Outlook Magazine Fall 2011 - Winter 2012

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A magazine for everyone who calls Castle Rock home

a different kind of commute

HOME-BASED BUSINESSES you’ve asked for it, we’re delivering

One month, One bill

focus on core priorities

2012 budget

Merry TA B L E O F C o n t e n t s

securinglong-termwater RFP process with Town

Christmas Looking back on this year,

4 I’m grateful for the successes we’ve

had as a community. Across the country it continues to be a sluggish economy, but collectively, we’ve well managed our resources.

HEALTHcareAThome Medical facilities open in Castle Rock

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JAwsOFLife New equipment helps save lives

9 Five major priorities drive the Town’s

parksprojectsintown Four parks taking shape next year

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onemonthonebill Watch for water billing changes

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A publication of the Castle Rock Community Relations Division Designed by Karen McGrath, Senior Community Relations Specialist Executive Editor Fritz Sprague, Deputy Town Manager Editors Kim Mutchler, Community Relations Manager Kristin Accola, Senior Community Relations Specialist Administrative Assistant Shannon Sweitzer photography Mark Sims, Karen McGrath, Tim Tonge, Tony Lane On the cover: Enjoy the Town’s trails during all seasons by snowshoeing, as shown here at Ridgeline Open Space in The Meadows.

proposed 2012 budget: securing long-term water, completing the North Meadows Extension, providing outstanding public health and safety services, creating jobs/expanding the tax base and developing Philip S. Miller Park.

Town Council is planning for these priorities without looking at any tax increases. Not many communities can say that. In Castle Rock, the owner of a $300,000 house only pays $40 to the Town for all of the services received.

We’ve also earmarked $5 million toward economic development to help attract new businesses and job opportunities to Town. You’re likely to hear more about how we’re using these funds in the coming months.

I’d like to encourage residents, too, to continue to support our local businesses.

During this holiday season, we all spend money buying gifts, special occasion clothing, or just meeting old friends for dinner. As a small business owner myself, I would ask that each of you consider making some of your purchases in our fair Town in order to keep our tax dollars at home. Thank you for your consideration.

Have a happy and blessed New Year!

Paul Donahue Mayor

Where to call:

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Animal control/nonemergency Police 303-663-6100

Municipal Court

303-663-6133

Building permits

720-733-3527

Park rental

720-733-2260

Business licenses

720-733-2227

Public Works/snow removal

720-733-2462

Chamber of Commerce

303-688-4597

Recreation Center

303-660-1036

Code enforcement

720-733-3559

Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course

720-733-3500

Douglas County government

303-660-7400

Town Council information

303-660-1367

Douglas County Libraries

303-791-7323

Town employment

720-733-2218

Elections/voter information

303-660-1367

Transit-dependent services

303-814-6407

Fire Department nonemergency

303-660-1066

Utility/water billing

303-660-1373

Main Town number

303-660-1015

Water conservation

720-733-6000

to GOOD KNOW Track crimes online Residents can track crimes in their neighborhoods at CRgov.com/crimereports. There, crime data from the Castle Rock Police Department can be searched by address.

Icons on the map represent crimes that have occurred, or offenders living in an area. The data also is available through the CrimeReports iPhone app, available in the Apple iTunes Store.

Welcome to Castle Rock The Town has grown a bit since our last edition of Outlook magazine, with the annexation of the Castleton business area.

Castleton is the area west of Interstate 25, south of the Outlets and north of the Justice Center. The businesses in that area, including Carquest Auto Parts, Rockyard American Grill and Brewing Co., Midas, and many more, now officially are part of the Town. Please show them your support by giving them your business. Shopping locally helps contribute to the Town’s bottom line and allows us to continue providing high-quality municipal services.

New eats and more coming soon Most have noticed the construction along Founders Parkway, near Allen Way. Being built there is the Shoppes on Founders Parkway, which eventually will be home to seven new businesses.

Signed tenants include Panera Bread, Noodles and Co. and Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Learn more about other construction occurring in Town at CRgov.com/inyourbackyard.

Outlet mall sign You’ve likely seen the new LED sign that advertises sales, community events and more at the Outlets at Castle Rock.

Typically, the sign will be lit between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with the exception of special sales and shopping days, when there are extended mall hours. More than a year ago, the Outlets went through a lengthy design process through the Castle Rock Planning Commission and Town Council. The sign

will be closely monitored to make certain that the messaging and brightness meet the requirements of the Town’s sign code.

