Courier View Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak 10-9-2013
Teller County, Colorado • Volume 52, Issue 41
A BURST OF COLOR
October 9, 2013
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourtellercountynews.com
Town manager plan mulled Concerns raised about government changes By Pat Hill
phill@ourcoloradonews.com
Above, colorful Colorado is keeping the local “leaf peepers” busy in the high country. At right, some would say the “back side” of Pikes Peak is the most beautiful in the fall. For additional photos, see Page 19.
PhOtOs by ROb CaRRigan
Council supports aquatic center Resolves to explore all funding options By Norma Engelberg Contributing writer
Woodland Park City Council met a full house when Mayor Dave Turley convened the Oct. 3 meeting. The running joke throughout the evening was that the crowd was there to hear the Woodland Park Visitors Center annual recap from Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Miller. Actually, most people were there to support the Woodland Aquatic Project. Project Board President Gerry Simon presented a resolution that suggested a change in the use of the city’s 410 Street Fund to help pay for the cost of building, POSTAL ADDRESS
maintaining and running an aquatic center in Woodland Park. The 410 fund is a 1-percent sales tax that was approved by the voters in 1984 to pay for paving Woodland Park’s dirt streets, installing sidewalks and improving drainage. Changing the use of that fund, even if only partially, would take another vote, a provision that was covered in section 2 of the Woodland Aquatic Project resolution. In the event that voters approve the tax change, section 3 asks council to approve a site for the aquatic center, select a contractor and use the city’s general fund to commission a concept design. More than 20 people in the audience signed up to speak on the resolution and, in the interest of time, the council agreed to limit public discussion to a total of one hour. Board Director Steve Jeroslow told
the council that he was outraged that they would put an “artificial” limit on something so important but Turley said it wasn’t an artificial limit but an actual one and that Jeroslow should use his speaking time wisely. Jeroslow said it was the council’s obligation to maintain and improve the city’s good quality of life. “The aquatic center appeals to every segment of the community,” he said. It appeared that everyone at the meeting agreed with that statement, including councilmembers. Their reasons were many; including a pool would be good for the children and the school district, good for seniors and a boon for the economy. Many in the audience had been waiting for more than 20 years for a swimming pool. Some of the high school students that spoke in support of the project have waited their entire lives. Dr. Richard Harris, who has been practicing medicine in Woodland Park for 35 years, said a pool would be great therapy for the many retired veterans he serves who have Printed on recycled sacrificed their bodies and health in service newsprint. Please to their country. recycle this copy. Once public comment ended, the council proceeded with deliberations. Councilmember Gary Brovetto asked Simon why Council continues on Page 21
Get rid of the current form of government in Green Mountain Falls, appoint the public works director, Rob McArthur, as the town manager and turn over policing duties to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Those are revolutionary proposals for a town with 930 residents yet Jane Newberry, mayor pro tem, ignited a discussion, beginning with the idea of a town manager at the Oct. 1 town board meeting. To support her proposals, Newberry said she had been advised by the town attorney, Lisa Tormoen Hickey, and legal counsel for the insurance company, CIRSA, and the Colorado Municipal League to change the form of government. “The town manager would function as a CEO and the board would set policy,” Newberry said. While supporting the idea of a town manager, trustee Tyler Stevens expressed concern about the haste. “I think we need to learn more about it, how it applies to Green Mountain Falls,” he said. “Do we need to strategize the implementation? Then we need to actually roll it out and do it.” The trustees, Stevens, Mac Pitrone, Howard Price, Margaret Peterson, Newberry and Ralph LoCascio agreed to do the research and host public meetings but hold the final vote Jan. 7, rather than the first deadline mentioned, Jan. 1. “Since I’ve been mayor I have looked into town management; I think it would be beneficial for our town,” said Mayor Lorrie Worthey. “I do support having a town manager but I don’t see the rush, why we have to decide by Jan. 1.” Amid the discussion, McArthur threw a possible wrench into the motion. “The one thing you have to consider is that the budget goes into effect for 2014 by Jan. 1, regardless of when the meetings are,” he said. “Unless you want to go through the process all over again, you’re going to have to decide which form of government you are going to use so the budget can be put together.” Stevens responded. “Develop two budgets,” he said. “This is huge! Changing the form of government is huge.” In the end, in a unanimous vote, the board approved the motion of making a decision by Jan. 7. With the issue still up in the air, the suggestion that McArthur be the town manager was postponed.
board discusses changes in the policing of green Mountain Falls
Newberry, along with trustee Price, laid the groundwork for changing the way the town is policed. According to a report by Price, El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa has offered to open a sub-station in Green Mountain Falls that will be staffed during the day by sheriff’s deputies. The offer is a result of the county’s voters approving ballot issue 1A in November, which increased the sales tax by .23 percent which is expected to raise $17 million a year. Town continues on Page 21