WEEK OF JUNE 12, 2025
VOLUME 130 | ISSUE 15
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Vote nears for home rule in Douglas County Public debate has intensified as June 24 balloting nears BY JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
ifying questions, some concerning drainage from the parking lot and the accompanying detention pond in Running Creek Park. “I noticed in looking at the drawings that the piping … the detention pond is actually different than the last drawing that we looked at,” she said. “... is this to be more efficient? Is this a better way to do it?” Ternus felt the pond in the updated design was a different shape and took up more of the corner of the park.
Douglas County voters have begun to receive ballots for a June 24 special election that could change how the county is governed. Introduced by county commissioners in March, the home rule vote has grown into a countywide conversation marked by division and debate. The ballot asks whether the county should write its own home rule charter — and if so, who should help write it. Nearly 9,000 residents attended or livestreamed a county-hosted town hall on May 28 designed to explain the home rule process. Commissioner Abe Laydon opened the meeting by framing the measure as a chance to reclaim local autonomy. “It’s not that deep. This is all about local control,” he said. “Are we OK with how the state handled the COVID pandemic? And are we OK with how the state has enabled illegal immigration?” County Attorney Jeff Garcia followed with a 30-minute presentation on the legal and procedural mechanics of home rule. But as the meeting moved into public comment, tensions rose. Only six questions were taken, leaving more residents in line, and the session ended with commissioners calling for order as attendees demanded additional time to speak. One resident who did get to ask a question during the public comment period challenged both the need for structural change and the tone of the presentation. “It was very clear to me … that you’re trying to sell this to us, and that’s not your job as a county attorney,” the attendee said. In response, Garcia acknowledged that the process could bring legal risk — but said that the potential benefits to residents outweigh the uncertainty. “There’s a chance the charter oversteps and we have to defend ourselves,” Garcia said. “But if it’s for the betterment of the residents, I know our … commissioners are OK with my office taking that on.” Garcia also acknowledged the financial reality of the June 24 election, which is expected to cost up to $500,000.
SEE INFRASTRUCTURE, P14
SEE ELECTION, P2
A view of infrastructure work in progress from Main Street in Elizabeth, looking toward the back of Running Creek Park.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
Infrastructure changes take shape in Elizabeth Detention pond design cuts space available for Friday Night Markets BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Big changes are continuing on Main Street in Elizabeth, but the end is in sight. Work on The Main Street Streetscape Project was always intended to be done before Elizabash and the Elizabeth Stampede. Another project, the completion of the Depot Parking Lot and an accompanying detention pond, will be mostly
completed around the second week of June. The detention pond design also crimps the space available for Elizabeth’s Friday Night Markets, which resumed June 13. At the Town of Elizabeth Board of Trustees special meeting on April 30, the trustees voted 5-1 to pass resolution 25R18 authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract for the construction
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19 | PUZZLES: 22
and completion of the depot parking lot, with construction to begin immediately the day after the meeting, on May 1. The dissenting vote belonged to Mayor Angela Ternus, who expressed concerns about some changes to the design and funding sources for the project. Four bids were entertained for the depot parking lot project; the lowest qualified bidder ended up being RME Limited LLC, doing business as Elite Surface Infrastructure, at $1,327,423.13. In a short period of discussion, Ternus asked a few clar-
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