We are Claremont Ranch, approximately 1600 homes.

Recently, a homeowner contacted Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD, the District) staff regarding the repair of the concrete wall located at Pinyon Jay Park. The response from CMD was denial of responsibility to the wall’s upkeep. Understanding the District has no citizen committee or other oversight aside of the elected Board of Directors (none of whom lives or owns property in Claremont Ranch), the homeowner attended the September 21, 2021 board meeting to address request wall repairs.

At the meeting, the manager said [CMD] didn’t build the wall, therefore, was not responsible for repairs. Later in the same meeting, the Board of Directors revisited shade shelter bids for other parks in the district. The cost of one shade shelter was $13,894.00. The Board prudently opted to seek additional bids.

There are two parks in Claremont Ranch with concrete walls: Pinyon Jay and Sage Grouse. In both cases, the walls create a barrier between the adjacent neighborhood. The concrete wall in Pinyon Jay Park (otherwise known as “Jeanette Way Park”) is in need of repair.

It is documented that CMD has owned the Pinyon Jay Park since 2000, thus, the wall in this park belongs to CMD. We fund the parks via monthly fees and State of Colorado revenue. The walls represent a sizable asset to the park. They were installed during the original development of the park. We find it irresponsible for the Board of Directors to fail to repair such an important component of the neighborhood. Board members have a fiduciary duty to protect and maintain valuable assets of the district such as these massive walls, and we encourage CMD to do the same.

Funds are available for the repairs. As part of CMD, each property owner pays a monthly fee for the parks, approximately $1.75 per account per month; therefore, Claremont Ranch alone generates approximately $33,600.00 in park fees annually. District-wide the park fees total $175,000.00 annually. In 2021 CMD will receive $125,000.00 from the State of Colorado for the parks. CMD’s 2021 budget projects the total park revenue to be $303,600.00. However, in April 2021 the board voted to divert funds from the “Street Light Charge” to the parks’ fund. District-wide this is approximately $13,600.00 in diverted funds to increase revenue for the parks. The diverted funds are in addition to the $303,600.00 revenue in the 2021 budget. For some reason, there is no reflection of this diversion on our monthly statements.

Parks should add value to neighboring homes. Failure to repair the wall at Pinyon Jay Park has a significant adverse effect on surrounding home values. CMD’s failure to assume responsibility for their responsibility will adversely affect the values of all homes within sight of the park and will reflect poorly on the entire Claremont Ranch neighborhood.

We, the undersigned homeowners, neighbors, taxpayers, and members of Cherokee Metro District, request and require necessary repairs be made to the concrete walls at the Pinyon Jay (Jeanette Way) Park.