BLM Cadastral Survey Starting May 2nd
A key points of our survey:
1. The survey was requested by the BLM – Tres Rios Field Office and has been selected as a
possible fuels mitigation project and other administrative actions.
2. The survey will be in accordance with federal and state statute laws.
3. On the attached diagram there are two lines, a thick red line and thick blue line. The red
and blue lines represent the necessary procedure for the proper section subdivision needed
to locate, verify, protect, and establish the corners needed for the Public Land Survey
System (PLSS) in accordance with federal and state statute laws. These PLSS corners
represent the boundaries of the BLM administered lands, state lands, Forest Lands, and
private lands in the area.
4. The red line on the attached diagram represents the boundary lines that will be marked on
the ground. These boundary lines themselves will be hand thinned (using hand tools and
axes) along the line and posted with a BLM boundary signs, red flagging, and occasional red
paint on necessary trees to best delineate the boundary line. Each boundary sign will be
placed 200 to 250 feet along the lines. The hand thinning will be 2 to 4 feet on either side of
the line so that the boundary signs are inter visible. The brush from this thinning will be
thrown on the BLM side of the line. The marking of the boundaries is one of the most
important aspects we do during an official BLM survey. The marking of these lines will
mitigate the potential encroachment from any BLM administrative action onto the
adjoining land owners and allow the BLM administrative actions to have an educated
decision on administrative actions that can potentially take place on BLM administered
lands. This also mitigates potential encroachments on BLM land from any adjoining lands owners.
5. Access for most of this survey will need to take place through the Forest Lakes subdivision
as some of the BLM lands are land locked from this subdivision.
6. I myself will be the Cadastral Surveyor for the project and will be the direct contact for the
survey. There will also be two other survey technicians in training that will aide in the
completion of the survey.
7. Our work schedule will be Monday through Friday during this time.
8. We have one survey vehicle that we will utilize throughout the survey. A blue Ford 150 with
government plates. This vehicle may need to be parked along the road to access some lands
but we will make sure it is in an area that is OK’d by the FLMD association and will not block traffic.
9. We intend to start the survey May 1st with a tentative completion of 2 months as we juggle
multiple other projects throughout the state.
10. I will personally knock on landowner doors to inform them of our presence and will leave a
business card on the doors that I do not speak with in person.
See link map below
Forest Lakes Subdivision and Surrounding Area – Cadastral Survey
ELECTION CANCELLATION!!!!
The May 2, 2023 Board of Directors election is cancelled. Candidate has withdrawn from the race. The 3 remaining candidates will be elected to the office of director by acclamation, serving a 4 year term starting May 2, 2023.
RATE INCREASE
New fees for road maintenance and mailbox went into effect January 1st, 2023. The Board of Directors vote this in December’s meeting. The new fees are as follows:
Road Maintenance – $20.00
Mailbox – $5.00
New Payment System
As many of you know we have gone live with a new billing and payment system. You will have to register with Invoice Cloud even if you were registered with the old system. You will need your account to do so. Thank you all for your patience and understanding during this transition.
Invoice Cloud, is now available for all your payment needs
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Vacant Landowners and Homeowners Beware!
From the District Manager
Posted on November 9, 2021
We were recently made aware of squatters that started building a structure on a piece of property within the District they did not own. The message from the District is that landowners either need to visit their property periodically or have their neighbors keep an eye out for anything unusual occurring on their property. The same would apply to those homeowners that leave their houses vacant for any period of time throughout the year. Please understand that this is a private property issue and the District has no jurisdiction.
Living “WildSmart”
Posted on October 12, 2021
From the District Manager
Depending upon the time of the year, residents of Forest Lakes Subdivision can many times cross paths with bears, deer, mountain lions, etc. On several fronts, this can be both an awesome experience to many and possibly a little terrifying for others. La Plata County developed a “Living with Wildlife Advisory Board (LWAB)” that advises La Plata County Commissioners on methods of preventing and resolving wildlife conflicts that occur within the County. As the wildlife/rural interface increases, so do the cost and potential for wildlife conflicts. Want to learn more about what LWAB does and what you can do to help minimize these wildlife conflicts? Please review the letter from the LWAB and we invite you to visit the County’s website about this valuable program: https://www.co.laplata.co.us/services/agriculture/living_with_wildlife/index.php.