Consider candidacy Representatives for Town Council Districts 1 (The Meadows), 2 (The Woodlands,Metzler Ranch and Diamond Ridge), 4 (Downtown core and Castle North) and 6 (southeast Castle Rock) will be elected this April.

Those interested in running should check CRgov.com/events for information on a candidate orientation, which will be scheduled for early February. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters in mid-March and will be due back by April 3. Those elected will serve four-year terms. Questions? Call 303-660-1367.

North Meadows Extension The Town’s No. 1 road priority – the North Meadows Extension to U.S. Highway 85 and Interstate 25 – is closer than ever to construction. A value engineering study this year produced ideas to help close the gap between the previous estimated cost of the project, $68 million, and the potential funding sources of about $50 million. The Town now is starting on the design of the project and finalizing its funding. Construction is anticipated to start in 2013. Learn more at CRgov.com/nme.

Coyote watch Castle Rock residents should be on alert after incidents here involving coyotes. The most recent have been in The Meadows, but coyotes can be found throughout Town. Aggressive incidents involving coyotes should be reported to Police and/or Parks and Wildlife. A brochure on avoiding coyote conflicts is available at Town Hall, the Recreation Center and The Grange. Coyote attacks on humans are rare. Those who meet a coyote should yell and throw rocks or sticks. Learn more about coyotes at CRgov.com/coyotes.

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RFP p r o c e s s h e l p s s e cure

The Town continues planning to secure a sustainable water supply for future generations in Castle Rock.

This summer, the Utilities Department issued a request for proposals to provide the Town with a renewable water supply.

Seven proposals were submitted and then reviewed against common criteria. Four proposals that best meet the Town’s needs were placed on a short list.

Those four potential providers – Renew Strategies, Stillwater Resources, United Water and the WISE agreement between South Metro Water Supply Authority, Aurora Water and Denver Water – presented their plans to the Town and the public this fall.

The Town since has been evaluating those proposals – on characteristics including the opportunity to succeed, cost, local partnership opportunities, existing infrastructure, experience and water rights – with a goal of selecting a preferred provider. A preference had not been reached as of presstime for this magazine; check CRgov.com/waterRFP for the latest information. After reviewing the evaluation and assessment of the proposals, Town Council will determine additional opportunities for further public input.

Long-term water RFP team An expert team of independent professionals in water resources, engineering, financial analysis and legal issues along with Town staff from the Legal, Finance, Utilities and Town administration, is evaluating the four proposals based on that criteria. For a list of the consultants go to CRgov.com/waterRFP. The team currently is meeting with each respondent to follow up with more detailed questions and assumptions made in the proposals. They will be coming back to Town Council in the near future.

This effort to secure a long-term water source is just one component of the Town’s Legacy Water Projects – the goal of which is to transition the Town to 75 percent renewable water by the time it is built out. (All of the Town’s water currently comes from nonrenewable wells.)

There are two other major components to Legacy Water Projects: • The purchase of water storage space in Rueter-Hess Reservoir, which will open next year near Parker •T he construction of a water purification facility on Liggett Road in Castle Rock, which will provide for 35 percent of the Town’s renewable water needs by 2013 Additional funding will be needed to secure the water that is needed for the Town’s future. The Town may hold a property tax election in 2012 or 2013 in order to fund the Legacy Water Projects.

Learn more about Castle Rock Water – which provides water, long-term water resources, wastewater and stormwater services – at CRgov.com/water.

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Shop Castle Rock shop local

It’s a spendy time of year, for sure, so why not get more return on your investment.

Shopping in Castle Rock gives a boost to your community. When you spend money in Town, you’re putting money back into our local economy. The Town’s budget is derived, in large part, from sales tax revenues.

Local, independent business owners appreciate the support. When you buy from them, you’re helping to maintain the charming character and small-town feel that residents love about Castle Rock.

And, shopping at any of our retail stores – independent or larger, national chains – generates sales tax and enhances employment opportunities for those living in the community.

So, forget the boring experience of shopping online, and don’t fight traffic by heading into Denver –

we have plenty of shopping right here in Castle Rock.

CCRRggoov.v .ccoomm

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What the Town does When snow is forecast Crews place sand and deicer, concentrating on intersections, steep hills, bridges and other problem areas.

When snow is falling Main roads and school bus routes are the No. 1 priority and are plowed and sanded for every snow event.

