Preliminary results show Palmer Lake voters recalling trustees, approving annexation measure

PALMER LAKE, Colo. (KRDO) – Early results from Palmer Lake's special election show voters favoring a recall of two members of the town's Board of Trustees and approving a measure that would give residents the final say on future annexations.

Preliminary election results:

1. Recall of Trustee Shana Ball

• Yes (Recall): 657
• No (Retain): 467

2. Recall of Trustee Kevin Dreher

• Yes (Recall): 631
• No (Retain): 489 

Trustee replacement candidate votes:

• Roger Moseley: 626
• Beth Harris: 589
• John Marble: 235

3. Ballot Initiative – Ordinance Requiring Voter Approval for Future Annexations

• Yes (Pass): 765
• No (Fail): 375 

These results are still preliminary and subject to certification by the Town Clerk's office on Sept. 18.  

However, current unofficial tallies indicate that voters are choosing to oust Trustees Shana Ball and Kevin Dreher, and replace them with Roger Moseley and Beth Harris.

The recall effort centers on Dreher and Ball’s backing of a proposed Buc-ee’s annexation near I-25 and County Line Road despite strong public opposition.

Residents also appear to have approved a ballot initiative requiring any land annexation into Palmer Lake to go before voters for final approval.

The ballot question read in full:

"Any proposal to annex land into the Town of Palmer Lake shall be subject to approval by a majority vote of the registered electors of the Town of Palmer Lake at a regular or special municipal election. No annexation shall be deemed effective unless and until it has been approved by the voters in accordance with this ordinance."

If approved, that ordinance would go into effect immediately and apply retroactively to annexations that were approved within the past year but not yet finalized – including the highly-contested Buc-ee's site.

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