register |  login
› NORTHGLENN
Loading Ad
Visit Other Hubs:
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Tower
Blog
Blog Entry 32 of 59 Northglenn Revealed
The City of Northglenn has a unique character for the North Metro Area. It seems it is always out of step with the neighbors. Sometimes ahead and sometimes not. I hope my efforts and some meaningful dialog will keep the community stable, secure and an asset to the area.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~NGRevealed

Library district requests millions from Northglenn
Contributed by: Gene Wieneke   on 3/13/2007

In the previous article I covered the deceitful, official election flyer distributed on behalf of the Board by Rangeview Library Board member, Ray Coffey, to all Northglenn residents. I also started to discuss the Board's determination to close the Northglenn branch and construct a new facility west of the Thornton City Hall at Huron Street.

After the election, the Northglenn Council again discussed the election issue on the Park land and decided to start a public process. This information was passed on to Rangeview but they choose to reaffirm the decision to construct in Thornton. The strong support from the Northglenn residents at the polls and the Board's promises in the flyer should have meant something but it didn't.

After the Rangeview vote Councilman Miller was contacted by former Mayor, Odell Barry. As a result of the discussion, Mr. Barry chose to publicly offer the donation of his land on 112th Avenue, immediately east of Huron Street as a site for the library. The City Council, represented by Council members Mayor Novak and Jim Miller, jumped on the new opportunity and met with the Board. As a result of the meeting, the Board agreed to look into the Barry site with the understanding that the City would provided all of the support needed to make the facility possible.

The Board feels that it must provide for all the facilities described in the mill levy increase question as its first priority. I see no argument with that fiduciary responsibility. I do however question their opinion of what "support" should be required from the City. The Board committee requested the following: 1. The property is to be a completed "construction ready" pad site. 2. A parking lot for 60 vehicles. 3. Ownership or control of the land in perpetuity. 4. All utilities to be stubbed into the pad area. 5. The wavier of all city building and tap fees. 6. A financial contribution towards construction costs in the amount of $1,200,000. In addition, the Board requires an annual, minimum subsidy for operating costs in the amount of $500,000.

In addition to all the requested "support" from the City, the Board committee says it will be necessary to reduce the size of the planned facility in Thornton at Huron and 92nd avenue or to construct it in phases. This comes from a Board that just received a permanent 162 percent increase in its property tax levy from the voters. In this year alone their revenue will jump from $4,636,120 to $11,816,708 per their own estimates. Unless Adams County, Thornton, Brighton, Commerce City and all other cities agree to place a permanent moratorium on all growth, their annual revenues will continue to skyrocket.

All of this effort to find a site and entice the Board into constructing a library in Northglenn would not have been necessary if the Board had just followed through with its alleged promise to the residents of Northglenn as stated in its flyer. The Board violated the residents' trust by voting to proceed with the site in Thornton.

The multi-million dollar commitment the Board has submitted to the City on the Barry site is rationalized by the statement in their proposal concerning the need to "provide the facilities described in the mill levy increase as its first priority." They are reminded that constructing the library in Thornton near 92nd avenue is not a required location according to the TABOR notice they submitted for the November election.

Perhaps they would be willing to construct the library on the Barry site and tell the City of Thornton to pony up the millions necessary to build a "second" library at 92nd avenue. That brings up a question. What incentives has Thornton already promised the Board to obtain a library at the site? I've already heard that a land swap is in the works. What else? The Thornton Council members must know in addition to the Board members??

Some members of the City Council believe that the Board may compromise on some of the demands related to the Barry property. Others find the "support" sought so outrageous that they see no reason to purse a library at the location. I sense from the tone and logic used in the proposal from the Board committee, that the terms are not negotiable. The next few weeks will be very interesting. If the Board doesn't come clean with the true reasons why they have chosen to leave Northglenn without a library, we, the residents, can do something about it.

Gene Wieneke has lived in Northglenn since 1994. He previously served on the Northglenn Urban Renewal Authority and currently serves on the board of adjustment.


SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog



Current Rating
Based on 1 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the blog

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: Hector Riviera
posted on 3/15/2007 @ 1:05:32 AM
(Not Rated)
Northglenn smells like meth.
[Report as objectionable]
Showing 1 of 1 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Gene Wieneke

Northglenn , CO

Gene Wieneke has posted 59 blog entries and 3 comments since joining on 7/27/2006. Gene Wieneke 's average blog rating is 3.54.
SAVE AND SHARE THIS BLOG ENTRY
BLOG ENTRY RSS FEEDS
BLOG LIST
WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?
Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is  register,  then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyonewhat events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

Loading Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

This YourHub.com community is produced by The Denver Newspaper Agency
Web Development and Channel Analytics provided by Indigio

terms of use //  privacy policy
the staff //  advertise //  help & faq
buy photos