[1:57] Good morning and welcome to the Board of
County Commissioners meeting.
[2:01] Today is Tuesday, September 22nd.
[2:03] We do begin each of our meetings with an
invocation, and this morning we have Mr.
[2:07] Lon Halley from Capital Ministries. We
invite you to stand and join us.
[2:11] Good morning. I don't know if you know,
yesterday was the last day of summer,
[2:18] and we see the changing of seasons in the
clouds and the mountains today.
[2:24] But I learned a new word, uh, Ember Days,
thanks to our Catholic friends.
[2:30] And it's a special day set aside in
Western Christian tradition of prayer,
[2:37] Western Christian tradition of prayer,
fasting,
[2:37] and giving thanks for the blessings of
nature. And we do have blessings in
[2:44] nature. And we do have blessings in
Colorado.
[2:45] But that was Autumn Ember Day, which is
after the Holy Cross Day on September
[2:51] after the Holy Cross Day on September
14th.
[2:52] That's free. I just want to give you that
information. The word of the day is fear.
[2:59] We can think of the acronym FEAR— false
evidence appearing real. F-E-A-R.
[3:05] There's a lot of fear in today's world.
[3:08] There's wars and nuclear bombs and Islamic
invasions, Sharia law, earthquakes,
[3:15] diseases all the time.
[3:17] But the— in the Bible, the word fear not
appears 300 and 65 times.
[3:23] Depends on what version, obviously. But
there's one for every day.
[3:28] So like a vitamin, to fear not.
[3:31] And so in Joshua 1:9, verses 6, 7, and 9,
it says, be strong and courageous,
[3:38] 3 times. Be strong and courageous. Be
strong and courageous.
[3:43] So my call for you as leaders is to be
strong and courageous during these times.
[3:50] Psalms 23, which we're all familiar with.
[3:53] Though I pass through the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil.
[3:59] We're all familiar with that.
[4:01] But my prayer is that you would be strong
and courageous. Why?
[4:07] Because you set the tone out there in the
world as leaders, political leaders,
[4:13] and they take on the mantle of courage
with you, along with you.
[4:19] And Jesus said in John 16:33, he says,
[4:22] I have said these things to you that in me
you may have peace, not fear, but peace.
[4:29] In the world you will have tribulation,
but take heart, I have overcome the world.
[4:36] Father, thank you for your word.
[4:39] Thank you for your encouragement, Lord, to
fear not.
[4:44] You know our weakness, Lord,
[4:46] and that we live in a world that's with a
lot of tribulation.
[4:51] So I encourage these leaders, Lord,
[4:54] to be strong and courageous as they
deliberate the issues of the day for the
[5:01] deliberate the issues of the day for the
county,
[5:01] and that they will take a stand and be
strong and courageous.
[5:07] So thank you for this time we have today
to deliberate,
[5:11] and bless the reading of God's word.
[5:14] And by the way, we Grieve for Cory and his
absence with his father, uh,
[5:21] family matter, so a loss there. So we
grieve. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
[5:27] Vice Chair Nelson,
[5:35] if you'd lead us
[5:41] in the Pledge of
[5:48] Allegiance.
[5:53] Item 3.
[5:56] Item number 3 is staff emergency items,
[5:59] and I'm unaware of any staff emergency
items today.
[6:02] Item 4.
[6:04] Item 4 is changes, postponements, and
notice of the next meeting.
[6:09] I'm aware of a few, um, changes to today's
agenda.
[6:12] Item numbers 5C, 5K, and 5L have been
withdrawn by staff.
[6:17] No motion is required, and the next
meeting will be Thursday,
[6:21] September 24th at 9:00 AM for land use.
[6:24] Okay, item 5.
[6:27] Item number 5 is the consent calendar
including items 5A through
[6:33] 5N7, with the exception of 5C, 5K, and 5L,
which were withdrawn.
[6:42] Okay, is there anyone here today who
wishes to speak on an item on the
[6:47] consent calendar? Seeing none, I will
bring it up here for a motion.
[6:52] I would move approval of the consent
[6:57] calendar items 5A, 5B, 5D through J, 5M,
[7:02] and 5N.
[7:05] Second.
[7:06] It's been moved and seconded.
[7:08] I will just provide an opportunity quickly
for comments from commissioners.
[7:13] Seeing none, we will call the roll
beginning with Commissioner Wysong.
[7:17] Aye.
[7:18] Vice Chair Nelson.
[7:20] Aye.
[7:20] I'm going to go up to Commissioner
Applegate online.
[7:36] Aye.
[7:36] Commissioner Williams?
[7:38] Aye.
[7:38] And the chair votes aye.
[7:43] That passes 5-0. Item 6.
