June 13, 2005

Hello again everyone. Before I start, I’d like to make a comment about the recent articles in the Denver papers. I will never use this medium to respond to or promote any political issue. If you’d like to speak to the Mayor or myself regarding the articles, I encourage you to do so. Call us at home using the numbers listed on the Northglenn.org website.

There’s so much good news in Northglenn. First off, I’d like to share with you the fact that we’ll be adding a new community business, and a BIG one at that. Corporate Express will be moving administrative offices to the vacant Data Alliance building on 112^th and Huron. They’ll bring with them 500 jobs averaging $50,000. What great news for us. The trickle-down will be in the form of sales tax as they shop and eat in Northglenn, the franchise taxes, and use taxes on $2 million in remodeling improvements. We have given them a total of $45,000 in tax incentives, but that’s a small price to pay for the added benefit to our community. I feel our home values rising as we speak.

Secondly, I want to tell you that we’ve secured a developer for Northwest Open Space to design a master plan and construct a central pavilion. We have money to pay for these items through Adams County, so there’s no money coming out of the general fund. The selection was made by a combined group of representative board members from the youth sports groups (soccer, baseball and football) along with Parks and Recreation Board members, city staff and me. We all felt it was critical that the users were involved from the very beginning not only with the vision, but also later with the fundraising. The site will include additional soccer fields through redesign, far more efficient baseball fields, and a mini football stadium that will be located on the south side of the water treatment reservoir. There will be no encroachment into the Oscar Arnold area or the wetlands. For those of you who live south of Northwest Open Space, the primary entrance will be on the NORTH side, so traffic impacts should be minimal. With the additional parking planned on the north side, the street parking in the south neighborhoods should be diminished or at least stay the same. I will keep you posted as this project moves along.

The Council approved on first reading an ordinance that would allow beer and wine to be served for private occasions in the Recreations Center, the Stonehocker house, and certain structures in our parks with a Special Occasion Permit issued by the Liquor Authority. This was initially at the request of the Northglenn Historic Commission in order to use the Stonehocker house for weddings, receptions, anniversary parties and fundraising. However it is written to cover the additional areas listed above. The public hearing will be June 23^rd if any of you want to voice an opinion for or against.

The Citizen’s Police Academy is beginning a new session September 14^th. Its 12 weeks of learning about all aspects of our police department and how we as citizens can become involved in important police work. Call Ross Bruny at 303-457-1492 and I’m sure he’ll answer any questions you may have.

A couple pieces of bad news, first we got word that former City Councilman Ken DeMay died in May. I never met Ken, but I know many of you knew him. His reputation in Northglenn is respectful, and his contributions to our city were well-recognized. His son Chris lives in Ward IV, and is also active in the city on the Parks Foundation.

I also heard that Virgil Hall who lives on Roseanna and is a volunteer for almost everything in Northglenn fell off his roof recently and sustained a collapsed lung. I’m sure he has lots more bruises than that, but at this point that’s all I’ve heard. I wish him a speedy recovery and I’m so grateful that he’s OK.

Plans are formulating for the Northglenn 4^th of July celebration. It’s a great day of fun and entertainment culminated by our fabulous fireworks. Be sure to catch the big parade at 10A running down Community Center Drive. This parade gets better and better every year. It’s worth it just to see the Northglenn High School Marching Band.

Take care everyone . . . . .

At Your Service,

Rosie Garner