Latest news with #Town
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Palmer Lake lawsuit alleges mismanagement in finances and civic participation
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — An array of organizations and individuals are raising questions about the integrity of leadership in Palmer Lake, with some alleging suppression of civic participation, mishandling of funds, and disregard for open meeting laws ahead of the Buc-ee's annexation hearing on Thursday, May 29. A lawsuit, from two individuals who live in Palmer Lake, alleges the town has misused public funds and falsified reports to obtain $1.3 million in state and federal dollars. The complaint also states that the town administrators allegedly diverted grant funds into the municipal water utility. According to the lawsuit, there were various instances where funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, Fixing America's Surface Transportation, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and more were misused. The lawsuit further alleges that Dawn Collins, the appointed Town Administrator, 'did not understand the legal status of the Town's Water Enterprise and the distinction between it and the Town's General Fund' and had the two individuals become concerned that Collins had 'fraudulently created municipal financial statements and recordings.' 'We spent nearly three years trying to help the Town recognize and correct basic financial red flags,' said Marty Brodzik, a Palmer Lake citizen and co-relator in the fraud case. 'Instead of fixing the issues, they ignored us. Then the accounting firm quit, the auditor quit, the financial clerk quit—and the Town still did nothing. Our hope now is that the weight of this lawsuit will help level the field for the citizens attending the upcoming hearing.' The lawsuit further alleges that the city only has one bank account, even though the city's Municipal Code requires the annual budget to provide for revenues and expenditures into four separate funds for the Conservation Trust Fund, Water Enterprise Fund, the Water Enterprise Capital Improvement Fund, and the General Fund. Collins managed both the General Fund and Water Enterprise; however, the lawsuit states the General Fund's monthly checks register failed to identify missing checks, including those that were voided, voided and reissued, or issued and never entered. The lawsuit further alleges that the Water Enterprise fund revenues were misused. When asked, the Town of Palmer Lake sent the following statement: '…Now that this is a matter subject to pending litigation, the Town has no comment except to note that the assertions by the complainants appear to relate primarily to how funds received by the Town and expended for public purposes were allocated and accounted for in the Town's financial records. The Town's financial records are audited each year by independent auditors. Each year the auditors have issued the Town an audit opinion that the Town's financial statements in all material respects were in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The auditors routinely provide recommendations for improvement with which the Town has always complied.' Dawn Collins, Town of Palmer Lake Town Administrator Read the full lawsuit here: Palmer-Lake-TRO-Petition-Posting-Final-2Download Separate from the fraud case, Integrity Matters and various Palmer Lake community members have also filed a temporary restraining order looking to remove a publicly posted petition from the Town's website that contained full names, addresses, and partially visible signatures. According to court documents, various community members and petition circulators emailed the Town to redact or remove their personal information, and the Clerk had allegedly refused most requests. On May 21, the city refused to make any more redactions or remove the petition. The temporary restrictions order would immediately direct the town to remove all publicly posted petition documents containing personally identifying information from its website. Another temporary restraining order also asked the town to relocate the May 29 annexation eligibility as the current venue has allegedly excluded dozens and fails to meet the standards of the Open Meetings Law and the Municipal Annexation Act. 'Our hope,' said Integrity Matters Chief Legal Counsel, Kat Gayle, 'is that these developments—including the new lawsuit—finally push the Mayor and the Trustees facing recall to confront the truth: this is not how responsible government behaves.' FOX21 News has reached out to the Palmer Lake Mayor and is awaiting comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Cuddle a puppy this May half-term at Manorafon Farm!
The up close animal encounters are part of the 'New Life on the Farm' event at the Abergele attraction. The seasonal celebration, which runs until June 1, also features 'a pig race'. Competitors have names such as Pork Patrol, Harry Trotter and Spider Pig. Puppy Playtime (Image: Suzanne Kendrick / Newsquest) We took our two boys to the event on Bank Holiday Monday (May 26). Sophie at Manorafon Farm Park with two fluffy chicks! (Image: Suzanne Kendrick / Newsquest) One of the highlights was definitely having a cuddle with a six-week-old chocolate coloured puppy, although mine had far too much energy to sit still for long! Manorafon Farm Park leaflet (Image: Suzanne Kendrick / Newsquest) We sadly missed out visiting the bunnies but did get the chance to gently stroke fluffy baby chicks (so cute!) Our three-year-old was especially taken with the indoor soft play area and the farm's Tiny Town - a play space full of imaginative role-play which is perfectly sized for toddlers. Up close with the baby chicks (Image: Suzanne Kendrick / Newsquest) We also fed the friendly farm animals including the playful and cheeky looking Alpacas. Alpacas! (Image: Suzanne Kendrick / Newsquest) RELATED STORIES 'Exciting' new attraction coming to Manorafon Farm Park We brought a picnic to enjoy in one of the undercover areas. Sebastian loved playing in the digger zone and in the Play Village. Sebastian in the Digger Zone (Image: Suzanne Kendrick / Newsquest) We finished the day with a visit to the ice cream stand. Sebastian chose strawberry, while I went for a classic mint chocolate chip. The event is a wonderful way for little ones to experience the excitement of new life and the magic of spring. Head to the Manorafon Farm Park website to book.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fan scorecard: Unsung hero? Overriding emotion?
