Colorado Springs Utilities, the city-owned monopoly that supplies residents with gas, electricity, water and wastewater services, has told anti-tax advocate Douglas Bruce he’ll have to pay nearly $40,000 if he wants to restart water and wastewater services at seven rental properties.
Contending that the fees were almost tanamount to extortion, Bruce alleged that Utilities was imposing them because he was the proponent of Issue 300, a measure approved by voters last fall that effectively abolished the city-owned Stormwater Enterprise.
“Just because you don’t like somebody, or he’s your political opponent, or he just beat you on Issue 300, you can’t charge him 400 times the going rate to turn on the valves,” Bruce said at the Utilities’ monthly board meeting last week.
Jerry Forte, the Utilities’ CEO, defended the fees as reasonable. He said whenever owners abandon their property or disconnect from the system for a long period of time, other ratepayers have to pick up the costs.
Bruce said he has not abandoned his property and, in fact, was still paying utility fees on some parcels. “I haven’t left town. My yards are maintained. My property taxes are current.”
The fees, he said, were arbitrary and capricious and would not hold up to a legal challenge. “You’re planning to penalize me $40,000 because I’m your political adversary. There’s no way you can rationalize charging Douglas Bruce 400 times what you charge somebody else for turning on the water.”
Bruce is author of the 1992 Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which was approved by Colorado voters in 1992, and has restrained government growth.
In December, a month after voters approved Issue 300, Bruce sent a letter to Utilities asking to have an immediate turn-on and turn-off of water and wastewater services at seven rental properties in the city. He said he is willing to pay the standard $30 charges for each parcel, but asked Utilities not to actually put water in his lines because they had been blown out and were winterized.
Instead of fulfilling his request, Utilities officials sent him a letter saying his properties would be subject to some hefty reconnection and development charges. They were as follows:
1) 839 E. Las Animas Street, a multifamily dwelling. Utilities said the property last had water and wastewater service at that address in 1998 and was deemed in abandoned in 2003. The development charge was $26,032, but due to a rate change effective on Jan. 1, 2010, the cost would be $11,896. (Development charges are paid by developers and builders to hook into Utilities).
2) 2107 Preuss Road, a multi-family dwelling, which also had its last date of service in 1998 and was deemed abandoned by Utilities in 2003. The development fee would also have been $26,032, but the 2010 rate charge reduced the amount to $11,896.
3) 1326 W. Kiowa Street, a multi-family dwelling, last date of service in 1994 or earlier. Development charge of $26,032, reduced to $11, 896,
4) 633 ½ Boulder St., cottage. Last date of service 2005, reconnection charge calculated at $752 and scheduled to increase to $783 in January 2010.
5) 2707 Monument St. Last date of service 2005. Reconnection charge of $752, increasing to $783 in January 2010.
6) 2707 E. Monument St., rear. Last date of service was 2006. Reconnection charge calculated at $626 and would increase to $657 in January 2010.
7) 839 ½ E. Las Animas Street, rear. Last date of service in 2002. Reconnection charge is $752 and would increase to $783 in January 2010.
Bruce said the development fees amounted to placing liens on his properties. “I’m not going to spend $12,000 to rent an apartment for $500 a month. That’s crazy. You can’t let that practice stand and if you think you can, you’re going to find out you’re wrong.”
They just never know when to leave well enough alone. Maybe, this time they’ll get hit with big civil penalties. CS & CSU are the stupidist groups I’ve run into and their arrogance needs to be trimmed big time.
is the state after him when he pays sales tax, is the feds after him when he pays income tax? times have changed since 1998 dougie and you are a part of that. lmao
I’ve got to side with Mr. Bruce on this one. I hope he takes them to the cleaners in court. Such fees are ludicrous.
Bruce knows the drill.
Once he requests all written communication, phone calls and jabber messages from CSU associated with this issue, he will be able to present the evidence in court to show this was in the works the moment he filed paperwork for 300.
So I’m supposed to believe that the city’s cheapest man has kept a property well maintained that hasn’t been occupied for over a decade and hasn’t had utilities to even water the lawn? Honestly, why don’t we all drive by these roach hotels and see how these eyesores are contributing to the low property values of his neighbors and the overall appearance of our fair city. He is a horrible individual who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I feel sorry for him.
Dougie’s chickens are coming home to roost. Maybe this slumlord should be forced to live in one of his slum buildings without heat, light or water for a few weeks so that he understands the damage he does.
This is HILARIOUS!!!
way to go dippy doug.
I’m sure the city will be able to cite many other customers who paid similar amounts once this goes to court. Or, will they be able to show he’s being treated no different than all other customers?
I think the city is going to end up in court with it’s foot in it’s mouth.
That’s a lot of money just to turn a couple valves. I am sure DB will have them tied up in court for years to come.
