[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6176912,"mediaKeyId","5342698-2f0acc26c7cdff628090ec803610def9","parentId",5342698,"title","Fountain utilities director warns of lower water revenues, outlines projects and a generator reimbursement","audioSeconds",923,"startMs",3546000,"endMs",4469000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342698-2f0acc26c7cdff628090ec803610def9&start=3546&end=4469","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342698-2f0acc26c7cdff628090ec803610def9/thumbnail_3546000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6176912/Fountain-City/El-Paso-County/Colorado/Fountain-utilities-director-warns-of-lower-water-revenues-outlines-projects-and-a-generator-reimbursement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176912-0968d357fe8de11e126f1cad43fd7f51/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080192&Signature=K0PngQDCx2cezTugFBs769PaxEQFe4X57Jze3gYNKPg5jrnpJ0QUKYtsAsrI31Cf5tPA46p-4qx9sOgPJtoOzmyC~ro2tpTqhqtWTub6rPyjkj6V8IDBQqCssiSnIfPHz2ku4nbL9Ih5OlOgnI3ab9iVXZcuUFx3XWK8A9Vj5s0caU~cjmi5mhPQGQTkHhHYqx~KRyGv5smnCpTkySxCKmPWMbHbmGqGxvJ-HxjkuaHPMP-cWglocyqwP2YR5Ugw1qerGZoJ~Qi7TBjYMtkA~dTxOUnq5tCvlTxuEIRr-UWdgurRcG2Q7GWBNNGyVY3fBUcK3P4yyB5-ZcgspQ8O8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-10T00:59:05.357Z","article","Fountain — City utilities officials told the Fountain City Council on July 8 that lower water use this year has left rate revenue below budget, and described a set of infrastructure and billing changes intended to protect reliability and reduce costs.

\"what we're doing is we're we're working to increase the reliability, of the services and the quality of services that we provide while reducing, the expenses or the costs that are, we incur to, to to provide those services,\" Utilities Director Dan Blankenship told the council during an annual utilities presentation.

Blankenship said the city completed a water rate study with a five‑year plan (first step implemented March 1, second step scheduled Jan. 1 next year) but through June rate revenue remained about $275,000 below the target for the year, driven largely by reduced water consumption: roughly 7.5% below the five‑year average and about 2.5% below last year. He said staff would continue to monitor and manage expenses to offset the shortfall.

Why it matters: lower consumption helps conserve water but also reduces revenue that pays for system maintenance and upgrades. The presentation outlined projects and policy changes intended to control costs and improve service without shifting unexpected risk to current customers.

Key initiatives and findings

- Automated meter infrastructure (AMI): Blankenship said the city deployed an in‑house Neptune AMI water meter data system, largely grant funded, that will allow daily (rather than monthly) meter reads and customer access to near‑real‑time consumption data. \"it will enable us to actually collect, water consumption data on a daily basis,\" he told the council, adding that the system already generated a handful of heavy‑use alerts and leak notifications.

- Power factor billing: An audit identified billing shortfalls for large commercial/industrial customers tied to power factor accounting. Blankenship said some of those unbilled costs \"exceeded a, the amount of a $100,000 a year\" and that correcting billing and working with affected customers can save money for both the utility and the customers.

- Reliability and recognition: Fountain received the American Public Power Association certificate of excellence in electric reliability for 2024; Blankenship said the city's system averaged about 18 minutes of outage time per customer for the year, well inside the first‑quartile national benchmark.

- River Bend interconnection and voltage support: Staff reported an interconnection agreement from Colorado Springs Utilities that will support new northern development off Highway 85/87 and provide needed voltage support in the city's north end; the work will be funded from remaining 2019 bond proceeds and not affect the 2025 operating budget, Blankenship said.

- Fountain Creek diversion repairs: High flows in 2023 damaged diversion infrastructure; staff said state approvals are in hand and the city will complete repairs using internal crews.

- Longer‑term water capacity: Treated water capacity for future growth remains the department's top challenge. Blankenship emphasized that new growth should pay for its own supply to avoid saddling existing customers with added cost or risk and described a water adequacy ordinance (discussed during Q&A) that requires developers or annexations to demonstrate or provide adequate water resources.

Generator and joint facilities amendment (formal action)

Council considered Resolution 25‑025 to amend the joint facilities operating agreement with Widefield Water and Sanitation District to add a backup emergency generator at the Goldfield tank site and to reimburse Widefield for Fountain's 50% share. Blankenship said Whitefield (Widefield) led design and construction and that \"the funding for this reimbursement is available in the remaining unspent proceeds of the 2019, utilities bond, so that will have no impact on the 2025 water fund operating budget.\" Council Member Geeke moved the resolution; Council Member Duncan seconded. The council voted 7‑yes; the motion carried.

Questions from council and residents

- Cybersecurity and physical security: Council Member Hinton asked about physical and cyber security for critical water and electric facilities. Blankenship said the city's tech services group is building a cybersecurity roadmap, facilities are inspected daily and risk assessments have led to physical security upgrades.

