Boulder County, Colorado:
"Local" Improvement Districts and Secret Sell-Outs
Last Update: 20 JULY 2014

Even though Boulder County voters defeated the related Property Tax increase, the three Boulder County Commissioners have dictated a re-distribution of the wealth of over 10,000 Boulder County rural residents. They dishonestly call it a Local Improvement District ("LID") when in fact the new LID has generated new and huge property tax liens all over Boulder County.

The money so bled from the country folk will [may; mostly] be used to catch up with long-deferred road maintenence (so they say) - or will it be (again) deflected into more pet 'green' or 'art' projects? Meanwhile, what have the Commissioners been doing with the huge amounts of $$$ they have been collecting in Property Taxes since 1995? All (or most) of this should have been used to keep all the county (i.e., public) roads up to par.

All properties within these 116 subdivisions are included in the LID resolution. Boulder County itself estimates the amount of the commissioners LID money grab to be $72,000,000
...(for now).

Property Owners are not protected against LID Cost Overruns.

With Boulder County Government in charge, what could possibly go wrong?

 LID History:  Scroll down to see a Table of Public Comments on the LID issue. Party affilitiations are noted for most writers, and there is Trouble in Democrat Paradise.

NEXT "LID" MEETING

SPLIDAC Meetings WEB PAGE

Cannot attend SPLIDAC Meetings in person? Click here to submit your Comments and Questions on line.

They will respond, as shown by this email image, which they sent within minutes of my logging a question on line. The question was: 'Will Boulder County indemnify and defend SPLIDAC members against personal lawsuits by LID-victimized (and other) Citizens?'

The Commissioners and Clerk indirectly revealed this trait when, in 2012, Boulder County refused to protect its Canvass Board members against personal liability.

However, a May 5th 2014 email to me from the SPLIDAC Secretary stated:

Your question about indemnifying SPLIDAC members was referred to our county attorneys. As an advisory body, SPLIDAC is not "responsible" for making final decisions that might be called into legal question. Therefore, any lawsuit related to the LID would likely be addressed to the Board of County Commissioners as the decision making body. In the event SPLIDAC or its members get sued, the Board would likely assign defense of the case to the County Attorney.

There is still considerable latitude in the word 'likely' and how much legal protection it would actually provide.
Perhaps 'selective' protection [depending if the defendant(s) are "D" or not] would be a better choice of words.

Minutes for past SPLIDAC Meetings:
June 04 2014 (.pdf)   April 22 2014 (.pdf)   April 02 2014 (.pdf)  
March 19 2014 (.pdf)   March 06 2014 (.pdf)
Feb 26 2014 (.pdf)   Feb 20 2014 (.pdf)

 FLASH !!  January 30th 2014: "The Boulder County Commissioners have appointed the first members of the Subdivision Paving Local Improvement District Advisory Board (SPLIDAC)...The citizen-led SPLIDAC will convene in February 2014 to begin making recommendations for prioritization of repaving projects under the LID."
Here is the SPLIDAC Web Page where one may learn more.

NOTE: It is less than confidence-inspiring that the BoCo Comms:

Can't even get an acronym right (name since corrected to "Subdivision Paving Local Improvement District Advisory Committee")

Misspelled an Advisory Board member's name, which hid his party (DEM), and

Selected 5 DEMs, 3 REPs, and 2 UAFs to their "independent" LID Advisory Committee (all but one of which has a mailing address within the City of Boulder), plus

The likelihood is high that these same BoCo Comms will "listen" to the LID Advisory Committee with the same disdain as they did in 2012 to election watchdogs.

NOTE: Be sure to sign up for automatic email notification of upcoming SPLIDAC meetings (which may or may not be public). Click on This Link to do so. Click image at left for more info.

NOTE: Two of the three commissioners sit their posts under the cloud of the non-Certified 2012 Boulder County General Election. They are imposing their illegal power over We The People. Democrat, Republican, and Independent property owners alike are suffering under their one-party tyranny.

The LID assessment is to cure long deferred maintenance of roads within the 116 subdivisions located within unincorporated areas of Boulder County. While the roads crumbled, money to fix them was (and is) being diverted to Progressive and urban-centric (i.e., City of Boulder) agendas.

Apparently the county commissioners decided that, if property owners along these county roads were forced to pay for their own local road maintenance, they [the commissioners] would have oodles of slush, er, discretionary funds to divert to Pet Projects (e.g., "green", Open Space, [ugly] art, etc). Nevermind that the county aggressively raises taxes supposedly to pay for - you guessed it - road maintenance.

The Official Title of the Boulder County LID is Resolution No. 2013-106 (that breathes life into the LID) includes the phrase "...APPORTIONING THE COST OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS UPON EACH LOT OR TRACT OF LAND WITHIN THE SUBDIVISION...

"Local Improvement District" has traditionally meant local: A relatively small, contiguous, homogeneous area such as a single subdivision, business district, etc. This Resolution turns the language inside out by blanketing huge areas that are not small, contiguous, or homogeneous.

How long will it take for the Boulder County Commissioners to snare your Subdivision in their list of victims?
Does it make any of you wonder what was in the previous 105 Resolutions so far in 2013?

If this LID stands, the Boulder County DEM Dynasty has blazed the way to fund absolutely anything, without going to the tax well or risking TABOR limits. Now all they need do is conjure up a COUNTY-WIDE LOCAL [?] IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. "Debbie1996" commented in a recent Daily Camera article:

"I could absolutely see these crooks creating an LID for Boulder County for Northwest Rail as we're the 'primary beneficiaries'. Despite being screwed out of our RTD taxes, they'd slap $20,000 liens on the 100,000 households in BC and voila - $2 billion for rail."

"You underestimate the power of the Dark Side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny." - Darth Vader. We are seeing the Dark Side of our DEM Dynasty. Will We The People ever stand up to them? The November 2014 election is the best place to do battle. NOW is the time to prepare.

Clerk Hall has posted a LID Web page so that the victims can view the amount of their mandated Tribute to the Boulder County Political Machine.

