Colorado Springs Utilities rejected an open-records request Monday for documents involving a proposed accelerated construction schedule for the massive Southern Delivery System water pipeline.

“To the extent any documents exist related to an analysis of a possible accelerated construction schedule for the SDS water pipeline, a part of the SDS Project, this analysis is being conducted, and deliberative materials assembled, for the benefit of the Colorado Springs Utilities Board as elected officials,” Utilities spokeswoman Janet Rummel said in a written response.

“As such, any existing documents fall within the work product exception to the definition of public records set forth in C.R.S. § 24-72-202 (6.5)(a).  In addition, these documents would be protected by the deliberative process privilege codified at C.R.S. § 24-72-204(3)(a)(XIII). Accordingly, we are not able to make any of these documents available at this time,” she wrote.

Rummel said the city-owned utility understood The Gazette’s interest in SDS — which will cost ratepayers $2.3 billion when financing costs are factored in — and respected the newspaper’s desire “to present this information to the citizens of Colorado Springs in a timely way.”

Rummel also said Utilities shares the newspaper’s commitment to keeping the public informed.

“We commit to make it available to you once it has been given to our elected officials,” she said.

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