gasta was willing to provide a few simple tips to
healthy eating. “Choose three whole grains per day,” said Gasta, “and make
certain that you include a protein at breakfast, like peanut butter, cottage
cheese, or tuna fish.” Breakfast protein helps avoid the mid morning food
crave. “Try to eat two to three cups of vegetables per day and two to four
pieces of fruit,” said Gasta. “Cut down on meat portions and eat beef just a
couple of times per week,” added Gasta, “and decrease fatty foods like
hamburgers, sausages and hotdogs.” As most health professionals, Gasta is an
avid supporter of exercise. “For weight loss, exercise at least five times per
week, alternating between lower intensity workouts like walking and higher
intensity workouts like running,” said Gasta. Strength and weight training may
be more important to healthy body weights than aerobic exercise. Gasta relates
that a pound of muscle burns 30-35 calories per day, while a pound of fat burns
two calories per day.
And what about supplements? Gasta does not support any one
product; however, given the right product, she believes that supplements can be
helpful.
According to data presented by one nutrition company, 70
percent of Americans do not eat the minimum recommended daily intake of key
nutrients; thus, making us vulnerable to illness and fatigue. And it may not be
solely our fault. The Department of Life Systems, College of Pharmacy and Health
Sciences, at Texas Southern University released information in July 2000 stating
that plants have far, far fewer minerals now than they did in the early 1900’s.
There are just not enough nutrients left in our ground to provide us with what
is necessary for optimal health.
The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a new health
and wellness committee. The goal is to educate Tri-Lakes residents about an
overall healthy lifestyle. From exercise to nutrition to holistic methods of
healing, we will inform you and help you choose wisely. If you have even thought
about changing your eating habits, you are on the right path. We believe success
equals good health. Maintain your body like you maintain your Mercedes.
For more information about Nutrition for Life, contact
Margo Gasta at 719-331-5067.
Approximately 155 people attended the first annual Tri-Lakes
Health and Wellness Exposition on Saturday, January 26, at Lewis-Palmer High
School. More than 45 booths, representing holistic, allopathic, and spiritual
wellness information, were available at no cost to the general public. The
Sertomans provided hearing tests, Memorial Hospital tested bone densities, local
chiropractors provided fat testing, and local professionals, from massage
therapists to exercise instructors, from nutritionists to supplement and herbal
experts, answered questions and instructed individuals on mind/body/spirit
wellness issues.
Programs, such as healthy cookware demonstrations, health and
wellness storytelling and essential oil demonstrations, were continuous
throughout the four-hour exposition. The Health and Wellness Committee of the
Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce and EnergyOne sponsored the event. Marylou
Doehrman is the executive director of the chamber and was pleased with the
turnout. “I was extremely happy to see the participation among the health care
professionals. Their mission in life is to educate people about the benefits of
a truly healthy lifestyle, and I admire their spirit. Next year, I promise that
we will double or triple our attendance,” said Doehrman.
For more information on the health and wellness committee and
future programs, call the Tri-Lakes chamber at 481-3282.
Fifth in a series by Joe Beggs
Part 1, “Property Taxes,” is at www.ourcommunitynews.org/v1n7.htm#taxes
Part 2, “Just how special are these districts?” is at www.ourcommunitynews.org/v1n8.htm#beggs
Part 3, “The Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District,” is
at www.ourcommunitynews.org/v1n9.htm#beggs
Part 4, “The Triview Metropolitan District,” is at www.ourcommunitynews.org/v2n1.htm#beggs
With regard to the Triview Metropolitan District discussed in
my column last month, several facts have come to light that should be noted by
all local residents and taxpayers.
Residents of the Jackson Creek Area receive most of their
services from the Triview Metropolitan District. According to a Triview office
publication, the district was established to provide the following services
within its jurisdictional boundaries: public water; public sewer; public
drainage; public parks, recreation, and open space; public streets; and public
safety protection. Note the inclusion of the word “public” in each entry.
If the Triview Metropolitan District is truly a public
entity, then by their own statement and by the dictates of state law, the
workings of the Triview Metro District should become public knowledge. According
to state law, “…the secretary [of a Special District] shall keep, in a
well-bound book, a record of all its proceedings, minutes of all meetings,
certificates, contracts, bonds given by employees, and all corporate acts
which shall be open to inspection of all electors, as well as to all other
interested parties.” (CSR 32-1-902- “Organization of Board –
Compensation – Disclosure”; Article 32, Special Districts Act).