  But Wait, There's More: 

Boulder County filed the LID virtually without prior notice.

By arbitrarily recasting actual deferred maintenance as "improvements" the commissioners have used a legal loophole to rationalize and cover their heartless actions.

The LIDs savage bite (we all know where) was a "Christmas Surprise" tax lien against each property - over ten thousand of them.

Thanks, Grinch Binches. May you all get lumps of coal in your next election.

Experion, TRW, and all the other Credit Reporting agencies will take notice and incorporate the amount as an adverse entry on the Credit Report of every property owner as a lien on their property. All of these people will be forever hassled when they want to buy a new car or other item of value on credit - even after the LID is paid off. Welcome to the USSA and to the Peoples Republic of Boulder.

One reader of this web page told me:

"The actions of the 3 [commissioner] ladies is nothing short of criminal given the negative impact on their constituents, lives, property and Credit Ratings. No one today can sell any of these properties until the lien is paid in full. This has to be the most blatant abuse of power that I have ever seen from BCC.."

Boulder County is being sued over the LID, so a LIDites Rebellion is in play. The Commissars, er, Commissioners will wield your tax money as a club against the plaintiffs. We The People will suffer as our tax money is squandered on Lawyers to defend the indefensible. Sure enough, that's just what is happening.

To hedge the possibility that the Clerk's list of LID victims will be scrubbed from the county website, the author of this web page has independently posted this complete list of the over ten thousand LID victims (516 pages 1 Mb, .pdf courtesy of FIRM).

All of us may now view on demand, the enormity of this virtual Taking (i.e., money grab) of private assets (up to $22,000 per property). This will adversely affect individual property values for the next 15 years (at least).

The FIRM Organization has organized to fight this overreaching by elected officials - supposed public servants - gone rogue. You are urged to support Fairness in Road Maintenance ("FIRM") with your donations.

April 15 2014: BoCo FIRM lawsuit challenges County's authority to form LID. Click here to read the entire "106" Brief (22 page .pdf).

What can you do to protect yourself, regardless of where you live in Boulder County?
Read the FIRM plan by clicking on this link.

Want to see more Boulder County witchery from the four "Red Slipper Girls"??? Then click this link. You will see how they [mis-]'managed' the 2012 election.

1. One for the Money
2. Two for the Show
3. Three to get Ready, and
4. FOUR TO GO!

A SAMPLING OF LID-RELATED WEB LINKS (newest are on top):