In times of significant accumulations – 4 or more inches, from now through March 15 – crews work around-the-clock. In addition to large plows working on main thoroughfares, pick-up trucks with plows work in residential areas to allow at least one passable lane.

The threshold for residential plowing climbs to 8 inches or more of accumulation later in spring.

The Town is changing the way it plows cul-de-sacs this year to allow for greater snow removal. To allow for maximum efficiency, please do not park in cul-de-sacs during snowstorms.

In addition to removing snow on roadways, the Town’s Parks Division removes snow from public properties, including buildings with public access, and bicycling and walking paths.

This maintenance begins after 2 inches of accumulation.

What you can do Property owners are legally required to clear the sidewalks adjacent to their property within 48 hours after 2 inches or more of snow falls. Do not place snow from driveways, sidewalks or private property into public rights of way or water quality ponds.

Those who are unable to clear snow from their property should contact friends or local youth or church groups, or contract for snow removal services, to ensure sidewalks are properly cleared.

The Town also requests that property owners be good neighbors and clear snow from nearby fire hydrants so they are accessible for emergency response, even after significant accumulations.

Residents can monitor snowplows’ progress through Town, and get an estimated time of arrival in their area, online at CRgov.com/plowtracker. The Town also provides regular updates on the site’s homepage and through its Facebook (facebook.com/CRgov) and Twitter (@CRgov) accounts.

Snow facts Lane miles in Castle Rock: 538 Number of plows on streets during a significant storm: 20+ Average annual snowfall in Castle Rock: 65 inches

budget 2012 proposed

focus on core priorities

The Town’s 2012 budget was set to be finalized in early December. As of presstime for this magazine, in early November, five major priorities were driving the budget: 1. Securing long-term water 2. Completing the North Meadows Extension 3. Providing outstanding public health and safety services 4. Creating jobs/expanding the tax base 5. Developing Philip S. Miller Park The budget was to include no tax increases of any kind.

That means that the owner of a $300,000 house still will only pay about $40, or 1 to 2.3 percent of their total property tax bill, to the Town in 2012 for the wide range of services that it provides.

Results of the 2011 community survey, the Town’s 2010 Strategic Plan and the core priorities that Town Council established in 2011 all were incorporated into the budget. In addition to the five major priorities, other highlights include: • Minimal changes in fees. There will be some small increases from 2011 in various Water rates and fees. There also will be slight changes in some Golf and Recreation fees.

• No additional tax-supported, full-time positions.

•T rail funding was expected continue at the $500,000 level, with the primary 2012 project being the completion of the Hangman’s Gulch trail extension.

The budget includes $141.3 million in expenditures and $101 million in revenues. The planned use of reserves – mostly for water projects and the North Meadows Extension – will offset the difference. Property taxes are expected to make up only about $1 million, or less than 1 percent, of the Town’s total 2012 revenues.

Review the full 2012 budget – and learn more about the Town’s current and long-term considerations – at CRgov.com/2012budget.

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Home-based businesses

play vital role in local economy

The Town has many more businesses than meets the eye.

In fact, 33 percent of the Town’s businesses do not have storefronts. They are home-based businesses, and they may be as close as your own street.

One home-based business that actually is quite visible is Debbie Davis’ AreaNewsletters. Her pastel-colored clippers arrive monthly in 15,000 mailboxes in and around Town.

Davis has run the business from her home for 21 years. She started with an eight-page newsletter, only for Founders Village. Now, her four newsletters are 28 pages each.

“My focus is to help other small businesses thrive,” Davis said. “By having this business of my own, the way it’s set up, I’m really trying to promote other businesses so that they can survive in this economy.”

In fact, Davis employs three stay-at-home moms, who help collate the newsletters’ inserts in their own home-based businesses, of sorts.

Working from home – currently in The Woodlands – has been a blessing, Davis said. It has allowed her to stay close to her daughters and to keep working through a battle with cancer a few years back. Plus, she added, “I love my commute.”

Castle Rock’s 570 home-based businesses accounted for .5 percent of the Town’s revenue – or brought in nearly $88,000 in sales tax – in 2010. Service categories run the gamut, from salons, day cares and photography to accounting and computer work.

Eric Keller currently runs his construction business, Copper Canyon Basement Finishing, from a house that he recently refinished in Castle Rock’s historic Craig & Gould’s Addition.

Since 2004, Keller has been completing basement, kitchen and bathroom remodels throughout Douglas County. His office is transitory – he lives and works out of a house he has remodeled until he sells it.

