AURORA | The City of Aurora last week filed to dismiss an appeal to court ruling that invalidated a vote to create a special tax district for the Gaylord Rockies Hotel and Conference Center.
“The city did move to dismiss the lawsuit, and the project is moving forward,” said Wendy Mitchell, Aurora Economic Development Council CEO. “The project is under construction, the size and scope of the project is unchanged.”
In Feburary Adams County District Court Judge Ted C. Tow III ruled that Aurora violated the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) with an election process that did not include enough voters to approve a special tax district to finance the project.
Mark Grueskin, a lawyer for the two residents suing the city, said Aurora has waved “a meek flag of surrender” by dismissing its appeal.
“It’s apparent that the city has engaged in a gross abuse of the election requirements in TABOR,” he said. “If the city wants to act in good faith, it can put the issue to voters of the City of Aurora.”
Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said in a statement that such a vote would be unlikely.
“RIDA Development is responsible for securing the financing for the project,” he said. “Dismissing the litigation will assist with the financing and the project proceeding as announced. This means there is no need for an election. We will deliver this project to our citizens as promised.”
Grueskin said the city could stand to lose $121 million by not pursuing the appeal. Mitchell countered the amount is much lower, but would not give a speicfic dollar amount.
The Adams County lawsuit was filed against the city by two Aurora residents last year who claimed the special district vote violated TABOR. Supporters of the project and the city said the process followed well-established rules for big projects that rely partly on tax incentives.
Still, the end of the city’s appeal does not spell the end of the legal battle over the Gaylord project.
An appeal filed by 11 mostly Denver hotels against Gaylord also remains pending before the Colorado Court of Appeals. The City of Aurora and RIDA Development Corp. also have an appeal pending before the Colorado Court of Appeals after a counter suit in Arapahoe County against the hotelier group was dismissed.
Mitchell said that more than 100 jobs have been created from the hotel project so far, citing a report sent in July to the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
Wonderful. This useless monstrosity will now cost an additional $121,000,000. Aurora is rapidly getting its own version of the Anschutz Medical Center. Let’s hope Mitchell is right that the amount is going to be much smaller. But still, what if it’s $40,000,000. Is that somehow ok? And who’s surprised that the mayor and city attorney are suddenly unavailable for comment. Good ‘ol Aurora.
Retiree, If you are an Aurora resident; perhaps you should be a bit more positive and support our Mayor and city. This is competition against Denver; the positive of all this, is Gaylord will move forward and any fees or ‘temporary lost money’ due to litigation will be recovered and some. Whine, whine, and whine is all you older folks do; it gets discouraging at times. At your age; you shouldn’t be so negative, remember, you are on your way out!
Yup, you got all us ‘older folks’ figured out. Let’s hook up and talk about this again in ten years when that complex, which was originally meant to be the locus of the National Western Stock Show, (and, remember, isn’t anymore??), will instead be the go-to spot for time share seminars, singles groups and the world Yahtzee tournament. (Or will that be the spot of the next Republican National Convention? Seems like a likely candidate.)
No, I don’t share your admiration for the Mayor who did a really dumb thing and was beaten in court over it, and lost an estimated $53,000,000 in taxes in the process. And let’s not forget the hundreds of millions in tax giveaways he had already handed over to Gaylord. Those Gaylord guys were high-fiving the second the ink was on the final agreement.
Meanwhile, Denver still has the National Western Stock Show and has plans for expanding it!
OK, gotta go take my Geritol now. It’s past my bedtime, and probably yours, too.
Golly, Retiree You must still get shivers up your spine with all the money Democrats brought to Denver and spent, more than Denver shelled out to get them for Barack few years ago. Youheress. Probably one of his college kids in the stands call you to vote for him. Somehow, I remember Denver security, police on the streets, and all the other stuff with those fake Roman columns, and stage cost Denver heaps more than they took in.
And you also need to check all the money spent by Denver to keep the stock show in Denver, even if it does interrupt traffic pattersn during that period, and is held in the coldest, snowiest part of the year. Everyone just loves to be in the parade (stopped) on I-70 with all the stock trailers with cattle, trying to get off the freeway and into the grounds to unload. In all the years stock show has been in Denver, I have never gone to a single one. You see, I grew on farm in Ohio, walked barefoot through the cow doo with it squishing up between my toes, because in the 1930s, no one had any money, so one pair shoes per child was bought, just before school started, and had to last until next year. Guess you did not get that experience, so feel you have missed something, and want it in Denver, so you can smell the animals. Thanks, but no thanks. Korean War, enlistment (draft same day) 1950 took me to a new career, away from that.