I say hook Bruce up…with all the fees he needs to pay. It’s like a water tap fee Dougie. Considering all of your properties have had water turned off for quite a while, it’s quite obvious you weren’t renting them…or were you? Dougie wants everything for free.
Mr. Nozolino is nothing more than a pal of Doug’s. You may see them together sometimes.
No utilities for 12 years, and he thinks all they have to do is “turn a few valves”?
Maybe forte will stick to his guns and break the city’s cycle of knuckling under to this idiot.
Yeah whatever. Bruce always thinks he’s above the rules. Sour bitter grapes. So go ahead and sue. One of these days he’s going to get his clock cleaned and let’s hope it bankrupts him.
And while we’re at it ….
Does anyone else notice Doug talking in 3rd person a lot these days? Isn’t that a sign of a megalomaniac? Or a split personality?
“You’re planning to penalize me $40,000 because I’m your political adversary. There’s no way you can rationalize charging Douglas Bruce 400 times what you charge somebody else for turning on the water.”
Dennis, I’m also a sympathizer of Dougs. If the city tried to charge me $40k for turning a valve on my property, then I might get the urge to rent a small plane for a day.
The full force and power of tyranny is being used against Douglas Bruce. He has p.o.’ed the politicians, regulators and enforcers. That should teach him to beg, grovel and bow to his masters, the government getting to him through the utilities.
The fees have been paid long ago when the property was built and before being issued a Certificate of Occupancy and now they are going to charge for the properties a second time just because it is Douglas Bruce. What will prevent them from doing the same to any of us? Nothing. They will do what they please. We are the peasants and serfs, they are the masters.
Bruce should carry the Colorado Springs Magna Carta to Rivera and Forte and have them sign it in blood.
notsomuch: yes, it is as easy as turning a few valves. The distribution system is still in place, just the same as the electrical lines. Fewer than 10 minutes per house.
Doug Bruce is being punished because he angered a few of the powers-that-be. Good thing certain cops don’t run utilities, isn’t it?
I mean that SOMUCH.
Tracker,
Ssssshhhhhhh, they’ll hear you.
Oh, and BTW, I fear you’re correct.
“Jerry Forte, the Utilities’ CEO, defended the fees as reasonable. He said whenever owners abandon their property or disconnect from the system for a long period of time, other ratepayers have to pick up the costs.”
======
WHAT COSTS?? If no one is using utilities, there are no costs. Oh wait, I see. Utilities has to make the same money regardless of how many people are on the grid! Forte, you should be fired. Today.
I thought the house on 1326 Kiowa was condemned after it caught fire? Did Bruce make a deal with the City Council to remove condemnation? The windows are still boarded up.
I’m sure none of the neighbors would mind seeing it bulldozed since Mr. Bruce’s lack of maintenance on this property since 1994 has ruined property values.
Look for yourself.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=1326+W+Kiowa+St,+Colorado+Springs,+El+Paso,+Colorado+80904&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.632176,93.076172&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FQumUAId3jHA-Q&split=0&hq=&hnear=1326+W+Kiowa+St,+Colorado+Springs,+El+Paso,+Colorado+80904&ll=38.839823,-104.844965&spn=0.001254,0.00284&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=38.839616,-104.845091&panoid=jKBmAJbwiK1qlzYCVdG1AQ&cbp=12,38.81,,0,6.95
“Jerry Forte, the Utilities’ CEO, defended the fees as reasonable”….they are NOT !!!
“Contending that the fees were almost tanamount to extortion”…they are !!!
It is just a Dig to get back at Doug Bruce…Forte should have been FIRED long ago !!!
‘Colorado Springs Utilities, the city-owned monopoly that supplies residents with gas, electricity, water and wastewater services…’
The Gazette’s bias is showing.
Bruce Nozolino,
You live in a condo off of Carefree, West of Powers. Clown.
Hey Edarwin,
I live in a condo off of Carefree, west of Powers, WITHIN CITY LIMITS. And, yes that condo has CITY UTILITIES.
And the city government and utility department wonders why people hate them and do not trust them. There are reasons why people vote down taxes in this corrupt community continually. The city acts as the mafia does.
yea notsomuch . . . . that is exactly all they have to do. Turn on the curbcock at the stopbox. if there is a leak before the valve it is the city’s responsibility, if it is after the valve it is Bruce’s responsibility. They are in the wrong this time. I’d bet a whole year’s salary on it. Bruce needs to take this to the Public Utilities Commission and Colorado’s Dept. of Regulatory Agency. If he files suit we all lose; I don’t know why they persist in giving him a hard time, it always comes back to bite them in the butt. Jerry Forte needs to go; that horse’s keister has been a PITA for far too long. If anyone else is involved, they need to go too. Once a tap fee is paid for, they cannot rescind the ownership of the tap; it is then part of the property. Look it up in the code book. If he files suit and the tax payers lose a chunk of revenue that normally would go to keeping CSU solvent we should take theses SOB’s up to Rampart Range and make accidents out of ‘em!
