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Black Hills Energy generously provided a $1,500 sponsorship to repaint the skatepark mural. The vibrant design, featuring aspens and evergreens, was painted by our talented Town staff. Report to Town Council SEPTEMBER 2025 Prepared by MADELINE VANDENHOEK, TOWN MANAGER ---PAGE BREAK--- September marked the transition from summer to fall, and our Public Works team began preparing for winter, as snow can arrive at any time. Our community celebrated several exciting milestones this month: The grand openings of the Lewis Palmer School District Career and Innovation Center, Max Strength Fitness, and Trinity Community Park Phases 4, 5, and 6. Participation in Mountain View Electric’s annual member event. The Chamber of Commerce hosted the Bines and Brews Fresh Hop Beer Competition, and it was the last month of Art Hop in our Downtown. Coffee With a Cop was hosted by Wesley Owen’s Coffee. We’re continuing to strengthen regional collaboration. The City of Fountain is working to convene the Area Chiefs of Staff on a quarterly basis, and I attended a meeting at Ft. Carson this month. We met with D 38 to discuss the upcoming election and projects. I’m also participating in a Leadership Training for Colorado Women in Local Government and a Retail Attraction Program through National League of Cities. Regional managers gathered for a networking lunch in Cripple Creek, and we attended the Colorado Municipal League (CML) District Meeting in Colorado Springs to stay connected with statewide initiatives. TOWN MANAGER’S MESSAGE Internally, we’ve been focused on: Developing the 2026 Budget and 2026–2028 Strategic Objectives, which will be presented to Council in November. Advancing Emergency Management Planning through meetings with the Monument Fire District and the Pikes Peak Office of Emergency Management. We also hosted a workshop for elected officials to clarify roles and responsibilities during emergencies. Exploring cost-saving options for the Jackson Creek Parkway Construction Project in collaboration with our engineering firm. Continuing efforts to secure our future water supply, with ongoing discussions involving our water engineer and legal team. Furthering economic development efforts. INSTALLING NEW BATHROOMS AT MONUMENT LAKE COFFEE WITH A COP AT WESLEY OWENS ---PAGE BREAK--- Assisted IT in relocating the September 2 Town Council meeting due to potential water damage at Town Hall. Researched municipal judge appointments, including relevant statutes, charter provisions, and code requirements. Developed a draft charter for the Monument Economic Development Committee and submitted it to legal for review. Reviewed the in-house attorney framework and provided edits and suggestions. Reviewed purchasing policy language regarding contract renewals and offered recommendations. Researched municipal requirements for metropolitan district filing reviews. Investigated the history of Village Center Metropolitan District service plan amendments. Developed a service level reduction plan and met with staff to redistribute responsibilities following workforce changes. Met with the Town Manager, Planning, Police, and Finance to discuss code enforcement strategies; contacted Community Preservation Specialists (Susie Ellis) to request a proposal for contracted services. Authored a budget article for the Q3 newsletter. Drafted strategic objectives for the department, gathered internal feedback, coordinated a leadership meeting to refine town-wide objectives with the consultant, and planned a study session to present them to Council. Met with a representative from T2 Parking Solutions, obtained data from Palmer Lake on their paid parking system and revenue, and developed and presented a feasibility study to the leadership team. Reformatted the fee schedule following the adoption of Resolution No. 55-2025 and posted the updated version to the website. Continued adjusting CivicClerk for Planning Commission use and trained Planning staff on agenda and packet publication. Continued uploading records into Laserfiche and linking them to associated documents. Made significant progress setting up initial records templates for each department. Continued developing a Laserfiche 101 training manual. Continued creating file plans for each department. Worked with the Planning Department to ensure business licenses are current within the Common Core program. ADMINISTRATION FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES Presented the Proposed Preliminary 2026 Budget to Town Council at the September 2 Study Session. Participated in ten 90-minute virtual trainings hosted by the Government Finance Officers Association on best practices in local government finance. Facilitated the third meeting of the Citizens Service Levels Advisory Committee. Invited three community organizations receiving Town sponsorship funding to present on their impact in the Monument community. Released the semi-annual employee survey. Met with the Town’s benefits representative to review employee survey results and discuss potential benefit options for 2026. Welcomed Cassie Olgren to the Finance/HR team. Cassie will continue supporting Parks project management and will focus on grant administration to help increase Town revenue ---PAGE BREAK--- Completed 81 tickets. IT Director resolved 50% (up 2% from August). Completed an 8-week Strategic Artificial Intelligence Certification Program through UCCS that focused on AI fundamentals, strategic implementation, industry-specific impacts, creative innovation, risks and ethical considerations, and driving organizational transformation. Finalized brightness configuration