Article Contributed on: 6/21/2007 7:22:28 PM
This is about the Denver City Council, Xcel Energy, and Ruby Hill. First, I will bring up the history of this problem. If I remember correctly some time last fall Xcel Energy decided that the electrical towers going through Ruby Hill needed to be upgraded to be able to handle the additional load that will be created by the Gates redevelopment project. Anyway, Xcel went on their merry way of installing concrete bases for the new higher towers. Some how some one saw what they were doing in a Denver park and notified the proper authorities. After that Xcel was told that they needed approval from the planning board. The planning board met May 2nd and denied the variance because Xcel has the option to bury the lines.
Sure Xcel would like to replace the towers instead of burying the cables because of the cost,. $600,000 versus 5 million dollars. They have other problems other than this difference in cost. I just noticed in todays paper that Xcel settles with the IRS for 64.4 million. Xcel Energy Inc., reported earnings of $120 million, or 28 cents per share, for the first quarter, ended March 30.That compares with earnings of $151 million, or 36 cents per share, for the first three months of 2006. Revenue was $2.76 billion for the quarter,
down from $2.89 billion for the first quarter of 2006. Investment web sites such as MSN Money and Scottrade show a hold rating for Xcel stock. It appears that their long term planning methods need to be looked at. On April 2nd Xcel's stock sold for $24.99, June 21st the stock sold for $21.22. Are any of these problems caused by the neighbors of Ruby Hill?
You would think once the planning board denied the variance that the case would be closed. However, some how Charlie Brown, District 6's Councilman, asked the city council to override the planning boards decision. If the council can override the planning boards decision why even have a planning board. Let the council make all the planning decisions and make our overblown government smaller. That is another issue though.
The way I found out about the issue, I attended a Ruby Hill Association meeting. It appears that an attempt was made to keep this as quiet as possible and silently pass the override before the neighbors of Ruby Hill were made aware of the override. When I first heard of Charlie Browns interest I wondered why! Do Xcel executives live in the Cherry Creek area and asked Charlie Brown to perform some backdoor politics? Or is this a continuation of the obvious conflict between Charlie Brown and Kathleen MacKenzie. I recently heard Charlie Brown on the Radio about another issue and what he said about Kathleen MacKenzie was not very complimentary. I heard him say "Kathleen is a lame duck and she is going to quack all the way out".
The towers in question are 1950 towers. If they are in need of replacing why were they not replaced until now? The towers were adequate last summer. If they were adequate last year they will more than likely be adequate this year. If they are not adequate, where is Xcel's long term planning? Xcel has come to the foregone conclusion that they are going to win. They have erected towers north and south of Ruby Hill and just waiting for the City Council to take their backdoor politics and stick it to a small neighborhood of Denver.
The new towers are really ugly! They look like they have ten years of rust on them and I heard that is the final color. They are not going to be painted or anything.
In conclusion, when I first heard of this problem I thought "so what". What is 20 extra feet on towers that are already their. What really got me interested is the way it is being handled. Xcel is using scare tactics with a possible power outage. Charlie Browns district has all the problems solved and he has to stick his nose into a neighboring district. The attempt to exclude local homeowners before council votes is unexcusable. I got the feeling the local homeowners have to beg city council to hold a courtesy public meeting on July 9th. Congress and President Bush's approval ratings are 30 percent or below. Is the Denver City Council attempting to get lower ratings than the federal government?
You decide, is this The Denver City Council at its worse? Let your council representative know what you think of this situation.