ARTICLE HEADLINE	WEB LINK (URL)	QUOTES & COMMENTS
17 JULY 2014 Boulder County approves $4.4M bid for resurfacing rural subdivision roads	In spite of a pending anti-LID lawsuit, Boulder County Commissioners. are spending at least the initial year's budgeted work for the subdivision road rehabilitation: http://tinyurl.com/qaf99qb	"The county staff reported to a paving district advisory committee Wednesday night that about 41 percent of the 16,.25 [sic] road miles n [sic] the bid will require total reconstruction, and the rest will be getting asphalt overlays." Great job of proof-reading, D-C. Great job of ignoring your maintenence mandates, Commissioners.
Jim Eastman: Pay careful attention to changes in county 'advisory document'	http://tinyurl.com/k5qx45m Mr. Eastman is a registered Republican	In 1995, this "advisory document" was changed considering the maintenance of subdivision roads owned by Boulder County. Now, interpretation of that advisory document has resulted in a lien against my property in the amount of $6,450 to maintain a road that Boulder County owns.
Boulder County $11 million short of covering road, bridge flood repair projects planned for rest of 2014	http://tinyurl.com/nvyywyp "Ah, but the Commissioners can spend from the general fund to purchase conservation easements in another county. Incredible."	"Why don't the omnipotent Democrat Commissioners stroke their happy-pens (again) and simply declare a new LID for all the rest of Boulder County? Democrat Clerk Hillary Hall will quickly record all the new tax liens before anyone even knows what happened." Plenty of money for everything! Don't Worry, Be Happy - and welcome to the USSA.
RC Lloyd: Road repair plan a debacle Mr. Lloyd is politically Unaffiliated	http://tinyurl.com/kb8nr3m "...road repair estimate ...[by] the Boulder County Commissioners [is] $80,000 per mile for chip sealing..."	And no one even mentions that "chip & seal." when compared to real blacktop, is: Noisier Wears tires out faster Cheep schite with a shorter life. An extreme hazard to bicycles and motorcycles
Bo Shaffer: Boulder County more than city of Boulder Mr. Shaffer is a registered Republican.	http://tinyurl.com/nv3bca8 "Boulder County Commissioners are at it again. There are two major thoroughfares in Boulder County that are still impassable from last year's flood,..."	"...ostensibly because the county has no money to deal with it. Yet they will spend $1.5 million to buy property rights in another county. They also approved spending $2.6 million on building an underpass for bicyclists... the monolithic Democratic machine in Boulder County tolerates no dissent."
Boulder County subdivision paving group changes course on plan	http://tinyurl.com/ppt3m7j	Amazing how "cost conscious" the Commissioners and staff are when it comes to [not] spending money on their own county roads yet at the flick of a pen they lavish millions on pet projects like $286,000 for "free" RTD bus rides, $150,000 for ugly sculpture, and $1.5 million on "conservation" in Gilpin County.
Jason Vogel: Tolland Ranch conservation easement is a benefit for nature and people	http://tinyurl.com/o7otynm Jason Vogel is a registered Democrat.	Like Mike Barrow before him, Jason Vogel is being a Loyal Democrat doing his job to support the DEM Dynasty and spout the Party Line. In fact, both Mike and Jason use the same code phrase "leverage taxpayer dollars" which decoded means 'to use Other People's Money'
Mike Barrow: Boulder County's conservation easement purchase was the right choice	http://tinyurl.com/lhboxh8 Mike Barrow is a registered Democrat.	Mr. Barrow gives "thanks to the Boulder County commissioners... [for spending] ... our tax dollars" and believes the easement "... is a win-win for Boulder County." 95% of Commenters disagree. One 5% commentor calls the other 95% 'haters.'
Boulder County wants to spend $286,000 for RTD fares out of Longmont	http://tinyurl.com/nfhch95 But there's no money to fix the roads... ???	Wrong, Wrong, WRONG !!! The $286,000 is the people's tax money that will be misappropriated by the DEM Dynasty (yet again) to feather its own Liberal/Progressive nest.
Ray Hedberg: Boulder County funds are being misdirected - Ray Hedberg is a registered Democrat. More Trouble in Paradise?	http://tinyurl.com/oqodp4e " ...there is a clear pattern that the commissioners, with their staffs, the county legal staff and the affected county departments, first decide what they are going to do,...	...then they call a public comment meeting (as required by law?), then they ignore the public input and unanimously vote to go ahead with their previously determined decision - all within the hour at the same meeting The people of Boulder county are being used and played; clearly the commissioners are doing whatever they think they can get away with. As Cindy Domenico comes up for re-election this fall, she should be defeated for leading this assault on the public."
Boulder County paving district foe gets support from GOP crowd	http://tinyurl.com/mhqpt92	Lafayette Democrat [Commissioner] Domenico is up for re-election this year. Louisville Libertarian Randy Luallin and Niwot resident Kai Abelkis, who's unaffiliated with any political party, are also running for the post. Libertarian Ralph Shnelvar is running to unseat and replace incumbent Democratic County Clerk Hillary Hall.
Jan Miller: Boulder County commissioners are dragging their feet on road repair	http://tinyurl.com/mls8een - Ms Janice Miller is Unaffiliated with any political party.	"The commissioners are apparently hiring a Boulder public relations firm at a cost of $56,000 [but] What's the point of advising the already existing [LID] advisory committee? Wouldn't that $56,000 be better spent on actual road work?"
Bo Shaffer: Boulder County lacks full representation Mr. Shaffer is a registered Republican	http://tinyurl.com/mhrsu42 "There are two major thoroughfares in Boulder County that are still impassable from last year’s flood, ostensibly because...	"...the county has no money to deal with it. Yet the commissioners just [approved a deal] supporting the purchase of more open space... in another county! They will spend $1.5 million to buy property in another county, so that no one else will be able to buy or use it."
Boulder County approves $1.5 million conservation easement purchase [in Gilpin County]	http://tinyurl.com/n86v7sr - Yet there is "no money" to maintain rural roads Boulder County.	Boulder County officials have contended they "don't have the funds to maintain basic government services," such as the conditions of subdivision roads, and yet they'll be spending $1.5 million toward a conservation easement over property that largely lies in Gilpin County.
I. Robert Armstrong: The county commissioners' spending priorities are out of place	http://tinyurl.com/mnl96vz - Mr. Armstrong is a registered Republican.	"Twice in sworn documents... Boulder County has stated that it does not have adequate funds... to finance... the maintenance of subdivision roads in unincorporated Boulder County. But they seemingly can find $1.5 million for a conservation easement in Gilpin County."
Boulder County will proceed with $4.6 million road rehab program	http://tinyurl.com/mws2te3 [Boulder County transportation director George Gerstle] noted in his email to the advisory panel that the commissioners 'recognize the critical need..."	"...to move forward with much-needed road improvements" within the countywide LID' but that [they] are also aware that if the [200] plaintiffs challenging the LID prevail, all of the [LID] assessments would have to be returned to property owners. Should this occur after this year's LID funds are expended, all county taxpayers would bear the cost of reimbursements," Gerstle said
Dan Seger: Boulder's roads -- What happened to improvements?	http://tinyurl.com/kavmkm5 Note: 'Dan (or Daniel) Seger' is not a registered voter in Boulder County.	"Table Mesa travelers continue to bump and lurch... Was I naive to expect that 'improvements' were to include a smooth surface?"
Craig Colley: The money is there for Boulder County roads - Mr. Colley is a registered Republican	http://tinyurl.com/lbrkhfj "Boulder County] commissioners recently decided to spend only $966,000 in 2014 to maintain subdivision county roads...."	"... [from a] budget of $367 million. It is awash with money, yet can’t spend more than $966,000 or 0.2 percent to maintain a third of the county roads. It spends $38 million on social services; $25 million on administration... $17 million on parks and open space."
Janix Hogle: County roads are a free ride for commissioners Ms Hogle is a registered Republican.	http://tinyurl.com/ljkuzh5 "Ironically, of all the roads travelled [by the rural Boulder County resident] that day, the only road his taxes aren’t being used to maintain..."	"... is the one he originally paid to build and gave to the commissioners. Yes, that’s a free ride for the county commissioners who love to spend money on virtually anything else, but not on subdivision road maintenance. This is robbery and we need new commissioners. Your one chance comes this November."
George H. Johnson: Boulder County commissioners are out of touch with the real world	http://tinyurl.com/lq48kkp George H. Johnson is politically Unaffiliated.	"First of all, I would recommend removing each and every one of these people from office as soon as possible. Elect anyone. Just get rid of these current bureaucratic leeches masquerading as public saints. They have demonstrated that they lack any ability to judge the 'real world.'"
