Herald
Englewood 7-5-13
Englewood
July 5, 2013
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourenglewoodnews.com
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 93, Issue 20
Fire chief finalists introduced Candidates meet with city officials, residents By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com Invited community members and city officials gathered in small groups on June 26 at Englewood’s Civic Center to meet the five finalists for the position of Englewood fire chief: Gary Curmode, Paige Day, Kevin Hammons, Andrew Marsh and Michael Schick. Gary Sears, Englewood city manager, talked about the process that began in April to select someone to fill the fire chief vacancy created by the retirement of former chief Mike Pattarozzi and the appointment
of deputy chief Dick Petau as interim chief. Curmode is the fire chief of Sedgwick Fire Protection District near Wichita, Kan., and Day is assistant fire chief at the Missouri City, Texas, fire department. Colorado resident Schick since 1994 has been deputy chief of the fire department in Louisville that is made up of volunteers and full-time firefighters. Hammons was deputy chief in Aurora for 20 years and, since 2007, has worked for a firm that investigates fires. Marsh was in the fire service in Frederick, Md., for years and, since 2003, has been deputy chief of the Federal Heights Fire Department. Each candidate spoke to those attending the reception. Each gave a brief summary Chief continues on Page 9
Finalists for the Englewood fire chief position gather with department directors and invited community guests in the city’s community room June 26 for a meet-and-greet reception for the candidates. Photo by Tom Munds
Letterpress printers win in depot bid 5-2 council vote clears way for sale to Denver couple By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com
it is open.” Rick Gillit, the Englewood city council member representing the store’s district, attended the grand opening. “This was a long time coming but the results are very nice. This is a store where my wife would shop. She wouldn’t have come into the old store,” he said. “I am a little surprised that so many customers are here today, but I’m not shocked because this community has been eagerly waiting for this project to be completed.” There was a grand opening ceremony that included introductions, speeches and cake. Employees passed out slices of cake
The Englewood Depot is headed toward becoming a letterpress museum and operation, following a July 1 decision by the city council. Council approved a resolution directing city staff to begin negotiations to sell the depot to Denver residents Tom and Patti Parsons. The letterpress printers want to restore the building. The council’s vote was 5-2. Mayor Randy Penn, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Woodward and Councilmembers Bob McCaslin, Linda Olson and Jill Wilson voted to approve the resolution, while Councilmembers Joe Jefferson and Rick Gillit voted against the proposal. During the discussion before the vote, Penn said the council has been dealing with what to do with the depot for 17 months and it was time to make a decision. He said it was a difficult decision for him, but he would approve the sale to the Parsonses. Woodward said the sale of the property was stated in the request for proposal, plus the Parsonses would need ownership of the site in order to successfully apply for restoration grants. However, Gillit said he would vote against the proposal because he felt the previous 4-3 vote was to lease the property and he felt selling the land was giving away city-owned property. He also said he felt selling the depot to the Parsonses was not a good deal for Englewood residents. Jefferson agreed and said he wanted to see something happen with the depot but didn’t feel the sale to the Parsons was the right decision. As discussion wrapped up, councilmembers asked the staff to make sure wording in the sales document assured the city had the right to match any third-party offer to buy the depot from the Parsonses. The sales document is also scheduled to include a historic easement, which means the outside of the building must not be altered. The easement is permanent and remains in force even if the depot is ever sold to a third party. Members of the city staff will now work with the Parsonses to finalize the details of the depot sale. City Manager Gary Sears said property-sale negotiations traditionally take 30 to 60 days.
Soopers continues on Page 23
Bid continues on Page 23
Customers check out after shopping during the June 26 grand opening of the King Soopers at Belleview Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The new store, with a 65,000-square-foot sales floor, replaced a smaller store that was built in 1960. Photos by Tom Munds
New King Soopers opens doors Belleview-Federal store replaces smaller facility By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com Shoppers were raring to go June 26 when the new King Soopers opened for business at Belleview Avenue and Federal Boulevard. “We had a line of people waiting for the doors of this store to open to the public for the first time at 6 a.m.,” said Jim Mastroni, store manager. “Customers have told me they are glad we are now open and they are glad to have us back in the community.” Banners, balloons and pennants outside announced the grand opening of the store. The new facility has about twice as much space as the former King Soopers that had served the location since 1960. Local resident Margaret Glover pushed her shopping cart, gathering up the items on her grocery list. “I have been waiting for this store to open since the old store closed last year,”
King Soopers President Russ Dispense, left, and store manager Jim Mestroni talk as a large crowd gathers for the June 26 opening day of a new store at Belleview Avenue and Federal Boulevard. Glover said as she shopped. “This is so much nicer than the old store. This store is brightly and well lit, plus the aisles are nice and wide. I live almost across the street, so this store is very convenient and I am glad
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