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Here are some of the stories we are following this week. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for up-to-the-minute news.
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Residents are, as predicted, appealing the decision to build a data center in a former Intel facility off of Garden of the Gods Road. If you ever wondered how these appeals work, you’re in luck this week.
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City of Colorado Springs officials have announced their plan to create a city-specific 911 Authority. This would replace the current regional structure, where Colorado Springs works in conjunction with both Teller and El Paso County 911 services. This change is being touted as a way to provide better public safety. This proposal is being met with strong criticism from other agencies in the region.
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El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal also expressed concerns with the proposed new 911 structure. The Sheriff states that public safety could be negatively impacted by this proposed new arrangement.
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The Cimarron Hills Fire Protection District is reacting negatively to the Colorado Springs 911 plan. Officials from Cimarron Hills state that this move by the city is unprecedented and would take El Paso County back 30 years in fire protection services.
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Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal was a keynote speaker at the annual State of Utilities event this week. Deal addressed plans for utilities, like grid upgrades and potential nuclear power. He also stated plainly that CSU intends to change your behavior by “incentivizing” people. The message is clear. Instead of serving customers, the new mission of CSU is to control customers.
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If you still haven’t turned in your primary election ballot, there is still time. However, it is too late to mail it. You will need to bring it to a drop box at one of these locations. The final day to turn in your ballot is June 30.
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The City of Colorado Springs would like your feedback on its draft AnnexCOS Plan. This plan would determine how land is annexed into the city in the future. Let them know your thoughts.
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Denver residents in one neighborhood agreed to tax themselves for more neighborhood safety. They will pay for security "ambassadors" roaming Broadway, looking for problems.
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One Denver school teacher was fired for forcing girls in her class to kiss one another. This has no place in taxpayer-supported public schools.
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The Poudre School District is eliminating 182 teacher positions. Budget cuts and declining enrollment are being blamed. As a reminder, Poudre was the district where, in 2021, a 12-year-old girl was invited to an after-school "art club" where she was informed she was actually a boy, and that her new secret identity should be kept from her parents. Declining enrollment indeed.
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One ex-Jeffco Schools security guard was arrested on child sexual abuse charges this week. This security guard is facing dozens of charges related to the sexual exploitation of children. It is disgusting and reprehensible that we continue to read about these stories in Colorado, and almost no one from the ruling political class here has anything to say about it. Their silence speaks volumes.
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Remember when the story broke that the Colorado e-file system used by attorneys required them all to swear that they wouldn’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities before it would allow them to use the system? This requirement has been quietly removed.
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Buc-ee’s is moving closer to building its new store at I-25 and County Line Road.
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Attorney General Phil Weiser campaigned for governor in Colorado Springs this week. He was hosted by Councilmember Kimberly Gold, who represents City Council District 4.
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In Denver this week, the Regional Transportation District is considering reducing services. They are also considering submitting a ballot measure to raise taxes to help fill their $250 million budget shortfall.
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Aurora, Colorado, will also be asking residents to tax themselves even more. The Aurora government would like more money for public safety, infrastructure, and community facilities.
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The Independence Institute has released a helpful video educating voters about what is in Proposition NN, which will be on your November ballot. It’s a tax increase that will end TABOR forever. It’s that simple.
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More Medicaid fraud has been discovered in Colorado. Two people have been charged with stealing $12 million in Medicaid funds to buy homes, cars, and a diamond company. How much additional Medicaid fraud do you think we don’t know about yet? Have they only scratched the surface?
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A collared wolf briefly crossed over to the east side of I-25 near Pueblo. Wolves are known to migrate far and wide, so we could see much more of this in the future.
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If you would like to help support us in our mission as government watchdogs by becoming a Newsletter Sponsor, we are offering two sponsorships for each weekly newsletter, at the nominal cost of $100 each. Funds raised from these sponsorship opportunities will help us to keep looking out for taxpayers.
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You can also support Springs Taxpayers United when you shop. Springs Taxpayers United is now enrolled with the King Soopers Community Rewards Program. You can link your SooperCard to us by logging into your account and designating Springs Taxpayers United (SW470) as the recipient of the community reward for your King Soopers card. Thanks for your support!
Here are some upcoming meetings in the area. We hope you can attend one or more! If there are other public meetings you’d like to see announced here, please drop us a line. We are happy to include them in an upcoming newsletter. These might be government-related, candidate, or elected official meetings. Thanks!
Colorado Springs City Council Meetings
Monday, July 13, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council Work Session
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, July 14, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners Meetings
Tuesday, July 7, 9:00 a.m.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Centennial Hall
200 S. Cascade
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, July 21 9:00 a.m.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Centennial Hall
200 S. Cascade
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Colorado Springs Utilities Board of Directors
Wednesday, July 22, 1:00 p.m.
Utilities Board of Directors
Blue River Board Room
Plaza of the Rockies, South Tower, 5th Floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Miscellaneous Meetings of Interest
Friday, July 24, 9:00 a.m.
Front Range Passenger Rail Board of Directors Meeting
Online Meeting - Registration Required
Information and Agenda
View the full Colorado Springs City Council meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings.
View the full Board of El Paso County Commissioners meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings.
View the full Colorado Springs Utilities Board meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings. Please also follow CSU on their Facebook Page and on Twitter.
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Since most of the City and County board and commission meetings are not televised or recorded, we are trying to remedy that. We now have a camera and a tripod for volunteers to check out for future meetings.
If you have a tip about a story in the Pikes Peak region that you aren’t seeing reported, let us know. We will see what we can find out.
How to Contact City and County Officials:
City Hall
107 N. Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 385-5986
Contact City Council
Mayor's Office
30 S Nevada Avenue, Suite 601
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
(719) 385-5900
Contact the Mayor's Office
County Commissioners
200 South Cascade Avenue, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2202
Phone: (719) 520-7276
https://www.elpasoco.com/contact-us/
Thank you!
Rebecca
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