1-Color
January 15, 2014
75 cents Teller County, Colorado | Volume 53, Issue 3 A publication of
pikespeakcourier.net
Entities wrangle over Baker’s annexation County wins round one By Pat Hill
phill@coloradocommunitymedia.com In the ongoing legal battle between the city of Woodland Park and Teller County, the county scored a victory last week. At issue is the county’s challenge to the annexation by the city of 1.84 acres for a recycling center on West Street. While the city approved the annexation, the county challenged the decision, citing a lack of contiguity as the parcel is not physically connected to the current city limits. According to court documents, the city moved to dismiss the case brought by the county, based on the county’s filing a motion to reconsider outside the allowable 10day time limit. The city contends that the annexation was effective within a shorter timeline, governed by a city ordinance. But the county asserts that, under Colorado Revised Statutes, the annexation only became effective after the legal documents were filed with the clerk and recorder.
In ruling that the county is within its rights to pursue the action, District Judge Ed Colt said, “It is undisputed that the city did not file some of the documents required by C.R.S. 31-12-113 until Sept. 13, 2013.” The county’s attorney, Chris Brandt, announced the decision at the commissioners’ meeting Jan. 7. “The court found that we were timely and therefore, the court denies the motion to dismiss the case,” he said. With the ruling, the case will move forward with the final decision on whether the annexation will become permanent or will be voided. While all officials have declined to comment on the case, Woodland Park City Manager David Buttery did offer a tidbit. “We are going to hold an executive session, with (legal) counsel, Jan. 16 to decide the next steps,” he said. Jay Baker owns and operates Teller County Waste on the same property. Mike Perini, of Perini & Associates, speaks for Baker: “The judge has requested that a more thorough evaluation of the case is required. Teller County Waste remains committed to the annexation process,” Perini said.
The newest addition to the city of Woodland Park, Teller County Waste, has submitted plans to improve the distant lot, Waste Management’s containers are in the foreground on another property, and create a recycle material drop-off location. The Woodland Park Council voted 6-1 to annex the property on Thursday night, Aug. 15, after two lengthy and contentious public hearings. Photo by Rob Carrigan
Residential care facility gets first nod Program helps women addicted to prescription drugs By Norma Engelberg Contributing writer
Colorado ranks second in the nation when it comes to prescription drug abuse. With that statistic, Judith Ann Miller, founder and CEO of Courage to Change, launched an explanation of the program she plans to use to help professional women get their lives, jobs and relationships back. Contingent upon approval from Woodland Park officials, first the planning commission at its Jan. 9 meeting and then the city council in meetings on Jan. 16 and Feb. 6, Miller, who has a doctorate in human development and family relations and is a licensed psychotherapist, plans to buy the 4,458-square-foot home at 115 Trull Road from its current owners Rick and Kathy Hobbs to use as a residential care facility. The home is big enough to care for eight women at a time. There would be at least two staff members present during the day and Miller would be the full-time resident and nighttime supervisor. Besides therapists, the staff will also include a medical doctor. To use the home this way, Miller has to get approval for a conditional use permit. City planner Lisa Parnell said this meeting was the first time the city has used its Residence Care Home Criteria, Section 18.33.130 of the city code. She said neighbors were notified and a neighborhood meeting,
At far left. Judith Ann Miller is the founder and CEO of Courage to Change, a residential care program for people recovering from drug addiction. She hopes to open a care facility In Woodland Park to treat professional women who are addicted to prescription drugs. She pleaded her case for a conditional use permit before the Woodland Park Planning Commission on Jan. 9. Photos by Norma Engelberg which no neighbors attended, was held. A few people called her office with concerns, but these were allayed when it was pointed out that the women enrolled in the program are addicted to prescription drugs and not street drugs and would wish to remain anonymous. They would be unlikely to cause any trouble. The planning staff recommended approval of the conditional use permit. Parnell said
POSTAL ADDRESS
the home met all of the pertinent criteria both as a residence care home and as a conditional use. The home, which sits on a 2.5acre lot, is fairly isolated; its nearest neighbor is more than 200 feet away from the property line. It has a working security system and none of the clients will have access to vehicles so parking and traffic will not be issues. Courage to Change is a private nonprofit organization that
was formed in 2004. It is licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health. The program rests on holistic care for both brain and body, not as parts but as a whole. Miller quoted Doctor Nora D. Volkrow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse since 2003, who said drug addiction is a brain disease and that recovery is a matter of treating the brain and not the symptoms.
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Sharon Roshek represented Carol Sturman of Sturman Industries in a minor subdivision case at the Jan. 9 Woodland Park Planning Commission meeting. Addiction recovery is more than just 12 steps, Miller said. “They need to be able to count to 12 to do the program,” she said, adding that recovery includes the care and feeding of the brain and the rebalancing of neurotransmitters, the brain and body’s communication system. More information about the program is available at www.c2cranches.org.
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Facility continues on Page 12
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