Author: Norma Engelberg
-
Woodland Park City Councilman Frank Connors appointed to serve as city’s military liaison, build relationships with armed services
As Woodland Park’s first official Military Liaison, City Councilman Frank Connors is working hard to make sure he isn’t the last. When he was first appointed as military liaison in April, Connors created a job description. His notes state the new position: Establishes collaborative partnerships with military commanders and local commands. Coordinates efforts to preserve…
-
Woodland Park High School grad argues property rights case in U.S. Supreme Court
It took 2004 Woodland Park High School graduate Jeff McCoy, an attorney, just 45 minutes to present oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court Nov. 30, but it took several months for him to prepare for those 45 minutes. Since before graduating from high school, preparation has been a major feature of McCoy’s life. In…
-
CORRECTED: Woodland Park School District RE-2 board chooses Kenneth Witt for 6-month interim superintendent contract; raucous crowd greets decision
Editor’s note: The original version of this article had an incorrect number for the number of signatures the change.org petition “Stand Against Ken Witt and the WPSD Board of Education” had received. The site had 584 signatures as of Dec. 28. There weren’t quite as many people attending the Dec. 21 Woodland Park School District RE-2…
-
Two groups circulating petitions in Woodland Park, seeking referendums concerning short-term rentals ordinances
Two groups of Woodland Park voters are seeking signatures for two not quite competing petitions pertaining to recently approved city ordinances concerning short-term rentals. The first petition, circulated by Protect Residential Property Rights Committee, seeks to repeal Ordinance 1431, which defines and regulates STR licensing and operation, including zoning. Arnie Sparnins and former planning commissioners…
-
Passions run high over interim superintendent finalist choice during Woodland Park school board meeting
Woodland Park High School students stage protest over school board’s interim superintendent finalist choice WOODLAND PARK • The sign posted on the door of the Woodland Park School District RE-2 Administration building before the Dec. 14 board of education’s regular meeting stated, “when capacity is reached, the door will be locked.” A large crowd attended,…
-
Woodland Park school board names interim superintendent finalist; Next steps include interview with District Accountability Committee
The Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education held a town hall meeting on Dec. 5 and a special meeting on Dec. 7, where they named Kenneth Witt as the sole finalist for the interim superintendent position. Board President David Rusterholtz opened the meeting by asking for an amendment to the executive session declaration,…
-
Cripple Creek City Council sets 2023 budget, seeks engineer to evaluate wastewater plant
Cripple Creek City Council approved the 2023 budget resolutions at its Dec. 7 meeting. The first resolution sets the mill levy at 2.58 mills. Property taxes in the amount of $149,598 are needed to balance the budget and defray the cost of government. The second resolution adopts the budget and allocates $10.27 million into the…
-
I’m retiring again, naturally | Guest Column
Editor’s note: At the end of December we will say farewell and happy retirement to freelancer writer Norma Engelberg, whose byline you’ve read on coverage of Woodland Park School District Board of Education meetings, Woodland Park City Council meetings, Cripple Creek City Council meetings and more in The Courier for more than two decades. Norma…
-
WPSD school board secretary Chris Austin resigns; board explores Summit Learning Platform transition
The last item the Woodland Park School District RE-2 Board of Education considered at a special meeting on Nov. 30 was the resignation of board secretary Chris Austin. President David Rusterholtz said Austin had phoned him to resign prior to the meeting, but didn’t give a reason. “I’ve known Chris (Austin) for several years,” Rusterholtz…
-
Group registers to petition for repeal of Woodland Park short-term rentals ordinance; City Council approves 2023 budget
The community group Protecting Woodland Park Property Values has registered and pulled a petition to gather signatures to repeal the short-term rentals ordinance that was approved by the Woodland Park City Council Nov. 17. At the Dec. 1 regular council meeting, City Clerk Suzanne Leclercq explained that the group has until Dec. 27 to gather…