Here are a few of the facts that definitely should be public
knowledge:
Fact #1: There are approximately $8.7 million (face
value) in Triview Metro District bonds that are owned by Centre Development of
Colorado Springs. The interest on these bonds run at least 9%, maybe more.
Fact #2: Jackson Creek Land Company LLC and Vision
Development Inc. have continuing involvement in the area served by Triview
Metro. Rick Blevins of Vision Development sits at the table in almost all the
meetings of the Triview Metro District.
Fact #3: Centre Development, Jackson Creek Land,
and Vision Development are all owned and/or operated by Timothy and/or Thomas
Phelan.
Fact #4: The Triview Metro District has paid well over $3
million in interest on bonds in 1999, 2000, and 2001. The vast majority of this
interest was paid to Centre Development.
Fact #5: Triview Metro District’s payments in 1999,
2000, and 2001 to Centre Development were “interest only”.
Fact #6: A company named Colorado Structures, Inc. (“CSI”)
has Timothy Phelan as President, Thomas Phelan as Secretary. Colorado Structures
notes on their website that they have built more than one hundred Wal-Marts.
Fact #7: The Triview Metro District Board recently
approved $15,000 for a water study for a prospective Wal-Mart site south of
Baptist Road. Facts related to this expenditure:
-
The proposed Wal-Mart site is not located in the Triview
Metropolitan District.
-
The proposed Wal-Mart site is zoned R4 in El Paso County,
which means the property is not zoned for a Wal-Mart. (According to the
Clerk of the County Planning Department, “Not even close.”)
-
Wal-Mart has made no application to the County Planning
Department to date for the above site.
Fact #8: In fiscal year 2000, the Triview Metro District
spent $1.2 million on bond interest and $450,000 on administrative expenses, but
only $36,000 on streets, lighting, parks, landscape, and open space. They spent
nothing on traffic control.
Fact #9: The five members of the Triview Board of
Directors are not residents of the Triview Metropolitan District.
People who actually live in the Triview Metro
District, which basically encompasses the Jackson Creek Development Area, are
paying at least $1,000 per household each year for services provided by this
district.
Residents of the Jackson Creek area should be asking:
-
“Whose interest is being served by the
present board of Triview Metro?”
-
“Where do the interests of the residents
fit into the above scenario?”
-
“How do residents get involved in the
decision-making process, if they are not satisfied with the status quo?”
Residents have the right to inspect all documents and
meeting minutes of the Triview Metropolitan District by writing to them or
calling them at:
Triview Metropolitan District
174 N. Washington St., Suite C
Monument, CO 80132
(719) 488-6868
I urge the residents of the Jackson Creek Community to get
involved and to run for the two openings on the Triview Metro District Board
of Directors. Candidates for election to the Triview Metro District Board
must apply for candidacy after February 6 and before February 28, so “time
is of the essence.”
[ Sources: County Planning Department; Colorado State Law;
website of the Secretary of State of Colorado; Independent Auditor’s Report
of the Triview Metropolitan District for the Year 2000 (Auditor’s Report for
2001 is not yet available); Synopsis of the Triview Metropolitan District;
interview with District Manager in December; website of Colorado Structures]
By Leslie Mintz
The fun, energy and excitement that surrounds Tri-Lakes
Center for the Arts is visible on numerous levels, and the month of February
promises to be more entertaining than ever. Two new exhibitions, avant-garde
films, a night of karaoke, lectures, a new gift shop, and a variety of classes
and workshops provide the area with a cultural center that is recognized
throughout the region and continues to supply the critical press with plenty of
engaging rhetoric.
If film and photography are your passion, I strongly
recommend reserving a seat for an opportunity to screen the internationally
recognized, avant-garde films of Standish Lawder, Ph.D. Lawder, the Director of
the Denver Darkroom, received his doctorate in Art History from Yale University,
and has instructed film at Yale and Harvard Universities. On February 9th at
7:00 pm in the Main Gallery, the public will have the extraordinary opportunity
to view Lawder’s outstanding works. These films are of an abstract nature, and
directed toward a mature audience. Make reservations by calling 481-0475 (Cost
$5).
