Tri-Lakes
Tribune
November 14, 2012
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
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Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County • Volume 9, Issue 46
Dominguez appointed Monument trustee
Previously was a member of the board
By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com
Rafael Dominguez has been appointed to the empty seat recently vacated by Monument board of trustee Rick Squires. The Monument board of trustees appointed Dominguez to the board during a special meeting Nov. 9. Dominguez previously served on the board of trustees but did not seek re-
election in April due to his work schedule. “The timing of the election came up and it was best for me to step aside and give somebody else an opportunity,” Dominguez said, adding that his work load has since been reduced. “I enjoyed my time on the board. I felt like we got a lot of things done. I feel like I contributed a lot when I was on the board,” Dominguez added. “I look forward to serving on the board again
‘I felt like we got a lot of things done. I feel like I contributed a lot when I was on the board.’ Rafael Dominguez if I’m chosen.” Dominguez said his top three passions he has for the town are parks, continuing to improve aesthetics and installing sidewalks in the downtown area.
Dominguez is retired from the United States Marine Corps and has been serving on the Economic Development Committee. He will fill the trustee seat until April 2013 when Squires’ term was up.
Fire district gets its funding
READY TO RIDE
Voters support Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District By Norma Engelberg
nengelberg@ourcoloradonews.com
Students from D-38s adapted physical education program are eager to bond with Scarlet, one of the horses in the equine therapy program. Students participate in the six to eight week program as part of their therapy. See story on Page 8. Photo by Lisa Collacott
Voters gave a big show of support to the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District when they approved ballot question 5C, which raises the fire district’s mill levy from 8.5 mills to 11.5 mills. The final unofficial tally was 9,478 yes votes to 5,180 no votes. Riding a wave of approval after the Waldo Canyon Fire, three other fire protection districts in El Paso County also asked for more funding. Security and Southwestern Highway 115 fire protection districts won their tax increases but the City of Fountain Fire Department lost. Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District in Woodland Park also won its mill levy increase by a wide margin.
Fire district thankful for support By Norma Engelberg
nengelberg@ourcoloradonews.com Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District Capt. Tom Mace has a pilot’s license and owns his own airplane. On Nov. 6 he put the license, the plane and his off duty time to good use flying over the Tri-Lakes area pulling a banner that reminded people to vote for the district’s mill levy increase, ballot question 5C. Neither the plane, nor the banner and none of the 300 signs and the 11 4x8 foot banners that went up all over the area TriLakes area before the election were paid for with district funds. Members of Monument Professional Firefighters Local 4319 funded these items and 5,000 flyers out of their own pockets and used their own time and resources to educate the public on the needs of a modern fire department and ambulance service. “In our spare time we talked to homeowners groups, Monument merchants, senior citizens and a lot of other people,” said training officer Mike Keough, who
serves on the firefighter local’s election committee. “Most of what we did was education. A lot of people thought the district was funded through sales tax revenues and once we showed them that our funding comes from property taxes, it (the ballot question) made more sense to them.” That dedication paid off at the polls when ballot question 5C was approved overwhelmingly by district voters with a vote of 9,478-5,180. As was explained at a previous district board meeting, the money raised by the mill levy increase will allow the district to finish maintenance projects that were delayed by lack of funds, to upgrade necessary equipment, provide more training and keep Fire Station 2 open for business. The district can also begin its search for a new chief and leverage the funds so that it can accept a federal grant that would pay salaries for six new firefighters for two years. District board President Bill Ingram was jubilant about the win. “We are extra appreciative for the community’s support,” he said. “We also appreciate all the hard work by local firefighters and we’re
This is one of 11 4-foot by 8-foot banners that Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District firefighters bought and placed in the district asking voters for their support of ballot question 5C. Since the election, grateful firefighters have been using the banners to say thank you. Photo by Norma Engelberg looking forward to continuing to provide the best support of our communities.” Keough added that firefighters have put thank you banners up around the community and would have done so even if the ballot question hadn’t passed. “We are a public entity and we will always need the public’s support,” he said. “We want the public to be involved in everything we do. I especially encourage people to come to our board meetings.”
Those meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month, with the exceptions of the November and December meetings. These will be on Nov. 14 and Dec. 5.
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