Commissioner Sallie Clark represents District 3 and serves on the El Paso County, Colorado, Board of Commissioners. She is also the owner-innkeeper of Holden House 1902 Bed and Breakfast Inn
The El Paso County Board of Commissioners (BoCC) approved an important Intergovernmental Agreement between El Paso County and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to begin development of an improvement plan for Colorado Avenue as it passes from the Westside of Colorado Springs through unincorporated El Paso County and continues into Manitou Springs.
Highway Advisory Commission
members receive a briefing by
Commissioner Sallie Clark on
the Westside project.
Commissioners Clark and Lathen
discuss transportation issues onsite
near the "No Man's Land" area.
This section of Colorado Avenue has been given the nickname “No Man’s Land,” because offers jurisdictional challenges and location between Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs with a portion in unincorporated El Paso County. Known as Business Route 24, the roadway itself is maintained by the Colorado Department of Transportation and a variety of safety improvements are badly needed within the CDOT right-of-way to accommodate vehicle and pedestrian traffic, to correct long-standing problems with drainage and bridge improvements, as well as to address utility challenges.Safety and infrastructure concerns have existed for many years, but it wasn’t until last year the County and City staff members, working together with Commissioner Sallie Clark and the various partner agencies, were able to secure $300,000 in funds through a CDOT grant to begin the planning and assessment process.
Preliminary studies conducted by City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County transportation engineers indicate that a lot of work will be needed to make the area safe and convenient. The bridge over Fountain Creek at Columbia Road is too narrow and badly deteriorated. City and County Engineer staffs have also identified needs ranging from inadequate drainage systems and street lighting to improved pedestrian and vehicular safety.
Neighborhood and business leaders,
Commissioners and Councilwoman Lisa
Czelatdko show the IGA with the
Colorado Department of Transportation
The County will take the lead in contracting the planning services but the project will be co-managed by representatives from Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs and CDOT. The first phase will be to gather input from citizens; residents, business owners, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are all stakeholders in the Colorado Avenue corridor. “Throughout the years, the cooperation of former and current elected officials—Colorado Springs City Council members Heimlicher, Small and Czelatdko and Manitou Springs mayors Morrison, Drummond and Snyder—were critical participants in moving this project forward today.” Clark said. “This is an important gateway from Old Colorado City to Manitou Springs. We envision the future connection as a vibrant area of commerce and economic development, joining these two historic destinations together while improving the basic infrastructure needs of the area.”
Commissioner Clark joined Commissioners
from all over the U.S. for the annual
Justice and Public Safety Symposium
sponsored by National Association of Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. – El Paso County, Colorado, Commissioner Sallie Clark, is taking the time to attend, participate, facilitate and learn about federal, state and local intergovernmental justice and public safety priorities at the 2012 National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Annual Justice and Public Safety Symposium held Jan. 25-28 in Fulton County, Ga.
Hosted by Fulton County and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, the symposium discussed these critical priorities with some of the nation’s foremost justice and public safety experts and considered how county officials can best shape federal policies and funding to ensure that services for residents in their communities are enhanced.
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa
pictured here with Sallie,
NACo JPS Chair, Judge David Hudson
and NACo President Lenny Eliaison
The theme of the symposium was “A National County Policy Symposium to Safely Lower Jail and Juvenile Detention Populations by Doing It Smarter.” The keynote speaker was former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, who shared insights about his lifelong work as a politician, human rights activist and businessman and how they relate to justice issues facing counties. El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa presented information and data on how El Paso County, Colorado, is utilizing re-entry and reintegration programs that are reducing the revolving door of recidivism. "We appreciate NACo allowing the participation of El Paso County's innovative approaches at this conference and our ability to share how we are working to reduce taxpayer costs and also keep the public safe", Commissioner Sallie Clark said about her county's participation.
Another special guest speaker was Dr. James Austin, director, JFA Institute, and former director of the Institute on Crime, Justice and Corrections at George Washington University. Dr. Austin discussed innovative ways local governments are addressing these challenging issues.
Each year members of NACo’s JPS Steering Committee meet with local, state and national experts to discuss important justice and public safety priorities on behalf of the nation’s 3,068 counties. The committee is responsible for developing NACo’s Justice and Public Safety policies, and advocates for local government priorities before the U.S. Congress.
Other issues discussed during this year’s four-day symposium included: cost-effective pretrial justice programs, reentry programs, creating criminal justice coordinating councils, cybersecurity, and diverting the mentally ill from the criminal justice system.