Bob Zimmerer: Boulder's spending needs to be put on a diet	http://tinyurl.com/lz2nc88 Robert Zimmerer is a registered Republican.	"It’s about time we offer some competition to the pied piper approach of more spending, more taxes, more rules and more government intrusion into all aspects of our lives."
What about the money for the roads? By Milt Marasch (registered Republican)	http://tinyurl.com/k6q82uw What the SPLIDAC Committee Members don't know, and the Commissars ain't-a-gonna tell 'em, is that Boulder County will NOT indemnify the SPLIDAC members from personal lawsuits filed against them by victimized Citizens.	This was similar to how Boulder County would not indemnify its 2012 Canvass Board against personal lawsuits. "Why are the commissioners holding your assessment money hostage after saying they did not have the money to repair roads?" The USA is Dead, Long Live the USSA.
Boulder sees potential in countywide sustainability tax A new county sustainability tax would bring the sales tax rate in Boulder City close to 9 percent.	http://tinyurl.com/mcf3o6a Like Road taxes, plans to divert funds generated by the new tax into social programs were quick to emerge when Boulder City Councilwoman Mary Young suggested that:	'housing needs are related to sustainability goals and she hoped that some portion of the new tax could be used toward affordable housing.' NOTE: The Boulder County commissioners will hold a public hearing on the idea [for a new tax to fund additional EnergySmart energy efficiency programs as well as other programs related to recycling, local food, transportation and water quality] at their April 22 meeting.
Ray Hedberg: Boulder County road budget should be a priority for commissioners	http://tinyurl.com/qgwksgz Mr. Hedberg is a registered Democrat.	"The glaring fact is that 'road maintenance' is a core county responsibility that virtually everywhere else takes precedence over other spending, including things like bike paths and open space."
Pam Allen: County road LID costs cannot be known without bids on project	http://tinyurl.com/lslqhcf Pamela Allen is a registered Democrat. Oops the natives are getting restless (again).    ...In which Pamela asks:	"If the bids come back much lower than this "estimate," what will the commissioners do with all the extra money they will collect from us? Who monitors and controls how the county commissioners spend the taxes they collect from us?" Answer: "Whatever they want" and "Nobody," respectively.
Boulder County commissioners name subdivision paving district critics to advisory panel	http://tinyurl.com/l3hqqvg Way to go DEMs... You included only one woman (Kim Eileen Hedberg) on your "Team Of Ten." With 5 DEMs, 3 REPs, and 2 UAFs on the panel...	...the deck is stacked and the outcome is already wired to be pro-DEM and pro-Urban. The "critics and skeptics" of the LID have now been co-opted into becoming collaborators. '...We won't hurt you anymore...' Welcome to the USSA.
Why city residents should care about subdivision paving by Chuck Wibby	http://tinyurl.com/ktpqa3r Charles Wibby is a registered Republican.	"...And if we say "no" to new taxes, assessments will be imposed without our approval. This is why our effort to stop the Subdivision LID is important for all Boulder County residents; not just those who are directly impacted. What is happening to us could easily happen next to you and your neighbors."
Darwyn Herbst: LID is not needed for county road repairs	http://tinyurl.com/lnqpk6j Darwyn Herbst is a registered Democrat (Oops, the natives are getting restless).	"... Gerstle [Boulder County's transportation director] failed to make known that for $1million/year the county can chip & seal 15-miles of streets and overlay four miles each year. At this rate most streets can be resurfaced in 5-8 years without a LID and the streets will be in good condition. I suggest that we support the legal action that is under way to stop the costly LID that has been imposed on us.."
Robert E. Reed: Boulder County needs to pony up and pay for county roads	http://tinyurl.com/n7cby4z Robert E. Reed is a registered Democrat.	Mr. Reed says: "I believe that there is a basic legal principle in this country, that the government cannot pass a law and enforce it retroactively. I would hope the same principle would apply to contractual agreements between the county and the subdivision developers, and by extension, the subdivision property owners."
Ned Riedel: County residents should pay for county roads	http://tinyurl.com/ka8ud5m Note: There is no "Ned Riedel" (or similar) registered to vote anywhere in Boulder County.	Ned (whoever he is and wherever he lives) says: "...after all the compelling letters that claim an injustice was done by forming the LID, I must offer this: Boulder County subdivision residents reap benefits from their roads that I, and other city residents, do not and it is time for them to pay for those benefits."
George Gerstle: Setting record straight on repaving	http://tinyurl.com/p8e2pld NOTE: George Gerstle is Boulder County's transportation director and a registered Democrat.	...Wherein George sums up his party line with "Clearly, there is a diversity of opinion; however the Commissioners have, after listening closely to the passionate public input, chosen the best path forward for all of county residents." The FIRM Organization takes on George's specious claims point-by-point in this rebuttal.
William Taggart: County roads -- A [Commissioner] recall election is needed	http://tinyurl.com/ppkemt5 Mr. Taggart is politically Unaffiliated.	"Considering that two state representatives were recalled because of their support of legislation that is now Colorado law, then it would seem that similar action in response to the commissioners’ intransigence on the road maintenance issue is a proper thing for us to do."
Janix Hogle: County roads -- No system of checks and balances	http://tinyurl.com/mbu2ne6 Janix Hogle is a registered Republican.	"It should not be necessary for the citizens they supposedly are serving to establish a shadow watchdog capability to insure their elected officials are acting honestly and with integrity."
Kimberly Gibbs: County has obligation to maintain its roads	http://tinyurl.com/maclxya Kimberly Gibbs is a registered Democrat.	Kimberly says: "Special assessments erode property values and reveal a lack of initiative among the leadership." Could it be the DEM Dynasty is crumbling (and trembling) at its foundation?
Julien Pine: County road choices were unethical "Julien Pine" is not registered to vote in Boulder County.	http://tinyurl.com/mc8bmwy "The meetings conducted by Boulder County made it clear that the only choice 10,000-plus households had was a Public Improvement District or a Local Improvement District..."	..."It was like getting to choose between rat poison and arsenic. The county wanted to do it and it could, so it did. This is not OK." Whoever "Mr. Pine" may be, his conclusions are correct. Here is the sound of Outrage and Condemnation from the tribally loyal supporters of the DEM Dynasty:
Constance Ekrem: County roads -- Commissioners placed a heavy burden on residents	http://tinyurl.com/qy9uvfs. Oops, Constance Ekrem is a registered Democrat. So how do you like them now?	"My assessment/lien will be $10,000. You read right, ten thousand dollars. For me, it might as well be ten million dollars. This Local Improvement District is wrong in so many ways. Looks like extortion to me.
Residents are angry! (.pdf) FIRM says: "So in case you are unaware of the County and City game plan here it is:"	Watch for a new LID coming soon to your neighborhood. Here is their Game Plan:	Under fund essential services. Divert the money to non-essential services. Tell residents that in order to maintain essential services, we need to pay more sales tax and/or more property taxes. And if we say "no" to new taxes, LID assessments will be imposed without our approval.
Guest opinion: Commissioners flip their lid by Matthew S. Finberg, attorney. Mr. Finberg is a registered Republican	http://tinyurl.com/pnq6fba - In which the commissioners... refused to take no for an answer and... used their power [to create] ...	...The Subdivision Paving Local Improvement District ("LID") assessing taxes for the funds they believe they need ...and imposing a perpetual lien ...which has now been recorded in the land records.
Rural streets are already subsidized by urban residents by Macon Cowles.	http://tinyurl.com/qfz7uc8 "Samuel Macon Cowles III" is a registered Democrat.	Commissioner Cowle's trump argument: "One can't blame rural subdivision residents for trying to reconstruct their streets with Other People's Money." Public comments on Cowle's opinion seem to differ greatly.
Explaining the subdivision paving Local Improvement District In which DEM Girlz seek to obfuscate their complicit roles in jamming the LID down our throats. They proclaim that:	http://tinyurl.com/n66c4na "We explained in our outreach that we would move forward with two options to fund road rehabilitation work to begin in 2014..."	The Girlz continue: " 1) a Public Improvement District, which requires voter approval, or 2) a Local Improvement District, should the PID not be approved by voters. The PID failed to pass in the Nov. 5 election, and, consistent with our commitment [i.e., threat], we proceeded with the LID..." Voters: This is the quid pro quo punishment of their constituents; A cynically calculated Payback for all who would dare defy them. Not-So-Trivia: Which two commissioners sit their posts under the cloud of a non-Certified 2012 Boulder County General Election?