[7:47] Item number 6 is the proclamation
recognizing Creek Week
[7:51] 2026. Bill Wysong, Commissioner,
[7:53] Board of County Commissioners.
[7:59] Thank you. I'm requesting a motion to
accept the proclamation recognizing, uh,
[8:06] Creek Week 2026. Whereas El Paso County
residents and visitors enjoy a rich array
[8:12] residents and visitors enjoy a rich array
of
[8:12] natural resources including forests,
grasslands, riparian areas, lakes, creeks,
[8:19] in an expansive variety of open spaces,
and whereas among these,
[8:24] the Fountain Creek Watershed stands out as
a valuable amenity encompassing Monument
[8:31] Creek, Fountain Creek, related wetlands,
and existing trails.
[8:36] The watershed has served as a major
recreational resource for children and
[8:42] recreational resource for children and
adults
[8:42] for generations. It is critical for
agricultural in the Pikes Peak region.
[8:48] And whereas the Fountain Creek Watershed
District collaborates with El Paso County,
[8:55] City of Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs
Utilities,
[8:59] and various community organizations to
coordinate the 13th Annual Creek Week
[9:05] coordinate the 13th Annual Creek Week
cleanup
[9:06] to encourage in, in the protection,
restoration,
[9:10] and maintenance of Fountain Creek
Watershed.
[9:14] And whereas Creek Week is a litter
cleanup, education,
[9:18] and restoration effort throughout the
watershed set for September 26th and runs
[9:24] through October 4th. It is the largest
cleanup event in the state of Colorado.
[9:31] And whereas Creek Week programs and
activities are designed to raise awareness
[9:37] activities are designed to raise awareness
of
[9:37] water quality, littering issues within the
watershed,
[9:42] and encourage organizations and
individuals to collect litter and debris
[9:47] individuals to collect litter and debris
and to make
[9:48] Fountain Creek Watershed cleaner and
safer.
[9:52] Over the last 12 years,
[9:54] more than 188.8 tons of litter and debris
have been removed by over 24,000
[10:00] volunteers. And whereas businesses,
churches, schools, Nonprofits,
[10:05] neighborhood associations, youth groups,
service clubs,
[10:10] and all individuals are encouraged to form
a creek crew to clean up at a Creek Week
[10:16] project site. And whereas,
[10:18] Creek Week litter removal activities will
reduce pollution in our creeks and remove
[10:25] clogs in our waterways that can lead to
flooding,
[10:29] provide for a safer drinking water supply,
support agricultural resources,
[10:35] and enhance wildlife habitat and property
values.
[10:39] Now therefore, the Board of County
Commissioners of El Paso County,
[10:45] Colorado hereby recognize September 26th
through October 4th,
[10:50] 2026 as Creek Week in El Paso County and
encourages citizens to help protect,
[10:56] restore, and maintain our waterways by
participating in Creek Week activities.
[11:02] Done this 22nd day of September, 2026, at
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
[11:08] By the Board of County Commissioners of El
Paso County, Colorado.
[11:13] By Commissioner Geitner, Chair,
Commissioner Nelson, Vice Chair,
[11:18] and Commissioners William, Wysong, and
Applegate, members.
[11:23] Attested by Steve Schleicher, County Clerk
and Recorder.
[11:28] Second.
[11:29] Okay, that's been moved and seconded, and
we do have a special guest here,
[11:33] so I'll ask Ali to come on up, introduce
yourself,
[11:36] and we look forward to hearing from you.
[11:38] Great.
[11:39] Good morning, commissioners, members of
the public, staff. I'm Ali Shook.
[11:44] I'm the executive director of the Fountain
Creek Watershed District,
[11:48] here again for Creek Week. 13 years. Look
at these pictures.
[11:52] Does this not say it all?
[11:53] It's fun, it's easy, it makes a huge
difference,
[11:56] and we're really grateful for your support
in this effort year after year. Oh no.
[12:01] Oh, shoot. What did I just do? Help.
[12:03] I'm going to let the people in charge do
things.
[12:06] Well, I put a little save the date card on
your desktops there.
[12:10] We're really excited to be offering 75
different cleanup sites across the whole
[12:15] watershed. So this may be one of our
largest years yet.
[12:18] We hope for the year that we don't have to
do Creek Week and that we're keeping this
[12:23] litter-free. You know, thing in mind,
[12:26] but this continues to be a great effort
that we're continuing to support.
[12:30] It looks like— here we go. First, I want
to recognize Commissioner Wysong.
[12:35] He's been serving as the chair of the
Fountain Creek Watershed District this
[12:39] Fountain Creek Watershed District this
year,
[12:40] and Commissioner Applegate as the
alternate.
[12:42] We've done a lot of work this year under
his leadership and just grateful for the
[12:47] continued support there.