The ability to shift from serious to silly is the key for a
balanced life, and there are only a few things in this world that are as good
for your health as laughter. At Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, we acknowledge
this. Therefore, on February 22nd at 7:00 pm, we invite you to join us for a
night of karaoke. Through pledges to benefit the Center, we hope to coax top
artists of the region onto the stage. The Center also invites individuals,
groups, businesses and organizations to participate in the madness, as you
persuade your favorite singers to perform for us all. Prizes will be awarded in
several categories. It ain’t over ‘til the Artist Sings promises all
participants a night filled with fun and laughter.
Some of Colorado’s best artists are also educators, and
their artwork will be on display in the Main Gallery from February 3rd
through March 16th. The Colorado Art Educators Association will be
hosting their annual exhibition; with the opening reception on February 8 from
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Awards will be given at 7:00 pm. At the same time, in the
Lucy Owen Gallery, the Center will be hosting an opening celebration for The
Photography of the Denver Darkroom Instructors. Both events are free and
open to the public, so please stop by and join us.
As stated earlier, the Center has recently opened a gallery
gift shop that offers reasonably priced items created by some of the region’s
top artists. Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts also offers numerous classes and
workshops, and prides itself that many of the instructors are among the best
artists in the area. The dates for an educational lecture series will soon be
released, and a variety of exciting events are presently being scheduled.
Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization, and depends on your
support for its growth and future existence.
By Joe Kissell, Chief,
Monument Police Department
I would like to take this opportunity to share with the
citizens of Monument and the Tri-Lakes area some important information regarding
the Police Department. The Monument Police Department does not routinely
dispatch officers to calls. We use the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for
this function for several reasons.
When a citizen needs the Police Department, using the Sheriff’s
Office Dispatch automatically creates a record of the call and documents some
extremely important information. It also allows the Police Department to
accurately track calls for service and peak times for calls so we can schedule
officers where needed.
The dispatchers are trained to get the information needed to
properly respond to the call and can immediately dispatch other emergency
personnel when required. Since the Sheriff’s Office dispatches for the
majority of fire departments in El Paso County, they have direct communication
with them as opposed to making another phone call. The best way to illustrate
this is to give an example and explain how the scenario plays out if the person
talks directly with the Monument officer or with a Sheriff’s Office
dispatcher.
When the Police Department closes at 5:00 pm, the phone is
forwarded to the officer on patrol. When a citizen calls the Police Department
because a relative is having medical problems, the call is transferred to the
officer in the field after 2 ½ rings. The officer answers the phone, tries to
obtain the pertinent information and drives to the scene. However, if the
officer is already on the phone, the citizen gets the answering machine, an
inappropriate solution to the situation. Once the officer obtains the
information, he or she must then radio the Sheriff’s Office to request medical
assistance and repeats the information to the dispatcher, usually while still
hurrying to get to the call. During medical situations, time is of the essence.
Provided all the connections are made and the officer is not involved in an
accident while driving, talking on the cell or trying to communicate with the
dispatcher, the situation may turn out all right.
Take the same situation only this time the citizen calls the
Sheriff’s Office. The caller immediately speaks with a call taker trained in
Emergency Medical Dispatching. The call taker stays on the phone with the caller
while giving medical advice on how to treat the individual having the problem. A
second dispatcher is in contact with the officer on the radio and is also
dispatching medical assistance. This can greatly improve the response time of
the officer and the medical personnel while the caller stays in uninterrupted
contact with the dispatcher to keep them updated on the patient’s condition.
Therefore, I encourage all residents of Monument to call
the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center, for
routine calls
911 for emergencies, 24 hours a day.
The Monument Police Department is still available to answer
questions and can be reached at 481-3253. Using the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch
Center to field the calls for service is an efficient way to handle the call. A
record of the call is made and the citizens of Monument still receive the
service from their Police Department. It is a win-win situation for everyone.