“It’s basically the most cost-effective way to operate a business, and I can pass those savings directly to my clients,” Keller said.

He has found that you do not need a storefront to be visible in the community. His business has a strong online presence, and he earns a lot of referrals by keeping active in the community. He serves on the Town’s Board of Building Appeals and is chair of the Castle Rock Chamber’s young professionals group, the Rock Stars.

“I keep working pretty much nonstop,” Keller said.

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Visit these businesses online: Areanewsletters.com CCbasementfinishing.com

New

of life

coming on board When recently surveying Castle Rock residents, the community responded with consistently high marks in wanting the Town to maintain its quality public health and safety services, which residents currently receive.

“To maintain current levels of service, we needed to upgrade our extrication equipment,” said Fire Chief Art Morales. “This isn’t equipment that we use often but, when someone needs it, it’s invaluable.”

Last year, Castle Rock Fire and Rescue responded to seven vehicle accidents requiring vehicle extrication, and three accidents so far this year.

Commonly called the “jaws of life,” most extrication equipment lasts about 10 years. Castle Rock purchased its current equipment in 2000. Just like other technology, this equipment has been updated and improved over the past 12 years.

Newer equipment is more responsive to the design of newer vehicles.

Castle Rock’s current extrication tools were designed for vehicles built in the late 1990s, and the equipment doesn’t work as well cutting and bending metals on newer vehicles.

“Up-to-date equipment for extrication definitely contributes to more positive outcomes for accident victims,” added Morales.

“Sometimes, this equipment can mean a matter of life or death to a victim.”

CRFD was able to use its old equipment to get trade-in value toward the new equipment.

Fire and Rescue

The Town ordered eight sets of the new equipment, ranging from smaller combination tools, an all-in-one cutter and spreader, to large, heavy-duty cutters, spreaders and rams. The new equipment will be in service beginning in December.

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Climbing “14ers” – peaks extending at least 14,000 feet in elevation – is a pastime of many Castle Rock residents.

This typically requires some preparation, and at least a daylong trip into the mountains.

What if you could hike a 14er right here in the foothills? Would you take on that challenge?

You can with Flat 14ers, designed to get people more active by giving them the challenge of virtually “climbing” a 14er. Many Colorado communities are participating in the program, part of the nationwide America on the Move effort.

The Town is partnering with Tri-County Health Department, Douglas County Schools, Highlands Ranch Metro District, Parker Parks and Recreation and Douglas County Parks and Open Space on the program.

Via Flat 14ers, active people anywhere can convert minutes of walking, running, cycling or playing soccer or basketball into steps toward reaching a 14ers’ summit. A simple tracking system, accessible at CRgov.com/flat14ers, helps make conversions and keeps track of steps.

Program-wide website flat14ers.org also features interactive games, event information and fun facts about 14ers.

Several local schools have signed onto the program. Each has been assigned a park or trail at which they can complete a 14er.

Designated Flat 14ers in Castle Rock: (download maps at the CRgov.com/flat14ers)

Castle Peak – Walk between the Elegant Street and Meadows Parkway trailheads on East Plum Creek Trail four times La Plata Peak – Walk 1 mile out and back (2 miles total) on Front Street Trail five times Little Bear Mountain – Walk from the beginning of Mitchell Creek Trail to Mesa Middle School five times

Mount Democrat – Start at Meadow View Elementary and then walk the entire loop around Butterfield Crossing Park four times

Mount Sherman – Hike up Castle Rock from the main trailhead at Rock Park five times Snowmass Mountain – Start at the Clear Sky Way trailhead for Ridgeline Open Space and hike a 1.6-mile loop five times

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Parks projects UP D A T E S Wrangler Park Wrangler Park, adjacent to Autumn Sage Elementary School in the Castle Oaks/ Terrain subdivision, will be open soon. A grand opening celebration is planned for May 2012. Amenities in the 9-acre park will include playgrounds, a tennis court, walking trails, picnic pavilions, a synthetic turf practice field and landscaping, all designed to blend into the surrounding terrain to preserve the area’s natural character.

Castle North Park Renovations to this 1.5-acre park, adjacent to Rock Park at 801 Canyon Drive, began this fall. They will include the installation of a new, larger playground, swings and seating.

A grand reopening will be held next spring.

Burgess Pool Reconstruction of Burgess Pool and bathhouse began in October.

