Rangeview Requests Millions For Northglenn Library
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% 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.
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% 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.
posted by Gene Wieneke at
8:21 PM
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