El Paso County, Colorado, March 17, 2026 – The American Public Works Association (APWA) has selected El Paso County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) as a 2026 recipient of the Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award, recognizing the County’s comprehensive and data-driven winter operations program.

The national recognition reflects sustained performance across a 2,130-square-mile service area and 4,400 lane miles of roadway, where crews respond to an average of 24 plowable snow events each year and clear more than one million lane miles annually.

“This award represents the consistent, professional work our snow fighters deliver year after year,” said Jack Ladley, Executive Director of El Paso County Public Works. “Our team combines strong training, proven technology, and disciplined operations to provide reliable service for residents while being responsible stewards of public resources.”

Examples of the high standard the Department consistently delivers for the residents of El Paso County include:

• Advanced technology and transparency: Every plow truck and grader is equipped with Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and telematics systems that track route progress and material application in real time. This data supports operational decision-making and powers the County’s public dashboard, allowing residents to view near real-time plow activity during storms.
• Efficient responsible operations: Automated material application controls and pre-treatment strategies have reduced salt usage by approximately 20 percent, improving efficiency and lowering costs.
• Strong workforce preparation: Each fall, the Department conducts “Snow School,” a comprehensive training program for operators, mechanics, and supervisors to ensure equipment readiness and consistent winter response practices.
• Ongoing infrastructure investment: In 2024, DPW completed a $1.5 million stormwater-control upgrade at its largest maintenance facility, improving runoff treatment and strengthening long-term system reliability.

The APWA award will be formally presented at the 2026 North American Snow Conference in April.

“Our responsibility doesn’t end with one season or one award,” Ladley said. “We’re committed to continually improving how we maintain the County’s roads – investing in our people, refining our processes, and using data and technology to deliver dependable service for the community year after year.”

For more information about El Paso County’s Snow and Ice Control Program, visit publicworks.elpasoco.com/snow-removal/

March 9, 2026 – As part of roadway improvements in the Falcon area, it is necessary to temporarily close a lane of Meridian Drive between Bent Grass Meadows and Owl Place. Construction will be performed by Pyramid Construction, Inc. and GYS General Contracting.

Beginning Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the southbound outside lane of Meridian Drive will be closed between Bent Grass Meadows and a point just north of Eastonville Road for approximately (3) days, weather permitting.

On March 16, 2026, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the southbound outside lane of Meridian Drive will also be closed between Bent Grass Meadows Drive and Owl Place for approximately (18) days, weather permitting.

Access to Owl Place remains available via the roundabout located at Falcon Marketplace and Eastonville Road. Motorists are encouraged to plan for delays and utilize an alternate route by traveling from Bent Grass Meadows to Woodmen Frontage Road to access Woodmen Road. The lane closures are necessary to complete a sanitary sewer tie-in, paving operations, and the installation of curb and gutter.

Drivers should expect minor delays in the area during construction. Motorists are encouraged to plan alternate routes and allow additional travel time while work is underway.

Please refer to the map below for lane closures and general traffic impacts.

Safety Reminders:

• Reduce speeds in and around the work zone.
• Watch for workers, equipment, signs, and barricades.

El Paso County wishes to thank drivers in advance for their cooperation.

For more information and questions:

Website: www.elpasoco.com

Email: [email protected]

March 5, 2026 – The El Paso County Board of Commissioners is seeking community-minded volunteers to serve on the El Paso County Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission currently has a vacancy for a Regular Member (terms are 3 years) and an Associate Member (terms are 1 year). The Planning Commission consists of nine Regular Members and up to five Associate Members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC).

The Planning Commission duties include, but are not limited to: developing and adopting a Master Plan, reviewing and acting upon amendments to the Master Plan, developing and adopting a Zoning Plan, reviewing and making recommendations to the BoCC on applications for land-use and zoning, and recommending or imposing reasonable conditions upon approvals of applications to the BoCC. For more information regarding the authority of the Planning Commission, please contact the Planning and Community Development Department at 719.520.6300.

Planning Commission meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 9 a.m. in the Second Floor Hearing Room at the Regional Development Center, located at 2880 International Circle, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The volunteer application is located at www.elpasoco.com and can be accessed at: https://bocc.elpasoco.com/volunteer

Send completed applications to:

Board of El Paso County Commissioners

Attn: BCA

200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 100

Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2208

[email protected]

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www.ElPasoCo.com

March 3, 2026 – Beginning March 4, 2026, El Paso County will implement new shifting traffic patterns along North Gate Boulevard between northbound I-25 and Struthers Road as part of an ongoing stormwater improvement project.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction (eastbound and westbound) along North Gate Boulevard within the project limits. In addition, traffic within the roundabout serving northbound I-25 and eastbound North Gate Boulevard will be reduced to a single lane.

Drivers should expect minor delays along the Northgate Boulevard corridor from northbound I-25 to just east of Struthers Road during this work. Additional traffic impacts may occur as construction progresses east towards the North Gate Boulevard and Struthers Road intersection.

Updates will be provided periodically throughout the duration of the project. Please refer to the map below for general traffic impacts.

Safety Reminders:

• Reduce speeds in and around the work zone.
• Watch for workers, equipment, signs, and barricades.
• Use caution, particularly during winter weather.

El Paso County wishes to thank drivers in advance for their cooperation.

For more information and questions:

Website: www.elpasoco.com

Email: [email protected]

March 2, 2026 – The El Paso County Board of Commissioners is seeking one new member to serve on the El Paso County Board of Health representing the position of Active/Retired Physician.

The El Paso County Board of Health is the governing body for El Paso County Public Health. The Board of Health governs the agency by establishing public health policies, approving the agency’s budget, and appointing the public health executive director, among other responsibilities.

Regular Board of Health meetings are typically held monthly, on the fourth Wednesday of the month, beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by work or executive sessions when noted on the current month’s agenda or a separate agenda.

Regular meetings are hosted at the Citizens Service Center, at 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road, on the second floor, in the Snow-Miller conference room, unless otherwise indicated.

Meeting dates, times, and meeting agendas are posted on the El Paso County Public Health website at www.elpasocountyhealth.org. All meetings are open to the public.

The volunteer application is located at www.elpasoco.com and can be accessed at: https://bocc.elpasoco.com/volunteer

Send completed applications to:

Board of El Paso County Commissioners

Attn: BCA

200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 100

Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2208

[email protected]

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www.ElPasoCo.com

February 26, 2026 – The El Paso County Board of Commissioners is seeking community-minded citizen volunteers to serve on the Pioneer Village Roads Public Improvement District Advisory Committee.

The Pioneer Village Roads Public Improvement District Advisory Committee is currently seeking two (2) members.

In conjunction with the establishment of the El Paso County Pioneer Village Roads Public Improvement District, the Board of County Commissioners also created the El Paso County Pioneer Village Roads Public Improvement District Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding the public improvements to be funded each year, the awarding of contracts, and the need to seek an increase of the maximum mill levy for the PID.

The Advisory Committee consists of five members. All members serve two-year or three-year terms.

Meetings are held virtually as needed.

Applicants must be taxpaying electors of the District for the duration of their appointment. To be a taxpaying elector, you must 1) be registered to vote in Colorado, and 2) own, or your spouse or civil union partner must own, taxable or real personal property within the District. You do not need to reside within the District.

The volunteer application is located at www.elpasoco.com and can be accessed at: https://bocc.elpasoco.com/volunteer

Send completed applications to:

Board of El Paso County Commissioners

Attn: BCA

200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 100

Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2208

[email protected]

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www.ElPasoCo.com