Mebbe’ Mr Bruce could ask Councilman Gallagher to intervene with CSU on his behalf. Oh wait, Counculman Gallagher IS CSU… YIKES!
curbcock key gets stuck down in stopbox and it gets turned. If the stop box is full of debris they bring a truck out with a huge air compressor and blow it out; yes, it has always been a free service. Whats the difference between a stuck valve that has been shut off for 20 years, and a valve that is stuck open for twenty years jerry forte? Even if it had to be dug up by a private contractor to change the curbcock it wouldn’t cost twelve grand. f I were Doug Bruce, I’d have the water tested for LEAD, Chances are in those old neighborhoods there is a LEAD PIG TAIL coming off the corperation-cock/water-main before it transitions to the old buttweld galvanized pipe. Jerry Forte thinkls hes a smucking fartass, well hes gonna find out that he aint near as smart as he thinks. Another route Bruce could take is to force them to do a test to check for the volume of waterafter the curbcock, if it is not sufficient, CSU is liable for that portion of the main before the curbcock. If this is how Jerry Forte operates, he needs to be removed.
patchsl says:
February 23, 2010 at 8:54 amMebbe’ Mr Bruce could ask Councilman Gallagher to intervene with CSU on his behalf. Oh wait, Counculman Gallagher IS CSU… YIKES!
—-
You really think that if city council cannot make Forte come down in the price for irrigation water for our parks, they’re going to influence him on this matter? Forte thinks he is invincible, maybe, as citizens, we ought to screw with his pension package. In days of old, this assclown would have found a brick in his living room.
Sell CSU and the Memorial health system, that will start to put an end to the corruption in this town. And since we bought off the USOC as well let’s throw that in for free to the highest bidder.
Nozolino, are you wanting to rent a plane after what that tax protestor did to IRS offices in Texas????
OK, then take your buddy Doug with you
“Jerry Forte, the Utilities’ CEO, defended the fees as ‘reasonable’. He said whenever owners abandon their property or disconnect from ‘the system’ for a long period of time, other ratepayers have to pick up the costs.”
Exactly what are the costs, and exactly what are the usages?
How much water, wasterwater, electric and gas, by units, and costs per units?
Political adversaries allege that Bruce is a “slum lord of abandoned properties”. If that so, the number of people showering, watering lawns, flowers, and shrubs, flushing toilets and heating up the places should be minimal.
If Bruce’s properties used the heat; he needs to pay to avoid the heat.
But don’t dare treat him unfairly because he represent taxpayers.
Forte is the highly-paid CEO of the Colorado Springs Utilities MONOPOLY, controlled by the estranged Colorado Springs City Council.
Douglas Bruce is not the problem here.
Mary Keller: I think that you are right! God bless you.
Eileen, Please warn Bruce Nozolino RE:
“Bruce Nozolino says:
February 22, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Dennis, I’m also a sympathizer of Dougs. If the city tried to charge me $40k for turning a valve on my property, then I might get the urge to rent a small plane for a day.”
Last week’s evacuation of the City Admin Bldg, and the subsequent arrest of the suspect was a similar criminal threat.
And add Mary Keller’s quote from
February 23, 2010 at 8:25 am
“And they wonder why people take extreme measures at the government like what happened in austin last week.”
If she’s really a CSU employee, she’s not only advocating illegal behavior, but asking to be a martyr. If she’s being politically active on the job, she could be a violating of CSU’s personnel policy manual.
“633 ½ Boulder St., cottage. Last date of service 2005″
And yet, Bruce provided that address for 6 petitioners while it was not suitable for occupation. Please alert city Code Enforcement and the Housing Authority.
I guess the City enjoys losing to Doug Bruce. It seems to have become a hobby.
Hey, ewelsome, if Mary talks to you and loses her job, there’s another story for you. I wonder if Colorado has laws that protect whistleblowers? I hope so.
Mary, thank you for the courage to come forth with that.
notsofast, I think Mary’s remark was more of an observation than advocating illegal behavior. I didn’t take her remark as any kind of threat or advocating of this behavior, I more picked up a concern for what happened and perhaps a hope that it doesn’t happen in this case.
Fine, Sandy.
And I took Doug’s firetrap rental (without utilities) to bounty petitioners as unethical misrepresentation of the state’s legitimate voters.
This, by a former State Rep who took an oath not to violate the Colorado constitution which prohibits state lawmakers from engaging in activity which undermines local city/county operations.
This, also by a former County Commissioner who vowed NEVER to buy in to lobbyists or PACs (which is what that group’s website claims to be).
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