Forest Lakes Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) Masterplan, and Special Meeting/Study Session
Originally Posted on April 13, 2021 and Updated on May 12, 2021
From the District Manager
Since my arrival almost a year and a half ago, it has been a huge priority of mine to get a “road map” together that systematically looked at the required sewer, water and roads infrastructure upgrades the District needed to complete over the next several years. We contracted with San Juan Engineering almost a year ago to complete this for us and on March 8th we received their Draft Report. I must say that Rick Johnson and Matt Mathers did an excellent and very comprehensive job with completing this 30 year masterplan for the District! On March 8th, we provided copies of this document to staff and our Board of Directors, and we posted a copy of the document on our website for the public to review. Staff has met with San Juan Engineering on 2 occasions to review the plan and to provide additional input, and our Board was briefed on the Masterplan via Zoom at a public Special meeting/Study Session meeting on April 7th at 1:30 pm. We are happy to state that the report is now final and a copy of it is on our website for the Public’s review.
As a side note, we have seen many reports on the condition of our Nation’s infrastructure, and our infrastructure within our subdivision will need the same attention to ensure it is able to handle existing and future District and resident requirements. This Masterplan will help us prioritize the work that is needed while giving us the ammo to seek different funding avenues to make the critical and important projects happen!
SJE – Final FLMD Master Plan Report – April 2021
APPROVED District Rates and Fees Increases
Originally Posted on June 30, 2021 and Updated on July 14, 2021 and August 11, 2021
We conducted our final Rate Study Public Meeting #3 on June 21st at 1:00 pm where our Board of Directors, our consultant from Rural Community Assistance Corps (RCAC), staff and any residents in attendance reviewed the findings of the Rate Study. The bottom line conclusion is that the last rate increase conducted in FLMD occurred in 2013 and with the current operational costs relative to budget deficits and projected/required Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) infrastructure needs, the District has to increase rates. Special thanks and kudos go to Chris Brandewie from RCAC for conducting this comprehensive and in-depth Rate Study for the District and for our Attorney for guiding us through this process to ensure we noticed it correctly and followed State Statutes through the process! We also appreciate Board’s involvement and leadership, and that of those residents that attended the public Rate Study and CIP meetings…that went along ways in ensuring people were receiving the most current and accurate information that was available. The required cost increases are identified in Resolution 2021-09 (Rates, Fees and Charges) that was approved by the Board of Directors at the August 10, 2021, Board Meeting. We will post the approved Resolution once it is signed by the Board President.
To see what the new rates will be compared to the old rates, the District also put together a spreadsheet/worksheet that shows that comparison rates, fees and charges information. If you have questions about the rates or rate study process, please contact the District at 970-884-2925.
The Facts about the Rate Increase – July 20, 2021 – Rev 2
Rate Increases Worksheet and Spreadsheet – Rev 3 (July 21, 2021)
Rates, Fees and Charges – Resolution 2021-09 – Rev 5
FLMD DW and WW Rate Study Final Report – Attachment B
Water Conservation Tips
Posted on May 4, 2021
As we head into the summer season, all indications at this point is that we may not see the amount of water in our rivers and lakes as we have in the past few years. In fact, one article (https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/04/15/snowfall-in-the-west-indicates-20-year-drought-will-persist-and-intensify/) stated that, “sparse monsoon rainfall last summer and spotty snowfall this winter have combined to dramatically worsen the drought across the West in the past year, and spring snowmelt won’t bring much relief”. The key this summer (starting now) is to conserve water in our daily lives to ensure our water supplies are not negatively impacted during the rest of the year. The District mandated water conservation tactics a few years ago and we are presently asking that residents start taking steps to conserve water usage knowing how our water supplies have been impacted over the past summer and winter seasons. What steps can you do as a resident? We have links to various websites below that will help educate people on what they can do to help with this effort. Keep in mind that FLMD does not necessarily endorse these websites. Rather, they are provided for informational purposes:
- https://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/water-conservation
- https://www.alfaauv.com/blog/top-5-ways-to-save-water-in-your-home/
- https://creditcritics.com/saving-water-saving-money/
- https://www.watereducation.org/general-information/water-conservation-measures
I heard a great quote years ago from Tony Robbins that stated, “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin”. Let’s work together now to conserve our precious water supply!
Small Improvement District Main Line Extension Program
Originally Posted on April 4, 2021 and Updated on August 3, 2021
From the District Manager
As part of our new “Small Improvement District Main Line Extension Program” where we generate the funding from lot owners to provide main line extensions along their roads, we just completed these extensions for both water and sewer along Spruce Way and Pine Top Drives this summer. With this program, we ask those lot owners to pre-pay their water and sewer tap fees and we then directly apply them to complete the water and/or sewer line extensions the following next summer. Fortunately, we were able to complete this project this summer through the generosity of many of the lot owners! The attached map shows where this extension occurred, and we thank all of the residents for their patience as we continue to make a positive difference in the subdivision! Next Summer (2022) – Main Line Extensions along Snowbird Court since many of the lot owners have agreed to pre-pay their taps fees in order to make this project happen!
