A group of Franktown residents have submitted a petition for an election to reorganize the municipal government of the rural village.

The Franktown Historical Preservation Society filed the petition with the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder's office to immediately schedule an election to decide whether to reorganize the original town structure. The Douglas Board of County Commissioners met with staff Monday for an update on the proposal.

Former Sen. John Evans, an attorney from Parker, is representing the group and retrieved historical records of the town's last incorporation in 1870.

"The town is already incorporated," Evans said. "They are recognized by statute as a town, and they petitioned the commissioners to be reorganized."

Although Franktown was incorporated more than 130 years ago, it's been more than a century since the town operated as its own entity. Instead, Franktown has been governed by Douglas County as an unincorporated area.

Members of the town's historical society have worked for seven months to research viable ways to reorganize a government structure for the town, which was originally called Frankstown. The group wants to "maintain the status quo" and preserve the character of the town, Evans said.

Pat Arfsten, president of the historical society, said local residents want to keep the town the way its founder, Frank Gardner, envisioned it.

"We want to determine what happens in our own town," Arfsten said. "We don't want to be swallowed up by Parker or Castle Rock."

An election could be scheduled to allow the 20 registered voters living within the original Franktown boundaries to establish a municipality, which would free the town from county rule.

However, there are two requirements that must be met before the county would schedule an election. The historical society must find records from 1870 that prove Frankstown was once incorporated. Evans said the documentation provided to the county Tuesday clearly shows a legal description of the town by legislative statute.

Supporters of the plan also were required to gather enough signatures to equal 10 percent of voters for the last mayor of Frankstown. The filed petition has the signatures of 15 of the 20 registered electors within the town's original boundaries, Evans said.

Jack Arrowsmith, county clerk, said he received the documents Tuesday, but needs to review them with a county attorney to make sure they meet all the requirements for scheduling an election. There are 45 exhibits to evaluate before making a decision, he said.

Evans said there is widespread support throughout the Franktown area for reorganizing the local government.

"They talked to the business owners, and they all seem very supportive of what we're doing," he said. "Even the property owners who don't live in Franktown are supportive of this plan."

Responding to a question from commissioner Melanie Worley, county community development director Peter Italiano said there would probably not be widespread support for incorporation, especially among ranchers. He said the petition to revive the incorporation is being driven by the group's opposition to the county's reworked comprehensive master plan.

Ron Kmieciak, a rancher south of the town's boundary, said he had not heard about the petition but it might usher in development. Since a town government would need money to get started, there have been talks about using money from the Franktown Business Area Metro District, a water and sewer provider that has yet to establish operations. Metro districts are supported by development. Other options are being discussed, and no agreements have been finalized.

"If they incorporate, they can do what they want," Kmieciak said, referring to an update to the Franktown Sub-Area Plan revised by the area residents. "This is their way of getting around the county and all the residents of Franktown."

The document took five years to create and is now part of the county's master plan.

Douglas County attorney Lance Ingalls said a successful vote would give Franktown all the powers of a municipality, meaning the town could set its own growth policies. Since it is an attempt to reorganize, Franktown would be limited to its original charter. Those living outside the original town boundaries would not be allowed to vote in the reorganization election.

Franktown supporters provided a legal description of the boundaries, which will be mapped by geographic imaging, Ingalls said. An aerial map showing the general boundary was provided with the petition by R.S. Wells, a group that helped create the Franktown Business Area Metro District several years ago.

The area is generally bound by Castlewood Canyon Road on the west, Colo. 86 on the north, Colo. 83 and adjacent properties to the east, and a driveway off Colo. 83 on the south.

If a town government is re-established, it would be "close-knit" and preserve the town's identity, Evans said, adding the group did its homework by hiring consultants and exploring the legalities of such a move.

"I think the people were comfortable looking at the data and research we had for them, and they feel comfortable filing a petition for reorganizing the town," he said. "They have not gone into this willy nilly. It was very well thought out."

If an election is successful, three residents will be appointed as public trustees

 

Christopher Lawson / clawson@ccnewspapers.com