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Below: (L-R) Ansley Teague, Alex Licklider, Hannah
Licklider, Kenzie Teague, Colby Teague, and Riley Licklider dressed in their
best potted flower costumes for Monument’s Safe Trick or Treat held October
31. Though dressed as a bee, Charlie Licklider was showing more interest in the
candy he received than in the flowers. Given the good weather, the streets all
around Monument were filled with Halloweeners of all ages as businesses opened
their doors and provided an array of treats. The staff of Expectation’s Salon,
located on Washington Street, handed out 320 candy bags by 4 p.m. The crowds
were so large that by 4:15 p.m., a number of businesses ran out of candy. Photo
by David Futey.
By Harriet Halbig
This is a summary of some of the results of the Nov. 3
election results. Winning candidates names are shown in boldface.
Following are results for the Lewis-Palmer School District 38
Board of Education election. The seat for District 2 was not up for election.
District 1: Jeff Ferguson, 3,201 votes
District 3: David Cloud, 1,652 votes
Gail Wilson, 2,156 votes
District 4: Mark Pfoff, 3,170 votes
District 5: Robb Pike, 3,183 votes
Following are the results for Academy School District 20.
Three seats were up for election. Listed in order of the number of votes
received.
Doug Lundberg , 8,930 votes
Linda Van Matre, 8,051 votes
Catherine Bullock, 7,537 votes
Tracey Johnson, 4,437 votes
Terry Kunkel, 4,417 votes
Fran Reichert, 3,844 votes
Mark Smith, 3,726 votes
Dan Reifschneider, 3,324 votes
James Jenista, 2,919 votes
Web site page www.elpasoelections.com/2009coordinated/results.htm
has complete election results.
Faced with the need to increase water rates, authority monitors water
deliberations
By John Heiser
With water providers planning to raise water rates as much as
87 percent next year, Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) Utility Policy Advisory
Committee’s (UPAC) is reviewing CSU’s policies regarding providing water
service to entities outside the city limits, including the Tri-Lakes area.
These issues were the focus of the Oct. 21 regular monthly
meeting of the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority (PPRWA).
Full article...
Policy panel considers financial issues in
regional water partnerships
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Below: Colorado Springs Utilities chart presented at the
UPAC meeting Oct. 7 showing available capacity in the SDS pipeline from October
through May even at full build-out of the city.
By John Heiser
At the regular monthly meeting of the Colorado Springs
Utilities (CSU) Utility Policy Advisory Committee (UPAC) on Oct. 7, the
committee heard several presentations regarding financial issues related to
regional water partnerships.
Full article...
Sewer project behind schedule
By Harriet Halbig
The Board of Directors of the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation
District were told Oct. 15 that progress on the sewer project on Deer Creek and
White Fawn Drive was behind schedule. The contractors started work later than
promised and are now on their third crew. The project is scheduled for
completion by Nov. 4, and a penalty will apply if the work is not complete by
that date.
Full article...
Change in cost-sharing rules could
spur fee hike
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Photos by Jim Kendrick.
Below: Marcus Aragon of Brannan Construction Company,
Mike Wicklund of Monument Sanitation District, and Rodney Lang of engineering
consultant GMS, Inc. pause for a moment on Sept. 29 during ground-breaking for
preparation of the initial staging area for Wakonda Hills sanitary sewer
collection system expansion. The project is being financed by $2.418 million in
federal stimulus loans under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
of 2009. The first $2 million is a "forgivable" loan, which means no
principal or interest has to be repaid to the EPA. Project costs in excess of $2
million, up to $418,000, would be financed by a separate interest-free federal
loan administered by the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development
Authority, to be repaid in equal installments for 20 years. The loans closed on
Sept. 1.
Below: Brannan employees dig a trench over 20 feet deep
through the vacant Zonta parcel on the west side of Beacon Lite Road south of
Wakonda Hills. The trench is for a new Monument Sanitation District collection
line that will serve the west side of the Wakonda Hills development and connect
to existing district collection lines in the adjacent Century Park development
to the south. Brannan will restore the disturbed pastureland when the Zonta
excavation is completed. There are currently no active plans for development of
the Zonta property. The project is expected to be completed before the end of
2010.