- Customer tools and conservation: Council Member Rick and others asked about customer access to AMI data; Blankenship said the system will allow customers to view daily consumption (similar to the electric portal) and that early heavy‑use alerts have already enabled staff to contact customers within days of leaks or unusual use.

- Bond and funding questions: Resident Connie Weisenhunt asked about the 2019 utilities bond. Blankenship explained that bond proceeds are limited to the projects listed in the bond documents (water and electric improvements and an operations center among them) and that the city must charge expenses to the bond consistent with the documents to avoid credit impacts. He did not provide an exact current remaining principal amount during the meeting.

- Regional reservoir project (\"ROY\") and long‑term storage: Water resources manager Taylor Murphy said the Restoration‑of‑Yield (ROY) reservoir project — a multi‑entity effort including Colorado Springs Utilities, Aurora and Pueblo Water — remains active. Murphy said the group is creating a governmental authority to manage the project and that Fountain is evaluating whether it should remain a participant and that any decision will be brought back to council.

Discussion, direction and next steps

- Discussion points: lower consumption and revenue shortfall; need to modernize rates for high‑demand users; projects to improve reliability and reduce loss; potential risks tied to growth and treated water capacity.

- Directions to staff: continue expense management to offset revenue shortfalls; return with more detailed metrics and key performance indicators tied to the 2024 ACFAR once available; pursue the River Bend interconnection using bond proceeds; provide more detail on water adequacy ordinance implementation and how it affects single‑family versus larger developments.

- Formal decisions: Council approved Resolution 25‑025 amending the joint facilities operating agreement to add the Goldfield generator and appropriated funds for Fountain's 50% share (funded from 2019 bond proceeds).

What remains unresolved

Blankenship and Murphy said treated water capacity for future growth is an ongoing challenge; council asked staff to continue developing financial and operational metrics and to return with proposals on rate design changes meant to shift high‑demand use off peak hours rather than simply increasing bills.

Ending note

Blankenship urged council and residents to remain engaged while staff converts the 2024 financials into business performance indicators that will guide future rate and capital decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Fountain City Council Meeting 07/08/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Fountain — City utilities officials told the Fountain City Council on July 8 that lower water use this year has left rate revenue below budget, and described a set of infrastructure and billing changes intended to protect reliability and reduce costs.","taxTitle","Fountain City, El Paso County, Colorado","taxId",70525,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6176902,"Residents and police debate fireworks enforcement after loud, damaging July 4 reports",557,1185000,1742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342698-2f0acc26c7cdff628090ec803610def9&start=1185&end=1742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342698-2f0acc26c7cdff628090ec803610def9/thumbnail_1185000.jpg","/articles/6176902/Fountain-City/El-Paso-County/Colorado/Residents-and-police-debate-fireworks-enforcement-after-loud-damaging-July-4-reports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176902-eaf3f01bbc4f05184dc8ba7a927ec2e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080192&Signature=lylP33k88R3dwjkUJogEjPWsDiVhVzqQfAmxKI8YNVPS9jWLI3BNI5oQr5RdMNh5ehNH2z28XmHom4fV5LHtLbi0o0gr35oSrWx0DtoKRS81VZDY~o9ZPpI3ueJAZWmL7T-c577leY6LlDl4iTkzewjjZbYUWStBlX8v57ZKl0CtYsuJ~J5h12UmdPBOziO98jtNSjUt964EZCjh5Uauj~PDMmRvIqmAKZ2zc1axFYNfjxH5P0n8V4pSHx65sBiit-5OU~2tr8i8rgmQtESc4O9NQnSoBzpbYPF~YmlNejPbS3FMCQSZ5n~lcGHhUvOgcnD2BLh6CrtCa2pot9luag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fountain — Residents told the Fountain City Council on July 8 that fireworks use over the July 4 holiday was unusually loud and dangerous this year, with some reporting property damage and debris landing in yards. Police leadership said enforcement was limited by officer safety concerns and staffing, and that the problem is regional.

\"they weren't pretty, they were just loud and obnoxious,\" resident Frank Carrick told the council during public comment, describing fireworks in his neighborhood east of Little Ranches and reporting damaged property and injuries to neighbors.

Police response and constraints

Fountain's police chief (identified in the meeting transcript as the chief) said the department received 14 calls about fireworks on July 4 and that enforcement that night emphasized safety education rather than aggressive in‑person citations. \"I have 65 total officers in my police department. I had 9 working that night and I was 1 of the 9,\" the chief said; he explained officers were outnumbered at many locations and that aggressive enforcement in those settings posed safety risks.

The chief said officers recorded addresses and that some citations may be mailed, but that officers generally did not issue many on‑the‑spot tickets because of safety and crowding concerns. \"We're not going to catch them all,\" he said. He also described a nearby incident where deputies chose not to approach an intoxicated person with a firearm, saying the decision was made to avoid putting officers at risk and that the person would be dealt with later.

Regional context and enforcement limits

Council members and the chief noted the problem is not unique to Fountain. The council discussed cross‑border purchases of fireworks and an unofficial media count of hundreds of Colorado‑plated cars at the Wyoming border during the holiday period. Council Member Duncan and others said local law enforcement resources are limited and that similar complaints have occurred across the region.