Got another story for you too, Retiree. Running through a field when I was in 5th grade, I learned I could be a very good long jumper. I was barefoot, in field taking about 3 (?) steps, and foot came down on snake (which I recognized the feel) My next step was about 20 feet, estimate. Realized later it was a black snake, not poisonous, since I was in hay field that had just been mowed, and hay dried, removed. It it had been a copper head or rattlesnake, I would not be writing this. But at school I could show some jumps almost that good, after that.
Please explain how all the fees will be recovered. As I recall Aurora gave away all future tax revenue for 33 years, which is longer than the life expectancy of Gaylord.
The taxes Aurora quite fighting over were over and above any current taxes. As this old codgers sees it Aurora’s city council and was led not by Mayor Hogan but the other Mayor Tauer.
And on another topic… This is for Ward 4 voters: one of the candidates running for city council in Ward 4 who’s initials are A.S. was part of a group that opposed the car lot at Iliff and Peoria took a one THOUSAND dollar campaign contribution from the car people? Then had the nerve to get an article in the Hub about how he forced the car dealership out! That is not the person I want being my voice. He’s a liar and a cheat. Ok back to your regularly scheduled argument.
Unfortunatly Das Codger is a nom de plum for Charlie Richardsons Campaign. To call Arnie Shultz a Liar and a Cheat is really uncalled for behavior from the Richardson Campaign! We might ask Charlie why he accepted TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS in contributions from Michael Sheldon and Marshal Abrahams who are wanting to develop near the Illif Street Station? Is he being a Liar and a Cheat to his fellow citizens?
It is too bad that the Richardson Campaign is behaving this way especially after Charlie asked not to go negative!
Look what I found: CERTIFIED CANDIDATES
CITY OF AURORA
REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 3, 2015
(as of August 18, 2015)
Ward IV
Charlie Richardson
2498 S. Victor St.
Aurora, CO 80014
720-320-0808
Richardsonward4@comcast.net
Ward V
Bob Roth
18121 E. Linvale Dr.
Aurora, CO 80013
720-870-0718
robert.c.roth@gmail.com
Ward VI
Francoise Michelle Bergan
25107 E. Davies Drive
Aurora, CO 80016
720-242-9893
Francoise.bergan@comcast.net
Where did Arnie go?
Candidates are not certified until their petitions are turned in.
From the City’s website…
Once a person has filed a nomination petition, the signatures on the petition checked, and the person certified as a candidate, the candidate’s name and contact information will be listed on the Elections web page.
For a list of persons who have declared an intention to run for municipal office, contact Karen Goldman, Deputy City Clerk, at kgoldman@auroragov.org.
Looks like Schultz better step on it then!
The last day is August 25.
This is for Ward 4 voters: You are in the midst of a complete disaster.
#1 Molly Markert was the only person throwing their hat in the ring to run against Mayor Hogan. What is the real reason she withdrew?
#2 Arnie Schultz decides to run for Molly’s soon to be open seat. A vote for Arnie is practically the same as a vote for Molly. Who do you think wrote her newsletter all those years?
#3 Charlie Richardson worked for Aurora a total of 38 years. Many included being the City Attorney. He retires and a month later Hogan hires him as a consultant saying Charlie wouldn’t be giving any legal advice. HA Just as Charlie runs out of time as a consultant, he begins to campaign for the Ward 4 council seat?
Don’t forget: Hogan and his now ex-wife Cleland are very tight friends of Richardson and his wife.
Everyone knows politicians are often re-elected based on name recognition not necessarily accomplishment. Who has had more name recognition over the years than Richardson? Then you go to the city website and search for the names of people running and Arnie Schultz name is missing in action but, Richardson’s is there for people to see and remember?
Oh boy!
We are proud to announce that Arnie is an certified Ward IV candidate!
