City of Manitou
Dear Editor:
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the residents and businesses of Manitou Springs and the greater Pikes Peak region for your support, partnership, and trust over the past 21 years. It has been a tremendous honor to serve this community in a variety of roles dedicated to public service and civic improvement.
My journey began at the swimming pool and fitness center and expanded into broader responsibilities, including Interim City Administrator, Deputy City Administrator, and Public Services Director. Along the way, I was privileged to oversee several essential departments: Parks and Recreation, Facilities, Water and Sewer, Mobility and Parking, Streets and Stormwater, Planning, Code Enforcement, and Traffic Engineering. I also had the joy of coaching with the Colorado Torpedoes Swim Team and the Manitou Springs High School Girls Swim Team.
Throughout my time with the City, I worked with incredible teams to implement or support initiatives that I believe made lasting improvements, including:
● Leading efforts to implement the Incline reservation program alongside then-City Engineer Dole Grebenik
● Recommending the formation of a standalone Parks and Recreation Department to better steward our natural assets
● Modernizing the City’s parking and mobility operations, including transitioning to a self-managed, in-house department
● Launching an internal CDL training program that significantly reduced costs for the City and employees
● Advancing traffic safety through traffic calming measures, street diets, and speed humps with support from Streets and Mobility staff
● Improving customer service within Public Services by emphasizing responsiveness, professionalism, and pride in serving our community
● Supporting wildfire mitigation through the Neighborhood Ambassador Program and helping establish fire-safe practices early on
● Guiding critical upgrades to the swimming pool facility to ensure accessibility and continued service for ADA users, seniors, and youth
● Managing major infrastructure projects spanning water, sewer, stormwater, and public facilities
● Reviving and completing stalled or delayed programs-many of which I helped move forward independently to ensure momentum and progress
While my service with the City concluded unexpectedly, I remain deeply proud of what was accomplished during those 21 years. Manitou Springs is a remarkable city – full of passionate, resilient people-and I am grateful to have played a part in shaping its progress and character.
Though I do not reside within the city limits, my time in Manitou Springs has been a defining part of my life and career. It has always felt like home in the ways that matter most.
With sincere appreciation,
Roy Chaney
Former Deputy City Administrator/Public Services Director City of Manitou Springs
In response to “Talking with my friend Yemi”: Mobolade is doing the will of citizens
Dear Editor:
Referencing the Warren Epstein write up on Yemi and values (“Talking with my friend Yemi about the nightclub raid and his values, May 9, 2025), to me he is doing the will of the citizens of Colorado Springs.
Having lived in a border state that was overrun by undocumented immigrants, I fully understand the impact it had on the local health system, schools, law enforcement, insurance rates, and driving down wages for US citizens. Property taxes increased to support the undocumented immigrants, and fund the already stressed schools, healthcare, and increased law enforcement.
Our middle class is challenged as it is with making ends meet let alone having to have thousands of undocumented people accessing these already strained services. They compete for jobs and drive down wages. The financial impact of increased taxes or reduced services hardly seems like what’s best for the residents of Colorado Springs and Yemi understands that. Most are economic refugees, which is not a reason to be granted legal residency. We should accept immigrants who make our country better and follow a legal pathway, not those that drag down our standard of living, quality of medical care, safety, and education. Charity starts at home.
Tim Roberts
You’re invited – May 19 brainstorming session on school board candidate support
Please join us from 10:30 to noon on Monday, May 19, for a brainstorming session at the Old Indy Building, 235 S. Nevada Ave., Downtown COS. (Free parking in the back.)
The purpose of this gathering is to encourage excellent individuals to run for one of the 40+ Pikes Peak regional school board openings that will be on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot.
Far too often, excellent school board contenders in the Pikes Peak region have fallen short because they didn’t understand the nuts and bolts of running effective, low-budget, grassroots campaigns. This Monday’s nonpartisan brainstorming session is an opportunity for potential candidates and volunteers to learn from seasoned pros how to win these important seats.
We are currently focused on helping encourage good candidates to run in the following districts:
● Harrison School District 2
● Widefield School District 3
● Fountain/Fort Carson School District 8
● Colorado Springs School District 11
● Cheyenne Mountain School District 12
● Manitou Springs School District 14
● Academy School District 20
● Ellicott School District 22
● Peyton School District 23
● Lewis-Palmer School District 38
● Fremont/Florence School District 39
● Falcon School District 49
● Edison School District 54
● Miami-Yoder School District 60
● Big Sandy School District 100
● Calhan School District RJ-1
I know the school year is not even over, but time is a’ticking; early voting begins just five months from now.
If you have any questions, please shoot me an email at JohnWeiss719@gmail.com.
John Weiss
