Commissioner's Comments

by Dennis Hisey, County Commissioner

El Paso County’s Public Works, Transportation Division, still referred to as DOT by most of us, receives and tracks hundreds of customer service requests each month. Depending on the time of year it can be snow removal, weeds, tree trimming, signs or dust control and some months it may be all of the above.
From the inside it is easy to say we are doing a great job with the resources we have but what really matters is how the citizens view the job we are doing for them.  A Customer Service Survey is mailed and the returned surveys provide feedback on how we did from the initial call to actually taking care of the problem.
Not all problems will be solved in the same month we receive the request, a concrete repair reported in January will not be fixed until warmer weather and in the case of sidewalk repairs they are often prioritized and repaired as they work their way to the top of the list. We do include the human element for those situations where a repair is required for basic mobility.
By the end of the first quarter 768 requests were received, down just slightly from the previous year and 154 of those were still open. 565 of those came from citizens, the rest were reported by employees.
Here is a snapshot of the results of the March surveys including email responses. Three hundred and sixteen surveys were sent, 159 returned, less than 1% rated the person taking the call as Poor and 72% rated them as Excellent. 84% said the problem was taken care of in a timely manner with 16% saying it was not. Rating the Overall Work Performed was a little less cut and dried with 11% giving a substandard rating, 10% average and 79% good or better.
We do more analysis to determine where we need to improve, if our poor work performance is in pothole repair that is a different issue than slow snow removal which could be the results of back to back storms.
Common problems this time of the year include tree trimming, shoulder repair, mowing and weeds. Illegal dumping is a year around problem but seems to pick up as more people move in the spring and summer. Concrete work and crack sealing are a couple that typically take more time than we would like and that is a factor of balancing limited resources, but like a friend of mine told me, “if it is going to take 10 years to solve the problem you better get started” so let’s get your address on the list.
The county relies on citizens letting us know where we have problems so don’t hesitate to call DOT at 520-6891 or use the website www.elpasoco.com and click the DOT link on the left side of the screen. I submit requests regularly and will be happy to submit for you if you call or email, office 520-

by County Commissioner Dennis Hisey
  
  The annual Fort Carson Community Partnership Town Hall was held this past Wednesday. Well attended again this year, it was moderated by our own Jon Karroll (Widefield resident) of News Channel 13, with  Major General Joseph Anderson, Commissioner and PPACG Chair Sallie Clark and J.D. Dallager, President/CEO Pikes Peak United Way speaking.
  Among other things, General Anderson gave an overview of the deployment picture, we won’t have everyone home in the foreseeable future. Fortunately the length of the deployments has decreased, hopefully creating less stress which should reflect on the soldier’s personal well being as well as their family life.
  One of the successes since that first Town Hall is the Network of Care, http://pikespeak.networkofcare.org . This award winning website came out of Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Military Impact Planning grant. It is probably the most comprehensive site in the country for service members to access help and support for any number of needs. It can provide health and social services referrals, headlines and legislative tracking of veteran’s issues as well as a way to keep in touch with friends with similar experiences through the social networking link.
  In a separate conversation that afternoon I discussed the troop strength at Fort Carson as the military budget is reduced. From the 50,000 foot level the number of soldiers at Fort Carson will only decrease slightly but that includes the addition of the new Combat Aviation Brigade, which now has buildings under construction. However, the boots on the ground view will look a lot different if you are one of the soldiers in another brigade that are not being allowed to re-enlist.
  The slow economic recovery doesn’t seem to be helping the unemployment numbers in El Paso County. While there are as many people employed now as there was five years ago there are more people unemployed simply because of the population increase. As a whole the veteran’s community has one of the higher unemployment rates. We know we will have to work this issue from both sides of the gate to transition former soldiers into the civilian job market.

 

by County Commissioner Dennis Hisey
  
  This past Monday morning found me at the Directorate of Public Works building on Fort Carson discussing the possibility of a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) branch on Fort Carson.
  With the new commissary opening this next month there will be a very large and structurally sound building in the form of the old commissary available to be repurposed. The plan at the moment is to locate several community service functions like Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) in the building, creating a central place for service members, veterans, retirees and dependants to go for any number of needs. A DMV office seemed like a natural fit.
  As we spoke, the Clerk and Recorder, Wayne Williams, suggested a full service office including the ability to obtain marriage licenses and take care of recording functions which seemed to fit with their concept.
  In my perfect world this office would be located right outside Gate 20 next to Highway 16 but the reality of the county budget says we won’t be leasing, providing security, or paying for the required T-1 phone lines to the state anytime soon. If this actually comes about, Fort Carson will supply some of those services and some, like security, will not be necessary at all. This leaves staffing as the biggest expense and some of that will be shifted from other offices as their use goes down.
  With the active duty, retired, veteran and dependant population within a five mile circle around the post, many of whom already access Fort Carson regularly to take advantage of the PX, Commissary, Evans Army Hospital, the Golf Course or even the Fitness Center, this DMV office could service the equivalent of a good sized town.
  Emphasis on, if this actually comes about. Right now we are at the “let’s take a look at it” stage, but it all looks promising. Also under discussion is the timing, given the work required to repurpose the building including replacing 50 year old heating and cooling systems, opening would likely be a year or so out. 
  Colorado and El Paso County could become one of the select few states and counties with a DMV office actually on a military installation and it could be one of our busier ones.
  
  
 

by County Commissioner Dennis Hisey
  
  The Earth Month Resolution, recently passed by the commissioners, is something of an expansion of our traditional Earth Day Resolution. Some people embrace the conservation movement, some not, but I have yet to meet the person who does not want the next generation to inherit a healthy and vibrant earth.
  Forty-three years ago this spring Earth Day, spearheaded by a Democratic Senator and Republican Congressman, was observed as a way to raise awareness and inspire appreciation for the Earth’s Natural Environment.
  Recycling that is so common today was almost unheard of in 1970. In 1970 our power plants were easy to spot by the smoke rising from the smoke stack, and with that cleaned up we are now down to trying to filter out specific elements.  Autos used leaded gas and V8’s were the rule rather than the exception.
  While much has been done to be more responsible stewards of our resources it was not all willful waste from previous generations in fact it was more likely to be just the opposite. Socks and jeans were patched and shoes were re-soled, back yard gardens were common and walking was the most common transportation to and from school. With my rural roots I know firsthand that farmers have always understood the long term responsibility they have for the land.
  Tipping fees at the local landfills fund the El Paso County Household Chemical Waste Facility which accepts those items from around the house that should not be buried in landfills. Computers, pesticides, waste oil, batteries – large and small, fertilizer and paint are all filled with chemicals that when used properly make our life much better but when disposed of improperly can contaminate our water, air and soil. All of those can be disposed of at 3255 Akers Drive. Much of what is received can be recycled and the rest is disposed of properly.   
  Earth Day is still about raising awareness so individuals will be encouraged to make a difference, however small. In fact it is ultimately citizens taking responsibility for and acting on their own behalf that does make a difference.