[12:49] Specifically with the county, we've had a
wonderful relationship with you all.
[12:53] From writing and achieving grants
together,
[12:56] from you all supporting our rain barrel
sale that we do in the spring.
[13:00] We get to store our supplies in the Bear
Creek maintenance shop because we don't
[13:05] have a supply shop. And then educational
programming with the nature center.
[13:10] So it's been a great partnership with you
all.
[13:13] I wanted to just address that Creek Week
also ties directly into your values and
[13:18] action there, being service-focused and
collaborative and accountable.
[13:22] Those numbers, almost 200 tons of trash,
is incredible to me.
[13:26] So to be able to have those measurable
results means a lot.
[13:29] A little note here, when local leaders
participate, people notice.
[13:33] So I would love to encourage all of you to
come out and join a cleanup.
[13:38] Here in El Paso County, there are 12
different locations that you can choose
[13:42] different locations that you can choose
from.
[13:42] So really awesome that the staff has come
around and is supporting those cleanups
[13:47] for the public. So we like to say Creek
Week is 9 days long, no excuses.
[13:52] It's all of our home watershed.
[13:54] It's not just Allie's job to take care of
it,
[13:56] but the little actions we do every single
day,
[13:59] from taking a shorter shower or getting
that rain barrel to conserve water,
[14:04] or doing a cleanup in your own
neighborhood park,
[14:07] goes a long way because all of those
actions are cumulative.
[14:11] So there's a number of ways to get
involved.
[14:13] You can hit this QR code or go to
fountain-crk.org to join any of those
[14:18] fountain-crk.org to join any of those
cleanups.
[14:18] We provide bags, gloves, grabbers,
stickers, fun things like that,
[14:22] and encourage everyone to join us. So
thanks so much for your time.
[14:26] I'm happy to answer any questions.
[14:28] Thank you so much. Do we have any
questions?
[14:32] Okay. Can you share a little bit about the
rain barrel program?
[14:36] Yeah, so rain barrels are legal as of 10
years ago.
[14:39] We still get that question that, aren't
those illegal?
[14:41] But this is a great tool that you connect
to a gutter,
[14:44] and then you can capture that roof runoff,
[14:46] and you'd be surprised at how much rain is
collected a short storm.
[14:50] It's a great way to conserve water.
[14:51] You can have 2 of those barrels at your
house,
[14:54] and your plants do better with natural
water than the chemically treated water
[14:58] water than the chemically treated water
from
[14:58] our taps. So we do a one-time spring sale.
[15:00] You purchase your barrel online,
[15:02] and then we have you drive through the
Bear Creek maintenance shop,
[15:05] put it in your car, and you're on your
way.
[15:07] So we'll be getting information out about
that in the springtime.
[15:10] Great, thanks for sharing.
[15:12] You bet.
[15:12] Okay, thank you so much,
[15:15] and I will Bring it up here for comments
from commissioners.
[15:20] I'm going to check in online first with
Commissioner Applegate if
[15:26] you'd like to make any comments. None at
this time.
[15:31] Thank you.
[15:31] Okay, I'll ask for other comments from
commissioners. Commissioner Williams.
[15:36] I think this is always a valuable cleanup
time.
[15:39] I love the fact that Black Forest Park is
on this.
[15:42] Yes, we're excited for that too.
[15:43] It's the first time because there's not
really a creek there, but, uh,
[15:48] maybe in the next few years we'll get
enough water to be able to call Sand Creek
[15:52] enough water to be able to call Sand Creek
a
[15:53] creek again. So, um, thank you for doing
this.
[15:55] Thank you.
[15:56] Commissioner Nelson.
[15:58] I just want to thank all the volunteers
and staff who help manage this program and
[16:04] all the time and energy spent helping
clean up this important resource,
[16:09] and that we are Giving respect to people
who are downstream.
[16:13] So thank you for those who are
volunteering their time and energy.
[16:18] Thank you.
[16:19] Okay, I will just add my comments quickly.
[16:21] Thank you for being here for today and for
speaking to us about the importance of
[16:27] this. I'm going to say thank you
especially for that rain barrel program
[16:31] especially for that rain barrel program
and for
[16:32] sharing that. I think that you're
absolutely correct.
[16:35] A lot of people still don't realize that
the law did change,
[16:39] and so those are now legal.
[16:41] I know I have 2 at my house and They are a
great addition,
[16:44] especially as dry as it is when we do get
that rain,
[16:48] to capture it and be able to keep our
plants watered without utilizing that
[16:53] plants watered without utilizing that
fresh,
[16:53] clean drinking water that is coming into
our homes.
[16:56] So thank you so much for continuing that
program as well.
[17:00] With that, I will let Commissioner Wysong
wrap up our comments.
