The main business of the Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District board meeting Jan. 27 centered on steps to amend the districtís service plan.Board lawyer Evan Ela outlined the need for an updated plan and the changes that would occur if the plan is approved by El Paso County.The first service plan was obtained in 1995 before any homes were built, Ela said. ìIt was a restrictive plan with limited fees and debt cap,î he said.The plan was amended in 1997 and again in 2000 to raise the debt cap and allow the district to build the recreation centers and operate parks and recreation services.More than 10 years later, Ela said there are more homes in Woodmen Hills than the original plans anticipated. Demand for services is up, and the district needs to build a large waste water facility to comply with new state regulations.The new service plan would allow the district to take tax initiatives to Woodmen Hills residents as an alternative or supplementary revenue source rather than relying on the current fee system.The new plan would also enumerate duties of the district, such as mosquito abatement, which the district already handles even though itís not spelled out in the current service plan, Ela said.Most notably, he said the new plan will seek to give the district control over covenant enforcement.Ela said the problems with covenant enforcement over the last few years stemmed from the fact that WHMDís service plan did not specify the authority to oversee covenant compliance. If approved by the county, the district could resume collecting covenant enforcement fees and hire a covenant management company.The plan will be ready to submit to the county within the next month, he said. Approval could come quickly or take up to a year. ìThe service plan is the first step to help the board know where we sit,î Ela said. ìIt allows the board to act, but doesnít compel them.î
