A recall campaign for three of Palmer Lake’s town trustees appears to have had success in triggering an election this week, while figures on both sides claim harassment and surveillance.

“This is absolutely out of control,” said Mayor Glant Havenar.

The campaign began in March, when three Palmer Lake residents filed as a recall campaign committee. In submitted documents, the committee cited frustrations over the actions of the trustees in voting to approve the eligibility of an annexation request from developers of Texas travel chain Buc-ee’s.

The original documents submitted for the recall alleged that trustees Shana Ball, Dennis Stern and Kevin Dreher “failed to provide fair, balanced, and well-informed leadership.”

To trigger a recall election, the petitioners had to collect 275 signatures from Palmer Lake residents for each recalled trustee. Organizers set up signing events in the town over the past few weeks. Signatures were submitted to the town, and Town Administrator Dawn Collins confirmed Wednesday that Palmer Lake would soon post that the petitions had met initial requirements.

A recall election will need to occur within 90 days of a final finding that the signatures are valid, which would happen after a protest period lasting until June 5. A separate petition for a ballot initiative that would make annexations into the town require an election has also reached initial requirements to move forward.

Ball said on Wednesday she would see the process through.

“I’m not resigning. I did not do anything wrong,” said Ball.

At the same time, in person and online controversy over Buc-ee’s has been growing in the small town and has led to a second eligibility hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The request — withdrawn and resubmitted with some changes — would connect 30 acres along Interstate 25 to the town via a narrow line along County Line Road.

The Buc-ee’s, a chain of massive stores known for having dozens of gas pumps and signature food and merchandise, would rely on the town for utilities and in turn generate tax revenue. The chain has one other Colorado location, opened last year.

The events have both trustees and petition organizers saying they have been the target of politically motivated harassment. Havenar claims she found nails positioned behind her car tires and subsequently traded in the vehicle.

She also says she’s noticed surveillance on her home and comments that came close to threats directed at her online.

“’I hope you die’ isn’t the same as ‘I’m going to kill you,’” she said on the nature of the comments.

Havenar said she has not filed police reports in these incidents.

Ball said she received “mild” death threats online. She also claims one of her tires was slashed earlier this month. She said she reported the vandalism to police.

The Palmer Lake Police Department has not responded to a request for comment.

Daren Fike, a resident of El Paso County east of I-25 who volunteered to collect signatures for the recall, said he and others were also experiencing harassment.

“We have to go in teams because we can’t leave anyone alone out there,” he said.

Fike said he has also been surveilled and photographed during signing events. He said he captured a video in early April of Havenar, Ball and another woman making comments at a signing table where he said he was collecting signatures. The video recorded one unidentifiable person in the group calling organizers from the neighboring town of Monument “terrorists.”

Havenar said she didn’t recall the comment but stood by the sentiment.

“From the way they’ve treated me the past year, it is terrorism,” she said.

“We had a feeling they were there to intimidate and kind of taunt the process,” Fike said.