PROGRESS ON SECOND FIRE STATION TO BE LOCATED IN SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Friends of Twin Lakes was formed in part to advocate for better fire protection in the area.  We are making serious progress toward this goal.  We won our first grant effort with Climax-Area Community investment Fund thanks in large part to the efforts of FoTL members/Fire Planning Board Members Jeff Johnson (who donated the design and countless hours getting pricing and bids), John Kester, Kurt Schweigert and Mark Glenn.   In addition, members Kelly Sweeney and Judy Leaming served as ad hoc members of the Planning Board to provide verbiage for the grants. The Climax-Area (CO) Community Investment Fund grant of $50,000 will help us match the funds for an Energy and Mineral Impact Grant through DOLA to build the station as early as 2019!  The Climax grant is made by the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation on behalf of Freeport-McMoRan Foundation and its operations.

With drafting by Friends of Twin Lakes, the County was awarded an Energy Impact Assistance Fund (Department of Local Affairs) Grant in August of 2018 for Fire Station 2 in the amount of $655,086.06!

We broke ground for the station in September, Lake County Public Works did site grading  and the steel for the Bays has been delivered! The Operational Building with living quarters is being build off-site and will be delivered in the spring after the foundation is poured.

Additional anticipated match funds beyond the $50,000 Climax Grant are $52,000 from FOTL, $80,000 Fire Reserve Fund (Leadville/Lake County Fire and Rescue), 470,000 from Lake County Board of County Commissioners, $30,000 from the City of Leadville and in-kind work by Lake County Road and Bridge of over $160,000.  The Friends of Twin Lakes and Leadville/Lake County Fire and Rescue will provide labor for finish work on the structure.  All funds over $52,000 raised by Friends will go to finish and furnishing.

UPDATE 4/15/19  The Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation awarded $3500 in funds to be used for a heavy duty washer/dryer and large gas stove for Fire Station 2.

UPDATE 4/20/22–WE HOPE FOR AN EARLY SUMMER OPENING–still waiting on the bay doors (supply chain issues):.

UPDATE 2/8/23–ANTICIPATED OPENING END OF FEBRUARY OR EARLY MARCH 2023.

Friends of Twin Lakes is key in raising $896,984.12 toward Fire Station 2 in southern Lake County. 

• Thanks to the Energy Impact Assistance Fund through Department of Local Affairs of Colorado for the $655,086 grant, Climax Community Fund through Freeport McMoran Foundation for a $50,000 grant; and individuals and businesses who contributed $52,000 for construction to Friends of Twin Lakes.
• Friends of Twin Lakes also has raised another $135,898.12 in cash–that includes the LCCF and LT 100 grants, but not the Lowe’s card donations, to be used for fixtures, finish and furnishing, and equipment to enhance capabilities from donations, grants and gift cards (thanks for those donations from our donors and the following grantors: LT100 Leadville Legacy Foundation, Lowes ($3000 in gift cards) and Lake County Community Fund).
• We are still taking donations to fund the remainder of the station building and finish costs: use our DONATE NOW option https://www.friendsoftwinlakes.com/donate-now/  or mail a check (write Fire Station in the check memo line) and make the tax deductible donation payable to Friends of Twin Lakes, mailing address of 231 Lang, Twin Lakes, CO  81251.

In-kind services were donated:

Lake County Public Works has donated their expertise, time and machinery,

Golden Eagle Drilling donated all of their well-drilling and casing services.

Matrix Design Group donated engineering services and drawings.

MK High Country  donated firewood.

Jeff Johnson donate site plans, drawings, cost estimates used in grant applications.

Jessica Adams/Living Designs Studios is donating the metal outdoor Fire Station sign and the interior Tree of Giving sign.

Thanks all for your support!