for digital nameplates for the Town Manager and Clerk in the Council Chambers. Setup at YMCA: Successfully deployed the Mobile Council Chambers A/V Unit at the YMCA on short notice due to water damage at Town Hall. Special thanks to Laura Hogan and Dan Ungerleider for setup support, and to Leadership and Council for teardown assistance. Completed turn-up and testing of technology for police vehicle #2253. Held a Cybersecurity Awareness Day event at which 21 Town employees participated. Each employee completed a 10-question quiz for snacks and prizes and were provided individual IT support during the event. Installed digital signage at the admin entrance on the 2nd floor. The first presentation featured Cybersecurity Awareness, the second promoted AI Awareness Month, and a slide was added for the Records Manager. The signage is available for use by any department. 69% of employees completed cybersecurity awareness month training. Configured and tested hidden Wi-Fi connections for the thermostats that will be installed by Veregy. Developed a standard computer configuration purchase matrix to assist leadership with budgeting and purchasing. Worked with Dell to update Dell Premier site for streamlined ordering. Shared 2 AI Tips of the Week with all employees and placed posters at employee entrances in support of AI Awareness Month. Updated 41 mobile phones for Microsoft Intune compliance. Re-enrolled 10% of the iPhones, bringing the total to 66% complete. Prepared to migrate identified users to Office Standard. There will be no noticeable changes for users. The Police Department will retain Office Premium due to mobile app management requirements. The estimated cost savings is $1,400/month or $16,800/year. Worked with Apple Business Manager to activate federation of all Apple devices to enhance security and Apple ID management and improve asset tracking and device oversight. Provided three hours of one-on-one assistance to Silver Key members. Helped them with email setup, photo management in Google, and new computer setup. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ---PAGE BREAK--- Collaborated with the Finance Department to transition the management of development-related deposits (retainers) in accordance with §18.01.450 of the Town Code. Deposits cover pass-through costs for consultant services such as engineering, planning, and legal reviews during land development and building permit processes. Assuming responsibility for tracking, invoicing, and collection will improve cost recovery and budgeting accuracy. Special thanks to Brooke, Rey, and the Finance Team for their support in this transition. Continued outreach efforts with the Monument 2040 consultant team, Council members, and Planning Commissioners and prepared for two major October events. On October 15, we will host a booth at the Tri- Lakes Chamber Community and Business Expo. On October 16, we will host a Community Visioning Meeting in downtown Monument. September has been a high-volume month for permits, with 20 permits issued, 20 applications in process, and 9 new submissions pending review. As of September 20, 2025, the senior planner position is once again vacant. On September 11, V3 presented an update to Town staff on the Stormwater Management Plan, including project objectives, progress, and next steps. During the week of October 13, Town staff and consultants will host multiple community meetings to share updates on both the Monument 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the Stormwater Management Plan, and to begin the Monument 2040 visioning process. Details will be posted at www.townofmonument.org/monument2040. On September 15, Town Council approved Resolution No. 56-2025, a Preliminary/Final Plat for Lewis Palmer Subdivision Filing 1. This action consolidated School District 38 properties, vacated unused rights-of-way, and created a 2.84-acre parcel for Tri-Lakes Cares’ future facility. Council also continued the public hearing for a major PUD amendment request by Native Sun Construction at 15010 Woodcarver Road. Staff requested the continuation to review conditions set by the underlying annexation agreement. Planning will coordinate with the applicant to re-notice the hearing. The September Planning Commission meeting was brief, as the sole case was continued to October 8 at the applicant’s request. No other business was conducted. The Planning Department continues to update the Development Review Projects Story Map to promote transparency on active projects. PLANNING Connie archived and digitized maps from storage, updated Town border and trail database on online maps, finished collecting park data (trash cans, benches, picnic tables), got maps uploaded into Laserfiche, updating snowplow routes, and began integration of Finance Department functions into Cartegraph. On September 10, GIS Specialist Connie Driedger attended the PPOEM planning meeting to explore GIS mapping and scenario planning for emergency operations. In a creative fundraising initiative, Connie collaborated with Admin and Finance to launch the Planning Department’s Zombie Hunting Permit program. Proceeds will support the development of the Heart of Monument Play Park in downtown Monument. ---PAGE BREAK--- POLICE OFFICERS ATTEND THE BENEFIT CONCERT FOLLOWING THE RIDE FOR THE RED & BLUE” ON SEPTEMBER 13. PROCEEDS PROVIDE LIFESAVING RIFLE-RATED ARMOR AND SUPPORT THE MONUMENT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, MONUMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. PPSA Elmshauser is making us proud as the first outside officer to attend the CSPD police academy; he passed his first written test with a score of 