County attorney takes own advice: stiffs stormwater

The county attorney who advised the El Paso County treasurer about the legality of putting delinquent stormwater fees on property tax bills is among those who haven't paid their stormwater bills. 

“I’ve made no secret about it,” said William Louis, who added that he owes about $100 in back fees to the city’s Stormwater Enterprise. 

A couple of weeks ago, Louis sent a letter to Treasurer Sandra Damron in which he suggested strongly that the city didn’t have the right to ask the Treasurer’s Office to put the stormwater fees on residents’ 2010 property tax bills.  The tax lien collection process, he wrote, was one of local governments’ most “coercive powers.” Placing the fees on tax bills, he continued, could open the door to having delinquent hospital bills and golf course fees placed on property tax bills.

Louis said he didn’t see a conflict of interest between his legal role as advisor to elected county officials and his own personal decision. “I’m a professional. I’ve been a lawyer over 18 years and we’re only talking a little over $100.”

Louis said he could not share his reasons for withholding the money without getting permission from the El Paso County Board of Commissioners. “I don’t mind doing that. I have very legitimate reasons and I’m not afraid to share my opinion. But I don’t want to do it without the permission of my client.”

Among other county officials asked if they had paid their stormwater bills, Sheriff Terry Maketa and County Administrator Jeff Greene said they didn’t like the idea of paying their stormwater  fees, but their wives went ahead and paid them.

The issue of whether the county treasurer was going to put the stormwater enterprise fees on tax bills became a moot point after the city decided to use collection agencies.

Sandra Damron, caught briefly in the tug-of-war, sent out a press release this week, saying she was glad the whole thing was behind her. Damron, who’s running for county clerk, said it was difficult for her to remain silent given “the rancorous chorus of misinformed opinions, misinterpretations of the law, and just plain political grandstanding.”

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Call the writer at 476-4825.