Station Views

FIRE PREVENTION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Year-round wildfire prevention restrictions on BLM-administered public lands in Colorado. These prohibit:

• Leaving a fire unattended or unextinguished.
• Possession, discharge or use of any fireworks.
• Discharge of a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition.
• Burn, ignite or cause to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or any other hazardous or explosive material.
• Operate any off-road vehicle on public lands unless the vehicle is equipped with a properly installed spark arrester pursuant to 43 CFR 8343.1(c).

For more information about current fire restrictions in the Royal Gorge Field Office, please visit the Rocky Mountain District Fire Restrictions page or call the Royal Gorge Field Office at (719) 269-8500. The Pike and San Isabel National Forests visit their interactive fire restriction map or call the Forest Supervisor’s office at (719) 553-1400 for more information.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM FIRE CHIEF DANIEL DAILEY.  Final LLCFR Report 2020 2 LLCFR Final Report 2020

 

LCOEM new website: www.LakeCountyOEM.org – a resource for Lake County community and partners to access hazards information and preventative education and resources. The site includes dedicated COVID-19 pages with latest local data and public health updates.

Fire Information for Pike and San Isabel National Forests:  719-299-1567; Blog:  http://psiccfireinfo.blogspot.com

View presentation from  9/26/18 by Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative Forester, Carrie Howard our area Wildland-Urban Interface Mitigation Specialist. Contact Carrie at carrie@arkcollaborative.org to set up a free fire mitigation assessment (owner must be present) or ask questions related to mitigation.Prepare Your Home For Wildfire Twin Lakes2018  pdf version. 

2018 Chipping Guidelines

More great resources provided by Carrie Howard:

SageBrushpower point 

 SageBrushpdf

Aspens.  

Good video providing suggestions on how to protect your home from wildfire

 

Lake County Wildland Fire Risk Assessment presentation by Caroline Schaefer,  Wildland Fire Mitigation Coalition and Collaboratives, Inc. on May 14, 2016.  Please see link for presentation and mitigation maps:  Gordon Acres Pan Ark Estates  EE Hill  BLE FINAL 2 (1) Twin Lakes PresentationFireRiskAssessment  

Update of Fire Mitigation by Caroline Schaefer presented on May 27, 2017.  Fire mitigation Program 2017 pdf

www.fs.fed.us/rmrs.

Damon Lange (CSFS District Forester): dlange@lamar.colostate.edu, 719.539.2579.

Area representatives in charge of Fire Mitigation: J.T. Shaver, Forester, Colorado State Forest Service, Salida Field Office, j.t.shaver@colostate.edu.  Office: 719.539.0841, cell 970.596.0841 Andy Lerch, ARWC, andy@arkcollaborative.org, phone 573.356.1343.

UPDATE 4/20/22–WE HOPE FOR AN EARLY SUMMER OPENING–still waiting on the bay doors (supply chain issues):

Station view:  front and right elevation

Govt report after an extensive fire…………

Noteworthy findings include:

• The condition of the Home Ignition Zone – the design, materials and the maintenance of the home and the area 100 feet around it – was critical to whether a home survived the Fourmile Canyon Fire. Adobe and non-wood homes where homeowners had removed flammable ground material (like pine needles, grass and even wooden decks) were likelier to survive.
• Because of extreme weather conditions, this fire spread fast and burned very intensely. The first day of the fire had exceptionally low relative humidity coupled with high wind conditions – extreme, but not uncommon for the Front Range, so we must be prepared for more of these types of fires.
• The researchers found that our fire responders’ efforts were very well-executed. No lives were lost even though it was a fast-moving and very dramatic fire in one of the most densely developed areas of the foothills. They also found that air tankers were used very effectively. While high winds kept them grounded most of the first day, the tankers were in the air as soon as winds died down and dropped a total of 86 loads of retardant (174,149 gallons).
• Fuels reduction is a critical tool that helps to reduce wildfire risk, keep forests healthy and protect our water supplies. Udall wants to ensure that we are spending resources effectively by treating large areas and clearing trimmed trees and brush off the ground after a treatment. When done correctly, prescribed fire is a safe and effective tool, even near communities, and Udall hopes to see it used even more. He invited the research team to come back and meet with federal and state land managers and local officials to understand this issue better.