[17:04] Thank you, Madam Chair.
[17:06] Really enjoy being part of the Watershed
District, enjoyed chairing this year.
[17:13] Got a lot of hurdles, but a lot of fun at
the same time.
[17:17] I'll be picking up trash along Monument
Creek on Saturday.
[17:22] And then the rain barrel got mine this
year, and I'm a tinkerer,
[17:28] so I'm in the process of trying to set it
up with a pump to actually feed into the
[17:35] drip system.
[17:36] Thank you.
[17:36] And do all that kind of stuff and be able
to push a button, drain the tank,
[17:42] and/or put a float valve. Just all kinds
of little things.
[17:45] That's just what I like doing. So Creek
Week is really important.
[17:50] So hopefully everyone participates and
let's unfortunately add to the number of
[17:55] let's unfortunately add to the number of
tons
[17:56] we pick up. And Ali, as you said,
[17:58] maybe it will be one of those that we
don't have to do this anymore.
[18:02] Mm-hmm.
[18:03] So thank you very much.
[18:07] Okay, thank you, thank you so much.
[18:08] We, um, have had our comments, we've had
our motion and our second,
[18:12] so we're going to proceed with a vote.
[18:13] And I'm going to start online with
Commissioner Applegate this time,
[18:16] make it a bit easier.
[18:21] Aye.
[18:22] Commissioner Wysong.
[18:23] Aye.
[18:24] Vice Chair Nelson.
[18:25] Aye.
[18:26] Commissioner Williams. Aye. And the chair
votes aye. That passes 4 5-0.
[18:30] We're going to take a brief recess for a
photograph.
[18:33] Thank
[18:41] you.
[20:50] I'll call this meeting back to order. We
are on item 7.
[20:53] Item number 7 is comments by elected
officials and commissioner liaison
[20:58] officials and commissioner liaison
reports.
[20:58] Okay, do we have any countywide elected
officials here today? To speak.
[21:04] I don't see anyone coming forward, so
we'll begin, um,
[21:08] actually we'll begin online with
Commissioner Applegate.
[21:12] No comments at this time. Thank you.
[21:17] Thank you. Commissioner Wysong.
[21:19] Thank you, Madam Chair.
[21:21] Uh, last week, um, Tuesday evening, had a
town hall up in Chapita Park.
[21:28] Uh, it was, uh, Always fun to get, you
know,
[21:32] reacquainted on an annual basis with
different areas of, of my district.
[21:39] And then also went to the Pikes Peak Urbus
Foundation United We Serve event,
[21:46] which is taking the proceeds from the
rodeo and distributing it to different
[21:53] military families. Had the downtown
breakfast.
[21:57] And then we had the opportunity to do a
quick opening comment at the air show on
[22:04] Saturday, and it's just one of those fun
events.
[22:09] This week we had the UCCS Commissioners
Lunch,
[22:13] got a stormwater meeting this afternoon,
[22:17] and later on this week the BPACG water
quality.
[22:21] Thank you.
[22:22] And then we have a CSU Extension,
[22:24] and then we've got a Fountain Creek
Watershed District board meeting on
[22:30] Watershed District board meeting on
Friday,
[22:30] and then of course Saturday, Creek Week
cleanup. Thank you.
[22:34] Vice Chair Nelson.
[22:37] Good morning. Uh, tomorrow is a full day
with a Board of Health meeting in the
[22:43] morning and then Region 16 Opioid
Abatement Council meeting, and Um,
[22:48] kind of overlapping that is, as was
mentioned,
[22:52] it's a CSU Extension get-to-know-you
opportunity.
[22:56] And so I would encourage the community to
come check it out and learn more about
[23:02] what our CSU Extension partners offer our
community,
[23:06] whether it's if you're interested in 4-H
or some cottage foods classes or learning
[23:12] more about horticulture and You know,
[23:15] building a garden or a yard that is more
drought tolerant and keeping in mind water
[23:21] usage. So lots of good things going on and
just a great opportunity to come learn
[23:28] more. So really encourage you.
[23:30] It is scheduled from 4 to 6 o'clock at our
Spruce Street building.
[23:35] So come check it out. Thanks.
[23:37] Commissioner Williams.
[23:40] Yes, good morning. It is wonderful to be
here.
[23:44] Um, tomorrow I have an annual
transportation policy breakfast in Denver,
[23:49] which is amazing to me because I don't
think Colorado has a transportation
[23:55] think Colorado has a transportation
policy.
[23:55] But, um, that's at 8 AM in the morning,
[23:58] and it's done by a group I think called
Move On Colorado— no, Move Colorado.
[24:04] Maybe we should move to— on— move on on
our roads a little bit more.
[24:09] Um, Thursday we have our Land Use meeting.