"Fliers accuse Boulder County commissioners of 'treason' in paving decisions" Seems neither the reporter or the commissioners can recognize a metaphor when they see it.	http://tinyurl.com/n8abubn The article states "The fliers delivered to Domenico's home included her home address and telephone number, an incorrect home address for Jones, and neither a home address nor a telephone number for Gardner."	For the record: (1) commissioner "Cindy Domenico" is an alias and not actually her true name (based on voter rolls), and (2) Voter ID, Name, birth year, address, phone, political party, and many other items of [what many would call private] information are readily available. It comes on a CD (for a $50 fee to the Clerk's office) as an electronically searchable database containing complete documentation on all 245,500+ registered voters in Boulder County. This is all public info, folks, and it is easy and legal to acquire, use, and reveal by anyone. The person(s) who made up the fliers was clearly an amateur.
An  Actual Example  of the above data, for the commissioners, the clerk, and myself (current as of early December 2013):	the Database Query (a really small .txt file), and the Matching Data (a very small .csv file) that the Query produces.	NOTES: The data linked at left consists of only public information and its publication is therefore not any kind of 'Snowden'-like breach of privacy or security. All .csv files are human-readable text that can be viewed by word processors, spreadsheets, internet browsers, and databases.
Don and Joan Hobbs: Kudos to those joining the fight for county road funding Don (Voter ID 8101879) is an Unaffiliated and Joan (VID 8099667) is a Democrat.	http://tinyurl.com/m32k48pM "[We] gave the county commissioners a check for $8,535 [for the LID]. We weren't being generous we were coerced," say the Hobbs'	They continue: "You see the only way we can officially oppose their absurd ... Local Improvement District [LID] is to pay 15 years of assessments in advance... the commissioners are counting on that hurdle as a way to limit dissent and opposition to their dereliction of duty and subsequent money grab... We are especially thankful for the eight homeowners ... who launched the lawsuit on Nov. 20 that will clean up this mess. We are thankful that the BoCoFirm website has been set up ... and we're thankful for all of the folks who have joined the fight [against the LID], over 200 at last count!"
Boulder County paving district foes seek preliminary injunction	http://tinyurl.com/l468w58	The plaintiffs argue in their written motion for the injunction that ... they'd be forced next year to either pay the full 15-year LID assessment -- which they said would average about $5,756 per property -- or face encumbrances on their properties until the full amount is paid in annual installments -- encumbrances the motion says would immediately reduce a property's value. The plaintiffs also contended ... that including their properties in the LID would permanently exclude those subdivision properties "from the benefits of road maintenance paid for out of general tax revenues." They've argued that the ... LID is actually a county obligation, rather than the property owners'.
Property owners begin paying Boulder County subdivision paving assessments	http://tinyurl.com/ltgq5ul	Property owners [in LID affected areas] with questions about paying the full LID assessments or about the first annual installment bill they'll get in January and when that installment's must be paid may call the Treasurer's Office at 303-441-3520.
Boulder County homeowner causes stir with coin payment toward [LID] paving assessment	http://tinyurl.com/lpwsdsy Todd Hunter (VID 8112410) is a registered Republican.	A Boulder County security officer escorted homeowner Todd Hunter out of the county treasurer's office after he tried to pay his $8,190 LID assessment with a $7,958.58 check and $231.42 in assorted coins. Boulder County Treasurer Bob Hullinghorst (Democrat) says, "We've had more hostile taxpayers in the office during the past several weeks than in all of my other years as treasurer." Rightly so, in view of hostile acts by Officials
Boulder County contends Local Improvement Districts are common, legal	http://tinyurl.com/mcokcz8, and http://tinyurl.com/m842u99	Boulder County commissioners Cindy Domenico, Deb Gardner, and Elise Jones "...believes the LID will be upheld" by the courts. Not even Boulder County has enough money to defend 10,900 individual lawsuits, one for each lien they filed against as many property owners. It's time for a little payback aimed at our public non-servants. Voters: Throw them out with a recall referendum!
More may join lawsuit against Boulder County over subdivision paving	http://tinyurl.com/lrh8zwp	More than 100 owners of properties in unincorporated Boulder County's residential subdivisions have expressed interest in adding their names to a lawsuit that's challenging the county's ability to ... bill homeowners the bulk of the costs of rehabilitating their subdivisions' paved roads
Guest opinion: Descent by rural road By Lou Barnes (Unaffiliated with any political Party - Voter ID 7905090)	http://tinyurl.com/lwlbtoa	"The county placed [the LID] assessments (then called a 'PID') on the November [2013] ballot, which were voted down. On Nov. 18 the commissioners voted to proceed with the assessments, a lawsuit challenge pending. Then in the worst single action by local government in my lifetime, on Dec. 2 the commissioners filed 520 pages of liens on more than 11,000 homes, $57.6 million without notice before, at the moment, or after."
Real estate professionals: Boulder County liens [LID] can hurt property sales	http://tinyurl.com/m9twu4mM	"The sale of property is put in jeopardy when an undisclosed [LID] obligation is revealed after the property has been under contract," Hotard said, and if a buyer learns of the lien after the closing on the sale, it "raises a specter of potential litigation" against the seller. In general, lenders in real estate transactions insist that any liens be paid by the seller before closing and not be made an obligation of the new owner
Guest opinion: Our roads, our responsibility by Ross Morgan (VID 8226886), a registered Democrat.	http://tinyurl.com/lcyc222 A True Tribal Progressive, Mr. Morgan speaks in support of the LID, hurling names at those who dare oppose it:	He says, "As for FIRM, I am tired of hearing their ... rhetoric about how the county is trying to rip us off. As far as I'm concerned, this elite group and their supporters are nothing more than conspiracy theorists who have cost us all a lot of money in their short-sighted quest to avoid the responsibility for our own road rehab. They sound like a bunch of tea-partiers who have nothing better to do than fight to avoid paying for what is paramount to our neighborhood access and property values."
Judy Bodman : Boulder County Commissioners act immorally with county roads Ms Bodman (Voter ID 7925468) is a registered Democrat)	http://tinyurl.com/ksnptvo	"I worked hard to pay off my mortgage, pay my taxes and insurance in a timely manner, and looked forward, in retirement, to being relatively debt free. Now you [commissioners] have taken a measure, which I hope is proved illegal, and is certainly immoral, and given us a burden we don't deserve. I am a retired teacher on a modest income and I can't pay your unfair assessment up front to eliminate the 15-year lien ... [Even] if I pay my yearly lien assessment along with my taxes, and am not in arrears on anything, I still have the stigma of the 15-year lien.".
Roger Pioszak: County roads -- Commissioners failed to communicate Mr Pioszak (VID 8275674) is Unaffiliated with any political party.	http://tinyurl.com/k2gk25j	"The Boulder County commissioners (Cindy Domenico, Deb Gardner, Elise Jones) have taken the path of greatest resistance with the Subdivision Paving Local Improvement District (LID). Since the Public Improvement District (PID) failed during the Nov. 5 election, the commissioners immediately moved forward with the LID and placed a huge lien ($9,100 in my case) on over 10,000 Boulder County property owners. Now property owners have filed a lawsuit against the county. How did we come to this?"
Boulder County details when subdivision paving district bills can be paid	http://tinyurl.com/ka5yeao	Boulder County Fairness in Road Maintenance has warned property owners that each will have to pay the full amount -- typically several thousand dollars per parcel -- by Dec. 23, in order to maintain legal standing for challenging the LID and the road rehabilitation assessments those property owners will be billed for.
Peter Dente: Subdivision paving -- Residents need protection from county Mr. Dente (Voter ID 7997186) is a registered Republican.	http://tinyurl.com/l23xxk6	"Did you also know that if you do not pay the full amount, not just the full 2014 amount but the full 15-year assessment, to the county on or before Dec. 23, 2013, you will lose any legal rights to challenge the county's LID? That's right, you will lose your legal rights, even though the county never informed you directly and specifically that you had been assessed, the amount of that assessment or when it was due."