 

 

BUILD A KIT

A disaster supplies kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.

Try to assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency. You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You will probably not have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them.

You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days.

Additionally, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

 

Kit Storage Locations
Be Prepared For Emergencies While Traveling
Get the Video Embed code or
Download the Transcript here

Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work and vehicles.

Home

Your disaster supplies kit should contain essential food, water and supplies for at least three days.

Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.

Additionally, you may want to consider having supplies for sheltering for up to two weeks.

Get more information on building a disaster supplies kit.

Work

You need to be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Make sure you have food and water and other necessities like medicines in your kit. Also, be sure to have comfortable walking shoes at your workplace in case an evacuation requires walking long distances.

Your kit should also be in one container and ready to “grab and go” in case you are evacuated from your workplace.

Get more information on building a workplace disaster supplies kit.

Vehicle

In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car. This kit should include:

• Jumper cables
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• First aid kit and necessary medications in case you are away from home for a prolonged time
• Food items containing protein such as nuts and energy bars; canned fruit and a portable can opener
• Water for each person and pet in your car
• AM/FM radio to listen to traffic reports and emergency messages
• Cat litter or sand for better tire traction
• Shovel
• Ice scraper
• Warm clothes, gloves, hat, sturdy boots, jacket and an extra change of clothes
• Blankets or sleeping bags

Also consider:

• A fully-charged cell phone and phone charger
• Flares or reflective triangle
• Baby formula and diapers if you have a small child

Be prepared for an emergency by keeping your gas tank full and if you find yourself stranded, be safe and stay in your car, put on your flashers, call for help and wait until it arrives.

More and more people are making their homes in woodland settings – in or near forests, rural areas, or remote mountain sites. There, homeowners enjoy the beauty of the environment but face the very real danger of wildfire.

Every year across our Nation, some homes survive – while many others do not – after a major wildfire. Those that survive almost always do so because their owners had prepared for the eventuality of fire, which is an inescapable force of nature in fire-prone wildland areas. Said in another way – if it’s predictable, it’s preventable!

Wildfires often begin unnoticed. They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees, and homes. Reduce your risk by preparing now – before wildfire strikes. Meet with your family to decide what to do and where to go if wildfires threaten your area. Follow the steps listed below to protect your family, home, and property.

Practice Wildfire Safety

People start most wildfires – find out how you can promote and practice wildfire safety.

• Contact your local fire department, health department, or forestry office for information on fire laws.
• Make sure that fire vehicles can get to your home. Clearly mark all driveway entrances and display your name and address.
• Report hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire.
• Teach children about fire safety. Keep matches out of their reach.
• Post fire emergency telephone numbers.
• Ensure adequate accessibility by large fire vehicles to your property.
• Plan several escape routes away from your home – by car and by foot.
• Talk to your neighbors about wildfire safety. Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a wildfire. Make a list of your neighbors’ skills such as medical or technical. Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans to take care of children who may be on their own if parents can’t get home.

Before Wildfire Threatens

Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it. Use fire-resistant or noncombustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the dwelling, or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking, or trim with fire-retardant chemicals evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory. Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.

Your best resource for proper planning is www.firewise.org which has outstanding information used daily by residents, property owners, fire departments, community planners, builders, public policy officials, water authorities, architects and others to assure safety from fire – it really works. Firewise workshops are offered for free all across the Nation in communities large and small and free Firewise materials can be obtained easily by anyone interested.

Create a 30- to 100-foot safety zone around your home

Within this area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat. Homes built in pine forests should have a minimum safety zone of 100 feet. If your home sits on a steep slope, standard protective measures may not suffice. Contact your local fire department or forestry office for additional information.

• Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation.
• Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures.
• Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.
• Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
• Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
• Ask the power company to clear branches from powerlines.
• Remove vines from the walls of the home.
• Mow grass regularly.
• Clear a 10-foot area around propane tanks and the barbecue. Place a screen over the grill – use nonflammable material with mesh no coarser than one-quarter inch.
• Regularly dispose of newspapers and rubbish at an approved site. Follow local burning regulations.
• Place stove, fireplace and grill ashes in a metal bucket, soak in water for 2 days; then bury the cold ashes in mineral soil.
• Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety cans. Place cans in a safe location away from the base of buildings.
• Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material within 20 feet. Use only wood-burning devices evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory.
• Review your homeowner’s insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home’s contents.

Protect your home

• Regularly clean roof and gutters.
• Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year. Keep the dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys and stovepipes with a spark arrester that meets the requirements of National Fire Protection Association Standard 211. (Contact your local fire department for exact specifications.)
• Use 1/8-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas, and the home itself. Also, screen openings to floors, roof and attic.
• Install a dual-sensor smoke alarm on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries at least once each year.
• Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher (ABC type) and show them where it’s kept.
• Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chain saw, bucket and shovel.
• Keep a ladder that will reach the roof.
• Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes.

Plan your water needs

• Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source such as a small pond, cistern, well, swimming pool, or hydrant.
• Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures on the property.
• Install freeze-proof exterior water outlets on at least two sides of the home and near other structures on the property. Install additional outlets at least 50 feet from the home.
• Consider obtaining a portable gasoline powered pump in case electrical power is cut off.

When Wildfire Threatens

If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area, listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials.

• Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close garage windows and doors, but leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
• Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in case you must evacuate.
• Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative’s home outside the threatened area.

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately

• Wear protective clothing – sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face.
• Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.
• Lock your home.
• Tell someone when you left and where you are going.
• Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke.

If you’re sure you have time, take steps to protect your home

Inside:

• Close windows, vents, doors, blinds, or noncombustible window coverings and heavy drapes. Remove lightweight curtains.
• Shut off all utilities if possible, including bottled gas.
• Open fireplace damper. Close fireplace screens.
• Move flammable furniture into the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass doors.
• Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke.

Outside:

• Seal attic and ground vents with precut noncombustible coverings.
• Turn off propane tanks.
• Place combustible patio furniture inside.
• Connect the garden hose to outside taps.
• Set up a portable gasoline-powered pump.
• Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near aboveground fuel tanks. Wetting the roof may help if it is shake-shingled.
• Wet or remove shrubs within 15 feet of the home.
• Gather fire tools.

Emergency Supplies

When wildfire threatens, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need if advised to evacuate. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffle bags, or trash containers.

Include:

• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won’t spoil.
• One change of clothing and footwear per person and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.
• A first aid kit that includes your family’s prescription medications.
• Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
• An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler’s checks.
• Sanitation supplies.
• Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
• An extra pair of eye-glasses.
• Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Assemble a smaller version of your kit to keep in the trunk of your car.

Create a Family Disaster Plan

Wildfire and other types of disasters – hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake, hazardous materials spill, winter storm – can strike quickly and without warning. You can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together. Meet with your family to create a disaster plan. To get started:

Contact your local Emergency Management Agency or your local American Red Cross chapter

• Find out about the hazards in your community.
• Ask how you would be warned.
• Find out how to prepare for each type of disaster.

Meet with your family

• Discuss the types of disasters that could occur.
• Explain how to prepare and respond to each type of disaster.
• Discuss where to go and what to bring if advised to evacuate.
• Practice what you have discussed.

Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by disaster

• Pick two meeting places:
  1. a place a safe distance from your home in case of a home fire.
  2. a place outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.
• Choose an out-of-state friend as a “check-in contact” for everyone to call.

Complete these steps

• Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone.
• Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas, and electricity at main switches.
• Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
• Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for information and training.

Practice and review these steps!

 

 

NEW AGREEMENT in partnership with the Pike-San Isabel National Forest , Leadville Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture* 

This is an important step in allowing FOTL to meaningfully participate and initiate rehabilitation and maintenance at the Heritage Park and Interlaken.  Please contact friendsoftwinlakes@gmail.com to volunteer or financially support this work.