Wednesday night— I'm sorry, I skipped.
[24:15] Um, I am going to try to attend both a
meeting online about, um,
[24:19] regional cohorts with the Department of
Human Services, and then Um,
[24:24] go to the Black Forest Fire District
meeting.
[24:28] And then I'm out of office for the weekend
until Monday morning.
[24:32] Um, I did want to make one, 2
announcements.
[24:36] The first is, is that we have for several
years done some projects through the
[24:41] Colorado Department of Transportation.
[24:44] One was our MAM SIP project,
[24:46] which stands for the Military Access
Mobility and Safety Improvement Project.
[24:52] That one was Airport Road, Peterson, um,
or the Peterson North Gate.
[24:57] A lot of items around our military bases
specifically,
[25:01] also including Fort Carson in Commissioner
Applegate and Wysong's district.
[25:06] And that project is complete.
[25:08] And then if you will notice, we are very,
[25:11] very close to completing our Fillmore
Street to Garden of the Gods.
[25:16] And I think also— maybe our Garden of the
Gods Bridge here in a couple weeks.
[25:22] So we're having, um, CDOT is having a big
groundbreaking on Tuesday, September 29th.
[25:28] Since these are both highly traveled
roads, our 2 major freeways,
[25:33] Powers Boulevard and I-25, we will not
close the street down.
[25:37] Uh, so that is on September 29th, and
which is also one of our commission
[25:43] which is also one of our commission
meetings.
[25:44] But if I'm able to be there, but otherwise
it's just a General announcement.
[25:49] I know we've had a lot of staff, um,
[25:52] who've worked on these projects as well
and helped with some of the grant writing
[25:58] and helped with some of the actual
projects.
[26:01] And so there is that large groundbreaking
at the CDOT Colorado Springs facility,
[26:07] which is on the corner of Platt and, um,
Powers Boulevard.
[26:11] And then I just was up very early this
morning, but Even if it kills me in 10
[26:17] morning, but Even if it kills me in 10
years,
[26:17] I just want to say I'm very thankful for
artificial intelligence today.
[26:22] I have had more questions answered as I'd
done some research on a problem that was
[26:28] bugging me in the past 4 hours than I have
had in probably about 15 years.
[26:34] So, and I will say, you know, to our Chief
Financial Officer, Nikki Simmons,
[26:40] they were all related to finances.
[26:42] So, and she will understand that I'm not
in her top 500 when it comes to money.
[26:48] Thanks.
[26:52] Okay, so a lot of the same events or
meetings that I'm attending this week have
[26:57] meetings that I'm attending this week have
been
[26:58] mentioned already, but just a quick
run-through: Board of Health,
[27:02] Region 16 Opioid Council, and then of
course our land use meeting.
[27:07] I also have regional building this week.
[27:10] It's one of the busiest weeks of the year—
or excuse me, of the month—
[27:15] when we have recurring meetings that all
happen to fall in the same week.
[27:20] So that is this week for me.
[27:22] And I also just want to take A moment to
just reflect on the fact that the Denver
[27:27] Gazette just published projections for the
state budget. $1.58 billion shortfall.
[27:33] I am sadly not surprised by this
considering how things have been going the
[27:38] considering how things have been going the
last few
[27:39] years. The legislature has continued to
kick the can down the road.
[27:44] And to refuse to deal with the problems.
[27:46] What's interesting is that the Gazette
also reports, the Denver Gazette,
[27:51] that the revenue projections are going up.
It's not a revenue problem.
[27:56] It's a spending problem.
[27:58] And this is not a surprise for anyone
who's been watching the legislature for
[28:03] who's been watching the legislature for
the
[28:04] last several years. There have been a lot
of warnings. It's going to get worse.
[28:09] You cannot keep spending at a high rate
and expect that you can solve this
[28:14] and expect that you can solve this
problem.
[28:15] And the problem comes, quite frankly,
[28:18] from a lack of discipline and from a lack
of political will and from a lack of
[28:23] willing to do the hard work that elected
officials are elected to do.
[28:28] It is a perhaps sad reality that there is
not an unlimited pool of money.
[28:33] So all of the people that we would like to
help,
[28:36] all of the things that we'd like to
affect, it's just not possible.
[28:41] Just like citizens do not have an
unlimited pool of money, I am certain,
[28:46] as a homeowner, as a parent,
[28:48] there are more things that I would always
love to give my children.
[28:53] There are more things I would always like
to invest in for my family,
[28:58] and they're good things.
[28:59] But I have to sit down at my table and
decide which ones are the most important.
[29:05] Otherwise, I risk going into great debt.
[29:08] Thank you.
[29:09] And that is exactly what our state has
failed to do.
[29:12] They have failed to sit down at the table
and say,
[29:16] which of these are the most important?