The 44-year-old pool was at the end of its usable life, and major renovations were necessary to keep it open. Before the 2012 swim season, the current pool, baby pool, pool deck and most of the bathhouse will be demolished. A new, larger pool with zero-depth entry, sprayers, a toddler slide, a current channel, underwater seating, and a 20-foot slide will be constructed. Additional shade areas will be added on the pool deck, along with a multipurpose/ birthday party room to the improved bathhouse. The renovation is being funded through general tax dollars, and the expansion through growth-related impact fees.

Philip S. Miller Park

Public input and design has begun for this 225-acre park – the Town’s largest – south of The Meadows. Construction documents and a timeline will be developed once the community vision and master plan design for the project are established.

The park will be the Town’s highest-priority Parks and Recreation project for the next five years. Watch CRgov.com for updates.

In Castle Rock,

developers pay their fair share The Town of Castle Rock, and a team of business partners, along with two consultants, spent 16 months reviewing all rates and fees that the Town charges developers for local construction and development.

The firms of Red Oak Consulting and TischlerBise were hired to perform a comprehensive study of all Town development rates and fees. Members from the Economic Development Council, Planning Commission and Town Council participated, along with builders and developers from the Home Builders Association, and Town staff.

“It was important for us to have a cross-section of representation on the review team,” said Castle Rock Finance Director Charles Montoya. “We wanted to be sure that new development pays for itself, and fees meet all legal requirements, but we also wanted to look for opportunities to reduce fees to create as competitive of a business environment as possible.”

The studies analyzed the public costs of construction and calculated the share that is needed to serve new development. The fees, called impact fees, are one-time payments that must be used solely to fund system improvements needed to accommodate new development – or growth.

Beginning this year, the Town will reduce most fees that developers pay. This was accomplished primarily by reducing costs of future growth-related projects and incorporating new, innovative approaches to fees.

The new fee structure is based on the size of a house, resulting in lower fees for smaller homes and lower fees for lower-water-consuming projects. Previously, flat fees were charged regardless of the size of a house.

For example, the building permit in Castle Rock for a 2,000-square-foot home was reduced from $42,554 to $34,241 – a difference of more than $8,000 dollars. By comparison, fees for a 2,600-square-foot home went from $43,763 to $37,691 – a difference of about $6,000.

Most neighboring communities have special districts such as fire districts, and other services. Castle Rock doesn’t. So, the cost of future fire stations, for example, isn’t billed to residents in a separate property tax. The fee is charged to new development.

“If it weren’t for new development, we wouldn’t need new fire stations,” said Montoya. “We don’t load that cost into the Town’s property tax.”

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Reading your water bill just got a little bit easier We’ve heard what you’ve said. Reading your water bill can sometimes be confusing.

Now, instead of billing you for water use from portions of two separate months, you’ll be billed for the month of water use just prior to receiving your bill.

One month. One bill.

Beginning in December, Castle Rock Water customers will see bills which reflect only the previous month’s water use instead of usage spanning two calendar months.

Previously, the process for meter reading, billing and payment could take up to three months. Now, with new technologies, we have the capability to gather and read water usage townwide during the first three business days of the month. That enables us to shorten the billing process and help you better understand your monthly water use.

We need you to plan ahead for the change Although the change is a small one, we know this might affect how you budget and when you pay your bill. For this reason, we’re asking you to plan ahead.

In January, some customers’ water bills will come within two weeks of their previous bills. This is a one-time scheduling adjustment to set the new bill cycle in place. We realize this may not be convenient, and we are happy to work with you on your payment schedule. We will work with you to make this process as simple as possible.

If you are a customer who uses automatic bill pay, watch for correspondence with further instructions or go to CRgov.com/onemonth for more information. If you prefer to speak with a Water representative, call customer service at 720-660-1373.

come to Castle Rock

H ealth care fac i l i t i es Castle Rock residents have much to celebrate, with the opening of one major medical facility in Town and construction of several others under way.

Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus, 2350 Meadows Blvd., opened in September. Meanwhile, construction is under way on the Bonaventure Senior Living Facility, 1855 Low Meadow Blvd.

Bonaventure Senior Living Facility Bonaventure’s 180,000-square-foot facility, expected to open by late 2012, will include:

• Fifty-five assisted living units, 12 memory care units and 89 independent living units • A two-story common area with formal dining areas, a coffee bistro, movie theater, salon, health club and other amenities

The facility will be the company’s 37th senior living community and one of the largest structures in Castle Rock. It will employ about 55 full-time workers – not counting the construction crews building it.

