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April 4, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 12, Issue 23 A publication of
parkerchronicle.net
Town real estate purchase scrutinized Urban renewal authority buys Parker Water building By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ coloradocommunitymedia.com A decision by town leaders to purchase land in downtown Parker and resell it to a buyer of their choosing has raised questions about the appropriate use of taxpayer money. The Town of Parker announced March 27 that the Parker Authority for Reinvestment, an entity created by town council in 2006 to eliminate blight and revitalize the downtown area, approved a resolution to acquire the Parker Water and Sanitation District headquarters on the northeast corner of Mainstreet and Victorian Drive. The water district is consolidating administrative operations into its facility near E-470 and South Parker Road. The head-
quarters building was once used as the Parker Library. The resolution, which passed unanimously during a meeting March 17, enables PAR to buy the building and the acre of land on which it sits for $865,000, plus closing costs. But a handful of Parker residents see a potential conflict of interest because town council doubles as the Parker Authority for Reinvestment’s board of directors, and the majority of council members work in downtown Parker. “If you look at these people, where they’re located and where they’re buying property, it doesn’t pass the smell test,” said John Sutherland, who lives in Canterberry Crossing. “It appears that the town is getting into the land speculation and development business.” Sutherland pointed out that Mayor Mike Waid’s office is directly across the street Town continues on Page 9
The Parker Authority for Reinvestment, an organization formed by elected town officials, is purchasing the Parker Water and Sanitation District’s headquarters at Mainstreet and Victorian Drive. The authority uses property tax gains to fund improvements within a small district encompassing downtown Parker. Courtesy photo
Spurlock GOP pick for sheriff
A BANNER DAY
Other hopefuls unhappy with system at General Assembly By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
Workers hang a banner announcing open enrollment for the University of Colorado’s new campus at The Wildlife Experience March 28. The school will offer classes in business, addiction counseling, computer forensics, nursing and engineering. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
Dance party targets 55-and-over crowd Former party planner wants to ‘spice things up’ By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Being single in Parker is no easy task. It can be even more difficult for the 55-and-up demographic. Many of the events that allow singles to mingle and get to know one another tend to be in Denver. That’s why Parker resident Marty Pickert is taking it upon herself to “spice things up.” She has scheduled two dance parties in April at Takoda Tavern, a popular watering
hole on the southeast corner of South Parker Road and Hess Road. “I decided that it’s really boring (in Parker) for dance people,” she said. “We need to do something to have some fun.” Pickert, who ran an eventplanning busiPickert ness called “Parties by Marty” up until three years ago, said there are no places for older people to dance, so she has built a music playlist that features everything from rock `n’ roll and country to disco and
slow ballads. Pickert and her group of girlfriends go to the Tailgate Tavern in downtown Parker to line dance to country bands on Thursday nights. But there is often one thing missing: a few good men. “There are tons of neat women who are widowed and divorced — tons,” she said. “We’re trying to find the guys.” Pickert, who turns 71 this month, is employing a clever tactic to spark conversations, particularly because “people are shy,” regardless of their age and level of experience. Each lady who attends will be given a tag bearing the name of a classic song; every gentleman will get a tag with the name of
a musical artist. The idea is to match the song name with the band that recorded it to bring people together. “They might think it’s corny, but it gets people in the spirit,” she said. It’s not the first time Pickert has tried to improve things for residents 55 and older. She is actively working on a plan to establish senior cohousing in Parker. The “Singles 55+ Networking and Dance” parties are from 4-8 p.m. April 13 and April 27 at Takoda Tavern, 12311 Pine Bluffs Way. Admission is free and there is no requirement to RSVP. Call 303-649-9125 for more information.
Douglas County Undersheriff Tony Spurlock doubled the number of votes garnered by both of his opponents at the Republican General Assembly and will now run uncontested for the office of sheriff on the party’s primary ballot come June. After that, Spurlock will face off against Libertarian Brock McCoy in November for the right to take over for term-limited Sheriff David Weaver. No Democrat has announced a candidacy for sheriff at this time. Receiving 233 votes from delegates, the undersheriff picked up 50.4 Spurlock percent of the vote at the March 22 assembly, while Coroner Lora Thomas earned 24.8 percent and Castle Rock Police Cmdr. John Anderson wound up with 24.6 percent. For candidates to make it on to the Republican primary ballot they must receive 30 percent of the vote at the general assembly. If they do not reach that amount, but finish with more than 10 percent, they had nine days to gather signatures equating to 20 percent of the total number of votes in the Republican primary during the last sheriff’s election — which in this case meant 5,040 valid signatures by registered Republican voters in Douglas County. Neither Thomas nor Anderson chose to go through with the petition process. “I think the message from the delegates is that the citizens of Douglas County are appreciative of the efforts of the sheriff’s Sheriff continues on Page 13
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