THE TRUTH ABOUT GREEN VALLEY RANCH!!!!!!!!!

By: Joanne True

With the continued veiled threats of physical harm (taking up the pitchforks and torches against the board) and slanderous accusations (demanding an ethical and legal election May 6th, not May 3rd as mentioned in a previous article, by another author) I felt it was time to dispel some of the misinformation in recently published articles.

While Mr. Charles Spratt is correct that in a previous election the voters voted against a Community Center, it was the funding of that center (a bond issue therefore raising taxes) not the need for the Center that was turned down. The new Community Center is fully funded and no taxes will need to be raised to build it. The Community Center will be available to rent for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, meetings, etc. with no duplication of services offered at the nearby Recreation Center. Mr. Spratt also claims the facility will have a yearly deficit of $250,000, but provides no supporting documentation. TJ Stone, the president of the board, has prepared an analysis based on past history and determined there would be approximately a $5,000 surplus the first year (that report is available from the Metro District with a written request in accordance with District policy).

A little background on why the Metro District Board feels the need for a Community Center. Up until 1999 the District rented out its current administration building to the public for parties and meetings. This was ended when it was discovered that the building was originally built to be the sales office and never had a Certificate of Occupancy. The District has since resolved this problem, but in the process it was agreed between the District and the City of Denver that the building would only be used for the District. In 1999 we had over 180 rentals, and people are still requesting to rent the building. As they say, "If you build it they will come." We see the need and feel they will come.

There are a contentious few in the area claiming the District did not notify residents of its decision to purchase the land or the intention to build this Center. This is entirely incorrect. For at least 6 years there have been open discussions at the Metro District board meetings, held monthly, regarding finding land on which to build. These meetings are open to the public and are posted on community information boards and in the HOA newsletter. If residents do not choose to attend, what is the District to do? There was a community meeting held August 26, 2006 at which the funding for the Center was presented. The meeting was announced via post card and signs posted throughout the District. There were at least 75 out of approximately 11,000 residents there, a better turn out then usual at meetings in the District, whether District or HOA meetings. I believe only one of the contentious few was in attendance, where were the others? As for the funding of the Center, here are the sources, obtained from the annual C.PA. audited financial statements for the period from 1985 through 2005:

1) Net investment income - From all non-restricted sources (this does not include interest earned on restricted funds, such as bonds).

2) Developer financing requirement - (The 1997 reimbursement agreement between the District and the Developer provide the first $150,000 of system development fees collected by the District on an annual basis in available for general unrestricted uses).

3) The 1999 Litigation settlement

These funds, audited as of December 31, 2005, totaled approximately $2.6M.

There are accusations the District paid too much for the land. While I might agree with that claim, you need to understand the dynamics of the purchase. Yes all previous owners of the land purchased the land based on residential pricing, the last owner sold the land based on commercial pricing. For the August 26, 2006 meeting, a comparison of the cost per square foot for the adjacent homes and the lot purchased by the District was done. Based on the 2005 property value and the Assessor's square footage, the cost per square foot of the adjacent properties ranged from $22.98 to $41.78. The cost per square foot of the District property is $7.99. Who made the better deal?

This facility will be a showpiece for the far Northeast area of Denver. There is no other facility of this type in this area, Aurora or Commerce City. Pictures of the facility are available to view at the District office and will soon be on the Community Center website, we are just waiting for the final site plan. Mr. Spratt claims it will be a monster 35 feet tall with a huge fire pit in the center, a white face leering down on the wedding chapel waiting for its sacrifices of virgins. This type of characterization is extremely offensive to me and should be to all residents of Green Valley Ranch. The building will be 35 feet at the top of the chimney for the large fireplace in the center. While the picture presented of the fireplace did not show the entire design, it will be a place where people can come on the cold winter days and sit a read in front of (especially if you don't have a fireplace at home), it will be a place you could be married in front of. As for the white leering face, these will be windows which will provide natural light to the grand hall. There will be a cop shop, there will be 5 classrooms, used for the youth, teen and adult programs sponsored by the District, but available for rental when not needed for the programs. There is a large community room that can actually be divided into three smaller rooms, all available to rent. If someone wanted to hold a large meeting, but have the ability to divide people into smaller groups, it could be accommodated in this facility. As for the tiny cubicle for holding sick little children, this is actually a room large enough for two small beds, with a bathroom adjacent, should your child become ill after you drop them off for one of the programs. Mr. Spratt claims this is all sitting astride chicken wire enclosures holding Boy Scout tents in the basement. It was mentioned we will provide storage space in the basementthat could be utilized by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, churches etc. to store their equipment, but that we did not know how those areas would be designed. The possibility is 8 x 10 storage areas framed in chicken wire would be provided. Nothing on the interior has been decided as of this date. Once we have the final floor plan, the committee that was formed in August of 2006 will be brought back together to work on those decisions. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, churches will all be included in that group.

