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Archive for the 'Terry Maketa' Tag

Councilman votes for Romney, opposes Maketa tax

November 5th, 2012, 9:38 am by

Tim Leigh

Most people don’t like to reveal how they voted.

City Councilman Tim Leigh is the exception.

In his electronic newsletter, Leigh revealed that he voted for Mitt Romney over Barack Obama.

Leigh also revealed that he voted against Issue 1A, a sales tax increase that El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa is proposing.

Here is the full, unedited text of Leigh’s newsletter:

I have been asked how I voted and I don’t mind telling you.

At the top, I voted for change.  I voted all the judges out of office except for Lowrey and Schwartz.  I did not vote for any constitutional amendments.  Amending our state-wide constitution for legislative purpose is just bad policy.  I voted no on the jail tax.  I voted yes on the PPRTA tax extension because it is a tax with a sunset and funds very specific projects.  I voted for Jennifer George and I voted for Tim Leigh as a “write-in” candidate for congress.  (Of course, you should “write-in Tim” too!)

We grouse around about how bad America is and certainly, we have our challenges.  But, as bad as it is, it is still the greatest country on earth where we enjoy the freedom to succeed or fail famously if left to our own devices.  So please, in the grand tradition of our republic, whatever your predilection, vote.

 

Posted in: City Council • Elections • • | 10 Comments »

Mayor neutral on sheriff’s proposed sales tax hike

October 25th, 2012, 10:26 am by

Mayor Steve Bach previously expressed concerns that El Paso County was placing a proposed sales tax increase for the Sheriff’s Office on the same ballot as the proposed PPRTA sales tax extension in November.

But now, he’s not taking a position.

At Wednesday night’s town hall meeting, Bach encouraged voters to support Issue 5A, the PPRTA extension.

But he didn’t say a peep about Issue 1A.

In a brief interview after the town hall, Bach said it was a “county issue” and that he trusted voters to make a good decision.

He said the same thing Thursday when he appeared on the Richard Randall radio show and a caller asked his position.

“With respect to the sheriff’s tax increase, that’s a proposal by the county commissioners that’s on the ballot right now. You know, that’s a county issue,” he said.

“That is not a city issue in terms of my having any involvement or standing in that. I’m just not taking a position on that. I don’t think that’s appropriate. I don’t manage the sheriff’s department. I’m not familiar with the county’s budget, frankly, or the details of the sheriff’s operation. So, you know, in the end, I trust the voters to make a good decision.”

Posted in: City Administration • Elections • Politics • Public Safety • • • • | 11 Comments »

Police: ‘They’re having lunch for crying out loud’

December 16th, 2011, 1:48 pm by

District Attorney Dan May, El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa, interim Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey and Pueblo Police Chief Lou Velez were among several law enforcement types seen having lunch today at MacKenzie’s Chop House downtown.

“It was like law enforcement central,” a source said. “I don’t think they were there celebrating the Hooters case victory.”

Exactly what was going on?

Was it a liquor code investigation?

Was it a sting?

Was it a Christmas party?

Colorado Springs police spokeswoman Barbara Miller apparently didn’t appreciate being questioned about the purpose of the lunch.

“They’re having lunch for crying out loud,” she said.

After former police spokesman Sgt. Steve Noblitt intervened, Miller reluctantly agreed to look into the lunch.

A few minutes later, Miller called back to say that Carey was attending the Pikes Peak Quarterly Law Enforcement Luncheon. Miller said she had an agenda for the luncheon and that the group “discussed several items.”

But Miller, who was recently hired by the Police Department, refused to provide the agenda, saying it wasn’t part of the initial request for information.

Miller also refused to say whether the police chief — or taxpayers — had paid for his lunch, saying again that the question wasn’t part of the initial request even though the question was raised during the initial phone call.

“Send me a request with everything you want so I don’t have to go back 15 times and ask the chief for all this information,” she said.

Posted in: Uncategorized • • • • • | 12 Comments »

Sheriff orders hold on ‘stormwater troopers’

September 24th, 2011, 9:36 am by

El Paso County sheriff’s deputies have been ordered to stop raiding the cash registers of businesses that have unpaid Stormwater Enterprise fees.

“I have put a hold until further review,” Sheriff Terry Maketa said today in an email.

Sheriff’s deputies armed with a court order obtained by A-1 Collections Inc., a collections agency hired by the city of Colorado Springs, emptied out the cash registers of at least two Ace Loans pawn shops Friday, according to employees.

“It’s the stormwater troopers,” Assistant Manager Charley Bliss said Friday.

Ace Loans owes the city about $15,000 in unpaid fees from the now-defunct Stormwater Enterprise.

Click here to read more about what happened at Ace Loans on Friday.

In the email, Maketa said he is not a fan of so-called till taps in which deputies execute a court order to seize cash and coins  from a business that owes a debt.

Maketa said he believes it’s an outdated practice.

“I did have my attorney review the court documents, and they were lawful orders of the courts, and I am bound by those orders under Colorado Law,” Maketa wrote.

“Having said that, the order doesn’t mention the exact date of service, so as of yesterday evening, I have put a hold until further review,” he wrote.

Maketa also said he spoke with Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach and a member of his staff,  who “were not aware of this tactic being used by their contractor and they both expressed great concern,” Maketa wrote.

“Based on that information, I think the responsible thing to do is to offer an opportunity for our city to review this contract and determine if it is a practice they wish for their contractor to engage in.  I personally do not believe it is, but I could be wrong,” he wrote.

Maketa was responding to an email from anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce and said he was “sure” that city officials would have many of the same questions that Bruce raised to Maketa in an email.

Posted in: City Administration • City Council • • • | 26 Comments »

Maketa endorses Bach for mayor of Colorado Springs

March 16th, 2011, 2:40 pm by

El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa has endorsed Steve Bach for mayor of Colorado Springs.

“I wholeheartedly believe that Steve’s leadership will add to the quality of our local community,” Maketa said in a statement issued by the Bach campaign.

“Steve will bring passion and fresh perspective to the office of mayor. I have been very impressed with his intellect and commitment to serve our citizens,” Maketa is quoted as saying. “He brings a heartfelt passion that is easily recognized when you talk to him about his goals and visions for our great city.”

Bach, in the same statement, said he was “honored” by Maketa’s endorsement.

“As Mayor, I will collaberate (sic) with other agencies, including the El Paso County Sheriff’s office, and I look forward to working with Sheriff Maketa on the goal of improving Colorado Springs for all of its citizens,” Bach said in the statement.

Posted in: Elections • • | 1 Comment »