If it is in fact true that Schultz took a contribution of $1000 from the developer, with the understanding that the developer thought he was a good candidate, but then opposed the developer’s plans, then that displays his integrity in refusing to be bought. If the developer thought he was buying support, then he was attempting to bribe Schultz. If Schultz had accepted the $1000 with the understanding that there would be a tit for tat, then he would be accepting a bribe. Since he opposed the car lot anyway, that was clearly not the case.
You have a point. The older folks will be gone. Just one more bill we can stick you with.
The last day is August 25.
Oh really? Is Disneyland a monstrosity? Or the Space centers. Gaylord is a destination city, and will bring people to Denver, who normally don’t come here. Majority of them will fly in, whether commercial or their own privately owned aircraft. Some will fly here and stay at other hotels in Aurora, or some may even go to Denver. This is not a fly by night outfit, building their first such facility. Like it or not, there will be more building east, toward the Kansas line. Water availability will determine how much, and where. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, and I already pay more in taxes and cost of living, due to all who have come here since I bought. Perhaps even you, Retiree? I think we had this discussion some time ago.
added note: Before I get flamed, I know it is hotel, but with all the other parts of that facility, it will be its own little city, as part of Aurora, just as the gated communities, and other sections that rule themselves, within Aurora borders now. (still cannot remember name of that small town, east of Altura (but know that Fletcher was one name, but think that became Altura), before annexation into Aurora.
Gaylordland? Hilarious! It’s the stuff of the kind of dreams that Aurora dreams and things still end up being Auroraland. (Strip malls and chain restaurants, and blaaaaand!).
I just can’t wait to see all those tourists flocking to the plains east of Denver (we already know what a tourist magnet Kansas is!). Almost makes me horny. Franky, you’ve really lost it. Maybe I’ll see you at a timeshare seminar there some day. Otherwise, look me up in ten years and I’ll buy you a grown-up ticket to Gaylordland! In the meantime, Aurora City Govt has pulled another doozy and cost us lots of money in lost revenue. (Remember, only Gaylordland will make lots of money with no major tax benefit to Aurora)
You are off the trolley with this one. Gaylord will only retain tax funds generated after they go into business until they reach amount agreed on. The other shops there, just like at airport (DIA) will be paying their taxes, and they will be employing their own employees, just like DIA. What do you not understand about. Or are you just another ‘sidewalk superintendant’ with an opinion, without having a piece of the action. Do you understand what destination facility is. It is stand alone, attraction, just like the Olympics, which I do not support. But lot of folks do, and they cost a heap more to the city hosting, then they bring in or leave with the city. So please explains what you really know, or think you know about that.
https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/08/18/aurora-dropping-its-appeal-in-gaylord-case.html
https://www.denverpost.com/editorials/ci_28682010/aurora-right-walk-away-from-appeal-gaylord-tax
The City Attorney does not work for you and me he works for the Mayor and ten council members, these are his clients. So when two concerned citizens brought the question of a Denver Resident voting to raise taxes in Aurora the city attorney’s advice apparently was, let them take us to court and since the Mayor and City Council has found this approach to be a winning tactic in the past, took the City Attorney’s advice.
We should all be thankful these two concerned citizens found someone willing to form a symbiotic relationship and spend the money necessary to force the Mayor and City Council to answer this question.
The City Attorney tried to diminish these two concerned citizens by calling them “cranks, malcontents, and disgruntled citizens with an ax to grind.”
Maybe we should thank the two concerned citizens that raised the question and those “mean-spitted Denver Hostelers” for forcing the Mayor and City Council to comply with the law of the land.
Name calling and labeling citizens who question the city and it’s moves, is the quickest way to dismiss and diminish the voice of the people.
Does anyone find it interesting that the biggest political story across the nation is illegal immigration and Aurora has made the list of sanctuary cities. Yet, Barb Cleland and Marsha Berzins have no idea how Aurora got on it? The Denver Post runs the story but, Aurora Sentinel decides not to? When I look at the main page picture of the Mayor defending Gaylord, one more time, I have to laugh. Then, to read elsewhere that Cleland says Aurora isn’t a sanctuary city. Whoa! Yes, it is and she knows it. They all do…..
For proof, search the Sentinel for:
COPS WITHOUT BORDERS: Keeping the peace with illegal immigrants (July 3, 2013).
Hey, they have to keep those Federal dollars coming in somehow, right?
