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  • Note: All OCN articles published since the paper started in June 2001 are posted on this web site. Generally, only articles from the past year or two are included in the tables of links below.

    Please use OCN's search function at the top right of each page to find all the articles on a topic.

    Academy School District 20

    The Academy Water and Sanitation District serves the south portion of the Tri-Lakes area and the northwest section of Colorado Springs.

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    Academy Water and Sanitation District

    The Academy Water and Sanitation District serves approximately 300 homes east of the Donala Water and Sanitation District. It has been proposed that the Academy district be merged into the Donala district. For more on the topic...

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    Arts and Crafts

    OCN carries a series of articles on local arts and crafts and performing arts...

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    Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority

    Growth along Baptist Road has led to greatly increased traffic. The Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority (BRRTA) was formed to coordinate changes to Baptist Road to help address the resulting hazardous conditions and congestion. For more on this topic...

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    Black Forest Fire Rescue

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    Bird Watch on the Palmer Divide

    Articles to help you identify our local feathered friends...

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    Book Reviews - Between the Covers

    This series of book reviews focuses on books of special interest to Tri-Lakes area residents...

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    Board of County Commissioners

    The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners wields considerable power as the governing authority for land use and other decisions for the unincorporated areas of the county. For more on this topic...

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    County Planning

    The El Paso County Planning Commission reviews proposals for developments in the unincorporated parts of the county. It makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. Some of these projects have a direct impact on the residents of the Tri-Lakes area. For more on this topic...

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    COVID-19

    The COVID-19 virus has forced the entire nation to change daily life and business. See how the Tri-Lakes area is adapting ... 

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    Donala Water and Sanitation District

    The Donala Water and Sanitation District provides water and sewer service to the Gleneagle development. For more on this topic... 

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    Donald Wescott Fire Protection District

    The Donald Wescott Fire Protection District provides covers from Baptist Road south to Colorado Springs.  For more on this topic...

    For more articles on Tri-Lakes area emergency services, see also the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District and the Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Services topics.

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    Drilling and Mining

    There is interest in drilling for oil and natural gas in Pike National Forest in the Tri-Lakes area. For more on this topic...

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    Economic Development

    Opinions differ as to the best way to maintain a vital local economy. For more on this topic...

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    El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority

    The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA), informally known as "the Loop project," was formed in November 2022 by an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cherokee Metropolitan District, Donala Water and Sanitation District, the Town of Monument, and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District to address the depletion of groundwater that provides the bulk of water consumed in northern El Paso County by building infrastructure that would allow water, including treated effluent from the Tri-Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility, to be re-used. For more on this topic...

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    El Paso County Sheriff's Office

    The El Paso County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of El Paso County. For more on this topic...

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    Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Services

    Emergency preparedness and emergency services in the Tri-Lakes area are served by a collection of special districts. For more on this topic...

    For more articles on Tri-Lakes area emergency services, see also the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District, and Tri-Lakes-Monument Fire Authority.

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    Forest Lakes Metropolitan District

    The Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, established in 1985, west of I-25 at the end of West Baptist Road, is a Title 32 service district in El Paso County established in 1985. FLMD is the half-acre operating district responsible for the public infrastructure and utility and general governmental services for the residents of Pinion Pines Metropolitan Districts 1, 2, and 3, which actually collect the property taxes. PPMD 1 and 2 are in unincorporated El Paso County, but the commercial section PPMD 3 is within Monument town limits. It is a service district in El Paso County. For more on this topic...

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    Forest View Acres Water District

    The Forest View Acres Water District was established in 1957 by the late Hugh Nevins. From the initial provision of water to 27 homes, FVAWD currently provides water service to 280 residences in the Red Rocks Ranch, Clovenhoof, Villas, Sundance Estates, and Shiloh Pines neighborhoods in unincorporated El Paso County. In 2004, an embezzlement of at least $315,000 was discovered. For more on this topic...

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    Gardening

    Information to assist the indoor and outdoor gardener...

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    Health and Wellness

    OCN has carried a series of articles and letters on various health and wellness topics. For more on this topic...

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    Jackson Creek

    Jackson Creek is one of the fastest growing areas within the Town of Monument. The Triview Metropolitan District supplies water, sewer, and road maintenance services to Jackson Creek. For more on this topic...

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    July 4th Celebrations

    The Tri-Lakes area goes all-out in celebrating Independence Day. For more on this topic...

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    Law Enforcement

    OCN carries a series of articles on local law enforcement issues...

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    Lewis-Palmer School District 38

    The Lewis-Palmer District 38 School Board typically meets monthly. OCN reports on most of those meetings. For more on this topic...

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    Library News

    The Tri-Lakes area is part of the Pikes Peak Library District that sponsors many events. For more on this topic...

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    Local History

    There are a variety of sources of fascinating local history. For more on this topic...

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    Marijuana

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    Monument Academy

    The Monument Academy is a charter school within Lewis-Palmer District 38. For more on this topic...

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    Monument Town Council

    The Town of Monument Town Council typically holds two meetings per month. OCN reports on most of the meetings. For more on this topic...

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    Monument Fire District

    Formerly called the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District until it merged with Donald Wescott Fire Protection District in 2022, the MFD serves much of the north El Paso County area.

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    Monument Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment

    The Monument Planning Commission typically meets monthly. The Monument Board of Adjustment meets as needed. Both make recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding land use decisions. OCN reports on most of those meetings. For more on this topic...

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    Monument Sanitation District

    Sewer service in the Town of Monument is not provided by the town government. Service for the east and south are provided by the Triview Metropolitan District. Service for the west and north are provided by the Monument Sanitation District. For more on the Monument Sanitation District...