98%. Officer Hileigh Leseberg has started her Ghost Phase of training and is now handling calls independently; her training is expected to be completed in mid-October. We will be holding another round of hiring oral boards this coming week with six candidates expected to participate. All officers successfully completed red dot optics training and are now carrying duty handguns equipped with red dot optics, which improve confidence and accuracy. Community Resource Officer Reifel will be attending multiple trunk-or-treat events in the coming weeks. The Coffee with a Cop event is approaching. Support Services Manager Monica Mundt attended the Rocky Mountain Accreditation Conference. We are in the process of purchasing two additional Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicles to replace two vehicles with blown motors. We have started transitioning from Glock to Shadow Systems 9mm handguns; all officers now carry a department-issued handgun. Officers are currently addressing code enforcement calls as availability allows. The PSA job opening has been posted, and we hope to conduct hiring boards soon. PUBLIC WORKS FLEET Diagnosed an electrical short affecting the throttle on the J.D. Backhoe; significant teardown will be required. Resolved a fuel delivery issue on the CAT Backhoe by replacing the fuel filter. Re-secured the gear box on the Wing Mower by drilling and tapping new mounting holes. Installed a shouldering trough on the dump truck. Continued work on finishing the gear box repair for the Wing Mower. Replaced dead batteries on the Grader and began diagnosing the electrical short that caused the battery drain. Identified a short in the J.D. Backhoe’s ECU (Engine Control Unit). Disassembled the seat to replace the seat safety switch and replaced brake light pressure switches. Removed and stored the water tank and spray pump from the F-450. Winterized the Gator by draining the water tank and spray pump. Began prepping trucks and plows for winter operations. ---PAGE BREAK--- PARKS Installed new restrooms at Monument Lake. Replaced tree lights along Second Street extension to enhance visibility and safety. Excavated approximately 20 inches of topsoil and installed Styrofoam insulation on the foundation of restrooms at the lake. Removed topsoil and installed road base in preparation for grading and compacting. Mowed and trimmed large areas along the Santa Fe Trail and native areas off Park Trail Drive. Mowed and trimmed along Jackson Creek Parkway. Conducted routine inspection and repairs of parks and playground equipment. Removed trash from parks twice a week, prior to all park reservations, and when necessary due to bear activity. ---PAGE BREAK--- STREETS Removed banners from 2 , Front, and 3 Steets in preparation for winter. nd rd Repaired street lamps on 2 Street. nd Installed extension brackets on all Historic Nameplate signs on 3 Street intersections to mitigate damage and loss from severe weather. rd Replaced worn retro reflective tape on end-of-road barricade on the west end of 4 Street. th Filled in and fixed large asphalt patch on Buffalo Valley Path. Completed shoulder repair work on both northbound and southbound lanes of Old Denver Road. Replaced damaged signs at Dirty Woman Creek Park. Set up message boards and barricades for lake restroom install, removed after work was complete. Finished maintenance on alleyways throughout downtown. Reprogrammed school stop ahead signs to new schedule. Maintained and cleaned out numerous storm drains around town. Crew attended 2 training courses for roadway curve safety and winter road maintenance. Repaired and replaced end-of-road safety rail the at west end of 3rd Street. Continued shoulder work along Mitchell Avenue and throughout downtown on roadways lacking curb and gutter. Continued maintenance and replacement of signage as needed. ---PAGE BREAK--- WATER Well 7 experienced a temporary failure due to a program card issue, potentially related to prior wiring problems; the card was replaced and the well was restored within 24 hours. Well 10 is currently offline, likely due to a sign wave filter issue; Applied Enginuity is exploring replacement options and delivery timelines. A main break occurred in Buffalo Valley on August 27 at 3 PM; operators repaired and backfilled the site by midnight. A security risk was identified in system hardware and successfully mitigated by the IT department. Provided assistance with ongoing projects at Wells 11, 12, and 13. Lead and copper samples were collected and results distributed to participating homeowners, fulfilling annual sampling requirements. Compliance samples, including disinfection byproduct samples, were taken from all required well sites, completing annual compliance obligations. Hosted a water conservation learning session and treatment facility tour for a local Boy Scout. Installed water meters at new residential builds. Responded to a repair call on Trumbull Street where the curbstop was inaccessible under a concrete driveway; temporarily shut down the street to prevent water damage during repairs. Investigated a potential leak in the Lake of the Rockies subdivision; no leak was found. Collaborated with the Department of Natural Resources to inspect Monument Lake Dam drain pipes using a robotic remote camera; pipes were found to be in good condition. Hosted a successful Pancake Breakfast event at the water plant for town staff, with plans to make it an annual or biennial tradition. Assisted with appraisal of water infrastructure to support maintenance and upgrade planning. Concluded the season for the department’s first summer hire, who successfully earned his small system water license.