On May 6, the Upper Big Sandy Ground Water Management District held a special meeting, and Larry Mott, UBSGWMD board member, presented findings of an investigation into inconsistencies in the town of Calhanís water meter readings for July and August 2014, as reported in the June issue of The New Falcon Herald.Mottís findings indicated that Calhan had pumped 2.5 million gallons, or 23 percent more water, than it sold. The UBSGWMD board voted to further define water export rules and continue to have discussions with Calhan about the inconsistencies in the water readings.Since then, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation conducted its own investigation, interviewed various people in Calhan and turned the findings over to the El Paso County District Attorneyís office, said Laura Wilson, Calhan resident.According to an article posted on the Gazetteís website May 22, Greg Maggard, Calhan public works director, resigned less than a month after the CBI investigation began. Another article posted on the Gazetteís website July 2 reports that Blair Bartling, mayor of Calhan since 2006, also resigned, effective July 1.In an effort to bring light to the issues related to Calhanís water usage, the Calhan Chamber of Commerce, along with their attorney, Jane Fredman, dedicated an entire newsletter to their own findings concerning the water situation. The newsletter, dated Feb. 6, is titled, ìAre you wondering why Calhan wants to raise water rates?îThe newsletter states the chamber made a series of requests, based on the Colorado Open Records Act, to the town of Calhan to obtain information about the records on water sales. Calhan was allowing bulk water users, like ranchers and farmers, to access water ó day or night via unlocked fire hydrants. Until late 2014, bulk users were under an ìhonor systemî to report to Calhan the amount of water they were taking. Calhan would then bill them.ìBased on the amount of water the chamber calculated was being taken by bulk water users (from the townís records), there appears to have been a correspondingly small amount of revenue collected by the Town for sales,î according to the newsletter. It notes that certain bulk water users ìmay have taken significant advantage of the honor system, to the financial detriment of the Town and its residents.îThe financial fallout is not the only concern for Calhan residents. Gavin Wince said he and his wife live on property that depends on well water, like most of the residents in Calhan. He said he is concerned that the longevity of the Laramie-Fox aquifer, the source of their well water, has been compromised by the unmonitored water usage of bulk users.Wince said their well has not been producing water as effectively or in the same condition. ìWe are having a company come out and inspect our windmill to eliminate any concern that the aquifer is being negatively impacted,î he said.The chamber newsletter states the town is owed more than $140,000.
