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MEAD LOSES COURT BATTLE OVER SANITATION DISTRICT

Mead officials were disappointed after a June 25 District Court decision that will allow property owners east of the Town to form their own sanitation district rather than forcing them to annex into Mead to receive services. The property involved includes approximately 3000 acres east of I-25 that is in Mead’s planning area but remains in unincorporated Weld County. In 2005 property owners received Weld County’s approval to for the East I-25 Sanitation District. Once formed, the District is likely to issue bonds to pay for a pipeline that would connect to the St. Vrain Sanitation District for services. Mead filed its complaint in Weld District Court last year.

AREA MUNICIPALITIES CONSIDER REVENUE SHARING

The Boulder County Consortium of Cities is asking area municipalities, including the city and county of Broomfield to fund a study on potential revenue sharing schemes that will keep cities from competing for tax dollars from retailers and developers. Thus, keeping developers power, to demand concessions from cities for building within their boundaries, in check. If successful programs and agreements can be put in place government officials believe their communities would smooth out revenue swings that often go from highs to painful lows. These ideas have been promoted in the past with very little agreement or success as most area communities have matured and gained retail and stronger revenue bases.

U.S. 36 IS A FINALIST IN POOL FOR SHARE OF $1.1 BILLLION

A plan to add two High Occupancy Toll Lanes on U.S. 36, accelerating Phase 1 of the FasTracks improvements was selected as a finalist for a share of $1.1 billion in federal transportation money. The so-called Urban Partnership Agreement is a new program where the feds select projects that employ the four “T’s”, Transit, Tolling, Technology, and Telecommuting. A coalition of six cities along the corridor, RTD and CDOT are requesting $234 million to fund the HOT lanes. HOT lanes allow single occupant vehicles to use them for fees that vary with congestion. Nine cities were selected to compete for the funds and only five will be awarded. Awards will be announced by the first week in August. U.S. 36 was the first finalist to be announced by USDOT officials.