The drawing of this facility was recently shown to members of neighboring municipalities and they were extremely impressed and can see the potential and need for such a facility.

This group is also threatening to hire Douglas Bruce's Independence Institute to file suit against the Metro District. They have been screaming that the District is not being financially responsible, open etc. How is filing a lawsuit, that will cost me and the rest of the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for the District to defend this frivolous case, being financially responsible. Keep in mind the people wanting to file this suit are running for the Board. If they are elected, they will be spending the District money to defend this suit and they will be plaintiffs. NOW LET'S TALK CONFLICT OF INTEREST? Using tax payers' money to further their own agendas!

The few people, and they are 10-15, that are objecting to what the District is doing and to the District in general appear to have some ulterior motives and the residents of Green Valley Ranch might want to have some information on those people.

Charles Spratt - (While not running for the board seems to have a hidden agenda or some personal vendetta) - Was on the Metro District board (the very board he is down grading) in the early 1990's when that board defaulted on their bonds. This is an example of Mr. Spratt's financial capability. However, the District, under the direction of some of the current board members, have refinanced the bonds at a very low interest rate and the District now has an A+ rating and no longer has to post a $180,000 per year guarantee. Knowing this information, you might want to ask yourselves what his hidden agenda might be since he was part of a group that truly did cost the residents of Green Valley Ranch thousands of dollars refinancing the old bonds at new, higher interest rates?

Mary Schumer - Running for the board May 6, 2008 - Rarely if ever attended a Metro District board meeting until approximately 6 months ago. She has been presented with information she requested, but has twisted that information for her own pleasure. Ask yourself if this is a person you want handling your tax dollars. Don't you want people to represent the facts...not twist them?

Charles Britton - Running for the board May 6, 2008 - Has lived in the District for 16 years and announced in a public meeting a couple of months ago he had no idea the District even existed. He also stated he wants to pay off the bonds immediately. He obviously doesn't know the law governing the District he has never heard of! Is this a person you want handling your tax dollars?

Anthony Noble - Running for the board May 6, 2008 - Has lived in the District 10 years and lives adjacent to the proposed Community Center site. He also wants to purchase part of the land to expand his yard. An ulterior motive for wanting to serve on the board and stop the construction? You decide!!!

Earleen Brown - Running for the board May 6, 2008 - Has lived in the District 5 years and until 2 months ago never, if ever, attended a board meeting. Is this someone you want on the board handling your tax dollars?

Elaine Smith - While not running for the board seems to have a hidden agenda or some personal vendetta. She has recruited some of the above candidates to do her bidding on the board. She also lives adjacent to the proposed Community Center site. Ask yourselves if you can believe what she says.

Joanne True - Current board member not up for reelection. My reason for writing this letter as stated above is to truly have the voters in Green Valley Ranch make an informed decision and help dispel the negative image being conveyed. This community truly deserves to have an amenity that will add to the community feel and help with our property values. People I have spoken with in other communities that have just such a facility truly feel it has enriched their community. Do the residents of Green Valley Ranch not deserve to have this enrichment? If you contact the Metro District office and leave your name, phone number or email address I would be happy to talk to you.

PLEASE MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION MAY 6, 2008 ON WHO YOU WANT MANAGING YOUR TAX DOLLARS!!!!!!!