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Realtors endorse trio for county commissioner spots

May 30th, 2012, 2:48 pm by

Following is a press release from the Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS, which interviewed candidates for El Paso County commissioner and decided to endorse the three incumbents: Amy Lathen, Sallie Clark and Dennis Hisey.

The Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS® (PPAR) announced its endorsement for El Paso County Commissioners in the upcoming primary election which will take place by mail-in ballot in June. 

Sallie Clark

 

PPAR interviewed candidates and based their decision on a series of questions about private property rights, taxation policies, water rights and usage, land use, regulatory oversight, as well as other topics that affect the quality of life in our communities and the ability of those in the real estate industry to do business. In addition, the group requested they share short and long term economic challenges and solutions as well as how they would continue to foster working relationships with the city and other municipalities within the Pikes Peak region.

 

Commissioner candidate endorsements:

Amy Lathen, District 2

Sallie Clark, District 3

Dennis Hisey, District 4

 

“The Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS® is please to endorse Amy Lathen, Sallie Clark and Dennis Hisey for El Paso County Commissioner,” said Tony Rose, Chairman of the Board of PPAR.  “Each of the candidates demonstrated the needed knowledge, experience and pro-business attitude that our association looks for in our local public servants.  The work they have done to reduce burdensome regulations, streamline the planning process and manage the County’s multi-million dollar budget while maintaining excellent transportation and public safety services, especially in these challenging economic times, has been exemplary.“

Amy Lathen

 

PPAR was founded in 1902 and currently represents nearly 3,000 REALTORS® and affiliates in the Pikes Peak Region. For more information about PPAR visit www.ppar.com.

Dennis Hisey

Posted in: El Paso County • El Paso County Commissioners | 10 Comments »

Don’t miss voting in primary elections, check registration deadlines

May 18th, 2012, 2:35 pm by

Friday is the deadline for affiliated voters in El Paso County to change their political party affiliation in order to vote in a June 26 primary election. Primary elections are being conducted for the Republican, Democrat and American Constitution parties.

Voter registration deadline is May 29, and a party must also be declared to vote in a primary. Eligible voters must have El Paso County residency by May 27.

Ballots will be mailed June 4 to active and inactive affiliated voters of the three parties conducting primary elections.

Unaffiliated voters have until June 19 to declare a party affiliation via online, mail, fax or email and receive a mail ballot. After June 19, voters must appear in person at one of the El Paso County Clerk’s four offices to declare a party affiliation and be eligible to vote in that primary. No ballots will be mailed after June 19.

Locations for the four Clerk & Recorder’s offices are:

  • Citizens Service Center (West), 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Rd.
  • Centennial Hall (Downtown), 200 S. Cascade Ave
  • Union Town Center (North), 8830 N. Union Blvd.
  • Powers (East), 5650 Industrial Pl. (Airport and Powers)

“Our office wants to ensure that every eligible elector is provided the opportunity to case a ballot in this year’s primary election,” said county Clerk & Recorder Wayne Williams. “Many of the races in El Paso County will be decided by the primary election, as many of the candidates do not face an opponent in the general election.”

 

Posted in: Citizens Service Center • Clerk and Recorder Office • El Paso County • elections • Uncategorized • Wayne Williams | 2 Comments »

Remodeled Southeast Branch of DMV complete

May 11th, 2012, 2:09 pm by

Expanded service and a spacious waiting area will greet customers Wednesday when the upper level of the Southeast Branch Motor Vehicle Office reopens 17 days ahead of schedule.

 

Newly remodeled upper level

 

The remodeling added a third counter for driver’s license service plus a larger and more

comfortable waiting area.

 
The reconfiguration of the Southeast Branch allows flexibility for more counters to be added if needed.

 
A portion of the upper level office will also be used as an Early Voting site for the November election.

 
The Southeast Branch, open from 8 .am. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, is at 5650 Industrial Place, near the intersection of Powers and Airport.

 

Previous smaller waiting area

The Southeast Branch is the busiest of the four Motor Vehicle offices offered in El Paso County. The other three locations are the main office at Citizens Service Center, 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Rd.; downtown at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade; and north at Union Town Center, 8830 N. Union Blvd.

