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Teller County, Colorado • Volume 52, Issue 13
March 27, 2013
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourtellercountynews.com
Teller County moving up By Pat Hill
phill@ourcoloradonews.com As the Federal Reserve continues to prop up the national economy, Teller County is slowly climbing out of the economic hole left by the Great Recession. In a presentation March 20 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center, representatives of the local economic sector offered cautious optimism for 2013.
REAL ESTATE
Heavy runoff near Bust last summer already created havoc as it drained out of burn area. Photos by Rob Carrigan
Ute Pass in line for federal funding By Pat Hill
phill@ourcoloradonews.com In a frightening time for weather watchers in Ute Pass, legislation passed by the House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate March 20 offers potential good news. In line to be part of the $65.5 million Emergency Watershed Protection Program, Ute Pass is in dire need of recovery projects stemming from the Waldo Canyon Fire. “Communities in Colorado will finally be able to complete these vital recovery projects that will protect drinking water and watershed infrastructure,” writes Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, in an email. “Colorado’s congressional delegation worked together to secure these resources and I am glad we finally have resolution for the state. Colorado is ready to put these resources to work.” The total funds apply to projects in 18 states; Colorado requested $17.6 million to help
repair watersheds damaged by the Waldo Canyon and High Park fires last summer. El Paso County commissioner Sallie Clark worked hard to thrust Ute Pass into the congressional limelight and is credited with helping to secure the funding. “With this funding, we’ll be better able to prepare for our own eventual hurricanetype event,” Clark writes in an email. “While local agencies are doing what they can to mitigate impacts, it’s also important for residents to take responsibility of being prepared and developing individual plans for dealing with potential flood events.” While Colorado Democratic senators Bennet and Mark Udall kept the issue in front of the Congress, Republican congressman Cory Gardner was involved in the House to get bipartisan support. El Paso County officials will be holding several communitypreparedness meetings for residents, the dates to be provided.
Possible spring moisture could be very dangerous until the Waldo Canyon burn area is stabilized.
The market is recovering losses of nearly 30 percent, said Sharon Roshek, broker/ owner with Coldwell Banker 1st Choice Realty. As well, prices for vacant land today are nearly back to where they were before the crash, she said. The recession was ugly on market dynamics. The number of units sold in the county dropped from 259 in 2007 to 180 in 2008-2011, Roshek said. “It doesn’t look like a lot on the graph but it’s a whole lot in dollars,” she said. The area’s commercial market is still in flux. “The income-producing commercial properties are actually beginning to pay for themselves; they were so out-of-whack in this gluttonous society that we were always banking on the come,” Roshek said. “The numbers just didn’t work. Unfortunately, a lot of those owners had to let properties go back to the bank.” In Woodland Park, the demand for rental housing is high due to the number of foreclosures during the recession. “You almost have to know somebody to get a rental,” she said. With the opening of Charis Bible College in the fall, the demand for rentals will increase, she added. Irene Tanis, broker with Remax Performance, Inc., talked about a market in revival mode. Of 113 homes for sale in Woodland Park, 24 are under contract, she said. “We’re not seeing as many foreclosures or short sales,” Tanis said. In 2008, homes under $300,000 stayed on the market at least 180 days, she said, while homes over $300,000 took two years to sell. “Homes are starting to sell faster, some in two weeks to a month,” she said. “We have competition from Colorado Springs but there are a lot of people wanting to come to our area.” In southern Teller County, with the economic infusion from the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co. and the gaming industry, the housing market is stopped only by the lack of inventory, said Carrie Miller, broker/owner of Gold County Realty. With 50 to 60 homes sales a year, sale prices range from $475,000 to $15,000. Report continues on Page 15
WP needs board, committee volunteers City sets Level 1 watering restrictions By Norma engelberg
nengelberg@ourcoloradonews.com The Woodland Park City Council appointed Bruce Caldwell, one of the pastors at Woodland Park Community Church and director of The Storehouse, to a position on the Woodland Park Community Investment POSTAL ADDRESS
Review Committee. His appointment at the March 21 council meeting reminded council that volunteers are needed on several other city committees, commissions and boards, including Community Investment Funding Review Committee, Personnel Merit Board, Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Utilities Advisory Committee and Keep Woodland Park Beautiful Committee. In June, Councilmember Terry Harrison’s
term will be ending and the city will be accepting applications for a seat on council, as well. He thought his term was up in April. “You get to put up with me until June,” he said. Council also approved the city’s 2012 Water Tap-Management Plan reconciliation and accepted Utility Director Kip Wiley’s recommendation not to change water and sewer plant investment fees for 2013. For several councilmembers, this was the first time they had taken part in a tap-management reconciliation, which features what City Manager David Buttery called “the spreadsheet from hell.” The spreadsheet has 20 columns and covers the actual revenue, expenditures Printed on recycled and tap numbers from 2001-2012 and pronewsprint. Please jected information for 2013-2030. recycle this copy. At Wiley’s recommendation, council also approved instituting Level 1 watering restrictions: Lawns and turf grass may be watered no more than three days a week and only on designated days based on even or odd street addresses and only during the
city’s designated watering hours. Even numbered addresses can water on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays and odd numbers can water on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Watering is allowed between midnight and noon and between 6 p.m. and midnight. No watering is allowed between noon and 6 p.m. or when wind speeds are about 10 mph. Flowers, trees and shrubs can be watered on any day but only during designated hours. The planting of new lawns is permitted with certain restrictions. Wiley said he will probably recommend that city residents move into Level 2 restrictions sometime in April. Buttery said these restrictions are precautionary and that the city is in no danger of running out water. For more information on watering restrictions and to apply for any of the various empty positions on city boards, commissions and committees, visit the city website at www.city-woodlandpark.org or drop in at City Hall during office hours.