Ellicott property owners fighting Cherokee Metropolitan District’s request for a determination of right to the water under their property held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser in Ellicott on Feb. 9.”We raised over $1,100 for our cause, and it was all profit, as everything was donated by our wonderful friends and family,” said event organizer Marilan Luttrell.The proceeds will be used to pay court and attorney fees.The event’s sponsors included Henderson Propane, Fuel B’s, Pikes Peak Coop, Country Profile, High Country Bassett Rescue, Colorado Springs Greenhouse employees, Peyton Farmers 4-H Club and Kolbe Kids 4-H.”People in the city don’t understand that we are standing up for our constitutional rights,” said state representative Marsha Looper (R-Calhan), who attended the fundraiser. “I plan to stay with you all the way to the Supreme Court if this case goes that far.”In early February, the case was moved from the Colorado Ground Water Commission to district court for a decision on the validity of the water leases held by Cherokee. “We won’t know the court date for a while,” Luttrell said.Jason Harms, an attorney for the Ellicott property owners, also attended the fundraiser. “I am looking forward to working with Marsha on a water bill to prevent things like this from happening in the future,” Harms said.Hydrogeologist Julia Murphy gave a presentation on the geology of water in the Ellicott area. She encouraged people outside but near the lease areas to get a determination of their water rights to protect their water supplies in the event that Cherokee is successful in obtaining a determination of water rights for the water under the lease area.