JUMP BACK TO TOP

And now comes  'The Secret Sell-Out'  - a statewide plan (aka "High Performance Transportation Enterprise") which is merely the latest example of the total and utter disregard by our elected officials (and their unelected bureaucrat sock puppets) to perform their sworn responsibility to serve We The People with honor and openness. What 'We The People' get instead is subterfuge, obfuscation, disinformation, and contempt from our elected officials (and their unelected bureaucrat sock puppets). The HPTE is a 50-year lease, between CDOT and a multinational private firm, to manage and collect tolls along U.S. 36 between Boulder and Denver.

In the worst-case scenario, the toll for a round trip between Denver and Boulder could cost up to $28, although CDOT spokeswoman Amy Ford says the price would be closer to $8 to $12. Is that comforting, or what?

 FLASH:  Colorado State Troopers use strong-arm tactics to silence opposition by HPTE critics in a so-called "public" meeting - one in which the public gets almost no time to speak.

      Look closely (click to enlarge), and you will see that the woman is holding a cane. Yes, she is handicapped and needs the cane to walk. Colorado State Patrol Officer K. Zeller should have refused to obey the unconstitutional order (violates First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments) by unelected CDOT bureaucrats to assault her. Or, maybe Officer Zeller just enjoys assaulting unarmed citizens. Is this a great country, or what?

If the [so-called] HPTE is successfully blocked by outraged citizens, then the Liberal/Progressive elected officials (and their unelected bureaucrat sock puppets) will declare a larger "LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT" to steal the money via Property Assessments. Why shouldn't they? After all, the precedent has already been set in Boulder County by the DEM Dynasty.

HPTE: Scroll down to see a Table of Public Comments on the HPTE outrage. Party affilitiations are noted for each writer.

It ain't over yet, folks: More HPTE Sell-Outs are on the way.

Have you been following Invasion of Ukraine by Putin's Russia? You can read eyewitness reports from a native Ukrainian woman living in Kyiv. Click here. Did you know that 100 patriot fighters in Kyiv died for freedom? A month later it seems corruption and coverup reveals that they may have died in vain.

The same fate may soon be required of us here in the USSA unless we make the 2014 and 2016 elections count.