Aspens—Quaking
in their roots
By David W. Hale
In last month’s article, I described the aspen’s
supremacy as the most massive species on Earth. In this article’s exploration
of the less obvious qualities of the leaves and bark, we will see yet another
aspect of this fascinating species, and gain insight into the aspen’s
well-deserved niche among the hardy conifers in the high mountains.
Who cannot help but be fascinated by the more functionally
obvious and “clever” adaptations of the living organisms around us? Trout
are streamlined like miniature torpedoes, so they can move with relatively
little drag through their water environment. Among the mottled rocks above
timberline, we do not even see the motionless, well-camouflaged ptarmigan until
it suddenly and noisily scurries away from a close encounter with our
unsuspecting feet. The wary pronghorn antelope, which must spot and outrun
predators on the open prairie, possesses eyesight that rivals high-power
binoculars and speed that would justify a citation on many Colorado highways.
The thick waxy coverings and specialized metabolism of cacti serve to retain
precious water, letting these hardy plants thrive in the desiccated desert
environment. Weasels turning white, bears turning in, and migratory birds
turning tail are all adaptations to environments with cold, snowy winters and
limited food availability. In these cases, the survival value of these physical
or behavioral adaptations is immediately evident to even the casual observer.
For other animals and plants, the adaptive significance of
familiar attributes is not readily apparent without closer examination and
consideration. For example, conifers such as pines, spruces, and firs dominate
higher altitudes and latitudes at which the growing season is relatively short;
because they retain their green leaves (needles) throughout the year, these
evergreens can carry out photosynthesis (the complex process by which plants use
solar energy to produce sugars from carbon dioxide and water) whenever the
weather is sufficiently warm and sunny. And, with their leaves in place, these
trees are “ready to go” once spring days are warm enough for photosynthesis.
This early start represents a distinct advantage for these trees by extending
their growing season. In contrast, deciduous trees, that drop their leaves every
autumn, are at a relative disadvantage in such “low-energy” environments, as
they must rebuild their leaves anew with the advent of each growing season. And,
without their leaves during the winter and early spring, they lack the means to
produce food through photosynthesis.
But what of the aspens we see among the conifers in the
Colorado high country? Outdoor enthusiasts are all familiar with the aspens’
lively, fluttering leaves, whose soothing, mildly hypnotic sound makes for
enjoyable hiking and pleasant campouts in the mountains. And, of course, we all
know and eagerly anticipate the aspens’ blazing golden display during the
early fall. Many of us feel some level of sadness and loss when these gilded
leaves are dropped, and the trees become bare and stiff until the spring
warming. Without the mosaic of the light-green or bright-yellow aspen groves
amongst the dark-green and greenish-blue conifers, the mountains are in some way
diminished in our eyes and consciousness. So, what adaptations let these
deciduous trees successfully grow among the always-green conifers at higher
elevations (~8,500-10,500 feet in Pike National Forest) and higher latitudes
(such as the northern region bounded by Alaska and Newfoundland)? In other
words, how is it that aspens are capable of living in habitats unavailable to
their more environmentally restricted deciduous relatives?
The aspens’ success in such environments lies, in part, in
the unique structure of the all-too-familiar leaves. The petiole (the “stem”
by which the leaf attaches to a twig) of an aspen leaf has a unique oblong or
oval shape, and the petiole-leaf junction is unusually flexible. The
differential flow of air across the petiole and the broad leaf surface causes
the leaf to rapidly flip back and forth in even the most gentle of breezes. This
familiar “quaking” phenomenon is the basis for the aspen’s exquisitely
descriptive scientific name, Populus tremuloides (Latin for “the
trembling poplar”). According to Dr. Michael Grant, a plant ecologist at the
University of Colorado, this alternating exposure of the top and bottom leaf
surfaces to direct sunlight may amplify the average light-gathering capacity of
the leaves. Or, the quaking movements perhaps enhance carbon-dioxide acquisition
by constantly “refreshing” the air at the leaf surface. Either effect
results in increased photosynthesis and food production for the tree, thereby
letting it more efficiently exploit the short growing season of high-altitude
and -latitude environments.
Another familiar aspect of aspens, the sensitive and easily
scarred bark, is also related to their success in these environments. In
contrast to most trees, aspens possess bark that is active, living tissue. The
slight greenish color of the bark reveals the presence of chlorophyll, the green
light-harvesting pigment of photosynthesis. Thus, even without their leaves,
aspens are capable of some photosynthesis on sufficiently sunny winter days.
