What is the Loma Linda Metro District?

The Loma Linda Metropolitan District is a government agency responsible for maintaining the roads in the Loma Linda subdivision. A portion of your property taxes goes to fund the Metro District. This is how our roads are maintained, repaired, and plowed throughout the year. Special districts are a level of local government (as explained https://cdola.colorado.gov/special-districts)

Who manages the Metro District?

Loma Linda property owners volunteer to manage the Metro District. They are elected to serve a four-year term. There has been a paid administrative assistant in the past, but that position is currently unoccupied. 

When and where is the Loma Linda Metro District election?

It is on Tuesday, May 2 at the Ross Aragon Community Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd., from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Who can vote in this election?

You must be 1) a registered voter in the state of Colorado and 2) a property owner or resident of Loma Linda. Unlike Homeowner’s Association elections, each individual at the property has a vote. This is a government election so each eligible individual may vote.

Why have I not voted for members in the past?

This is the first time in Loma Linda history that a contested election for Metro District is being held. In the past volunteers have stepped forward only in numbers enough to fill the vacancies. This year four candidates are running for three seats on the Metro Board. 

Why is there not a mail-in ballot?

The Designated Election Official (Matt Fischer) has researched and followed procedures to ensure that this election is run legally and fairly. This includes communications with the County Clerk, County Election officials, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, and the Special District Association (SDA). The SDA (of which all Colorado metro districts are members) has suggested that for a district of our size an election held at a polling place would be most cost effective. May 2 is the designated election day for all Colorado Special District Elections (https://cdola.colorado.gov/special-district-elections). Mail-in ballots have significantly more requirements than a simple polling place election. 

A letter to the editor in the Pagosa Sun accused the Metro District of not properly maintaining roads. 

We’d like to call your attention to the state of the roads within Loma Linda versus those outside the control of the Loma Linda Metro District. While we certainly have had potholes and repairs to make within the neighborhood because of this long, hard winter, we do believe our roads are maintained to a higher level of care than those maintained by the county. By way of comparison, Eight Mile Mesa Road coming in to the neighborhood and maintained by the county had not held up nearly as well as the roads within our bounds. As of this writing, both the county road and those with Loma Linda have received some much needed maintenance from the winter season.

That letter also accuses the Board of financial mismanagement. What can you tell me about that?

That is best answered in a letter from president Kent Jennings to community residents:

Dear Loma Linda Property Owners, I am sending this email to correct misconceptions in the letter to the editor written by a Loma Linda resident and published in the Pagosa Springs Sun Newspaper on 3/23/2023. At the Board of Directors meeting in January, the Board appointed Matt Fischer as the Designated Election Official with unanimous support. We have the utmost confidence that he is executing his duties as DEO so that the election process is carried out according to Colorado Statutes. To ensure this, he is in frequent communication with the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the Colorado Special District Association, Archuleta County Clerk’s office, and other governmental agencies. During the budget process, LLMD uses several different methods to forecast what will likely be necessary for the upcoming budget year. All anticipated revenues are budgeted to expenditures so that we have a balanced budget (income equals expenses). Any necessary expenditures above what are budgeted are authorized through resolution and taken from the reserves. This year’s budget included an amount for snow removal which was based on prior years’ and needed to be increased due to the unanticipated and significant snowfall we’ve experienced. This is a normal process and not an “emergency” situation. In fact, monies were also moved at this March meeting to fund more road work this spring/summer season. If we do not retain the amount of reserves that we do, we will run the risk of not being able to withstand inflationary pressures and unusual weather-related events. The final 2023 budget is filed with the Department of Local Affairs and posted on the LLMD website for your review and includes notations on how line items are forecasted. During the current board’s tenure, 2020-2022, the District spent over $242,000 for road maintenance including new material. Last year, along with necessary grading and culvert rehabilitation, gravel was added to portions of Eight Mile Loop, Loma Linda Drive, Conifer, San Juan, Echo Drive and intersections of Lookout Court, Loma Vista Court, and Buck Drive. At this year’s March meeting, the board authorized an additional $68,000 from reserves for road maintenance bringing the total to $150,000. LLMD works with a highly respected local financial firm who maintains the LLMD checkbook and savings accounts, accepts all monies from the County for the mill levy, and pays approved bills submitted.  LLMD board members have no access to these funds and any suggestion otherwise is calumnious. I welcome all property owners to attend and participate in our meetings. We respect and appreciate your valuable input. Thank you, Kent Jennings President, LLMD

Whom may I contact for more information?

If you’d like to learn more about the Loma Linda Metro District, we suggest you call one of these individuals:

Retiring president Kent Jennings – 970-880-0102

Incumbent board member Matt Fischer – 970-264-9335 

Incumbent board member Al Myatt – 970-264-1125