By Jim Kendrick
On Oct. 22, Mike Wicklund, district manager of Monument
Sanitation District, gave the board updated information on increased costs for
the Tri-Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility in 2010. A proposed change to the
Joint Use Agreement that governs facility operations and cost-sharing methods
would change the category for several costs from "operations" to
"ownership" or "capital."
This proposed amendment to the agreement would increase the
number of cost categories that are equally shared by the three co-owner
districts: Monument Sanitation District, Palmer Lake Sanitation District, and
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District. There would be no change in the formula
or costs for sludge removal.
Full article...
District plans survey of views about water and potential ballot measure
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Below: Donala Water and Sanitation District Vice President
Tim Murphy congratulates Del Phipps on being named employee of the quarter. Photo
by John Heiser.
By John Heiser
At the Oct. 21 meeting of the Donala Water and Sanitation
District Board of Directors, the board unanimously voted to contract for a
public opinion survey to be conducted in November by Floyd Ciruli’s company,
Ciruli Associates. The results of the survey will be available in December.
Community meetings are scheduled for January. The estimated cost for the survey
is about $16,000, plus about $40,000 for associated consulting.
A principal purpose of the survey is to assist the board in
deciding whether to place a measure on the May 2010 ballot and, if so, whether
the measure should seek authorization to increase property taxes as well as
increase the district’s debt. If the board decides to go ahead with the ballot
measure, it would be intended to finance improvements to the district’s
systems over the next 10 to 15 years and to purchase additional renewable water.
The board needs to make a decision on the ballot measure by February in order to
include it in the May 4 election.
Full article...
Board switches location for new station
By Jim Kendrick
On Oct. 28, the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District board
held two meetings, a semi-annual volunteer firefighter pension board at 6:30
p.m. followed by the regular October board meeting at 7 p.m. The financial
soundness of the pension fund continues to improve based on increased
contributions from the district and matching funds from the state.
The board approved a change in plans for a new Station 3 on
Highway 83 to use land David Wismer has offered to donate to the district.
The board also reviewed the draft 2010 budget and scheduled a
hearing for the final budget on Dec. 2.
Full article...
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Below (L to R): American Medical Response
paramedic Laura Kent and Donald Wescott Fire Protection District firefighter
Valerie Marshall discussed child safety seats with visitors during Wescott’s
annual open house on Oct. 3. Wescott Fire Department currently has two certified
car seat technicians available to check child passenger safety systems. Even if
you have had your car seat installed for months or years, it is important to
know that it is still installed correctly. Please call 488-8680 to schedule an
appointment for a car seat check with Marshall or Firefighter Jonathan Urban.
They ask that you locate the instruction manual for your car seat and the owner’s
manual for your car. Bring your child to the seat inpection so the firefighters
can help you get the best fit. Photo by Jim Kendrick.
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Photos by David Futey
Below: (L to R): Dianne Nugen, a registered nurse with
Front Range Flu Shots, administers a flu shot to Margot Krueger during the flu
shot clinic held in the Palmer Lake town office on Oct. 3 in conjunction with
the Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department (PLVFD) Open House, Oct. 3.
Below: Smokey Bear poses with Assistant Chief Greg
Lokken, firefighters Kim and Joe Polonsky, and Fire Chief Dan Reynolds. The
PLVFD accepted donations and provided hot dogs and drinks and a variety of
information on personal and fire safety.
Below: Kelly Armbrust operates a fire hose as PLVFD
Assistant Chief Greg Lokken provides guidance. The water for this children’s
activity was provided from the department’s wildland truck. The truck is used
for water transfer for wild land and house fires.
Below: Kristina Reavis, a flight nurse, shows Patrick
and Hannah Hodgson the inside of the Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Flight
for Life helicopter.
Gingrich
appointed to board
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Below: Stan Gingrich is sworn in by Town Clerk Scott
Meszaros at the Oct. 5 Monument Board of Trustees meeting. Gingrich was
appointed to replace former trustee Tim Miller. Photo by Jim Kendrick.
By Jim Kendrick
At the beginning of the Monument Board of Trustees meeting on
Oct. 5, Stan Gingrich was sworn in by Town Clerk Scott Meszaros to fill the
vacant Board of Trustees seat of former trustee Tim Miller. The board also
approved a restatement of the 2009 town budget and received copies of the first
draft of the 2010 budget. All board members were present.
