Tribune Tri Lakes 3/20/13
Tri-Lakes
March 20, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourtrilakesnews.com
Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County
Fire district makes an offer for new chief Names Illinois man to position By Norma engelberg
nengelberg@ourcoloradonews.com After months of delays and more months spent in the selection process, the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District board has made an offer for a new fire chief. On March 13, the board interviewed four finalists for the position and chose Christopher Truty, currently the deputy chief of Mount Prospect, Ill. The district has been without a chief
Truty
since last summer when its contract with Rob Denboski was terminated. Because of the district’s finances and the subsequent decision to seek a mill-levy increase, hiring a new chief was put on hold until after the Nov. 6 General
Election. The mill levy override passed and the board then went ahead with the district’s chief search. After winnowing through 43 applications, the search committee named five finalists on Feb. 14. One of these, Glenn Levy of Colorado Springs, pulled out of the
running. The remaining four met with the Tri-Lakes community at a mixer on March 12. On March 13, they met individually with district staff in the morning and were interviewed individually that afternoon by board members. After the interviews, the board met in executive session talk things over. They made their decision in public session. Truty has more than 30 years of experience in fire and emergency management services. He started out as a volunteer firefighter and has 17 years of experience as a paramedic and 30 years as an emergency management technician-B. He has advanced certifications in firefighting, hazardous materials operations,
firefighter training and instruction and other applications. He also has a master’s degree in Executive Fire Service and Disaster Leadership. The Mount Prospect Fire Department serves 10 square miles and 55,000 people and has a staff of around 70 firefighters and support staff. For comparison, the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire District covers 68 square miles with a population of about 24,000 and has a staff of about 50. Truty is a sitting member for the International Association of Fire Chief’s Emergency Management Committee and its disaster response team. Truty is looking over the contract and has not yet made a firm decision.
Littleton, Maketa host town hall
State ChampionS again
Speaks on General Assembly’s gun legislation By Norma engelberg
nengelberg@ourcoloradonews.com
Lewis-Palmer players celebrate their second consecutive state championship. See Pages 14-15 for story and more photos. Photo by Nan Strasburger
Monument trustees defend Second Amendment Resolution passed as a message to government that they do not support additional restrictions By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews. com Just as the El Paso County Commissioners did a few weeks ago the town of Monument is letting the state of Colorado and the federal government know that they intend to defend the Second Amendment. At the March 11 board meeting the Monument board of trustees passed a resolution stating that they do not support any infringement on the
Second Amendment that would put additional restrictions on lawful firearms and accessories or on the possession, use, sale or transfer of legitimately owned firearms. The federal government has called for stricter gun control in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., mass shooting. Colorado senators have been debating seven bills for stricter gun control including bills on universal gun background checks, a limit on ammunition magazines, would-be gun buyers having to pay for their own background
The Monument board of trustees passed a resolution at their most recent board meeting stating that they support the Second Amendment. The resolution is a message to lawmakers telling them that don’t support additional gun restrictions on lawful firearms. The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners passed a similar resolution a few weeks ago. File photo checks and a ban on those seeking online certification for a concealed carry permit. All four of these bills have passed in the Senate.
“I think this is in line as to what a lot of residents, at least those that I’ve been talking to, are in support of,” Trustee Becki Tooley said.
If numerous standing ovations and prolonged applause were any indication, El Paso County Commissioner Peggy Littleton and Sheriff Terry Maketa’s town hall meeting was a real crowd pleaser. The two spoke on the state General Assembly’s pending gun laws to a packed house on March 14 in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Centennial Hall. Littleton introduced the subject by reading the county commissioners’ “Resolution in Defense of 2nd Amendment Rights,” which was approved on Jan. 22. “I know I’m preaching to the choir here,” she said. “From your response I have to say this might just be the safest room in all of El Paso County.” Maketa then went through the pending legislation bill-by-bill, giving his interpretation on what each might mean to citizens and law enforcement agencies if passed. “Some of them are so poorly written that I don’t know what they’re trying to say,” he said, adding later in the meeting that the laws are written in ways that will be almost impossible to enforce. In order by house and senate numbers, the pending bills include: HB 13-1224: Prohibiting possession and use of large-capacity ammunition magazines and would limit magazines to 15 or fewer rounds. Colorado manufacturers would have to date stamp and add a serial number to all large-capacity magazines manufactured after July 1. Maketa said that if the idea behind this law is to save lives, it’s a big lie. “Who will comply with this? Law abiding citizens!” he said, to which an audience member shouted, “No we won’t!” This law doesn’t apply to local, state or federal law enforcement agencies, to people serving in the military or to people who bought the ammunition before July 1, 2013. Maketa said if he sees people with large-capacity magazines, he will just assume they bought them before July. HB 13-1228: Sets the payment for background checks to actual costs. The fee will be paid by the person purchasing the weapon. HB 13-1229: Requires universal Maketa continues on Page 5