Council Votes Significant Funding to Pave Parkway, Monarch

You may have noticed the concrete batch plant by the Park and Ride on the east side of I-25.  Operators of that plant were asked by City staff if they had plans for the plant once the paving of the County road from Parker to I-25 is completed.  As it turns out the facility will be available at that location through year-end.  Council secured a very attractive bid for concrete from this batch plant to replace significant sections of Monarch Blvd. and Castle Pines Parkway.  This represents an enormous opportunity.

Tonight council approved a bid for 6,000 square yards of concrete at a cost of $534,000.  Because of the proximate location of the batch plant, this cost is about 40% lower than bids from other contractors who would have to truck in concrete.  Council also directed that it will consider an appropriation at the next Council meeting to fund an additional 12,000 square yards of concrete.  Total volume is 18,000 square yards at a cost of $1,602,000.  This work can address virtually all of the cracked concrete issues on our two main thoroughfares.  Paving will begin soon, and could take up to twelve weeks to complete.

This is EXACTLY the type of issue City Council should be tackling.  Much of the cracked pavement to be replaced is twenty-six years old, and has reached its effective service life.  With the batch plant located in the area, pricing appears very attractive, unlikely to be repeated.  Congratulations to all Council Members who voted for tonight's action.  This is a good sized chunk of money for Council to consider.  It takes guts for them to cast yes votes.  Please thank them for taking this action for our community.  It's the right thing to do!

July Article for Local Newspaper

Thanks very kindly for your supportive words regarding the series of columns here in The Connection.  I’m humbled by your overwhelming response.  For a long time I felt we were not heading in a good direction.  It’s good to know I wasn’t the only one, and in fact there are a ton of people who agree we should do something about it.

The other night Council decided not to have an executive session, the first such meeting in a very long time.  After the regular meeting we all went out and had a beverage together.  It’s what we should have been doing all along.  We acted like neighbors should act.  It was a good thing.  Maybe next time we can invite members of the Metro board.  While I respect the roles of our consultants and advisors, maybe we should just talk as neighbors.  Rather than focusing on “what’s in the city’s best interest”, we should focus on what’s in the best interest of people living in our community.

One Council member asked, “When are you going to write something positive about Council?”  I believe a great action would be for council to withdraw the dissolution petition forthwith.  You’ll see a rosy column in the wake of that action.  Other People’s Money (yours!) is funding both sides of that issue.  We should stop doing that. 

Until that day, I hope to see you at the Master Association’s Independence Day celebration at Coyote Ridge Park.  The Castle Pines Chamber is helping to host the event, as is The Connection.  Keep in mind the library effort here in the community is in fund raising mode.  The economy is tough, but if you have a couple extra bucks, support for the library in our community is most worthy of your consideration.