 

For more information, go to http://car.elpasoco.com/motorvehicle.

 

Posted in: Citizens Service Center • Clerk and Recorder Office • El Paso County • elections • Motor Vehicle • Uncategorized | Post a Comment »

Oregon staff studying Citizens Service Center

May 1st, 2012, 1:54 pm by

Like a prize steer at the county fair, the Citizens Service Center is on display to visitors this week.

A group from Jackson County, Ore., is in town to see what they can learn about El Paso County’s relatively new Citizens Service Center, 1675 W. Garden of the Gods.

“The biggest city in their county is Medford and they bought an old post office building, about 80,000 square feet, to consolidate their offices like we did,” said El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark. “Some staff from their county is studying how we did our one-stop shopping at CSC. They want to see how our layout works, how we combined most everything under one roof to create more efficiency.”

The county moved several offices that were scattered around town to CSC. Under that one big roof are Department of Human Services, Pikes Peak Workforce Center, El Paso County Public Health and the offices of the county Clerk, Treasurer and Assessor, along with a Motor Vehicle office.

“I think it’s working well,” Clark said, “especially if you don’t have a car. Everything is in one place so it can save time and effort.”

 

Posted in: buildings • Citizens Service Center • Clerk and Recorder Office • County Assessor's Office • El Paso County • El Paso County Commissioners • Motor Vehicle • Pikes Peak Workforce Center | Post a Comment »

West Colorado Avenue ready for improvements

April 27th, 2012, 4:19 pm by

“No Man’s Land” may finally get a makeover.

The El Paso County Board of Commissioner approved a contract for a traffic engineering studey of West Colorado Avenue and Manitou Avenue on Thursday. That area is commonly referred to as No Man’s Land, because it’s a patch of county soil wedged between Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. The Colorado Department of Transportation will pay for the $300,000 study.

The study will examine much-needed road improvements and identify solutions to traffic flow, pedestrian access, utilities placement, drainage and other infrastructure problems along West Colorado Avenue between 31st Street and Manitou Springs. Portions of Colorado Avenue in this area fall under four different jurisdictions: El Paso County, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs and CDOT.

“This is an historic moment for this longtime forgotten and neglected portion of West Colorado Avenue,” said commissioner Sallie Clark, who represents the study area.

The proposed study is expected to end January 2013. A project website will be launched in the coming weeks. The study will also include a comprehensive public involvement process including open house meetings and email information updates. Those interested in receiving information and updates on the study can contact Lisa Bachman P.R. Group at 488-5908 or at lisa@lisabachmanpr.com.

“We all stand ready to help with due process and public outreach,” said Welling Clark, the commissioner’s husband and president of Organization of Westside Neighbors.

Bob Felsburg, president of Felsburg Holt and Ullevig, leader of the study team, said, “This is a very important project for the communities. It’s a very challenging project in a very interesting corridor.”

Posted in: city of colorado springs • economic development • El Paso County • El Paso County Commissioners • Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments • Transportation | 3 Comments »

Public meeting Thursday to discuss road projects

April 24th, 2012, 12:21 pm by

El Paso County elected officials and staff will host a public meeting on the extension of the Capital Program for the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority from 7-9 p.m. Thursday in the Centennial Hall auditorium, 200 S. Cascade Ave.


This is a work-session style meeting with the public encouraged to provide input on potential road projects. Elected officials from the City of Colorado Springs are expected to be joined by fellow PPRTA representatives from Green Mountain Falls, Manitou Springs, Calhan and Ramah.

The PPRTA board of directors has asked the county and other PPRTA members for a list of road projects that could be part of a ballot measure in November’s elections.
El Paso County’s currently recommended “A” list has about 20 road projects estimated to cost $80 million.
County engineer Andre’ Brackin said, “We’re hoping to get final direction on the county’s list from this meeting before submitting it to the PPRTA.”

 

Posted in: bus service • city of colorado springs • El Paso County • El Paso County Commissioners • elections • Transportation | 1 Comment »

Commissioners host town hall Thursday

April 18th, 2012, 11:01 am by

Got a gripe with the county? Maybe a question or a proposal? Well, Thursday is the time to speak up when El Paso County Commissioners host a town hall at 6:30 p.m. at the Centennial Hall auditorium, 200 S. Cascade Ave.