Press release on agreement:

In partnership with the Pike-San Isabel National Forest, Leadville Ranger District the U.S. Forest Service (USFS ) and the Friends of Twin Lakes (FOTL) have entered into a five-year cost-share agreement to cooperate on restoration, rehabilitation, maintenance, and preservation of Heritage Center properties in Twin Lakes Village and the historic Interlaken complex on the lower lake.  The agreement allows FOTL to make contributions to the operation, maintenance and repair of the Forest Service properties, and it provides for on-going coordination for planning, preservation and management of those properties

These USFS properties are an important and growing tourism and recreation attraction for Twin Lakes and Lake County.  Colleen Schweigert who coordinates the Visitor Center Volunteers for FoTL reports welcoming 8,378 visitors to the Visitor Center building during the summer and early fall of 2018, an increase of 18% over the previous year.  Total FoTL volunteer hours in 2018 for work at the Heritage Center, area trails adopted by FOTL and in the Visitor Center were 1,102.50.

FOTL, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, and the USFS have agreed to a list of priority projects to be completed by FOTL with USFS technical guidance.  The carefully crafted agreement was put together with former Acting Leadville Forest Service Ranger Max Forgensi, Forest Service Archeologist Catherine (Cat) Kamke, FOTL Board members Kurt Schweigert, Judy Leaming, Joan Weber and Kelly Sweeney and FOTL past president John Kester.  Approval was delayed by the government shut down. However, once it ended, Ranger Forgensi worked hard to keep the agreement at the forefront for Forest Service approval.

In response to FOTL thanking Ranger Forgensi for his efforts, he replied, “The Friends of Twin Lakes make a resounding difference for our communities, our visitors and the Leadville Range District.  Your contribution to the Forest Service mission is commended, thank you and for everything your members and volunteers do.”

The following are some of the key projects covered by the Agreement to be done by FOTL with Forest Service involvement:

• Prepare draft registration for update of 1974 listing of the Twin Lakes Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. This update will include prior sites documented and new properties now eligible in the Village of Twin Lakes.
• FOTL will continue to staff the Red Rooster Visitor Center throughout the summer and maintain the building.
• Conduct hazard materials investigation of Clarion Hotel Building. This will serve as a springboard for a plan to stabilize and rehabilitate the building as either an additional interior interpretive display area or one that is viewed through plexiglass from outside.
• FOTL will maintain the grounds of the Heritage Center. Including replacing and repairing additional structures in the area.
• Develop a Master Development Site Plan for expanded historical and geological interpretation including adding artifacts/machinery and signage regarding the mining history.
• Identify efforts immediately necessary for interim stabilization, maintenance or security of Interlake Resort buildings.
• Develop a stabilization and management plan for the resort complex.

If you are interested in volunteering to assist on these projects, please email friendsoftwinlakes@gmail.com.  If you would like to donate funds to assist in the completion of these projects,  please put Heritage Park/Interlaken in the memo line of a check made out to Friends of Twin Lakes and mail it to Friends of Twin Lakes, 231 Lang St., Twin Lakes, CO  81251 (FOTL will provide you with a donation receipt to be used for tax purposes).

Click here to reach agreement link.Executed Agreement FS exp 1-31-2024

 

We started the actual Historic Assessment of the Clarion Hotel on May 21, 2014.  This is a critical next step to creating an appropriate plan to refurbish the Clarion Hotel both to preserve and display more features in the Twin Lakes Historic Park.  We will use this foundational assessment to seek further grants to allow us to do the refurbishment.

The draft assessment was submitted to the Forest Service and History Colorado in August of 2014.  We have met and will continue to meet with the Forest Service to develop a strategic plan for staging and implementation of recommendations acceptable to the Forest Service.

Click on the link to see the initial report on the tree assessment around the Clarion.  Twin_Lakes_Spruce_Tree_Consult1

We received approval of the final assessment from History Colorado late in March of 2015 and look forward to engaging the Forest Service to obtain their additional edits and revisions, as well as determine priorities to move forward.  Click on link to see the draft Historic Assessment.