Gingrich appointed again
Gingrich, a Santa Fe Trails resident, had been previously
appointed by the board on Aug. 17 to fill the vacant seat on the Monument
Planning Commission of former Commissioner Tom Martin. However, the next
Planning Commission meeting, scheduled for Sept. 9, was cancelled due to a lack
of agenda items. Miller resigned at the Sept. 22 Board of Trustees meeting.
Before Gingrich could attend the next Planning Commission meeting in October, he
was appointed by the board to replace Miller on Sept. 22. Gingrich was out of
town on Sept. 22 and could not be sworn in as a trustee until the next board
meeting on Oct. 5.
Full article...
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Photos by Jim Kendrick.
The Monument Board of Trustees held a "town hall"
style meeting at Palmer Ridge High School on October 19 to solicit input and
answer questions from citizens on current issues, and to obtain comments and
suggestions on the board’s draft mission, values, and goals statements.
Below: About 40 non-profit vendors set up booths in the
hallways to provide information to about 200 people in attendance.
Below: About 30 people attended the board meeting,
forgoing the Broncos game on Monday Night Football that night. The only business
item on the agenda was approval of payments over $5,000, which included a
monthly payment to Pioneer Sand of $344,904 and $7,046 to Comcast for work
performed on the Third Street construction project, which is expected to be
completed by Thanksgiving if the weather remains warm enough for paving.
Regulation
of medical marijuana dispensaries approved
By Jim Kendrick
On Oct. 14, the Monument Planning Commission unanimously
approved an amendment to the town zoning code that creates "use by special
review" regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries. The commission also
approved a Class II home occupation business license for Chyann’s Pet Care, a
dog grooming service, at 79 Fourth St.
Full article...
Town
survey extended to Nov. 30
By David Futey
Trustee Jan Bristol told the Palmer Lake Town Council on Oct.
8 that "they have not received the response that they would have liked at
this point" to the town survey. A week later, the survey was extended to
Nov. 30.
Full article...
Blanch
underscores technological advances
By Harriet Halbig
The Board of Education discussed technology purchased with
2005 mill levy funds at its Oct. 15 meeting.
Saying that most members of the public associate the 2005
mill levy with the construction of Palmer Ridge High School, Superintendent Ray
Blanch said he wished to demonstrate how some of the funds were used to update
and improve Lewis-Palmer High School.
Full article...
Great Education Colorado, Colorado Growth Model
explained
By Harriet Halbig
On Oct. 13, the District Accountability Advisory Committee (DAAC)
heard a presentation on Great Education Colorado.
Full article...
By Harriet Halbig
At the Oct. 14 meeting of the Special Education Advisory Committee, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Raymond Blanch discussed his vision for the program with members of the committee.
Full article...
All Baptist Road bridge lanes opened
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Below: All eight lanes of the new Baptist Road bridge over
I-25 were opened for use at 3 p.m. on Oct. 8. The Exit 158 interchange is being
expanded by general contractor Lawrence Construction. The project is well ahead
of schedule. Funding for the project is provided by $21.5 million of 20-year
revenue bonds issued by the Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority (BRRTA)
in 2007. Members of the BRRTA board and staff inspected the completed bridge on
Oct. 9 after the BRRTA meeting concluded. (L to R): Project engineer Gary
Heckman of engineering consultant Jacobs Engineering Group; County Commissioner
Amy Lathen; Monument Director of Development Services Tom Kassawara; BRRTA
District Manager Denise Denslow of R.S. Wells LLC; Construction contract manager
Bob Torres of Jacobs Engineering Group; BRRTA accountant Carrie Bartow of
Clifton Gunderson LLC; County Commssioner Dennis Hisey; Monument Mayor Travis
Easton; BRRTA attorney Jim Hunsaker of Grimshaw and Harring PC. Photo by Jim
Kendrick.
By Jim Kendrick
General contractor Lawrence Construction continued to stay
well ahead of its planned construction schedule and opened all lanes on the
bridge over I-25 at the Baptist Road interchange for full movement of traffic on
Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. The mood at the Oct. 9 regular Baptist Road Rural
Transportation Authority (BRRTA) was upbeat and optimistic as a result of this
major milestone being completed early.
Full article...
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