[29:18] But because we just cannot keep going this
way, that is quite frankly an immaturity.
[29:24] It is a, a sad state.
[29:25] And I understand that people demand
things, but again,
[29:29] they need to have the political courage to
tell people the truth,
[29:33] not pander to them. and just say, yeah,
we'll give you whatever you want,
[29:38] because that's just not doable.
[29:40] We are going to end up further and further
into this hole.
[29:43] And that's exactly what is happening over
the last few years.
[29:47] So I just, I just want to take this
opportunity to remind folks,
[29:52] as we are headed into another election
season,
[29:55] pay attention to more than platitudes and
nice words.
[29:58] Ask the hard questions,
[30:00] because what is happening in our state is
devastating to our entire community.
[30:05] One of the huge things, and again, I—
[30:07] this has probably been on my radar for at
least 8 years,
[30:11] is the increased spending that we are
seeing on healthcare.
[30:15] We cannot continue to cover everybody and
everything and expect that those dollars
[30:20] are going to stretch.
[30:21] We need to ensure that those who are truly
in need, the most in need,
[30:26] have this coverage there.
[30:28] And that will not be the case if we
continue to say everyone should have it
[30:33] continue to say everyone should have it
and
[30:33] everyone should have access. Again, those
would be nice things.
[30:37] That sounds nice when a politician says to
you,
[30:40] it would be great if everyone got
everything all the time that they needed.
[30:45] I wish that could be the case.
[30:47] But the reality is what that leads to is
those who are the most vulnerable are
[30:52] those who are the most vulnerable are
going
[30:52] to be in danger of not being able to get
the services that they need.
[30:57] So we need to make sure that we are
focused on that.
[31:00] I just encourage everyone,
[31:02] if you have not heard about the issues
that our state is facing, get informed,
[31:07] share with your neighbors,
[31:09] because our state is in real trouble if we
can't turn this thing around.
[31:13] And it's going to require discipline from
our legislators and understanding from
[31:19] citizens that you— the old saying— can't
get blood from a turnip.
[31:23] So we have to be responsible. And, and
that trickles down here to the county.
[31:28] So So every time we see these deficits, we
see the state passing on,
[31:32] trying to pass on more costs to us and
saying, we don't have the discipline.
[31:37] We don't have the discipline to say we got
to stop spending.
[31:41] So we're going to say, let's do it and you
guys find the money.
[31:45] And that, that is a detriment to all of
our residents here because it means that
[31:51] our residents here because it means that
we
[31:51] are constantly juggling things that we
have already said we can't afford.
[31:56] So with that, I will close out my comments
and we can move to item 8.
[32:00] Item number 8 is community service
organization reports, and there are none.
[32:07] Item 9.
[32:09] Item number 9 is public comment on items
not scheduled on the agenda.
[32:12] The commissioners welcome communication in
various forms.
[32:15] However, the public comment period is not
intended for dialogue,
[32:18] and commissioners do not engage in
conversation during this time.
[32:21] Members of the public seeking responses to
specific questions are encouraged to
[32:25] submit inquiries through Citizen Connect.
[32:27] And Madam Chair, I'm unaware of anyone
signing in today.
[32:30] Okay, is there anyone here who wishes to
speak on an item that
[32:36] is not on the agenda? Okay, seeing none,
we'll move to item 10.
[32:42] Item number 10 is the called-up consent
calendar, and there are no items called
[32:46] calendar, and there are no items called
up.
[32:49] Item 11.
[32:50] Item number 11 is the hearing on the
application by Celebrations Den Reich LLC,
[32:54] doing business as Black Forest Meadows,
[32:56] for an optional premise liquor license on
the premises located at 17104 Goshawk Road
[33:01] East, El Paso County, Commissioner
District 1.
[33:04] Jackie Allred, clerk to the board manager.
[33:06] Um, the application does qualify for an
abbreviated hearing at the board's
[33:10] discretion, and Madam Chair,
[33:12] at this time I can provide some
information on the record for the board to
[33:16] information on the record for the board to
consider.
[33:17] Please.
[33:17] The applicant has fulfilled all state and
local requirements.
[33:21] The neighborhood survey supports the needs
and desires of the local community for
[33:25] the requested license,
[33:27] and Liquor Pros is here today to present
the results of the survey.
[33:30] No opposition has been voiced against the
issuance of the requested license.
[33:35] The sheriff's investigation revealed no
criminal history relevant to the issuance
[33:39] criminal history relevant to the issuance
of
[33:39] the liquor license. And at this time,
[33:41] I would ask if there is anyone present in
the audience today to formally oppose the
[33:46] issuance of the requested license.
[33:48] And seeing none, I would turn it over to
the board to consider if the hearing will
[33:53] be abbreviated.
