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Blog Entry 33 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

Northglenn's choice: plaques or essential services

Contributed by: Gene Wieneke   on 3/24/2007

Our community leaders and a minority of the residents in Northglenn are and have been in a mode best entitled, "I want a ' Northglenn (Blank)." In the past it was a Water system, a Sewage treatment plant, a new Mall and on. Now we hear our leaders saying, I want a Northglenn Library, a new Northglenn Recreation Center and a Northglenn Fastracks rail station.

There is certainly nothing wrong with wanting all of these services and amenities. The need to have a plaque saying, " Northglenn's (Blank)" is a source of pride to many. This is certainly true for the residents who have spent most of their adult life experiencing the ups and downs of the community over the past forty years. Just because much has changed over the years is no reason to abandon that sense of pride.

When you are at the intersection of 104th avenue and Zuni street, which city are you in? The intersection has the Nissan dealership on the southwest corner and Enterprise auto sales/rentals on the southeast corner. Depending on your location in the intersection there are four possible correct answers. The point is that our community leaders and those residents who are very active in making our decisions know the answer. It is a very important factor to them in their decision making. Does it mean a lot to you?

We have many expensive facilities available to us. A recreation center is available to us just 17 blocks east of our city limits. There is another just 28 blocks west of our city limits. We have a public and collegiate library just 19 blocks west of our city limits. Ranageview is going to build a library 3 blocks south of our city limits. None have a Northglenn plaque on them and that is a driving force for many.

If it is important to you that we have our own library and recreation center, are you willing to extend the capital water sales tax ending in 2009 for these projects? Or perhaps increase your property tax levy? Twenty Million is not chump change and the figure does not include the interest or other financing costs. Make up your mind soon because you will be voting on it this November.

As far as a train station goes, many very powerful people in the area and in the city are saying, "We want a Northglenn station at 112th avenue." Get ready for another couple million dollars in local costs. We will be required by State law to reimburse RTD for two percent of all costs associated with the station improvements. Add to this amount, the public costs associated with the potential new Transit Orientated Development; meaning, commercial structures in the areas now occupied by industrial and residential owners contiguous to the train station who are willing to sell for a profit.

In early February I posted an article listing your priorities for city services according to the random survey conducted late last year. Residents made the Core or bottom line services and improvements their top priority. From the General Fund, street improvements and maintenance plus public safety were the top priority. This November will it be the essential services or the "Plaque Projects"?

The picture is a large outlet pipe located under Huron street at the Croke reservoir.

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.


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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.
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