Town Clerk Resigns; Stringent Sewer Rules Pending
Green Mountain Falls’ leaders have about two months to decide if they want to “pull the trigger” on plans for possibly one of the town’s most complex and controversial tax packages in years.
Ultimately, GMF voters will have the final say on this matter, which will have a big impact on the town’s future fiscal and administrative direction.
On April 1, the board of trustees held the first of a series of planned meetings with the public on the prospects of a future tax, with the projected revenue to foot the bill for employee retention, current and future services and capital projects. Not surprisingly, the board got hit with a variety of opinions, but no real strong consensus emerged pertaining to a future tax.
The crux of the matter could down to whether GMF should continue its town manager form of government that got implemented nearly 10 years ago.
“That is the elephant in the room,” admitted Caleb Patterson, who has taken on this head managerial role on an interim basis.
Later in the meeting, Blasi went further and asked point blank: How did the town get into such a bad financial mess? He expressed concern that the town was continuing to pursue a town manager experiment, which was never voted on, and that now has no solid funding source. He maintained that the town just can’t afford this position and asked for suggestions to cut costs.
Mayor Todd Dixon, though, disagreed with Blasi’s assertion that GMF doesn’t need a town manager. “It is not the same world,” said the mayor, regarding the environment that town operated in previously. The mayor, who played the role of town manager for a brief period, cited the explosion of unfunded mandates and state rules as a real problem for small municipalities, like GMF. In earlier documentation, the mayor outlined hours of time he invested into this position, when no one occupied this position
Patterson also noted that the possible tax proposition, which could include a one or two percent sales levy, stressed that the issue is about more than having a town manager. In conducting detailed research on salaries for top officials in neighboring communities, Patterson concluded that GMF lingers at the absolute bottom of the barrel. He listed the salary compensation for a variety of key positions.
But these claims did little to impress Trustee Don Walker, who questioned if equal comparisons are being made. “It is what someone produces,” said Walker, in outlining the values of a merit-type pay system for managers.
Other trustees also questioned the value of making comparisons with such cities as Woodland Park and Cripple Creek. “We are very unique,” said Trustee John Bell. He stated that GMF is different from many small historic municipalities in that it is essentially a resort community, encompassing a huge mountain area and few complexities; but unfortunately, one with limited revenue.
Another unknown in the ballot scenario is the exact state of the town’s finances. Officials are still waiting for more detailed audit information. The town manager contends that GMF is not spending any more money than it generates. He believes the main problem the town faces hinges on a lack of revenue and wants to pursue a more aggressive economic development effort. During last week’s public forum, the town manager also announced steps taken to cut expenses.
As far as future ballot issue goes, local civic leader Ann Esch, who has served with a variety of committees, suggested that the town devise a question that listed what the extra money would be used for. This idea resonated well with both the trustees and residents attending the forum. Other questions dealt with the timeline, and the possibility of more community forums.
According to Town Clerk/Treasurer Bo Ayad, GMF must submit their ballot language to El Paso County election officials by July. So essentially, he cited early June as the pressing deadline for GMF, if it wants to pursue a ballot question for the November election.
To date, no specific proposal or proposals have been put on the plate. One issue that the trustees and public all agreed on dealt with a focus on infrastructure, whether through grants, or by a future tax plan.
The trustees plan to have more public meetings in the future regarding this tax question. In the very near future, an actual ballot proposal will have to be approved by the trustees.
Clerk Departure and Sewer Woes.
The future tax question is just one major challenge facing GMF. At the beginning of the board’s regular April 1 meeting, Ayad announced he would be stepping down from his post as clerk/treasurer to attend to some family matters, in caring for his mother. This news was greeted by much alarm, as Ayad was regarded as a popular clerk/treasurer by the trustees and many citizens. He had played a big role in changing the timing of the town’s election to November, in coordination with many other statutory towns. Also, he was instrumental in making financial changes, allowing GMF to get more interest-related revenue. “You have been a ray of sunshine,” commented Blasi, who has rarely complimented town officials in the past.
Ayad, though, won’t be leaving until late June. But his departure means that GMF will have lost two of its key officials in less than six months. At the end last year, Becky Frank resigned from her position as town manager.
Besides the announcement of the departure of the clerk, residents and trusteed got hit with another bomb shell. El Paso County Health officials noted that the day of reckoning is arriving for new mandated state standards for septic systems, which are used primarily throughout town. GMF has a central water system, but it doesn’t operate with a central sewer system. The new rules could have a major impact on future real estate activity of GMF properties.
The implementation stage hasn’t occurred yet, but it could be coming down the road soon.
In a brief presentation of the pending impacts, Kat McGarvy, the environmental health division director for El Paso County, noted the state regulations 43 are becoming a reality, with the county adopting these tougher standards. These will have big impacts on GMF.
On the upside, she stated that options are available for residents in complying with these rules, without footing out major septic improvements, or having to install new systems. “These are tough challenges. We are very committed to being creative,” said McGarvy. But the details of this level of creativity were not spelled out at the April 1 session.
Ultimately, the new rules could impact future property sale activity, unless another family member acquired the property. Based on McGarvy’s interpretation of the regulation 43 rules, septic systems would have to be removed or brought up to acceptable standards. In GMF, that requirement is a hefty challenge.
Options are available, though, for variances to these rules, or possibly adjustments, such as maybe placing an additional septic tank on the property.
McGarvy stated that El Paso County currently has more than 34,000 cesspool units, with a large number located in the lower Ute Pass and the Broadmoor area. The actual enforcement date, though, is still in question. More forums are expected on this topic.
Hotel Park Beatification
In provably one of the more positive developments at the recent trustees meeting, the board gave the go-ahead for a volunteer group to proceed with a major $34,000-plus beautification project in the Hotel Park area. This is a part of town, near the lake, that is regarded asa huge eyesore.
According to Jesse Stroope, who chairs the town’s parks, recreation and trails advisory committee, much interest has been expressed in pursuing a beatification project at the site, which is where the Stilling basin project occurred to facilitate water and sedimentation flows at the lake. The beatification effort would include developing a social trail, establishing a rock wall and doing considerable seeding work. The trustees gave the group the green light to proceed with any funds they could raise. Much of their plans would be contingent on grants.
In other beatification efforts, Stroope described a plan to seek an architectural and planning grant for improvements of the Gazebo Park area. This idea was also warmly received by the trustees.
