Pueblo Commissioners Want Springs To Fund Stormwater Projects

Pueblo County elected leaders challenged Colorado Springs’ Southern Delivery System, sending a letter this week to Colorado Springs that said, “Fund it or else.”

County Commissioners in Pueblo took issue with the lack of capital improvement projects undertaken by Colorado Springs Utilities over the past three years. They said improving the stormwater system for Fountain Creek was part of the reason Pueblo signed off on the deal.

“Now, over 2 1/2 years later, the city has yet to establish assured stormwater enterprise funding,” said the letter.

The city of Colorado Springs enacted a stormwater fee in 2005. It was repealed four years later by the City Council. Had it stayed in place, the fees would have generated $17 million per year for improvement projects according to the letter sent from Pueblo to Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said Colorado Springs Utilities is trying to find money in its current budget to address stormwater improvements. He said general fund money could also be used if it’s found in the current budget.

In a response letter from Bach on Friday, he implied that this issue should not prove problematic moving forward. Pueblo County commissioners, on the other hand, had no further comment, citing potential legal action in the future.