Season rating: 4/10. After a significant summer investment and coming into the season with serious momentum, to be so far adrift of the 'big 17' is a pretty major disappointment. We had a few positive moments, though, and unlike those around us stuck together despite the adversity. We'll be stronger for it. Happy with your manager? Yes. There are things I'm sure in hindsight he could have done differently at points in the season, but Kieran McKenna is always learning and finding ways to improve. Hopefully he stays with Town and that improvement journey continues together. Unsung hero: There will be a few of our double promotion heroes who depart this summer. One already confirmed is Massimo Luongo. The Australian joined on a free transfer in January 2023 having not made an appearance at previous club Middlesbrough. Despite this, Luongo immediately became a vital part of Town's midfield that dominated almost everyone in the EFL. Thanks Mass! Player you would most like to sign: As noted above, our midfield department will be depleted this summer. Plus we need to address our lack of physical stature compared with the sides in the big 17. Players like that aren't typically found in our usual market in the EFL so we need to expand our scouting network to find the next Pape Sarr or Abdoulaye Doucoure. Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed - in part at our inability to keep ourselves on the right side of the line, or at least to sustain a survival fight until the final day. Equal disappointment at what the Premier League has become in our 22 years away. Yes, it is the pinnacle, but it is also a brutal landscape which has all but left behind clubs of a modest stature now. I'm not sure that's something to be proud about. Do you agree with Rich's answers? Pick one or two categories and send your views Find more from Rich Woodward at the Blue Monday Podcast
South Wales Guardian
26-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
West Ham finish with a flourish with victory at relegated Ipswich
Town gifted the first goal to James Ward-Prowse just before the half-time break following a dreadful back pass from skipper Sam Morsy. They equalised just after the restart through Nathan Broadhead but the teams were level for just three minutes after Jarrod Bowen restored West Ham's lead and Mohammed Kudus put the icing the cake with a goal three minutes from the end. It was Town's ninth consecutive loss following their dismal season and they won just four games this season, three away – at Tottenham, Wolves and Bournemouth, and just one at home to Chelsea. Meanwhile, West Ham's season finished with them in 14th place. Town defender Axel Tuanzebe's backpass almost eluded Christian Walton and at the other end Omari Hutchinson shot was safely gathered by the Hammers' Polish goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski. Broadhead brought out an excellent save from Fabianski and Morsy hit a low shot just wide from outside the penalty box. Niclas Fullkrug tangled with Dara O'Shea in the penalty area and the Hammers striker claimed he was fouled but referee Tim Robinson turned away his appeals for a spot-kick. Walton came to the rescue of the home side when he turned away a shot from Bowen and the ball rebounded to Ward-Prowse but he was crowded out by the Ipswich defence. Hutchinson struck the left hand post of the West Ham goal when he was found on the right by O'Shea but the offside flag was raised and the Tractor Boys fell behind in the 43rd minute following a dreadful error. Tuanzebe's throw-in found Morsy and he put the ball into the path of an unmarked Bowen, who passed to Ward-Prowse for the West Ham midfielder to convert. Ipswich drew level in the 52nd minute through a wonderful strike from Broadhead. The Wales international collected the ball from Jens Cajuste and threaded his way into the penalty area, where he unleashed an unstopped shot past Fabianski. The Hammers were back in front three minutes later after Bowen played a one-two with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and rifled a shot past Walton. Within seconds of coming on as substitutes Jack Clarke and Liam Delap combined to almost make it 2-2 and Clarke's mazy run and shot across the penalty area nearly led to a goal as the ball went inches wide. Kudus struck the Hammers third goal when he exchanged passes with Guido Rodriguez and bent a shot beyond Walton, while at the other end Clarke's cross across the six-yard area found Hutchinson – who just failed to find the back of the net. Massimo Luongo and Aaron Cresswell came on to play their final games for the two teams to loud cheers from both set of fans as the game drew to a close.
North Wales Chronicle
26-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
West Ham finish with a flourish with victory at relegated Ipswich
Town gifted the first goal to James Ward-Prowse just before the half-time break following a dreadful back pass from skipper Sam Morsy. They equalised just after the restart through Nathan Broadhead but the teams were level for just three minutes after Jarrod Bowen restored West Ham's lead and Mohammed Kudus put the icing the cake with a goal three minutes from the end. It was Town's ninth consecutive loss following their dismal season and they won just four games this season, three away – at Tottenham, Wolves and Bournemouth, and just one at home to Chelsea. Meanwhile, West Ham's season finished with them in 14th place. Town defender Axel Tuanzebe's backpass almost eluded Christian Walton and at the other end Omari Hutchinson shot was safely gathered by the Hammers' Polish goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski. Broadhead brought out an excellent save from Fabianski and Morsy hit a low shot just wide from outside the penalty box. Niclas Fullkrug tangled with Dara O'Shea in the penalty area and the Hammers striker claimed he was fouled but referee Tim Robinson turned away his appeals for a spot-kick. Walton came to the rescue of the home side when he turned away a shot from Bowen and the ball rebounded to Ward-Prowse but he was crowded out by the Ipswich defence. Hutchinson struck the left hand post of the West Ham goal when he was found on the right by O'Shea but the offside flag was raised and the Tractor Boys fell behind in the 43rd minute following a dreadful error. Tuanzebe's throw-in found Morsy and he put the ball into the path of an unmarked Bowen, who passed to Ward-Prowse for the West Ham midfielder to convert. Ipswich drew level in the 52nd minute through a wonderful strike from Broadhead. The Wales international collected the ball from Jens Cajuste and threaded his way into the penalty area, where he unleashed an unstopped shot past Fabianski. The Hammers were back in front three minutes later after Bowen played a one-two with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and rifled a shot past Walton. Within seconds of coming on as substitutes Jack Clarke and Liam Delap combined to almost make it 2-2 and Clarke's mazy run and shot across the penalty area nearly led to a goal as the ball went inches wide. Kudus struck the Hammers third goal when he exchanged passes with Guido Rodriguez and bent a shot beyond Walton, while at the other end Clarke's cross across the six-yard area found Hutchinson – who just failed to find the back of the net. Massimo Luongo and Aaron Cresswell came on to play their final games for the two teams to loud cheers from both set of fans as the game drew to a close.