According to Dr. Grant, the photosynthetic activity in the bark partially
compensates for the metabolic cost of winter leaflessness. Unfortunately, this
living bark also constitutes a sort of “Achilles root” for the trees. The
nutritional value of the bark makes it especially attractive to busy beavers in
the summer and hungry elk in the winter. Indeed, in areas of high elk density,
the lower six feet or so of aspen trunks are often thickly scarred from elk
nipping off the nutritious bark during the lean snowy winters. The living aspen
bark also forms dark scars in response to initials carved by thoughtless humans,
who, like leg-lifting dogs, are seemingly compelled to leave some overt sign
announcing their passage through the area.
Nature always finds a way of maximizing organisms’ success
in their respective environments, and in this regard she has been especially
kind to our quaking aspen. The unique geometry of the quaking leaves and the
chlorophyll-containing cells of the living bark comprise effective adaptations
for increased photosynthesis, that lets aspens produce sufficient food and
energy stores during the relatively short growing seasons that characterize
high-mountain and northern regions. Thus, along with the pines, spruces, and
firs, the leafy aspens are able to successfully live in environments not
hospitable to other, less-endowed deciduous trees.
Populus tremuloides is truly a unique species deserving
of our admiration for its many intriguing attributes. The visual appeal of
aspens is widely appreciated during their spectacular fall show, which draws
thousands of “leaf peepers” into the mountains. But the aspen is not just
another pretty leaf. I hope that, through these two articles, I have provided
you with a broader perspective and deeper appreciation of this famous, amazing
tree.
Feeding the Birds
By Woody Woodworth, Owner, High Country Feed & Garden
Bird feeding is a major source of enjoyment during the winter
months. Attracting birds is as easy as setting up a feeding station, keeping it
stocked, cleaning it and providing water.
Selecting a feeder is the first step. The variety of feeders
is endless including hanging bird feeders, platform wildlife feeders, squirrel
feeders and squirrel-proof feeders. Leading manufacturers and bird enthusiasts
suggest metal and plastic feeders although wood feeders are available. Some
popular manufacturers are Duncraft, Droll Yankee, K-Feeders and Perky Pet.
Simple wood bird feeders are very popular in the wild bird
feeding industry. They are easily maintained and usually have a plexiglas window
to view the seed levels. Most wooden feeders are made of cedar and provide
perches or stands on which the bird can sit while it munches the seed. Smaller
feeders draw smaller birds like the Black-Capped Chickadee, Finches and
Sparrows. Ground feeding birds like Juncos and Thrushes keep the seed picked up
from the ground. Some manufacturers attach a wire cage on the side of the wooden
feeders to accommodate a suet cake for the woodpeckers and nuthatches.
Tube feeders are another variety and they attract birds
according to the type of seed you put in them. Generally, these types of feeders
are plastic, inexpensive and easy to fill. American Goldfinches love a full
thistle feeder and will congregate by the dozens to wait for an empty perch to
gobble up the tiny black seed. Some tube feeders are interchangeable allowing
you to provide a different size opening to accommodate various types of seed.
Some feeders are surrounded by cages that let smaller birds feed but prevent
larger birds and squirrels from getting to the seed.
Just off a deck, we hang a metal and wire sunflower feeder
for all the birds and squirrels. It has a dome on the top, a wide base on the
bottom and a cylindrical shaped wire cage that houses black-oil sunflower seeds.
It holds a lot of seed and doesn’t require filling as often as other feeders.
When a black bear tore it off the deck two years ago and bent it all up to get
to the seed, we simply bent it back into shape and hung it up again, so it’s
proved to be durable as well.
Suet cages are important feeders to remember to put out. They
usually are square and hold suet cakes. The cakes come in numerous types and are
imbedded with a variety of seeds - one in particular has a hot pepper added to
it to deter squirrels. (Pepper doesn’t bother the birds because birds have no
taste buds). We hang suet cakes from high branches using small chains or branch
hooks to make it easier to fill and view. Keeping suet in a cool place usually
makes it easier to handle and get inside the cage. We’ve seen a Downy and
Hairy (the bigger one) woodpecker, Nuthatch, Flicker and the Black-Capped
Chickadee all on the suet feeders.
