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December 11, 2014 VOLU M E 51 | I SS UE 1 7 | 5 0 ¢
Northglenn-ThorntonSentinel.com A D A M S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
TRUE NORTH CELEBRATION
Corey Conover, 4, enjoys a hug from Nicole Nelson, co-owner of TBU massage, during the Noel Northglenn festivities in the gymnasium at Northglenn Recreation Center. Noel Northglenn on Friday featured a lighting ceremony and light show. The indoor fair featured activities for children, refreshments and free pictures with Santa. The Northglenn Community Foundation sold pizza as a fundraiser for the Utility Assistance Program, and the Northglenn Senior Organization provided a bake sale. Also the Denver Municipal Band and Northland Chorale played holiday selections at the annual celebration.
Children enjoy floating in “walking on water” bubbles at the Noel Northglenn celebration Friday at the Northglenn Recreation Center. Photos by Mikkel Kelly
Budgeting for better, safer streets Police department to make hires POSTAL ADDRESS
NORTHGLENN-THORNTON SENTINEL (ISSN 1044-4254) (USPS 854-980) OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the NorthglennThornton Sentinel is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8703 Yates DR., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
By Vic Vela
vvela@colorado communitymedia.com Increased funding for street maintenance and police patrol are among the highlights of Thornton’s 2015 budget approved by City Council last week. During a Dec. 2 meeting, the council unanimously approved a budget that will exceed $225 million. The budget will include funding for 11 new positions at the Thornton Police Department and also will provide support for a department program aimed at stemming patterned crime. One of the officers will take on
sergeant duties for the city’s Community Emergency Response Team. “This team targets patterned crime and the impact of criminal behavior and currently reports to the commander,” said city budget director Robb Kolstad. “This sergeant will provide on the ground leadership and direction.” Next year’s budget will double the amount of funding available for street maintenance. Street projects will include construction at the intersection of 84th and Grant Street. The city was able to obtain grant funding for improvements there, due to the high number of accidents that occur in that area. City officials also will set aside money to realign streets that are located near a project that will bring commuter rail trains to
‘This team targets patterned crime and the impact of criminal behavior and currently reports to the commander. This sergeant will provide on the ground leadership and direction.’ City budget director Robb Kolstad Thornton by 2018. The city will provide trail connection to new transit stations that will be built as part of the Regional Transportation Department’s FasTrack’s program. “This project ... will ensure that pedestrians and bicyclists can safely and easily access the transit stations,” Kolstad said.
The budget provides funding for city park projects. They include improvements at North Creek Farms Park and the Thornton Arts and Culture Center. The city also plans to construct an addition to the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center on 136th Streets continues on Page 14
Mosley moves over to Adams By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com Newly-hired Adams County Parks and Open Space Department Director Nathan Mosley said he is looking forward to getting back to his roots as he takes over a department that is expected to provide greater opportunities for outdoor recreation over the next two years. Mosley, 40, will take over his new position in January. He has worked for the City of Wheat Ridge as an assistant to the city manager since 2011. Prior to that, Mosley spent several years with the parks department in the Town of Sliverthorne. Mosley said he is looking forward to bringing the experience he gained there to Adams County. “When this opportunity came up, it was one that could be make or break for my career,” he said. “I feel like, by doing this, I can make the
best impact on the quality of life of residents.” Mosley will take over a department that currently manages about 3,100 acres of parks and open space. The county also holds more than 5,400 acres of conservation easements. Two of the bigger projects Mosley will oversee next year will include a two-mile expansion of the South Platte River Trail and the completion of ongoing renovations to Rotella Park. In 2016, the parks department will enter the design phase for the 88th Avenue Mosley Open Space Restoration Project, a $3.1 million project that is primarily funded through settlement dollars the county received due to environmental damages to Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Mosley also will oversee the county’s open space sales tax program, a voter-approved
parks and open space projects funding mechanism. Mosley will be taking over a department that is shifting its focus. “For the past several years our focus has been open space and preserving farm land,” said Deputy County Manager Ray Gonzales. “The Board of County Commissioners would like to see more active parks and outdoor recreational activities in Adams County.” Mosley said he would like to add more amenities to the 11,000 acre Regional Park, which hosts the annual county fair. Mosley said he looks forward to communicating with the public to find out what they would like to see from his department. “You need to listen to the public,” he said. “You don’t want to build parks that they’re not going to use or they don’t need. We’re going to be able to do a lot of cool things, but you have to look at each piece of land individually and see what makes the most sense in each space.”