Events to Attend: *Nov. 7, Morgan County GOP Gala, Ft. Morgan *Nov. 7, Kersey Community Church Fall Festival, Kersey *Nov. 11, Free Family Photos for Veterans, Keenesburg *Nov. 20-21, Primitive Junk Market, Stoneham
Volume 9 • Edition 37
November 4, 2015
Delivering over 16,000 papers to rural Adams, Morgan, and Weld Counties
Building a Better Colorado
Weld County Commissioners Hold Annual Town & County Meeting Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Home Rule Charter adopted in 1976
by Bob Grand Recently the Denver Post ran an article about a civic organization that was formed to start to grapple with the fiscal and electoral issues that Colorado faces. This bipartisan effort is attempting to address the reality of where we are in Colorado and to develop dialogue on where we should be going. Started up by Dan Ritchie, former Chancellor of the University of Denver, the group is committed to be bi-partisan and has many supports Many Weld county officials, staff and local Weld County government officials attended from both major parties involved. the County/Town dinner meeting celebrating the 40th anniversary of the signing of the At the rate Colorado is going we are going in the next few years there will probably not be Weld County Home Rule Charter. enough money for K-12 education, health and human services, and public safety, let alone Approved in the September 9th, anything else. It is 1975 election, the home rule charirresponsible to ignore this issue. The group is holding meeting throughout the state to ter was developed by a citizen’s explore the issues and gather input from local citizens. committee of 21 citizens that held This past week a meeting was held in Greeley in which about 40 citizens participated. 39 work sessions, 35 committee Three issues were identified: meetings and 12 public hearings! How voters enact laws and amendments: Attending the meeting last - Our state constitution is cluttered and conflicted because rules make it easy to night, was one of the original committee members, Bob E. White of amend the constitution, but difficult to change those amendments down the road. Briggsdale. How our state election work: The County also unveiled mural - More than 1 million voters cannot participate in primary elections, turn out is celebrating the Home Rule Chardropping, ter, detailing out its development. And people are increasingly selecting unaffiliated when registering to vote. How our state budget works: Bob White of Briggsdale, original Home Rule Charter The project, put together by the hard work of, Commissioner Barb committee member with county commissioners. - The state’s fiscal policy – as mandated by voters per the constitution – is unsusKirkmeyer, Ester Gesick, Clerk to tainable given competing revenue and spending mandates the Board and Jennifer Finch, Director of County Information. It can be viewed at the The participants were divided into three separate working discussion groups to tackle each issue in detail. After the vigorous discussions were complete, with consensus reached County Administrative offices on O street in Greeley. on recommendations, the groups assembled back, as one group, and shared their ideas. There was strong consensus on the resulting recommendations. These types of meetings will be held throughout the state, and a consensus set of recommendations will be made, which hopefully will result in some ballot issues for the 2016 election that will clarify the issues facing our state. The Greeley group was a mixed demographic, age, employment, sex, and political orientation. What was clear was that the status quo was not an acceptable option. Similar to what the Republican party is experiencing, people are tired of bickering having our elected politicians not addressing our important issues. They want solutions not partisan politics. Over the next few issues the paper will explore each of these issue in greater detail.
Plans for 179 Home Subdivision in Wiggins Set in Motion by Wiggins Town Council Wiggins Seeks GOCO Grant for Swimming Pool
A new housing subdivision is beginning to take shape in Wiggins. Wiggins Town Council members approved a resolution Wednesday night to sell 68 acres to Genesis Development management in Greeley for the purpose of developing a 179 home subdivision that will include areas for parks and other neighborhood amenities. Closing is not expected to take place until February 29, 2016 to allow for due diligence on zoning, platting, environmental studies, and other regulatory measures. Genesis Development Management will be responsible for managing the creation of the new subdivision by organizing the site development work and selling the lots. Genesis Development is an offshoot of Baessler Homes who will be the preferred builder for the project., but opportunities for other builders and contractors will be available according to the council. In the past, growth in the Wiggins area was restricted by flood plain issues and concerns over enough water. But previous councils are now seeing the fruition of their work on providing the levee which took Wiggins out of the flood plain. The new water wells which recently went online are sufficient to meet the town needs, according to Paul Larino, Town Manager. The town is making long term plans to make sure water use is efficient and sustainable.; which includes more options to purchase water, he said. In addition, the housing growth will help keep rates down as cost of the water system is spread over more customers. Oregon Trail Jerky, which will be operating a meat and beef jerky manufacturing facility at the industrial park located east of town, is expected to employ 20 people within the next year, with expectations of eventually hiring 120 people. Available housing is a concern for Oregon Trail Jerky owners, Todd and Kim Hoffman, who welcome the new subdivision. In addition council members approved a resolution in support of a GOCO grant to fund a swimming pool, which if approved, would be located on the old town farm. The plan also includes a park and trails to connect the school, open space, and the pool area. The GOCO grant must be submitted by November 8 and recipients will be announced in March of 2016. Road improvements are priority for Wiggins Town Council members and discussion and work on ways to best make those improvements effectively and efficiently will continue, council members said.
What’s In This Issue:
Page 2: Way of the World Page 2: After 13 Years of Economic Development, Linker Moving On Page 3: Wiggins FFA Student Competes at 88th National FFA Conv. Page 4: Kids at Their Best Hosts Inaugural Super Hero Soiree Page 5: Keenesburg American Legion Take Top State Honors Page 6: Colorado FAFSA Hits National Stage Page 7: Wiggins Cross Country Team Makes State Page 8: Santa Claus Photo for a Cause in Ft. Lupton Page 10: Weld Commissioners Host 2nd Annual Celebrate Our Community Page 12: Morgan County Republicans to Host GOP Gala, Nov. 7 Page 13: Sponsorships Available to Support Aims PE Facility Page 16: Keenesburg American Legion Celebrates Halloween Night Page 16: Weld Re-3J Holds Facilities Discussion