Platform feeders are easy to hang or screw down to a deck
rail. They usually have a screen bottom to allow drainage from the seed. We use
a plastic saucer from the bottom of a pot. I drilled some 3/4” holes in the
basin and screwed it to a feeding station I have in the back. I fill it with
peanuts for the jays to steal and bury throughout the forest. This feeder is for
larger birds like blue jays and scrub jays, squirrels, raccoons, and anything
else that comes by to feed. Occasionally wiping out the tray and raking below
keeps the area clean from the bird defecation. It’s entertaining watching the
squirrel’s acrobatic skills and cunning ways to get to all the feeders. I keep
the platform feeder full, so it keeps them happy and away from the other feeders
in the yard.
Next month, I’ll write about the types of seed to provide
the wildlife during the cold winter months.
Local Historical Treasures
By Judith Pettibone
Lucile Lavelett (1906 - 1998), a life-long resident of
Monument gave us a gift. She cared enough about the history of Monument to
painstakingly and lovingly leave us its history. As she said in her biographical
notes, “I am not a writer and have never had any training in that line but
have listened to many interesting stories of my pioneer relatives and friends.”
So this good listener decided to fill her retirement years with research on
Monument and, with the encouragement of her friends, put it all together in a
booklet. The result of her four years of work is the 1975 publication --
Through the Years at Monument, Colorado
By Lucile Lavelett, 1975
67 pages, $10.00
Now in its fourth printing, this booklet chronicles Monument
from its very earliest days. She begins by naming the early settlers and telling
of their experiences. There are many details of this time period - from early
skirmishes with the local Indians (several families lost 300 horses one day) to
the building of a small fort. Local buildings are named, and photos later in the
book will help you place the homes and historical figures.
Lavelett had a knack for choosing details that might be of
interest to her future readers. There are listings from the Monument Business
Directories of 1876 – 1888, naming local merchants, including the music
teacher, saloon owner, milliner and dressmaker and, of course, the wholesale
potato dealer. “The Divide potatoes were known as the best potatoes in the
country.” It was the chief industry of Monument. The section on “Potatoes”
is filled with intriguing details including the Annual Potato Bake and the
blight from wild roses that caused the demise of big potato crops.
Ever wondered about Dirty Woman Creek, the history of the
school district, crime, and even banking? This is your source. Filled with
photos and photostats of local historical documents, Through The Years At
Monument is a testament to the early history of our town and also to the
woman who decided one day that our history was just too good not to print.
Monument’s Faded Neighbor Communities and Its Folk Lore
By Lucile Lavelett, 1979
70 pages plus photographs, $10.00
In its second printing, Lavelett’s second book was written
to commemorate Monument’s centennial in 1979. Highlighting the “once close
and prosperous” communities of Pring, Husted, Gwillimville, Table Rock, Spring
Valley and Greenland, this book is filled with photos and documents. In her
dedication, Lavelett tells us her intent - “The past fifty years I have
watched and seen many changes within and in the surrounding areas of Monument;
younger generations of people moving in from far away places, who have never
heard or known about our once-upon-a-time neighboring communities and people.
These facts have given me the insight to put in writing the history of the
communities and its people so that the now and future generations can read and
know the history of the last hundred years.” It was certainly a surprise to
this reviewer to read that Monument had “thriving neighbors” five miles away
on several of the compass points. For instance, Gwillamville was 5 miles east on
Hwy. 105. The cover of the book is a map with each of the “faded neighbors”
and the mileage from Monument.
Tucked in between descriptions of neighboring towns are tales
of Monument and its culture. Lavelett tells us about box socials, Halloween
stories and “the funny side of life.”
One hopes that all towns have their local historian. We were
lucky to have Lucile Lavelett.
The Villa at Palmer Lake
By George Barnes
As a child growing up amidst the rolling red hills of rural
central Georgia, my only experiences with Italian cuisine came from eating pizza
and spaghetti, and more often than not both were of the “Chef Boyardee”
variety. During the early 90’s, though, I was fortunate to be able to travel
to Italy and enjoy some of that country’s great regional cooking. I have to
admit I was genuinely surprised when I learned that most Italians don’t eat
pizza. Indeed, they regard pizza as being more of an American invention. Real
Italian cooking is a joy, and it was a joy to have the opportunity to write this
review of the real Italian food at The Villa At Palmer Lake.