A SAMPLING OF HPTE-RELATED WEB LINKS (newest are on top):

HPTE ARTICLE HEADLINE	HPTE WEB LINK (URL)	QUOTES & COMMENTS
Governor should sign bill to increase openess on highway projects	http://tinyurl.com/kp2x568	"Without these [private road] partnerships, officials say, the needed work will simply not be done. This will only result in greater costs and problems down the road for the traveling public and the economy." How is it that Colorado state and county roads apparently had enough money until the state went "blue?"
U.S. Highway 36 deal calls for audit "Deal" ??? This was one deal you couldn't refuse!	http://tinyurl.com/kxfvaz4 "A bill proposing a financial audit of the 50 year public-private partnership for changes to U.S. 36 between Boulder and Denver ...	...[is essential] because it will emphasize that the public is an important part of this partnership and deserves to know what is going on. The word public is the most important part of that sentence, and officials should be reminded of who pays the bills and act accordingly."
U.S. 36 deal done; others on the horizon - Denver Post	http://tinyurl.com/krn2j6y. "Plenary Roads Denver will take over toll collection on Interstate 25's managed lanes in mid-March [2014]," CDOT spokeswoman Amy Ford said.	"This is just the beginning...," said Mike Cheroutes, director of the High Performance Transportation Enterprise.
Matt Jones [D] introduces road bills in response to U.S. 36 controversy	http://tinyurl.com/l5d3ynw More Sweetheart, Sell-Out Deals, er, "public-private partnerships" for roads are on the horizon, including I-25 north of 120th Avenue.	"If regular organized crime tried to pull this off there would be charges and jail time for the perps [with AG Eric Holder at Justice not so sure]. But when the perps are corporate goons, lobbyist-owned & controlled political toads, and corrupt government agencies ...then it's all business as usual."
Michael Crawford: U.S. 36 -- A steal of a deal for Plenary Roads Mr. Crawford's political affiliation is uncertain.	http://tinyurl.com/nh8z8hy "For Plenary and those who control E-470 it must be comforting to know...	...there will be no competing public road or rail services. From a strategic standpoint the north counties are now essentially "hog tied" when it comes to public and private transportation."
Controversial 50-year U.S. 36 operating agreement between CDOT and Plenary a done deal "...a stipulation in the contract ... stated that a one-way trip between Boulder and Denver could be tolled as high as $14."	http://tinyurl.com/mlyxux2 See the Bond details on how we're getting screwed for 50 years here (original link), or here (5 Mb .pdf), in case they take down the other link.	Read the Comments at the end of the article. We The People have been played: Used, Abused, and Screwed. Welcome to USSA. Is this a great country, or what?
John Roberts: U.S. 36 -- Plenary Group has insolvent debt levels Mr. Roberts' political affiliation can not be determined.	http://tinyurl.com/nxlpar2 He says, "That’s the headline from The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia...the same transnational concessionaire, Plenary Group, who stuck it to the Australians, is now sticking it to us."	Roberts continues, "Plenary’s Canadian tentacle has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership. As students of the TPP know, approval of that insane trade deal will let global corporate tribunals override U.S. laws, regulations and contracts. So the already weak safeguards CDOT claims to offers us against all the risks in the five decades of this contract will vanish right into Plenary’s black loophole."
Michael J. Maloy: U.S. 36 -- CDOT is out of options	http://tinyurl.com/lnfmdew Michael J. Maloy is a registered Democrat, and it's good to see he is wearing the tribal warpaint. Any break in the ranks might be seen as ominous portent for 2014. Heap Big Trouble in Paradise.	"...paying increased gas taxes in the present will increase your quality of life and the economic growth of your community in the future." Too bad Mr Maloy didn't condemn how Democrat-dominated CDOT assaulted unarmed and handicapped citizens (one of which walked with a cane), to silence their opposition.
[Daily Camera] Editorial advisory board: Redevelopment on U.S. 36	http://tinyurl.com/l7r28lm "When you let virulently anti-automobile activists design a "multi-modal complete street" highway this is what you get: HOV3, a 12-foot wide bicycle/pedestrian path, and no additional traffic lanes."	The Daily-Camera's editorial advisory board members are: Judy Amabile (Democrat), Lou Barnes (Unaffiliated), Anne B. Butterfield (Democrat), Priscilla Dann-Courtney (Democrat), Dave Ensign (Democrat), Clay Evans (Democrat), Steve Fisher (Unaffiliated), Spense Havlick (Democrat), Marc Raizman (Democrat), Rusty Staff (Republican), Don Wrege (Unaffiliated). Fair & Balanced ??? NOT !!
High Performance Transportation Board Unanimously Approves US 36 Concessionaire Agreement	http://tinyurl.com/pa9wojl - in which CDOT asserts: "Approval followed a public comment session during which members of the public had the opportunity to address the board following an established process.	Apparently this 'established process' included unconstitutional orders (violates First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments) by unelected CDOT bureaucrats to assault unarmed citizens (one of which walked with a cane), carried out by mercinary thugs State Patrol goons, Officers. Haven't these Officers ever heard of the Oath Keepers organization? They need to join.
FLASH:  Protesters tossed from U.S. 36 contract hearing before panel OKs pact	Colorado State Troopers use strong-arm tactics to silence opposition by HPTE critics in a so-called "public" meeting - one in which the public gets little time to speak.	"I spent nine years in the National Guard to try and uphold the law, and today all that was smashed," said Smedley, whose arm was twisted behind his back by a [Colorado State] trooper. Is this a great country, or what?
Forces on left, right show equal disdain for 50-year contract "We are condemning it because it's a contract that was decided behind closed doors by unelected bureaucrats," Compass Colorado Executive Director Kelly Maher said Monday. "We have (Democrats) who created it, voted for it and now are trying to run away from it."	http://tinyurl.com/n3pujzm Ken Beitel, Drive SunShine's advisory board chair, said he is gratified that some on the right are against the arrangement with Plenary because, he said, "It is a bad business deal and it will cost Colorado taxpayers ... hundreds of millions of dollars."	"the more I read about this deal the more it looks like a looting of the citizens, 50 year taxpayer backed use quotas...those involved in this deal should be investigated and exposed for cronyism, conflicts of interest, no wonder it's been kept a secret." - marcoocci
Lawsuit, protest planned this week against 50-year U.S. 36 management deal The contract is expected to be finalized by the end of [February 2014].	http://tinyurl.com/llqyfxo A group of 14 legislators wrote to CDOT last month asking [for] 60 days to review the contract. The agency refused that request.	The road-widening project on U.S. 36 has fallen under harsh criticism from ... all sides of the political spectrum ... mostly on the claim that it was crafted in secret and with little to no oversight from state lawmakers.
George Narcavage: Who is protecting Boulder County interests on U.S. 36?	http://tinyurl.com/mfwacb6 George Narcavage is a registered Republican.	Narcavage warns, "Yes, [it's] a 50-year agreement. Remember the fuss by the city of Boulder over Xcel wanting an 'unreasonable 20-year agreement' because 'the city would have no control over them.' Anyone with less than three persons in their car will be required to pay a toll determined by the company for the next 50 years."
George A. Johnson: U.S. 36 -- Dump the evil privatization deal	"http://tinyurl.com/lke7yxd George A. Johnson is a registered Democrat.	Johnson asks, "Finally, what prudent investor signs a major deal without reading the contract? It’s axiomatic: Don’t sign ‘till you read. Dump this snakeoil deal and start over."
Tom Lopez: U.S. 36 -- Community costs will multiply	http://tinyurl.com/maqa4co Tomas Lopez is a registered Democrat.	Lopez predicts, "This clandestine deal will result in the public paying a multiplier of the actual cost while being inconvenienced for decades with delays at the tollgate or time spent writing checks for endless toll bills."
R. Eggers: U.S. 36 -- Government run amok (Mr. R. Eggers is a registered Republican) He says "...three familiar statements from those ramming the project through:	http://tinyurl.com/mtuazal 1) The project is too important to delay. 2) We didn't do a good enough job of communicating. 3) We cannot reveal details of the plan until it is finalized."	Eggers continues, "Where have we heard these same statements made before? They are ... identical to those made by the Boulder County commissioners before they imposed the Local Improvement District on subdivision homeowners."
CDOT releases 600-page U.S. 36 management contract for public review	http://tinyurl.com/kvuj7na To read it for yourself (but where are the "missing" 443 pages?), Click Here (157-page .pdf file).	"The contract has been the focus of loud objections by residents along the U.S. 36 corridor and some lawmakers... They also are unnerved by contract's worst-case toll scenario,.. which would put the cost of a round trip between Denver and Boulder at $28, although [proponents say] the price would be closer to $8 to $12."
Partnerships complete US 36 By Audrey DeBarros Ms DeBarros is a registered Democrat and Director of 36 Commuting Solutions.	http://tinyurl.com/mnmy3zj	"The US 36 project is the outcome of a multi-year Environmental Impact Statement process..." Seems right in line with UN Agenda 21 to me. What's not to like love?
Don R. Sherwood: U.S. 36 deal violates state constitution	http://tinyurl.com/mxf9ujd Don R. Sherwood is a registered Republican.	"Those that feel the U.S. 36 highway 'improvements' are a 'good deal' for state taxpayers need to consider this: The highly profitable, fat and very rich Goldman Sachs doesn’t get involved in penny ante games. We will pay dearly for this highway 'improvement'! Why else would they work so hard to keep the contract secret?"
CDOT beaten up in Round 2 of U.S. 36 public meetings	http://tinyurl.com/ln5ajyt	"CDOT officials said the global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is working to redact the contract prior to possible release." Just great! So We The People are kept in the dark and then, after it's all a "Done Deal" then we may get to read a Magic Marker-ed-up version with all the good (i.e., important) parts obliterated. Yettanuther failure of our elected officials (and their unelected bureaucrat sock puppets) to discharge their responsibility to serve with honor and openness.
Harsh words for CDOT at public meeting on 50-year U.S. 36 contract	http://tinyurl.com/kr99gcf	"CDOT has only released a summary version of the contract with Plenary, prompting many in the crowd to demand that the full 600-page legal document be made public before it is finalized." Got it, another Nancy Pelosi Moment wherein we have to eat, er, see it only after it is a "Done Deal" (like 0hMammaKare).
CDOT director says U.S. 36 contract with Plenary will close within two weeks	http://tinyurl.com/l637l4e	"[CDOT officials] were joined by several prominent former and current public officials - including Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum, former Boulder County Commissioner Will Toor (Democrat) and former Broomfield Mayor Pat Quinn"