Clarion-Assessment-Subject to Forest Service Edits

*This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

WELCOME TO TWIN LAKES SIGNS

The Friends of Twin Lakes erected Welcome to Twin Lakes signs at both ends of the Village.

EMERGENCY SIGNAGE

We are working with the Fire Department to help homeowners post better house number signage which is critical to locate your home in the event of an emergency.  Please contact the Leadville/Lake County Fire Department to sign up for a sign (minimal cost of $10 for a Lake County Building Code compliant sign).

SCHOOL HOUSE LEASE

We entered into a 10 year lease of the Twin Lakes School House commencing in July of 2014 and renewed in 2019  We engaged in a lot of clean up and rehabilitation work on the building, hosting multiple fire mitigation and clean up days along with construction and painting work days.  We were able to rededicate the building on August 13, 2017 with a grand community picnic including Dr. Wendy Wyman and School Board President Amy Frycolm.

Members are congratulated for the fire mitigation, cleaning and steps taken to make the building a functional center for meetings, training and social gatherings.

We received a grant from the Freeport McMoRan Climax-Area (CO) Community Investment Fund (CIF) for $20,000.  The funds were used to make the Schoolhouse both a more beautiful and safe location for FOTL sponsored activities and encouraging greater tourist traffic in the village to see this historic gem.   We are so grateful to the Freeport McMoRan Foundation for their faith in us!

          

5-14-19 schoolhouse lease. Double click on image to enlarge

Schoolhouse-Use-Agreement fillable- click on document to open

Friends_of_Twin_Lakes_0001 (Library Letter)

Photos showing before, during and after renovation:  comparison photoslandscape1

USE PROJECT FOR TWIN LAKES SCHOOLHOUSE

The Lake County School Board approved our Project to allow private event usage.  Usage is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the attachment link (which also has a copy of the Facility Use Agreement) Schoolhouse-Use-Agreement fillable- click on document to open Please contact friendsoftwinlakes@gmail.com for more information.

NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTRY “RENOMINATION” PROJECT FOR HISTORIC DISTRICT IN TWIN LAKES

With the great expertise and the generous donation of many hours of research, surveying and work, Kurt Schweigert is completing a comprehensive submission National Historic Registry for the Twin Lakes Historic District to replace the hasty nomination with little substance done in the 1970s.  This involves forty six properties on both sides of Highway 82 in the Village.  This is a work in progress and History Colorado requested that Kurt submit the project covering the years 1865-1966 (the addition of 36 more years to his initial work likely will result in more properties being seen as “historic” than show on the map in the presentation).   Attached is the power point presentation Kurt gave on January 30th, along with a draft site form for one property.

Presentationsm

5LK2463 Collins Complex form

Information on Additional Permitting Requirement from Forest Service:  FS-2700-30blanketPermitForm

Master.Qualifications

 

BRINGING BROADBAND TO TWIN LAKES/SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY

On May 23, 2016, we hosted a Community Meeting where Colorado Central Telecom discussed the possibility of bringing unlimited broadband data to the area. For more information about this, please visit http://coloradocentraltelecom.com/ or call 719-937-7700 ext. 103 . (Please know that Friends of Twin Lakes does not specifically endorse any broadband providers, however, we have found that there is an interest in knowing further options and we are providing information to be shared.)

On January 10th,  2017, the Colorado Broadband Deployment Board announced that Colorado Central Telecom was awarded a $288,338 grant to connect residential and business customers throughout Twin Lakes and southern Lake County!  This provides another option for many of us to access cell service or the internet and it will be the only unlimited broadband option in the area.

As of December 2018, most of the areas along Highway 82 from CR 10 to CR 26 and the front and back sides of Pan Ark have access to this service from Colorado Central Telecom. In the fall of 2018, with the help of the Granite Tower, more access is available in southern Lake County.