All members were present at the regular meeting of the Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District Board of Directors in July. Prior to the public session, the directors held an executive session. No action was taken at that time.In his report, Phil Moya, parks and recreation director, told the board that his department plans to close the Recreation Center East from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays during the school year to save money. Attendance during those hours is low enough to warrant the closure, he said.Moya also updated the board about situations caused by recent flooding in the area. Work will need to be done to a downspout that is not working properly at the RCE, and the flooring in the Community Center West weight room needs to be replaced because of flooding and possible mold issues, he said. The estimate to replace the floor, if insurance pays for it, is about $8,831, Moya said.About 45 feet of the trail near Horseshoe Park flooded and collapsed from the heavy rains, as did another about 75-foot section near Gladwater Road, Moya said. The money to repair those sections has been approved, and repairs will cost about $1,300 and $2,100, respectively, he said.Moya also presented an idea for starting an internship program through his department for college students who want to pursue a career in parks and recreation. The board agreed to review his proposal.Gene Cozzolino, water and wastewater director, said his report was more of a damage report because of the issues caused by the heavy rains. During one of the heaviest storms, the district lost a portion of the water line that services the district from the Tamlin water tank, he said. The water crested the walls of one of the detention ponds and spilled onto the spillway, which washed out and left the pipe essentially hanging in midair, he said. The pipe collapsed, but contractors are working on it and hope to have it finished by the last week of July, Cozzolino said.The detention pond near Safeway also crested its walls and washed debris downstream, as did water in another detention pond farther north in Woodmen Hills, although that pond was totally wiped out, Cozzolino said. In that instance, one of the three culverts was dislodged and washed about 100 feet downstream, he said.Cozzolino said he is working with the districtís insurance company to determine what will be covered. Ultimately, the spillways will likely be covered, but the Tamlin pipeline will probably not, he said.Kevin Settlemen, a resident of Woodmen Hills, asked the board during the public comment portion if there was anything that could be done on the ditch that flows between the greenbelt near the Community Center West and the houses alongside it. The ditch, which is about 5 to 6 feet deep, nearly crested its banks, which could have flooded the basements of the adjacent houses, he said.Cozzolino said the district is responsible for maintaining the ditch. They will remove the silt that was causing some of the issues; however, determining if the grade along the ditch is sufficient by legal standards will require surveyors to measure it, he said. Lynne Bliss, board president, said Cozzolino and the board will work together to determine how to resolve the situation.The next regular meeting of the WHMD board is Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center West building.
