Northglenn Thornton Sentinel 0529

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May 29, 2014

50 cents Adams County, Colorado | Volume 50, Issue 41 A publication of

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I-25 work progressing as planned Lane shifts, closures expected in July By Tammy Kranz

tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com The Interstate 25 Manage Lane project in Adams County is on schedule, reported Northglenn’s director of planning and development. Brook Svoboda gave City Council a transportation update during its May 19 regular meeting. He started his update by reporting on the I-25 project, which creates a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) tolled express lanes from U.S. 36 to 120th Avenue. Svoboda said one of the things that will help expedite the schedule is a new approach to lowering the roadway under 88th Avenue bridge in an effort to prevent it from being hit by trucks. “Originally the construction schedule for this lowering of the road was 100 days and the contractors proposed an alternative that will shorten it to 50,” he said. “However, it will require to have two weekends in July (I-25) be down to two lanes one weekend for the north bound and one weekend for the south bound.” CDOT is planning a media campaign in July to alert motorists about the impact of

the lane closures and lane shifts. The project calls for the construction of six miles of a new managed land in each direction and adding an additional 13,055 linear feet of concrete sound walls. This new wall will replace the existing wood fence(s) — 76 percent of which are located in Northglenn and 24 percent are located in unincorporated Adams County, Svoboda said. “The total cost of the project is $8.4 million, and Adams County has come to the table with $3 million, and CDOT with $4.9 (million) and Northglenn has also, in principle, committed a half a million.” Svoboda also updated council about the work on the North Metro Rail Line. He said since the groundbreaking in March, staff has been attending several technical utility, drainage and station area meetings. He said the Regional Transportation District (RTD) plans to start construction going north to south and have the project broken up into two areas — with the dividing line at 72nd Avenue Station. “The main reason for that is that the south of 72nd and Denver union station includes the largest single span of elevated bridge in any rail system its about 8500 feet,” he said. The overall project is on schedule and substantial work should begin in spring of 2015, he added.

Motorists on Interstate 25 between U.S. 36 to 120th Avenue should expect more congestion and delays for several months as crews work to create high occupancy vehicle (HOV)/tolled express lanes in each direction. Photo by Tammy Kranz

NMFR eyes mill levy increase Demand for services grows by 22 percent in 10 years By Tammy Kranz

tkranz@colorado communitymedia.com North Metro Fire Rescue District may place a 3.5 mill levy increase on the November ballot to meet the growing demand for services, update equipment and address aging fire stations. NMFR Board will make a decision in late July and is seeking public feedback about the tax increase. “Having worked in the fire industry for over 40 years, the majority of which was outside of this area, I can attest to the hard work that North Metro Fire has put into operating an efficient organization,” said Board President Robert Nielsen. “I wouldn’t even consider a mill levy increase if I didn’t trust in the leadership of the organization and how they are utilizing taxpayers’ money.” The proposed mill levy increase of 3.5 mills will cost homeowners an estimated $2.32 per $100,000 value each month. If the ballot measure is approved by voters, the district would use the proceeds to add firefighting personnel, will address its highest priority equipment needs (such

North Metro Fire Rescue firefighters work to extinguish the blaze caused after a small plane hits a home in Northglenn on May 5. The pilot survived the crash and there was no one in the home at the time of the crash. Photo by North Metro Fire as ambulances, fire engines, firefighting gear), and update and repair fire stations. “Historically, we’ve been funded with just enough money to operate and provide for our community, while deferring costs as much as we can. However, we can no longer continue to do so,” said Chief David Ramos. “We initially

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started this process with a priority list of needs and have since cut that list down to the most essential and imminent needs to minimize the tax burden on residents.” Ramos and Nielsen said without a mill levy, the board and district staff would have to work to find ways to cut expenses, which

may include scaling back on certain services. “Present district revenues are insufficient to maintain current emergency response service levels and address the growing demands of our community,” Ramos said. NMFR provides fire protection, emergency medical servic-

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. 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: Tues. 12 p.m.

es, hazardous materials response and rescue services for more than 111,000 residents in the city and county of Broomfield, the city of Northglenn and portions of Adams, Boulder and Jefferson and Weld counties — spanning an area of 63 square miles. Since 2004, the district’s population has grown by 22 percent. In that same time, its emergency call volume has increased by 37 percent. Nielsen and Ramos stressed that the district is in the process of getting public input and educating residents before the board decides whether to place the tax measure on the ballot. The district is hosting two public meetings on the subject, the first is 1011 a.m. June 4, and 6-7 p.m. June 10, both at NMFR headquarters, 101 Spader Way in Broomfield. Residents also can provide their input by calling 303-452-9910 or sending an email through its website http://northmetrofire. org/#. “If we go forward with a mill levy, it’s not to fulfill a wish list for the district — it’s to address essential updates, repairs and additional firefighting personnel we need to sustain the daily demands of our community over the course of time,” Ramos said. “I think it’s also important to highlight that our current operational mill levy is far below our neighboring special districts.”

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