The Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District in Falcon, northeast of Colorado Springs, is one of those planned communities where residents get all sorts of amenities.
The 2,400 homeowners get to enjoy 63 acres of open space, miles of trails, two recreation centers with indoor and outdoor pools, exercise facilities, playgrounds, meeting rooms and more. Here’s a map of the district’s trails and recreational facilities.
The district also provides water, sewer and streetlight services to the community. And it employs a staff of about 15 to maintain the community, which is protected by covenants.
In addition to the staff, the district has a five-member board to oversee the district. They are homeowners are elected by the neighborhood.
As with any homeowners association or neighborhood board, there is conflict.
About a year ago, the board found itself in conflict with Ron Pace, a 45-year-old disabled veteran who moved to Woodmen Hills in 2006.
Pace heard stories about over-paid staff and got upset when water rates started going up. He started asking questions about the budget and salaries and covenant enforcement. Board members and staff didn’t like the way he asked his questions. They found him threatening. In fact, they accused him of threatening to “blow people away” with an AK-47.
Things distintigrated. Here’s a story The Gazette wrote in June 2009 about the conflict. Residents took sides. There were dualing Web sites created to argue the issues. Pace had one site and an ally built another.
Pace admits he gets on peoples’ nerves. He is from the East Coast and he comes across more loud, profane and abrasive than folks in the West may be used to, he says. But he says he never threatened anyone and would never hurt anyone.
El Paso County Magistrate Robin Chittum believes him.
She found him loud, often inappropriate and annoying. But, as she said, welcome to public service. If you don’t want to deal with people like Pace, don’t run for office.
In fact, after what may be the longest trial in Colorado history regarding civil protection orders, Chittum dismissed the complaints against Pace, giving him freedom to again go anywhere in the district, attend board meetings, view records, approach staff and board members.
Here’s how pace-press-release described the magistrate’s decision.
And this is a news release from the Woodmen Hills Metro District responding to it:
Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District Press Release
November 17, 2009
On Monday, November 8, 2009 Magistrate Robin Chittum in an hour long ruling denied the civil protection orders against Mr. Ron Pace as requested by Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District (the “District”) and its District Manager Larry D. Bishop, Sr.
While the petitioners in the case do not necessarily agree with the magistrate’s decision, they respect the legal process and the court’s ruling.
The District had alleged it was entitled to the civil protection orders pursuant to C.R.S. § 13-14-102 against Mr. Ron Pace for the purpose of preventing assaults, threatened bodily harm and stalking.
Although Magistrate Chittum denied the civil protection orders she found that the District had expressed some valid concerns.
Specifically, Magistrate Chittum stated that Mr. Bishop’s testimony was straight forward, motivated by a desire to protect District employees, including keeping them happy and safe. She found that Mr. Bishop’s actions concerning the civil protection orders were not politically motivated or connected to the recent District recall election.
During the proceedings, the District had presented evidence that Mr. Ron Pace had committed or engaged in the following acts:
1) At a November 20, 2008, District Board Meeting Mr. Ron Pace in reference to the District stated that “I ought to go get an AK-47 and blow these assholes away.”
2) On December 11, 2008, Mr. Ron Pace stated to Mr. David Hightower that he was frustrated enough that he wanted to bring a gun in to the board meeting.
3) On January 28, 2009, Mr. Ron Pace stated that he feels threatened by the District Manager and the Board of Directors and would not hesitate to get a gun and defend himself against the District personnel, as he slapped his hip as a gesture of carrying a weapon.
Magistrate Chittum did find Mr. Pace has mental health issues, including paranoia. Mr. Pace testified he has been under the care of a psychiatrist for several years and taking medications.
Magistrate Chittum specifically found that the matter was not brought in bad faith by the District or frivolous, groundless or vexatious. Accordingly, she denied Mr. Ron Pace’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs.
The District had sought protection under the statute based on Mr. Ron Pace’s past statements and behavior, but most importantly to prevent any future harm which is the statute’s underlying purpose. Despite the magistrate’s decision, the District will continue to be vigilant in protecting the safety of its personnel.
Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District staff has been informed of this ruling and, as always will continue to treat Mr. Pace with the same professionalism and respect as that of any other resident.
Mr. Pace shall be permitted to visit the District Office, but will have no greater access than that generally provided to other members of the public. As always, pursuant to C.R.S. § 18-9-110, the District will ask any person to leave who has committed, commits, or threatens to commit acts which disrupt, impair, or interfere with the lawful missions, processes, procedures, or functions being carried on in the office.
Larry D. Bishop, Sr.
District Manager
Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District
8046 Eastonville Road
Falcon, CO 80831
Phone: (719) 495-2500
Fax: (719) 495-1344
E-Mail:
Well seems JANICE being at the district was for a purpose
and She was the one who authorized the release of this information.
Why didnt bill post the judges decision.
Wow, even reading their “concerns” you can tell that he was in no way threatening anyone. As someone who lived there, i can tell you first hand that WHMD does not treat any of its occupants with respect or civility. They are quick to give false information, and when you question it become very nasty and rude. They have had a price increase of almost 30% in the 2 years i lived there. THIRTY PERCENT in two years? They are running a “scam” on everyone who still lives there, and i am glad i got out. You can bet money on the fact that in less than 5 years woodmen hills as a community will cease to exist, and there will be foreclosures, because you will have a 300$ “water bill” and no one will be able to afford to live there based on that, no one will buy the houses. Either that or the law will eventually close them down. I am sure most residents feel the way i did, close the rec centers, take down the park equipment, charge a normal water bill, and the residents would be happy. OR let the people who WANT it pay for it. And those who dont, dont have to. I never in the 2 years i lived there used any of the facilities, YET i had to pay for them, because they were there and i COULD use them if i wanted.
WELL there is a corvette at the dealership down the road that i could BUY if i wanted but i dont. So i dont pay for it. WHMD are a bunch of crooks they know they have a good scam going which is why they went after Mr. Pace to begin with, he was vocal about what they were doing and that it was wrong. AND they do not want anyone else to realize it!
I have been at meetings with Mr. Pace when he was allowed to go, and i have seen other members of the community ask questions and be treated rudely and NOT have the board answer the questions. They do not and will not DIRECTLY answer any questions.
I wonder if Falcon did become part of colorado springs if the scam of WHMD would get better of it would just get worse?
I just want everyone to know that I live in the WHMD and I do like it out there it is peaceful but I do not like the way they have the fees for out there. They are way to much for what I don’t use such as 7,000 gallons of water I will never use that much water. The whole bit about them taking care of your yard for you at an extra price is reduiclous too I can do a way better job of cutting my own grass and keeping it maintained better than the yard crew they have out there now they don’t even cut the grass right and or maintain the sprinkler system right so the grass dies and then they try to charge you for replacement of the grass. If there was a way to lower the amount of the covenet they have out there I think people would be more likely to stay in that area. I just moved in there last year so I have been there for 1 year and I thought it was a great idea that I didn’t have to do the maintance on my yard but after what I have seen and had to deal with I think I can do alot better than they are.
[...] and press. Even after I won the case Larry called the Gazette and gave them this to print http://sidestreets.freedomblogging.com/2009/11/18/loud-profane-annoying-welcome-to-public-service/45…. I expended 10 of thousands of dollars defending this case. I understand that some residents are [...]