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    Mountain View Electric Association

    MVEA is the local co-op electrical utility which services much of the Tri-Lakes area. For more about MVEA see...

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    Nature of Our Community

    Articles about the Tri-Lakes area...

    See more about nature in the Gardening topic

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    NEPCO

    The Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations is a coalition of over 30 homeowners associations representing more than 15,000 residents in the Tri-Lakes area. NEPCO’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of its member associations and their residents in a wide variety of areas. For more on this topic...

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    On the Trail

    Many Coloradans enjoy recreation in the great outdoors. For more on this topic...

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    Palmer Lake Sanitation District

    For more on this topic...

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    Palmer Lake Board of Trustees and Planning Commission

    The Town of Palmer Lake Board of Trustees is commonly called the Town Council. They typically hold one workshop and one meeting per month. OCN reports on most of those meetings. For more on this topic...

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    Palmer Lake Volunteer Fire Department

    The PLVFD was formed to serve the town of Palmer Lake. It is a department within the town's government. For more on this topic...

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    Perspective on Our Community

    Opinions and reflections on Tri-Lakes area issues and community.

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    Pinon Pines Metropolitan District

    Pinion Pines Metropolitan Districts 1 and 2 are in unincorporated El Paso County, but the commercial section PPMD 3 is within Monument town limits. It is a service district in El Paso County.  Forest Lakes Metropolitan Disrict is the half-acre operating district responsible for the public infrastructure and utility and general governmental services for the residents of PPMD 1, 2, and 3, which actually collect the property taxes. For more on this topic...

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    Pollution

    The Tri-Lakes environment is threatened by many types of pollution. There are steps residents and business owners can take to help. For more on this topic...

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    Property Taxes and Special Districts

    While sales and income taxes are well understood, many have questions about property taxes, mill levies, and special districts. For more on this topic...

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    Recycling

    OCN has been carrying information for Tri-Lakes area residents on how to properly dispose of unwanted items and remove wildfire fuel. Sites for recycling plants is also a local issue. For more on this topic...

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    Red Rocks Homeowners Association

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    Reflections

    OCN has carried a series of musings on life by Tri-Lakes area residents. For more on this topic...

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    Rehabilitation Facility

    A proposal in 2018 to convert the Ramada Inn on Woodmoor Drive to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility was greeted by stiff opposition. For more on this topic...

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    Roadwork

    Roads throughout the Tri-Lakes area are a critical element of the infrastructure. For example, in Monument 2nd Street is has been extended from Beacon Lite Road to connect with the Highway 105 bridge over I-25. Also Beacon Lite Road has been extended to connect with the Old Denver Highway. Jackson Creek Parkway has been constructed from Highway 105 to Higby. For more on these and other road stories...

    See also coverage on Baptist Road

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    Service Organizations

    The Tri-Lakes area is blessed with a variety of non-profit and service organizations. Here is information on some of them and their activities:

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    Sunshine Laws

    Colorado State Statute 24-6-402 is known as the Open Meetings Law or the Meetings section of the Sunshine Law. Much misinformation has circulated about the statute and its application. For more on this topic...

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    Tri-Lakes Land Use Committee

    The Tri-Lakes Land Use Committee met in December 2015 to reform what has been for years an inactive group in the community. The committee aims to form and maintain working relationships with the county, towns, and in the Tri-Lakes area with the ultimate goal of reviewing current land use requests. For more on this topic...

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    Tri-Lakes Wastewater Treatment Facility

    The Monument Sanitation District, Palmer Lake Sanitation District, and the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District jointly operate the facility and manage it through the Joint Use Committee. For more on this topic...

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    Triview Metropolitan District

    Triview is a Title 32 special district within Monument that provides road, landscaping, and open space maintenance, and water and wastewater services to Jackson Creek, Promontory Pointe, Sanctuary Pointe, and several commercial areas. For more on this topic...

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    Village Center Metropolitan District

    Village Center Metro District is located south of Highway 105 and East Knollwood Drive and provides several essential services for the Village Center community including maintenance of the streets, snow removal, and maintenance of the storm water system and the common areas. On May 24, 2013, the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office announced that there are two separate recall petitions for two members of The Village Center Metropolitan District, Bruce Hacker and Steven Barr. For more on this topic...

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    Wagons West Metropolitan District

    This special district was approved at the Monument Board of Trustees (BOT) Aug. 6, 2018 meeting for the developer, ProTerra Properties LLC. The property, on the west side of Old Denver Road, north of the Monument ice rink and south of Trails End, was annexed into the town on Dec. 4, 2017. The associated service plan provides initial improvements to the land and includes ongoing maintenance of the open space, detention pond, and park. Once the metro district builds the assets, all will be gifted to existing service providers because the plan does not provide ongoing services associated with the improvements. For more on this topic...

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    Water Supply

    Water is a critical resource all along the front range. For more on this topic...

    For more articles on Tri-Lakes area water supplies, see also the Academy Water and Sanitation District, Donala Water and Sanitation District, Forest View Acres Water District, Monument Board of Trustees, Monument Dam and Lake, Palmer Lake Town Council and Planning Commission, Triview Metropolitan District, and the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District topics.

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    Weather

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    Woodmoor Improvement Association

    As the largest homeowners association in the Tri-Lakes area, WIA has to deal with a variety of issues. For more on this topic...

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    Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District

    Water and sewage services to Woodmoor are provided by the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District. For more on this topic...

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    This page was last modified on January 24, 2023. Home page: www.ocn.me
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