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April 9, 2014
75 cents | Volume 49, Issue 12 Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County A publication of
tri-lakestribune.net
McDonald, Dominguez set agenda for mayoral terms Mayors of bordering Tri-Lakes towns looking to the future By Danny Summers
dsummers@ coloradocommunitymedia.com Monument and Palmer Lake are bordering towns. But there are different issues facing each of the Tri-Lakes municipalities. Palmer Lake mayor Nikki McDonald won reelection in a relatively close vote on April 1. She has served as mayor or on the Town Council for more than 20 years. New Monument mayor Rafael Domin-
Dominguez
McDonald
guez easily outdistanced his opponent for the vacant position. He spent the previous five-plus years as a member of the town’s
Board of Trustees. McDonald and her constituents are facing a number of critical economic and social issues. Among them is fire mitigation, funding (or lack of ) for a new firehouse, and the hot-topic marijuana issue. The recreational marijuana issue was voted down, 538 to 481. “I knew the retail marijuana issue would be very close, and I understand people’s feelings,” McDonald said. “They are the reason that I always wanted this to go to a vote.” If passed, the tax revenue from the sales of legalized pot were estimated to be anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 per day. That floating figure has been lobbied by
April fooled by a spring snow storm
Dino Salvatori, owner of the Palmer Lake Wellness Center, which is a stone’s throw from the Monument border. “The revenue would have certainly been beneficial,” McDonald said. “We will have to see what happens next and where we go from here.” Salvatori and local pot proponents like him have vowed to keep up the fight. They have publically blamed Christian groups, last-minute negative propaganda, misinformation and ignorance as some of the reasons why the vote to legalize the sales of pot in Palmer Lake came up short. Terms continues on Page 3
Voters say ‘no’ to pot in Palmer Lake Dominguez elected mayor of Monument; McDonald reelected mayor in Palmer Lake By Danny Summers
dsummers@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
Bewildered wildlife wandered in search of bare patches as the snow accumulations greened grassy areas with much needed moisture. Nearly 10 inches of snow fell in areas of the Tri-Lakes last week as evidenced by this spring scene near Dirty Woman Creek and Park. Photos by Rob Carrigan
Rafael Dominguez has been elected the new mayor of Monument, while Nikki McDonald won reelection as mayor in Palmer Lake. But the big news of election night (April 1) was that voters of Palmer Lake said `No” to allowing the sales of recreational marijuana within the city limits. The measure lost 538 to 481. “If the council goes against the popular vote there would be a recall election for sure,” said town councilman Michael Maddox, who did not win his election bid.” Maddox was the most outspoken council member against the legalized sales of recreational marijuana. But oddly, Palmer Lake voters went with six council members who were pro legalized sales of pot in the town. According to Maddox, the council could still vote on its own to implement the legalized sales of pot. “They would be foolish if they did that and went against the popular vote,” Maddox said. “Hopefully Nikki McDonald will sit on the council and make sure everybody abides by the vote.” Interestingly, 952 people voted for one of the three mayoral candidates, while 1019 voted on the pot issue. In the last Palmer Lake election, fewer than 200 people voted. Manitou Springs stands as the only municipality in El Paso County to allow the sales of recreational marijuana. Its City Council voted 6-1 on Jan. 21. McDonald received 461 votes, while Randy Fritz got 384 and Meredith Bromfield wound up with 107. Pot continues on Page 3
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