The town hall is sponsored by the El Paso County Citizens Outreach Group.

“It’ll be an open format for people to ask questions and voice their concerns,” said commissioner chairwoman Amy Lathen. “We want to make sure we’re facilitating open discussion on issues that matter to people in the community. It’ll be a very casual setting.”

COG members come from the five districts and are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. The COG coordinates outreach programs and activities throughout the year.

COG chairman Ken Valdez said, “We’ll ask each of the commissioners to make a few opening remarks focused on their priorities and concerns and then we’ll open it up for questions and discussion. When our group has hosted these town hall meetings in the past, they have been a good opportunity for residents to ask questions and get answers.”

Posted in: city of colorado springs • El Paso County • El Paso County Commissioners • elections • term limits • Uncategorized | Post a Comment »

Public input sought on road priorities

April 16th, 2012, 4:19 pm by

Got an opinion on which area roads should be fixed? Time to speak up is 7-9 p.m. on April 26 in the Centennial Hall auditorium, 200 S. Cascade Ave.

El Paso County is hosting the public meeting on the extension of the Capital Program for the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority. El Paso County has targeted about 20 road projects, estimated to cost $80 million, for its recommended “A” list.

“We’re hoping to get final direction on the county’s list from this meeting before it is submitted to the PPRTA,” said county engineer Andre’ Brackin.

This will be a work-session style meeting with El Paso County elected officials and staff, with the public encouraged to provide input. Elected officials from the City of Colorado Springs have been invited to discuss the region’s potential road projects paid for by PPRTA.

The PPRTA’s board of directors has asked county and city administrations for a list of road projects that could be part of a ballot measure in November’s elections. Funding for the new lists will have to be approved by voters.

PPRTA was approved in 2004 by voters to collect a one percent sales tax to fund transportation and transit improvements, with 55 percent of the money used for a voter-approved list of capital projects.

Posted in: bus service • city of colorado springs • El Paso County • Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments • Transportation • Uncategorized • • • | Post a Comment »

Volunteer needed for Park Advisory Board

March 29th, 2012, 4:30 pm by

Are you community-minded and concerned about parks in El Paso County? If so, there is a volunteer position open for the District 3 representative on the Park Advisory Board that might be of interest. District 3 primarily encompasses El Paso County west of Nevada Avenue, including the Broadmoor and Manitou Springs areas.

Applications for the position are due by April 6.

The Park Advisory Board consists of nine members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners for three-year terms. The limit to serve is two full consecutive terms.

Members make formal recommendations to the commissioners regarding philosophies, objectives and proposals related to park department policies.

The application is located at www.elpasoco.com and can be accessed by clicking on the “Volunteer Boards” link. Applicants should identify the board and position they want to represent and include a mailing address and phone number. Completed applications and resumes or letter of interest should be emailed to webmaster@elpasoco.com or faxed to 719-520-6397. They can also be mailed to:

Board of County Commissioners

Attn: Frances St. Germain, County Administration Manager

200 S. Cascade Avenue

Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2208

 

Posted in: city of colorado springs • El Paso County • El Paso County Commissioners • Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

New bridge increases student safety

March 19th, 2012, 4:34 pm by

A state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge is providing safer passage for Stratmoor Hills Elementary School students. The bridge eliminates a long-term safety concern that forces students, parents and teachers to cross B Street, the railroad tracks and Loomis Ave. on their way to and from school.

The new bridge is lighted and protected from the weather.

“El Paso County and Harrison School District came together with Fort Carson as part of their railroad expansion project bringing critical pieces to the table allowing this pedestrian bridge to be built,” said District 4 Commissioner Dennis Hisey, who represents the area.

El Paso County purchased a small piece of land on the east side of the road, the school district provided land on the west side and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers paid for construction of the bridge as part of the railroad expansion at Fort Carson.

A ribbon cutting ceremony is set for March 28 at 1 p.m. at the bridge while the school is closed for spring break.

Posted in: city of colorado springs • El Paso County • El Paso County Commissioners • Youth | 1 Comment »

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