[33:53] Okay, and so we do need a motion if we
would like to hear this as an
[33:58] abbreviated hearing,
[34:00] and I would ask commissioners if there's a
motion.
[34:03] I move for an abbreviated hearing.
[34:07] Second.
[34:07] Okay, moved and seconded. Any comments
before we take a vote?
[34:14] All right, seeing none,
[34:16] we'll begin online with Commissioner
Wysong.
[34:21] Sorry, Commissioner Applegate. No comments
at this time.
[34:28] Thank you.
[34:28] Uh, Commissioner Applegate,
[34:30] we are taking a vote on whether we would
like to hear an abbreviated hearing on the
[34:36] liquor license. Would you like us to come
back to you?
[34:40] Yeah, it's a vote. It's a yes vote. Sorry.
[34:43] Okay. Yes from Commissioner Applegate.
Commissioner Wysong?
[34:46] Aye.
[34:47] Vice Chair Nelson?
[34:48] Aye.
[34:48] Commissioner Williams?
[34:50] Aye.
[34:50] And the chair votes aye. That passes 5-0.
[34:52] So we'll proceed with an abbreviated
hearing.
[35:16] Um, good morning, Madam Chair, members of
the authority.
[35:19] Uh, for the record, my name is Eva
Garretson.
[35:22] I am with Liquor Pros, and we conducted
the needs and desires hearing, uh,
[35:26] regarding this application.
[35:27] Hi everyone, my name is Macy. Thank you
for having us here.
[35:30] Um, me and my family are here applying for
the liquor license today.
[35:35] Well, welcome.
[35:36] Go ahead.
[35:36] All right, thank you, Madam Chair.
[35:38] Um, once again, for the record, uh, Liquor
Pros was hired, um,
[35:43] as the petitioning company to conduct the
needs and desires survey regarding the new
[35:49] optional premise liquor license for Black
Forest Meadows,
[35:53] located at 17104 Goshawk Road E, Colorado
Springs. Um, the map was provided with us.
[35:59] Miss Jackie Allred, always wonderful to
work with. I can't even Express that.
[36:04] It's so great when folks know what they're
doing. She's just amazing.
[36:09] So we went out on the dates of Tuesday,
September 1st, and Friday, September 11th,
[36:15] to conduct the needs and desires survey.
[36:18] Once again, we are a third-party petition
company,
[36:22] which means we do not guarantee results.
[36:24] We simply provide the survey, and the
results are as is,
[36:28] and that is explained in our agreement
with the applicant.
[36:32] So we do take a no just as much as we take
a yes. Thank you.
[36:37] So of this, this particular area, lots of
vacant land, a lot of locked areas.
[36:42] There's a reason people get off the grid.
[36:45] And so when we run into a gate or a sign
saying that we are not allowed access,
[36:51] we 100% respect that from the property
owner.
[36:54] And so we do not make any forward
attempts.
[36:57] Or if there's vacant land, we do have the
vacant land owner report Um,
[37:02] that we do turn in as well.
[37:04] Um, of the 120 attempted contacts, we did,
uh, obtain a total of 31 signatures.
[37:10] There are no businesses out in this area,
all residential.
[37:14] Um, but of the 31 residents that we did,
um, gather feedback for, 23, um,
[37:19] signed in favor at 74%, 7 with no opinion,
or 7 opposed with 23%.
[37:23] one with no opinion at 3%.
[37:25] If we combine— if we remove the no
opinion,
[37:28] we actually have 77% signing in favor and
23% opposed.
[37:32] We actually do ask those folks to write in
in order to provide the authority with
[37:38] more feedback as to why they are in favor
or opposed to this license.
[37:43] We do gather factual information and the
concept of what they are trying to do.
[37:48] We relay that information back to those
residents in the area as to what type of
[37:54] liquor license is coming in.
[37:56] In this case, it is an optional liquor
license,
[37:59] so we do let them know this is a full
liquor license, meaning beer, wine,
[38:05] and hard spirits. So we did relay that
back,
[38:08] and you will hear from the applicant as to
who they are and what they're doing.
[38:13] But the reasons of opposition,
[38:16] we did ask them to write in because there
are reasons that may not qualify as
[38:21] reasons of opposition.
[38:23] Because they don't speak to the relevance
of the liquor license.
[38:27] So, um, on page 2, we had 5 that declined
to provide us with a reason.
[38:32] One stated they were against alcohol,
which actually kind of kicks them out,
[38:38] and one stated loud noise late at night.
[38:40] Um, we didn't mention any noise, anything
of that nature.
[38:44] Um, I don't know what the concept of that
was going to be, but, um,
[38:49] so if the authority allows This actually
just bumps up this to 82% in favor and 18%
[38:55] opposed. If we do combine those,
[38:57] because we did get the vacant landowner
report back, we did have 2 yes signatures,
[39:03] 2 no signatures, and 3 no opinions.
