El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder addressed a crowd of about 30 people at the Falcon Fire Protection District Station 3 on Old Meridian Road Sept. 21, and shared some big news. A new sheriffís substation is planned for Falcon.ìI am really excited, it’s a great opportunity for the sheriff’s office,î Elder said.Elder said the Falcon area has grown so much that there is a need for a full-time substation that will house all northeast El Paso County sheriff patrol operations. The substation will include a concealed handgun permit office as well as offices for the clerk and recorder, assessor and treasurer. People would also be able to pay tickets at the substation. Elder pledged to complete the project with no tax increase. He said it will be funded from savings from funds already budgeted for the sheriff’s office.Elder said about 90 days ago, the FFPD called his office and said they had property available at fire station 1 on Meridian Ranch Road. The proposed site is on the other side of station 1 from Meridian Ranch Road.ìFalcon is one of the fastest growing areas in El Paso County,î Elder said. Steve Schleiker, El Paso County assessor who was at the meeting, added that El Paso County is the largest county in the state with more than 300,000 parcels ó a number that increases daily as property is being subdivided. Schleiker said more than 400 building permits a month are issued in the county, and 35% of new construction in the county is in Falcon.ìI’m very excited about this,î said, Chuck Broerman El Paso County clerk and recorder, who was also at the meeting. ìThere is definitely a need out there.îElder anticipated that a deal with the fire department for the property would be finalized in 30 to 60 days. Then, they should start leveling the land for bringing in a 28-by-64-foot temporary modular building that will be used during the estimated two years it will take for the construction of a larger, permanent building. The building would be built along the same lines as station 1 and would be painted to complement the paint scheme of station 1. There is a possibility a radio tower could be placed there to improve first responder radio communications.ìWhen we are done, we think we will have another great project for eastern El Paso County,î Elder said.When asked if response times would improve, Elder said he did not know, and the answer would depend on future growth of the office.Some people questioned the location. Elder said he would put together some type of survey; and, if the community was against the chosen location, another one would be selected.ìIf we don’t take this gracious offer, it’s probably not going to happen for a long time,î said Undersheriff Joe Roybal. ìAnother location would make it extremely difficult.îAnother public meeting was scheduled for Sept. 30 (after the NFH had been printed).After the meeting, FFPD Chief Trent Harwig talked to the NFH and said that the station 1 property had been originally designated for fire protection and law enforcement. However, until now, he said there had been no interest in a building for law enforcement. Harwig said the fire department will deed part of the station 1 land to the sheriff’s office. If the sheriff’s office plans go through, he said the tentative plans by Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District for a park on that site will be canceled.