Since February 2001, The Villa has had a new chef, Chris
Bowie from Colorado Springs. Previously chef at Café Giovanni and La Petite
Maison, Chef Bowie’s specialty is the cuisine of Tuscany. He lived there for
two years while learning his craft. Tuscany is located on the west coast of
Italy, due north of Naples. Tuscany’s main cities include Florence, Pisa, and
Siena. Art history owes a great deal to the traditions and artists from this
region. Indeed, Michelangelo used marble from the Tuscan town of Carrara to
carve many of his most famous works for Florentine clients. Closer to home, the
carvings of the Stations of the Cross found in the Catholic Chapel at the Air
Force Academy are also of the renowned Carraran marble. Considering the
importance Tuscany enjoys in the art world, it should come as no surprise to
learn that Tuscan culinary traditions are equally exalted.
The Villa is located in downtown Palmer Lake, along Highway
105. The historic building dates back to the early 1900’s, and is distinctive
and easily found. Parking is mainly on the south side of the restaurant. The
entrance requires stepping up, so someone in a wheelchair would probably need
assistance. Once inside, we were immediately impressed with the décor and
furnishings. There are two main dining areas that are beautifully decorated and
provide luxurious and romantic ambiance. The staff is knowledgeable and
friendly. My wife and I arrived around 5:30 pm, and we were promptly seated. We
chose a table in front of the fireplace, and our attentive and cheerful
waitress, Sharita, patiently answered our questions.
The menu’s variety was notable and in keeping with the
great Italian philosophy of, “Good food, good company, and good wine!” The
price of entrees on the menu range from $7.95 to $24.95, with four pasta dishes
under $12. Since we were there on Tuesday, which is Lasagna Night, lasagna –
with meat or with cheese only – and a salad were $9.95. Wednesday is seafood
night, which always includes lobster and a fresh catch of the day flown in.
Thursday is prime rib night; a 12-ounce cut is offered for $17.95, and a
16-ounce cut is $21.95. All the specials are full dinners including soup or
salad. For children, The Villa offers a half portion of Spaghetti Pomodoro or
Tagliatelle on Ragu for $3.95. All bread and pastas are prepared fresh daily.
There are two wine lists, one with wines available by the bottle or by the
glass, and an extensive reserve wine list. Single glasses of wine cost between
$4.50 and $7.50.
For my appetizer, I chose the Formaggi Misti con Frutta Secco,
a selection of imported Italian cheeses and dried fruits served with a balsamic
honey reduction. My wife opted for the Insalata di Funghi Misti Grigliati, a
blend of marinated and grilled mushrooms on a bed of fresh greens. Both were
attractively presented, very delicious, and the portions were generous enough to
share.
Specials for the day included roasted antelope, fresh striped
marlin in an apple-pear champagne sauce, and slow-roasted prime rib of beef but
we decided to order from the regular menu. My wife chose the Lasagna di Quattro
Formaggi, meatless lasagna with ricotta, provolone, gorgonzola, and fresh
mozzarella cheeses with béchamel sauce, baked with fresh roma tomatoes. I
decided on Petto di Pollo Ripieno, chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto and a
blend of herbs and cheeses in a white-wine-based butter sauce served with garlic
mashed potatoes. Both entrees came with a house salad and vinaigrette dressing.
Again, we found the food to be beautifully presented, excellently prepared and
very tasty. While eating, we overheard a diner at a nearby table, Jeremiah Smith
of Larkspur, commenting to his server that the prime rib at the Villa had
spoiled him; he can’t find better anywhere. Next time we’ll try it.
Luckily, we saved room for dessert. The dessert tray offered
six or seven choices, all equally inviting. I decided on the apple-pear pie in a
cream sauce (nice but a bit too much cinnamon for my taste), and my wife tried
the tiramisu, which was excellent. We left very content – wonderful food,
excellent service, beautiful ambiance, and all close to home. What more could we
want?
