Landslide, Amendment 69 resolutions passed by El Paso County

With a pair of resolutions Tuesday, El Paso County Commissioners formalized support for victims of landslides in Colorado Springs and sided with critics of a proposed amendment to reform health insurance in Colorado.

Commissioners said they realize the process of determining the degree of landslide damage, and of seeking possible compensation from federal and state authorities, is long and they want to do everything possible to help victims.

Victims are waiting to learn whether they’ll receive some of at least $3 million expected to be available.

County Assessor Steve Schleiker said 26 victims have the worst damage and qualify for compensation.

“We inspected 53 homes and adjusted the property values of 34,” he said. “The adjustment has been to lower the values. So far three homes have lost 100 percent of their value.”

Schleiker said he will mail letters next week to the 34 homeowners with lower property values.

“The reason those letters are going out is to see if they have incurred further damage, and to see if we need to make additional property adjustments before we close the books for end of the year,” he said.

Commissioners are far less supportive of the proposed Amendment 69, hailed by supporters as a better option to the federal Affordable Care Act., which provides health insurance for uninsured Americans who register.

Sallie Clark, president of the commissioners, said the amendment would significantly raise insurance and health care costs for the state and its employers.

Clark also agrees with critics that a 21-member board of trustees created by the amendment would have little oversight and likely lack qualifications to make financial decisions.

“I think we’re still trying to wrestle with what the Affordable Care Act is doing, and how we’re going to adjust to it,” she said. “So adding this alternative to the ACA of completely unknown consequences is wrong — in addition to the fact that it’s a change to our state constitution.”

Clark said the proposed amendment is the first attempt in any state to challenge the ACA.