Key Public Workshop Set for Tuesday Night
Rick Langenberg
Challenging sewer and wastewater realities are confronting Green Mountain Falls/lower Ute Pass residents and business owners, with the clock ticking for solutions that don’t break the bank or kill future real estate or business activity.
With a state government that has essentially declared war against individual septic systems and is imposing tougher rules for rural communities, town leaders must develop a sewer action plan. At the same time, the possibility of annexing nearby areas in the Ute Pass for a valley-wide or an extended treatment system or facility as a solution has sparked much outrage. In fact, the A (annexation) word is a topic that has raised the ire of many locals. But area residents still don’t want to grapple with the prospects of flushing at your own risk, which is an outcome that could occur in the near future if no steps are taken. Either that, or the costs for owning and complying with new mandated rules for septic units for property owners will put a clamp on any real estate activity in the area.
“We want to keep the focus on what is best for Green Mountain Falls,” said Mayor Todd Dixon, in describing the town’s wastewater quagmire “This is a pretty big topic,” said Trustee Sean Ives, who has cited the need for a public forum, instead of relying on updated reports by the mayor and town manager.
On the upside, the town could get a fairly sizeable feasibility grant to evaluate its sewer needs at basically no cost to GMF.
The issue generated a lively discussion at the most recent Board of Trustees meeting, with several trustees complaining that they were left in the dark regarding what talks have occurred so far. “We need to know what we are approving,” said Trustee John Bell.
Possible Annexation Bid Still Raising Concerns
In addition, a recent possible plan for GMF to annex the communities of Cascade and Chipita Park, a proposal reportedly mulled by a concerned citizen in the lower Ute Pass, continues to stir bad blood. Although this forum never occurred, many locals viewed this potential proposal as a way to come up with an elaborate expansion bid, which could result in a more centralized sewer or wastewater treatment center, without proper public input. “This was a black eye for the town,” blasted veteran Trustee Sunde King at a recent meeting. “We didn’t know what was going on.”
As a property owner in both GMF and Cascade, King stated that she received many complaints from both sides of the Ute Pass.
Similar to past comments, the mayor stressed that the annexation idea was never “town-driven.” He siad he had originally offered to help out with facilitating any open dialogue with those who may favor such a plan, and in attending a possible community meeting. That meeting never occurred, but the controversy has not died down.
Now, the mayor maintains that such an annexation effort would have to get the complete okay of residents seeking to become part of Green Mountain Falls, prior to any involvement by GMF officials.
As far as immediate choices, the town could form a wastewater district if it wants to include an extended area, or just come up with a leach field that strictly served GMF residents or business owners. To date, Dixon and Town Manager Caleb Patterson have had some talks with Colorado Springs Utilities. CSU, according to the mayor, has thrown out the option of a sewer line being installed that extends all the way from GMF to a current treatment facility in Colorado Springs.
Originally, Dixon said he favored just a smaller treatment setup that would benefit the businesses and citizens of GMF.
But in exploring this issue, he concedes that whatever option is explored, it will come with a huge price tag. He cites the challenges the Teller County government have faced in resolving their wastewater situation in Divide, with the costs tripling from what officials originally there faced in recent years.
Patterson, in a recent trustees meeting, indicated that Tuesday’s forum will mainly deal with a broad overview of the town’s sewer and wastewater situation.
The town manager has mentioned this topic as a key focus for GMF. It is cited in several GMF master plans, but no tangible solutions have ever moved forward.