The Villa at Palmer Lake is open for dinner Tuesday through
Sunday. Reservations are encouraged but not required. The restaurant can
accommodate parties up to 150 people. Phone The Villa at 481-2222 for more
information.
By John Heiser
Just about every day, there is news of a new computer virus
or hacker attack on some major computer network or other. It has gotten to the
point that some people are giving up on the computer revolution. But there are
things you can do to protect your computer short of unplugging it and stashing
it in the closet. Let’s look at each of the major threats – infection,
break-in and user error – and see what you can do to protect yourself.
Infection
Infection covers viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and the like.
These are programs written to damage the data and programs on your computer and
spread themselves to other computers. They may be designed to lie dormant for
months or years before being activated. The amount of damage done by infectious
programs ranges from a little message that pops up on the screen to erasing the
entire contents of your hard drive, scrambling the code in your basic
input-output system (BIOS) chip, or trying to cripple the Internet. Norton
anti-virus currently lists 58,325 infectious programs. The number is growing
every day.
Why would anyone go to all the effort of building an
infectious program? No doubt the reasons are the same as the reasons some people
bash mailboxes with baseball bats, spray graffiti, or steal cars: A callous
disregard for other people’s rights and a need to feel superior. Sometimes
that is coupled with the intent to steal valuables such as credit card or social
security numbers.
So what can you do about it? Buy and use an anti-virus
program. A couple good ones are Norton Anti-Virus and McAfee
VirusScan. They list for about $50 but are often available for less. Don’t
want to spend any money? There is a free one I have heard good things about: AVG
Anti-Virus (www.grisoft.com). Whichever anti-virus program you choose, keep
it up-to-date. Norton and McAfee publish new virus signature files every few
days. Check frequently. Download and install the latest. Norton Anti-Virus
includes a live update feature that will notify you and install the update as
soon as it is available.
Break-In
The Internet is a wonderful tool for people to connect with
one another and exchange information. The problem comes when someone on the
other end of your Internet connection is intent on vandalism or worse. The same
connection you use to visit far-away web sites can be used to snoop around in
your computer. To see how vulnerable your computer is, visit Gibson Research (www.grc.com)
and click on ShieldsUp! and then “Test my shields.” You may be
shocked to discover just how vulnerable you are.
The Gibson Research site has extensive instructions on how to
make your Internet connection more secure. One essential tool is a software
firewall that monitors every interaction over your Internet connection
looking for and blocking nefarious activity. Software firewalls are available
from various companies including Norton and McAfee. There is a good quality free
one: Zone Alarm (www.zonelabs.com). Gibson Research offers advice on
firewalls at http://grc.com/su-firewalls.htm. One of the single most important
things you can do to prevent break-in: Install a software firewall.
User Error
Just as the most dangerous part of a car is “the nut that
holds the steering wheel,” each of us is a major menace to our computing
security. We forget to save the report we just finished. We add a new piece of
hardware or software without backing up the current configuration and discover
to our horror the system no longer works. This is the hardest problem to fix.
Most of us need to develop some new habits.
-
As you are composing a document, save your
work to disk every few minutes. Every hour or so, change the file name,
perhaps by adding a version code (a, b, c, etc.). That way, if the latest
version of the file is unreadable, you can revert to the prior version and
reenter the latest changes.
-
Save a copy of the Windows registry before
making changes to the configuration of your system. Norton Utilities
and a variety of other programs on the market can automatically back up
essential files. This advice is just as important to follow before
installing the anti-virus and firewall software described above. Note that
some users have reported serious problems resulting from installing the
latest version of Zone Alarm.
-
Back up your data to external media. This
can be as simple as saving a copy of important files on floppy disk, CD, or Zip
disk or as elaborate as a daily full back up of all files to magnetic tape.
Develop a system for doing back ups and stick to it. Think about what you
would do if your hard disk drive crashed tomorrow and was unbootable. That
same precaution will be invaluable if a virus makes it past your anti-virus
program and reformats your hard drive.
So, here is your ounce of prevention …
-
Install an anti-virus program and keep it
up to date.
-
Install a software firewall.
-
Back up your data.
There is more on this topic including links to a variety of
articles on the subject at www.coalitiontlc.org/links.htm#Security.
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