Despite the cold and snowy weather, about 20 people attended El Paso County Commissioner Douglas Bruce’s town hall meeting Dec. 2 at the Falcon fire station.Bruce began the meeting by explaining the reason for changing the meeting location from the Stetson Hills Police Station. The city of Colorado Springs passed an ordinance stating that anyone attending a public meeting in public buildings must show identification. Bruce objected because he said it was intrusive; thus, he moved his quarterly town hall meeting to the Falcon fire station.Bruce opened the topics with development issues. The Land Development Code is more than 600 pages, he said, adding that it covers everything from the weight, size and number of dogs a person can own to the size of political signs allowed in a homeowner’s yard. Bruce said many of the subjects outlined in the code were “silly, subjective, and oppressive” and would be better managed by voluntary covenants than criminal prosecution of violators.Another development-related issue is developer impact fees. Bruce is in favor of those fees and praised School District 49 and the Falcon Community Builders for Classrooms for working together to determine the fees assessed on new residential construction. New residents should be required to pay their own way, he said.Although Bruce also supports impact fees for other services, Alex Donnell, local businessman and firefighter with the Falcon district, pointed out that it is illegal for a fire district to assess impact fees. Bruce said the law needs to be changed, and citizens should be contacting their state representatives on this issue and other issues that affect them.Bruce also said insurance companies should pay for the costs fire districts incur when responding to auto accidents, fires and other emergency services. “I support a user-pay system,” he said. However, he agreed that taxpayers would still pay for those who do not carry insurance.One of Bruce’s long-time objections to the commissioners’ regular meeting agendas is the ceremonial resolution like proclamations and recognitions. The commissioners vote on those resolutions and Bruce calls it a waste of time. He said the BOCC met 266 hours in 2005, which, based on a 40-hour week, totals six and one-half weeks of actual work per year. Their individual salary is more than 8,000, he said.Bruce also said he objects to the state-approved 38-percent pay hike for newly elected commissioners beginning Jan. 1.The state requires the BOCC to meet twice a week, but Bruce said the meetings could be held on the same day – morning and afternoon, which could be more accommodating to constituents’ work schedules.Property taxes have been increasing slightly without voter approval, Bruce said, adding that any tax increase without the voter is against the Tabor Amendment.Last on Bruce’s agenda was waste in county government. He presented a list of 32 specific areas, where, in his opinion, taxpayer money was wasted. The list included the county coroner’s salary, which, Bruce said, is two and one-half times the governor’s salary, and the sheriff’s salary, which, he said, is 22 percent more than the governor’s salary. Bruce also cited the following examples of waste: the office of aging, the veterans’ office (Bruce said it’s a federal responsibility), $330,000 to the university extension program, double pensions for county employees, $300,000 for training commissioners (how to look good on TV, he said) and $37,000 for 153 courthouse clocks.Bruce reiterated to the attendees that he welcomes contact from constituents.Contact information: (719) 520-6412; douglasbruce@elpasoco.com.