Adventist Health Campus The 25,000-square-foot Castle Rock Adventist Health Campus employs about 50 full-time workers and offers:

• Full-service emergency care, including board-certified emergency physicians, an emergency-trained nursing staff and a helipad for emergency patient transport

• An imaging center, including MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and digital mammography and X-rays

• Access to Centura Health’s nationally accredited primary stroke centers and advanced trauma services

Health Campus staff recently announced authorization for a $128 million, 212,000-square-foot hospital adjacent to the health campus. Work already has begun on the four-story facility, with an expected fall 2013 opening. The hospital will open with 50 licensed beds and will employ an additional 300 full-time employees.

Kaiser Permanente and Castleview Memory Care These are the two largest health care projects in Town, though they are not the only ones:

• Kaiser Permanente in August opened offices at 4318 Trail Boss Drive. Forty jobs were created with the opening of family, internal, pediatric, dermatology, laboratory, pharmacy and radiology services.

• Castleview Memory Care Assisted Living Residences is under construction at 864 Barranca Drive. It will open soon, with 48 secured memory care units.

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Small price

big results

What price do you put on the Police and Fire departments promptly responding to an emergency, to family time spent recreating at Town properties and to the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the buildings you enter are safe, and your community carefully planned?

Would you be surprised to know that most Castle Rock residents pay less than $40 in property taxes each year to receive all of those Town services?

That is not the perception, however. We asked the almost 1,500 Town residents and business owners who responded to our 2011 community survey how much of their property taxes go to the Town.

Residents’ average response worked out to 29 percent – much higher than the actual range of 1 to 2.3 percent, depending on a property’s metro district.

The median home value in Castle Rock is near $300,000. The owner of a home of that value pays at least $1,730 in total property taxes each year (those whose property is within a metro district pay more). However, only about $40 of that $1,730-plus comes to the Town of Castle Rock. (The lion’s share of a resident’s property tax goes to the Douglas County School District.)

The Town receives less than 1 percent of its tax revenue via property taxes. Sales tax is the Town’s largest source of tax revenue, accounting for almost 80 percent of the total. Every time you make a purchase in Castle Rock, versus elsewhere, you are helping to fund the Town’s Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation and Development Services (planning and code enforcement) departments.

C R g o v. c o m 15

Tony r Lane e t i r es

Police Chief

After 24 years, he leaves a legacy of dedication, leadership and integrity After 24 years at the helm of the Castle Rock Police Department, Chief Lane retired from the department Sept. 30.

“We are grateful to Tony for his more than 24 years of service as our Police Chief, and wish Tony nothing but the best in his retirement,” said Town Manager Mark Stevens. “Under Tony’s leadership, the Police Department has developed into an outstanding organization – one of the best in the state.”

Lane was in law enforcement for 46 years and was one of the most tenured Police Chiefs in Colorado.

He began his career in 1965 with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in Olathe, Kan. The next 20 years or so were spent with law enforcement agencies between Kansas and Colorado, with consistent increases in responsibility. With a love for all things outdoors, in 1983, Lane returned to Colorado and assumed the duties of Chief of Police of the Town of Rangely. Four years later (1987), he was named Castle Rock Police Chief.

At the time, Castle Rock had a population of 8,500 and a Police Department with 19 employees. Today, the Town has a population of almost 50,000, with 75 Police Department employees.

When Lane began here, there were patrol officers and a couple of investigators. During his tenure, the Town has seen the department grow to include dispatch, victims assistance, traffic, motorcycles, K9, and numerous community programs, along with patrol and investigations.

“Castle Rock is an outstanding community and fantastic place to live, work, and raise a family. I consider it a great honor and a privilege to have served the citizens of Castle Rock for the past 24 years, and will treasure those memories for the rest of my life,” said Lane.

Lane has been married to Lynne, his college sweetheart, since June 1965. Together, they’ve raised six children and now have nine grandchildren.

He plans to remain in Castle Rock and continue to pursue his passions of wildlife photography and writing, as well as spend more time hiking with his wife and family.

At presstime, the search for his replacement was under way, with the hope of naming the new Chief by year’s end.

Said Stevens of Lane’s service: “Tony has provided us with integrity beyond reproach, a commitment to outstanding police service to the community, dedication to the exceptional men and women in law enforcement with whom he has served, and a love for great police work. He will be missed.”