Commissioner Sallie Clark said that the NACo justice and public safety symposium was a great opportunity to hear directly from experts on many of the critical justice and public safety issues affecting counties across the country and said the critical matters explored at the meeting will improve and enhance public safety in states and local communities. As Chair of the Justice and Public Safety Committee's Court Subcommittee Chair, Clark also moderated a panel on Cybersecurity services for counties and why Commissioners should care. "As technology becomes more and more widely used and considering the amount of data and records county governments retain, we must keep up with the concerns that are associated with safe storage of information to protect the public's interest", Clark added.
For more information on the symposium or NACo justice and public safety policies, visit the Legislative and Policy section of the NACo website at www.naco.org or contact Jim Philipps at 202.942.4220 or jphilipps@naco.org.
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The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,068 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org.
Sallie Clark was elected to serve as an El Paso County Commissioner in November of 2004 to represent District 3 and was re-elected in 2008. She was elected and served as Board Chair of the Commission in 2006 and currently serves as Vice Chair. Her district encompasses western El Paso County, including the City of Colorado Springs, the City of Manitou Springs, the Town of Green Mountain Falls, and the unincorporated areas in the western portion of the county, including the Turkey Canyon area on the south, the area just south of the Air Force Academy, and the Ute Pass area on the far west to the El Paso County line.
Sallie became a military wife in 1980 when she married Welling Clark. In 1985, the couple settled in Colorado Springs. She has family roots in Colorado; her father was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado and she spent every summer on her grandmother’s farm there. She loves Colorado, and continues to appreciate our open spaces, mountain scenery and especially the Pikes Peak area. She enjoys hobbies such as cooking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, tennis, golf and reading. Sallie has owned her own business since 1986. She operates Holden House Bed & Breakfast Inn, located on the historic Westside. Her local interest in public service began with the well-known issue to save Fire Station 3.
In addition to her service on the Colorado Springs City Council, she has served on various local and state organizations and committees. These include the State of Colorado’s Travel and Tourism Authority, Organization of Westside Neighbors, School District 11 Business Sounding Board, the Westside Schools Task Force, the National Fire Protection Association 1710 Committee, Council of Neighbors and Organizations, Springs Community Improvements Program Public Safety Committee, the Dr. Lester L. Williams Fire Museum Board, the Colorado Restaurant Association-Pikes Peak Chapter, National League of Cities Public Safety Committee, the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” Committee, and with her husband, founded the Colorado Bed and Breakfast Association in 1987. She is also an instructor and small-business consultant for aspiring bed and breakfast innkeepers. Sallie previously worked in the medical profession and the cancer field, prior to opening her own business over 23 years ago.
Sallie received the "2002 Woman of Distinction Award" from Soroptimist International, was named one of the Denver Post’s People to Watch 2001, has been awarded the “Best Civic Leader", "Best Role Model” and “Best County Commissioner” from the Colorado Springs Independent Newspaper, and is a past recipient of the "Tourism Industry Award" from the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. Sallie received the Colorado Springs Business Journal’s “40 Achievers Award“ and was nominated for the publication’s “2004 Women of Influence Award”. In 2005 and 2008, she was nominated for the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber’s “Athena Award”. In 2006 she received the “Accolades” award from the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber and the “Award of Distinction” from the American Heart Association for the Pikes Peak area’s Go Red for Women campaign. She served as campaign chair for 2006 and 2007 for United Way and received the Elected Official of the Year from the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce in 2008.
In addition to her many volunteer activities, Sallie serves as liaison to the offices of the Sheriff, Treasurer, Coroner, and Surveyor. She is currently a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Justice and Public Safety Committee and serves as the State’s Child Welfare Allocations Committee representing Colorado Counties Inc. Her additional Commissioner duties include the El Paso County's Citizen Outreach Group, the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, Department of Human Services, the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment and the El Paso County Emergency Services Agency, among others. She is the third woman to have served as Commission Board Chair in El Paso County and also served as Vice Chair in 2005 and currently in 2009. She was elected in 2009 to serve as Vice Chair of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA).
“It’s a privilege take an active part in our local government”, says Commissioner Clark. “I’m honored to represent and serve the citizens of El Paso County.”
Sallie and Welling Clark are longtime innkeepers, having restored Holden House in 1986. Their continual love of old homes, antiques and hospitality still live on in an inn that boasts being one of the "Top 50 Inns in America" and "Best for Honeymoon and Anniversary"! The Clarks do double duty with Sallie as an El Paso County Commissioner and Welling a Research Scientist. Come and visit the Clark's where you'll receive friendly hospitality by competant and well-seasoned innkeepers.
