WEEK OF JULY 17, 2025
VOLUME 38 | ISSUE 33
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Residents blast Teal’s ‘communist’ accusation Commissioner’s claim came after home rule was crushed by voters BY JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
trollers and hose timers controlled on an app. Through this partnership, Highlands Ranch Water customers can receive a discount on the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controllers at various times of the year. The smart sprinkler controller uses local weather data to determine irrigation needs for individual landscapes and automatically adjusts. The controller also creates custom watering schedules based on the homeowner’s soil, plants and sun exposure; updates seasonally without
Douglas County residents flooded a July 8 Board of Commissioners meeting to ask for apologies from Commissioner George Teal, following his suggestion that opposition to the county’s failed home rule initiative might have been backed by the Chinese Communist Party. During a KNUS radio interview ahead of the June home rule special election, Teal said he and fellow commissioners Abe Laydon and Kevin Van Winkle had been briefed on an ongoing federal investigation concerning the communist party’s alleged funding toward nationwide “No Kings” George Teal protests, and suggested those influences could have filtered down to a local anti-home rule campaign. “Here’s a nationwide (effort), funded by China, funded by a communist organization that is actually trying to work against the people of Douglas County having a say on local control issues,” Teal said on KNUS on June 23. Teal later told 9NEWS he was referring specifically to the political committee “No Little Kings” in Douglas County, an opposition group led by Highlands Ranch resident Dr. Eiko Browning, who Teal named specifically. Browning, a Japanese-American oncologist, contributed about $14,000 of her own money to oppose the home rule measure. Teal told Colorado Community Media he referenced Browning “only in her capacity as the registered agent for the “No Little Kings” issue committee, which was filed as a statewide, not a local, issue committee.” Some are concerned that Teal’s claims about Browning have deeper implications. Though the July 8 meeting agenda included no items related to the home rule ballot measure, over a dozen residents showed up to ask that Teal retract and apologize for his statements concerning Browning. “Recently, we’ve seen misleading and inflammatory claims made by a member of this body, specifically false allegations
SEE WATER, P5
SEE TEAL, P6
Highlands Ranch Water offers tips on how to keep lawns alive more efficiently.
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Highlands Ranch Water offers rebates Plan encourages smart water use BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Highlands Ranch Water has been celebrating Smart Irrigation Month this July by offering efficient watering techniques and programs. Although the month is about halfover, homeowners can still save money by watering their landscapes in a more efficient way. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
up to 50% of water used outdoors for irrigation purposes is lost due to wind, evaporation during the hottest part of the day and runoff. Additionally, a household with an automatic irrigation system that is not properly maintained and operated can waste up to 25,000 gallons of water annually. This is why Highlands Ranch Water — which serves Highlands Ranch and the Solstice communities — encourages residents to water in multiple, short cycles either before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., allowing the water to soak into the soil before it runs off onto side-
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walks or streets. The water district also recommends residents water no more than two times each week during normal, mild weather conditions from April through the second week of October. Landscapes can be watered three times during extreme heat. One of the ways Highlands Ranch Water is combating inefficient water use is through a partnership with Rachio technology. Rachio is an innovative technology company that aims to provide customers with optimal watering yearround through sprinkler con-
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