Colorado Springs got a windfall last week when city-owned Colorado Springs Utilities agreed to pay $1.22 million for 4.3 acres.

That's $283,720 per acre for land a Briargate developer gave the city in 1982 for use as an electric and fleet service center.

Five acres at 7710 Durant Drive northeast of Powers Boulevard and Woodmen Road were developed as the electric service center years ago. Now, Utilities will build a $3.75 million fleet center to be run by city fleet workers.

Utilities' Steve Berry said $2 million in fuel and time will be saved over 10 years by not driving to the city's Fontanero Street and Interstate 25 fleet site.

The deal was based on an outside appraisal, and Utilities didn't blink an eye. "It's such a key location," Berry said, "so that (cost) doesn't surprise me."

No word on how the city will spend the cash.

City officials said Utilities will lease the building to the city's Fleet Department, which will charge Utilities for its services, making it a wash.

Topping a billion

Western Forge produced its onebillionth screwdriver on March 26, drawing recognition from the City Council this week.

The city gave Western Forge $100,000 in incentives in 2005 to expand here rather than move jobs to North Carolina. The company employs more than 600.

President Barry Baum said the company paid 1.6 cents in utilities for each of 27 million screwdrivers it made last year. "We figure we've paid for our share of a coal train," he joked.

As Baum handed out shiny new screwdrivers, Vice Mayor Larry Small said, "I hope mine comes with a user's manual."

Pinching billions

Next time you skip lunch so you can feed your car, think about this: Colorado taxpayers pay a higher tax rate than oil companies, according to the Oil & Gas Accountability Project, which wants states to charge oil and gas drillers more in severance taxes.

British Petroleum, a major producer in Colorado, reported $20 billion in profits last year - more than the state's proposed $18 billion budget.

"A lot of companies don't pay a dime to the state that should," project spokeswoman Gwen Lachelt said.

BP's profit would have been higher, but it was fined $373 million for environmental violations and price manipulation in Texas and Alaska.

Don't call us

This week, the Army Pueblo Chemical Depot conducted a drill.

As part of the exercise, public affairs issued a news release saying "an event" had occurred but that it posed no danger to the public. It then said "Exercise Only (This is not a real event!) Exercise Only."

The flacks apparently then went home. A phone call and e-mail seeking information were ignored.

If they wanted to stage a "real" training event, why not talk to media?

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazette.com