Legal context

The chief said some fireworks‑related behaviors are misdemeanors but described limits on on‑the‑spot arrests in some situations; he told the council that the department’s enforcement approach in recent years shifted after earlier aggressive enforcement led to violent encounters and uses of force. Officers were instructed to prioritize education and officer safety on the holiday night, he said.

Community reaction and council response

Residents at the meeting asked why more arrests or on‑the‑spot tickets were not made; the chief and council members reiterated that officer safety and limited staffing shaped the response and that the city will pursue tickets by mail for identified addresses where appropriate. Council Member Rick and others expressed support for the chief’s safety‑first approach while also acknowledging residents’ frustration.

Ending

The council discussed the issue at length but did not adopt new enforcement policy that night; members encouraged residents to report fireworks through CDOT and PEAK alerts for public safety notifications and discussed continued regional and legislative pressures that affect enforcement and supply.","Fountain — Residents told the Fountain City Council on July 8 that fireworks use over the July 4 holiday was unusually loud and dangerous this year, and the police chief said enforcement that night emphasized safety education because officers were outnumbered in neighborhoods.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6176905,"Fountain Valley Senior Center marks 50 years; staff and volunteers warn funding and rides remain strained",1421,1927000,3348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342698-2f0acc26c7cdff628090ec803610def9&start=1927&end=3348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342698-2f0acc26c7cdff628090ec803610def9/thumbnail_1927000.jpg","/articles/6176905/Fountain-City/El-Paso-County/Colorado/Fountain-Valley-Senior-Center-marks-50-years-staff-and-volunteers-warn-funding-and-rides-remain-strained","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176905-a4f7485cb5cbfbaa2de2bc70e15f0779/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080192&Signature=MmKXu4BkUvLrIEaBfLr-QPgNjRmzGnvFDXzzrCza5qVV471A2nYVQyE-PrQGwBFrIiVP292KZSCKcVrX1rN3r46b6kinK2O4Y3pAy6ZM92AVqMt8JRuM4gcJ~tMfGXBgO7TyAyVNXHAYONoSpMC-rGAPHNYqBWWL6EbhrOIpBK3kpCGHVCn2P7YGIEK1JxV6F1YFDfOf5bSjbgSrs7j2Lxmq3EB7pdBz0vtXyeBMbHlpRgLizRdXb0Q4rhO~7fnUCDyv7IxODhr-JxLCYrrePVb9~jQbWJAboavfNkdCvMS9UTK~z-Al2KIw9MYgxjeMGp1k4JVnzCxQym7VbUh0xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fountain — The Fountain City Council on July 8 proclaimed 2025 the 50th anniversary of the Fountain Valley Senior Center and presented the center with the Spirit of Fountain award, as center staff and board members described ongoing funding pressures for transportation and operations.

\"we serve over 600 meals a month. We serve, over 800 seniors that walk through the doors a month,\" Mark Bauer, executive director of the Fountain Valley Senior Center, told the council. He said the center has 13–14 staff and more than 45 volunteers and provides roughly 600 rides a month to seniors without other transportation options.

Why it matters: the center provides meals, transportation, activities and social connection that staff say prevent isolation for many local older adults. At the meeting center leaders and the council stressed the continuing need for donations and stable funding.

What officials said

Mayor Thompson read a formal proclamation honoring the center’s five decades of service and the council presented the Spirit of Fountain award. Steve Schleicher, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder and a member of the Pikes Peak Commission on Aging, and state Rep. Mary Bradfield each offered congratulatory remarks.

Bradfield told the council the center does \"so much with so little for so many\" and asked the public to consider donations; Bauer explained that most transportation is donation‑based and that suggested donations do not cover the full cost of rides.

Funding and services

Bauer and others said government funding does not cover all costs: staff noted a mix of federal and regional funding sources but said many rides and meals are supported through donations and local fundraising. Bauer asked the public to consider donating to support rides and suggested that a $6–$7 per one‑way ride estimate from a past board review had likely risen.

The center also plans new activities, including a monthly singalong and a biscuits‑and‑gravy plus trivia event every two weeks, and invited residents to visit and volunteer.

Discussion, direction and next steps

- Discussion points: the center’s volume (600 meals/month; ~800 distinct seniors/month; ~600 rides/month), staffing (13–14 staff and ~45 volunteers), and continuing funding gaps.

- Directions: council recognized the center with a proclamation and award; staff and council encouraged residents to donate and support transportation funding; Representative Bradfield noted ongoing advocacy for senior funding at the state level.

Ending

Council members, staff and visiting officials emphasized that the center remains a vital community resource and asked residents to consider donations or volunteering to help sustain services.","Council presented a proclamation and Spirit of Fountain award on July 8 to the Fountain Valley Senior Center, which serves hundreds of seniors each month but faces funding challenges for transportation and operations. Center leaders asked for donations and community support.","actionData","errors"]

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Fountain utilities director warns of lower water revenues, outlines projects and a generator reimbursement

Residents and police debate fireworks enforcement after loud, damaging July 4 reports

Fountain Valley Senior Center marks 50 years; staff and volunteers warn funding and rides remain strained