Forest Lakes Welcome Guide
Posted on August 11, 2020
Forest Lakes Welcome Guide
Where is the Metro District Office, what are the hours of the Trash and Brush/Slash Facility and where are they located, how many Board Members are there, what is the link to the District’s website, who are the internet providers in the area, who do I contact if I want to hook up to natural gas, how many fish can I legally keep while fishing Lake Simpatico, etc., etc., etc.? If you have had the above questions and many others, we hope you will find value in reading the new Forest Lakes Welcome Guide! Our goal is to provide residents of Forest Lakes subdivision with a “one stop” location to help get them oriented to their new community as quickly and as painlessly as possible. We will have hard copies at the Main FLMD office, and we will also include other valuable information, such as the Firewise and Pine River Shares Programs!
New Excavation Permit Application Handbook
As a District, we remain committed to providing information and guidance to residents, and those that wish to conduct business in the District, that is easy to understand and that makes sense. In that light, we revamped our Excavation Permit Application, created a flowchart that describes the process and have developed a Handbook where the applicable documents can all be found in one place. We believe in “one stop shopping” and we appreciate any feedback you may have so we can continue to refine this and other information packets so that they are completely user friendly.
The Excavation Permit Application is to be used whenever a resident or a contractor will be installing utilities in the District’s right-of-way or when residents will install culverts (for driveways) where the work will also occur in the District’s right-of-way.
For questions related to this process, feel free to contact Forest Lakes Metropolitan District at 970-884-2925. Or, come see us at 271 N. Mountain View Drive, #271, Bayfield, CO 81122.
Forest Lakes Subdivision Open and Recreational Burning
December 16, 2020
Given the continued fire risk in Forest Lakes Subdivision, open burning of brush, slash, debris, etc., is not allowed anywhere in the subdivision under any circumstances. Brush and slash can be brought to the Brush/Slash pile at 6893 County Road 501 for District personnel to dispose of. Pertaining to recreational burning, the approved and published covenants for Units 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 already prohibit recreational burning in fire pits or under any other circumstances, and the District will defer to those regulations. If you have questions, please direct them to the District Manager at 970-884-2925.
FLMD UNIT 3
The Forest Lakes Metro District has neither short- or long-range plans to extend services (water, sewer and road improvements) into Unit 3. It is cost prohibitive (estimated at almost $28M), and we don’t have the budget, manpower, nor time to install that infrastructure into Unit 3. This was recognized by the Board of Directors back in 1985 when they passed a Resolution that stated, “the District would not construct or guarantee the construction of any of the public improvements to be located within Unit 3…”. This funding issue is exacerbated by the fact that our Capital Improvements Plan identified almost $26M in infrastructure work that needs to be completed in Units 1, 2, 4 and 5. Given that the District’s Service Plan states that the District is supposed to provide this infrastructure, the then Board should have sought an amendment to the Service Plan back in 1985. To correct this gargantuan error, our current Board of Directors passed Resolution 2021-08 on July 13, 2021, and then officially recorded it with La Plata County Clerk on July 22, 2021. This document is attached for reference. We are currently coordinating with La Plata County’s Community Development Director to develop the “right” documents so that we can seek La Plata County’s Board of County Commissioner’s (BOCC) approval to officially delete that requirement to provide the infrastructure upgrades to Unit 3 from the District’s Service Plan.
FLMD Resolution 2021-08 – FLMD Service Plan Amendment – Officially Recorded on July 22, 2021
Forest Lakes Parks Upgrades Master Plan (4 Year Plan – 2020 – 2023)
Forest Lakes Metropolitan District remains committed to addressing issues in our subdivision related to our Mission; Life, Health and Safety; and Quality of Life. While issues related to our Mission and Life Health and Safety remain at the forefront, fortunately we do have funding to try and provide some significant Quality of Life Improvements in our Recreation Budget that target making this subdivision a nicer place to live.
With that, we have developed a Four Year Masterplan (2020 – 2023) that will make our park areas more usable, friendly, and safer for our residents. What are our 3 parks? The 3 parks are Lake Simpatico, the Community Center Park and the park on Meadowbrook Drive. Attached are plans that show how the District will upgrade our 3 parks with our 4-year Masterplan.
The Negative Effects of Feeding Wildlife
Many people enjoy feeding wildlife because it allows them to have closer contact with these animals. Often they think they are helping the animals to survive, they could not be more incorrect. When wild animals begin to depend on humans for food, their foraging skills diminish. When young wild animals learn to depend on humans for food, they become less experienced in foraging and consequently less likely to survive. Furthermore, wild animals that are accustomed to food provided by humans commonly lose their fear of people. Animals that are unafraid of people will approach them for food and are sometimes mistaken for as rabid, or otherwise ill and subsequently killed for the perceived threat. They also become easy targets for people who mean them harm. An instinctive wariness of people is important for a wild animal’s survival.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife also shares many insights on why feeding wild animals is a bad idea: https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/