NOTE: The Boulder Daily-Camera has adopted the cynical strategy of blocking digital access to public issues by demanding that internet readers must first pay a use tax before providing on-line access to news, editorial, and letters to the editor content. I deem it a 'tax' because the Daily Camera is the Court Fool kept to amuse the Queens and further the interests of the DEM Dynasty. Fortunately I have personally found a way around the block, but the same block may still adversely affect your viewing. Many hopeful readers will click away when confronted with the 'pay up, sucker' demand for unending payments to subscribe to Daily Camera propaganda. Ignorant On-Line advertisers are paying to reach on-line readers that don't stick around to be milked and therefore never have the chance to participate in the public discussion of public issues.
My apologies for the frustration (and obfuscation) such manipulation causes. - Daniel Martin

"One of the critical roles of our elected officials, stated by our founding fathers, is to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. Who will protect us from the tyranny of our elected officials?"
- PETER DENTE of Boulder

WE REPEAT:

1. One for the Money
2. Two for the Show
3. Three to get Ready, and
4. FOUR TO GO!

JUMP BACK TO TOP

NOTES: This web page is neither approved by or associated with the FIRM Organization The opinions expressed herein are those of the author (currently Unaffiliated with any political party), who has been a duly appointed Election Judge, a voting member of the two 2012 Boulder County Canvass Boards, and the two Logic and Accuracy Test Panels.

free counters