The Woodmen Hills Metropolitan Districtís Board of Directors met for their regular monthly meeting in January. Prior to the public meeting, the directors held an executive session but no action was taken at that time.After reconvening from executive session, Keith Moulton, board president, addressed the increase in fees. Moulton said the fees were raised by 2.5 percent for monthly water usage, 9.5 percent for wastewater services and 6 percent for parks and recreation services.Since Eddie Avedikian is no longer with the district, the job description for a new parks and recreation director has been posted; however, Moulton said the district is looking into other organizational options. The staff is evaluating the districtís current structure, she said. Lisa Peterson, WHMD administrative director, said she had two staff meetings to address reorganization. ìMorale is very nice right now,î Peterson said. ìWeíve implemented new policies and procedures and weíre more of a team now.îEvan Ela, attorney for the board, presented two resolution items for action. The board unanimously approved posting notices of district board meetings three days prior to the meeting in three different locations. A notice will also be posted 24 hours prior to each meeting at the district offices, and each regular monthly meeting is scheduled to occur on the fourth Thursday of each month, except for November and December. The meetings will take place the third Thursday in the last two months of the year. Second, Ela presented a resolution to participate in the 2014 board election May 6. The board unanimously approved the resolution. Three seats currently held by Moulton, Al Kreps and Robert Lovato will be available. The board chose to designate this election as mail-in ballot only.Ela also presented information on the certification of delinquent accounts through the El Paso County treasurerís office from November 2013. He said he spoke to the county treasurer to determine if they could include database information when people are purchasing a home so they would know the company responsible for water and wastewater services. As reported in the January issue of The New Falcon Herald, several customers received notices that their accounts were delinquent but claimed they had no idea they received services from WHMD. Ela said by having the county include that information, situations like that could possibly be avoided. But the county treasurer said it wasnít possible to include the information.Ela also updated the board on a lawsuit brought by EPC last November against the district regarding the maintenance of one of its retaining ponds. He said the districtís insurance provider will defend the district in court.The board voted to assign Collins Cockrel & Cole, Elaís law firm, as the custodian of district records. The decision was prompted by multiple Colorado Open Records Act requests made by a community member and KOAA News First 5 television station in recent weeks that cost the district $882, Peterson said.ìOur office staff has been questioned, challenged and debased by emails that arenít proper,î Kreps said of the CORA requests. ìI wouldnít allow this to happen in my business and it shouldnít happen here. Itís come at a terrible cost both to personnel and board members in their time, and the cost affects the people of Woodmen Hills.îThe board discussed the current financial situation, including a repayment plan for the districtís bond obligations. They also discussed district plans for handling increased water treatment services and aging equipment with regard to new construction. Moulton said the likeliest option is to upgrade the existing water treatment plant, which will be an option in 18 months to two years, rather than five years.Gene Cozzolino, water and wastewater director, said he is reviewing options that will increase efficiency within his department such as a fixed film media, which allows the bacteria necessary for water treatment to attach to that media rather than being flushed away. The fixed film media or ìbio-shellî would be submerged in the retaining pond, used year-round and increase treatment efficiencies, especially during cold winter months, he said.The next regular WHMD board meeting is Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Woodmen Hills Community Center West.
