For a mayor who intended to bid farewell in November to leading the town of Green Mountain Falls, Todd Dixon has changed his mind.

Deciding to run for a third two-year term, Dixon credits a new natural treatment regimen for restoring his health and being pain-free.

Diagnosed at high risk for genetic heart disease and suffering for the past few years with significant leg and neck pain, Dixon was just waiting for November to head out the door.

But with the help of a naturopathic endocrinologist, Dixon takes several over-the-counter vitamins, plus a prescription medication, and is fully recovered.

“Since I’ve been doing that, I feel great and am getting the strength back in my left leg,” he said.

Thus his opt-in to run for that third term with goals outlined. As a member of El Paso County Board of Health, Dixon hopes to have a voice in the county’s pending ruling for cesspools through Regulation 43. 

While the state has mandated that homeowners get rid of cesspools with transfer of title to the property, the county has not yet ruled on the issue.

“We should not be forcing people to change out a cesspool for the latest up-to-code septic systems,” he said. “Septic systems are very expensive; I’ve heard $54,000 for one property.”

Instead, if given the chance to address the county commissioners, Dixon plans to argue that, unless data show that a cesspool is bad, a homeowner should not have to exchange it.  

The annual audit, too, has been a financial thorn.

“One of the things we haven’t been able to do yet is get an audit done in time, by our deadline in July,” he said. “It was one thing after another. We went through two accountants but we’re with an accounting firm now and we’re very close to completing the audit this month.”

In Dixon’s book, however, the election has no bearing on his aggressive outreach to grantors, the state and he federal government – for replacing the bridge on Ute Pass Avenue, for instance.

“I thought for sure we were going to get the money for the bridge but with the change in administration, $1 million went away,” he said. “But we got it back from the state.”

The funds are on hold as match money if Dixon and Patterson can secure a federal grant of $6 million or more.

“If we get in a situation where we have to replace the bridge, we’ll have to do something different,” he said. “We could try to do a band-aid repair and that could get us through a few more years.”

Charged up by outlining his goals, about opportunities to go for more funds to repair roads and address drainage issues, Dixon is ready for another round.

“I’m retired, so I have time to put into these activities, especially the regional ones,” he said. “I have time to participate in those and develop those relationships which open other doors.”

In addition to serving on the board of health, Dixon represents the town as a member of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department and is working to help launch the Regional Mayor’s Caucus board.