[39:06] We actually added and combined those
percentages along with the report that we
[39:11] percentages along with the report that we
have.
[39:12] Just the vacant landowner, we have 29%
signing in favor, 29% opposed.
[39:17] Opposed, and 43% with no opinion. If we
combine these, it's just our raw numbers.
[39:22] It's 66% in favor, 23% opposed, and 11%
with no opinion.
[39:26] We remove that no opinion,
[39:28] that actually bumps the in favor up to 74%
and 26% opposed.
[39:32] And then if we remove those 2 opposition
that were not considered relevant,
[39:38] that actually bumps us up to 78%.
[39:40] It isn't a standard higher number that we
see,
[39:43] but it is still a favorable percentage in
the area.
[39:47] So we still feel like this shows a
positive need and desire.
[39:51] Currently, there are no other license
types in this area,
[39:55] which actually in itself shows a need and
desire legally.
[39:59] So we do see— say that there— this is—
[40:02] does qualify for this license in the area
and that any existing outlets had not met
[40:08] that need. I'd be happy to answer any
questions from the authority.
[40:13] Commissioner Nelson, I'm curious about,
uh,
[40:17] is it based on statute when you decide
whether an opposition comment is relevant
[40:24] or not? That's in Colorado statute?
[40:28] Yes, ma'am. It's, uh, Mobile v. Myers.
[40:30] It was a case back in like 1980s in Aurora
where any, um—
[40:34] so if I sit there and said, well, my uncle
died of alcoholism back in 1972.
[40:39] They didn't cause it. They didn't do that.
Traffic, I mean, they have no control.
[40:45] It's stuff that's not in their control.
[40:48] But a need and desire, if you say there's
no need, there's no want,
[40:52] there's no desire, those actually speak to
that.
[40:55] Anything other than that that is
irrelevant, that's what that Mobile v.
[41:00] Meyer case stated, is that those reasons
can be excluded.
[41:04] If the authority chooses to do so.
[41:07] Okay, thank you.
[41:11] Okay, any other questions at this time?
Okay, okay, thank you.
[41:18] Okay, so in reading through this
[41:22] application, um, it looks like you do an
[41:26] event center.
[41:28] We are, yes. We're a seasonal wedding and
event center operating between May through
[41:32] October.
[41:33] Okay, that's wonderful. So this would be
in relation to that?
[41:37] Correct, yes. So currently our couples and
outside groups,
[41:40] they're able to bring in their own
alcohol,
[41:42] but we're not able to properly manage it,
[41:44] see like what they're bringing in and how
much they're consuming.
[41:47] So we do just want a little bit more
control for the safety of the property.
[41:51] Okay, and I actually like that answer.
That was really good.
[41:56] Um, if you have— so If they bring in their
own alcohol and such,
[42:01] or even if you're serving it— sorry, I'm
talking with my hands—
[42:06] what are you going to do to make sure you
check licenses for underage?
[42:12] So our plan is to hire established
bartenders that are TIP certified.
[42:16] We've already been speaking with a bunch
of local companies that offer services
[42:21] of local companies that offer services
that
[42:21] work in conjunction with the liquor
license.
[42:23] So we think we want to hire outsourced
versus bringing in our own staff and
[42:27] overseeing that side of it.
[42:30] Okay, that's the important thing, is to
make sure that we don't serve underage.
[42:35] Yes, that's it. Thank you.
[42:37] Absolutely.
[42:38] Thank you.
[42:38] Okay, any additional questions at
[42:42] this time? No. Okay, I think then—
[42:47] go ahead.
[42:47] I am very happy to move approval of the
liquor license for Celebrations Done Right
[42:52] LLC.
[42:53] Second.
[42:55] Okay, that has been moved and seconded.
[42:57] One last opportunity for any comments.
[43:00] Seeing none, we will, um, begin online
with Commissioner Applegate.
[43:05] Yes.
[43:09] Commissioner Wysong.
[43:10] Aye.
[43:11] Vice Chair Nelson.
[43:12] Aye.
[43:12] Commissioner Williams.
[43:14] Aye.
[43:14] And the chair votes aye. That passes 5-0.
[43:18] Thank you, everyone.
[43:20] Okay, we will move to item 12.
[43:23] Item number 12 is department and committee
reports, non-action items,
[43:27] and there are none.
[43:28] Item 13.
[43:30] Item 13 is the addendum, and there are no
addendums today.
[43:33] Item 14.
[43:34] Item 14 is the executive session, and
there is no request for executive session.
[43:38] Okay, with that, we've come to the end of
this agenda. This meeting is adjourned.