Ashley, I have to wonder about all the cranky people moved here and brought their eastern and western ways of living by doing that name calling, and sueing anyone, about anything, whether they are involved or not. I bought in Aurora when Altura was to east of us, and there was another small blip in the road with its name too. When the railroad track ran south from Smith Road, past Fitzsimons, then continued on south to 6th Avenue, and west to Lowry to dump coal couple times each year at the power generation stations. My children now in high 50s and 62 played east of our yard, across the tracks to the stream, catching horny toads, lizards, frogs, and salamanders. We had prairie dogs where Potomac is now. Wife born in Denver in 1935, I came here first time in 1951, though I passed through, but bought in 1963.
I retired and came back when Douglas Bruce was pushing TABOR and voted against it twice, then for it, to stop Roy Romer and legislature from wild spending, then taxing more. If you did not experience that, and the two doing the suing, I will say you really need to review that closely. You will find that under TABOR City has taken in more money every yearn then the year before, even when economy went in the toilet, and Democrats started Gnashing of teeth. So oldtimers like me paid for much of those improvements through the year, that attracted and brought the whiners and gripers here. If they left their habit where they left, we had a fairly quiet life style then, as long as we kept Wellington Webb and Denver out of our affairs. Mayor Paul Tauer was perfect mayor, after some before him I would not brag about, and city prospered. I really don’t care about Denver crying, and trying to stop Aurora from growing, while they try to grow and annex more. I worked at Samsonite, and Denver ate too much of my wages, by taxing me, and also gave me problems when I tried to get business license for repairs in metro area. Found Aurora had 1 stop, shop, for permits I needed. Denver had screwed up system, having to go shop to shop, with fees at each. So let them gnash their teeth and whine. I don’t go into Denver, if I can avoid it, for any reason.
The thing is Frank, the world as you knew it is gone for good. It’s all the talk the past few days that James Harrison won’t let his sons accept participation trophies. Imagine that! Everyone thinks they EARNED the right to win something, just because they showed up?
That’s what has happened to America. If you show up, you win. If someone pokes you in the upper arm, you get a battalion of lawyers to represent you in court. Because hey, that finger poke offended you and the claim is, you were i n j u r e d and should be compensated accordingly. How many hours were spent on that one?
We did this to ourselves Frank. We allowed career council people and a career city attorney to do whatever they wanted without challenge. We’ve made mini celebrities out of those people and once they’re gone and, we look back on their contribution (the mess they think is their legacy) for Aurora, we’re going to have to title their book “Fifty shades of red”.
No Ashley. I disagree that the world I knew is gone. It is still there among the 2/3ds of USA citizens who do not register or vote. And they don’t write on net. But they are still there, and Donald Trump is speaking for them and for us. He does not have to be specific, since he cannot do anything by himself. He needs us behind him, and he will find all the advice and knowledge among all those that Obama did not listen to, that Obama relieved of commands, demoted, forced to retire, or transferred because they disagreed with him. But those people are talking to Donald, and I hear myself and them, in what he is saying. I learned in military, if I assign a mission or job to an individual, I believe that person can do it. I do not insult them by telling how, when, where, with what to do it. As a supervisor, work center supervisor, or detachment commander, I do not designate an individual like our president to do anything, unless it is to cut the grass, or sweep something.
Donald Trump knows how to supervise, how to cooperate, how to manage, and get the best from his employees (or he can say “you are fired”. That works well in civilian world. Bit tougher in military or civil service where it takes forever to hire someone, unless it is relative or crony to already employed relative. And you dam sure cannot fire them without a staff of lawyers, and pile of papers dating over time showing incompetence. Reason McDonald is having problems getting rid of employees at VA. Those folks are like cow manure on your shoes. No matter how you clean, or clear, the stink remains.
WE NEED A BRASH, OUTSPOKEN MAN RIGHT NOW TO BE NEXT PRESIDENT WHO WILL NOT BACKTRACK TO ANYONE, APOLOGIZE TO THEM , OR BOW AND KISS THEIR RINGS. Carley is impressive, but not the one to get the stench of Obama out of nostrils and minds of other countries, let alone, ours. But I do see her in executive capacity within next administration, if Trump is elected. And Dr. Carson in medical to get rid of ACA and all of its dripping fangs. I could see Walker or Bush as Sec. of State, think Walker is more forceful for there.
But they all have to remember, it is Hillary, Biden, Mallory, or Webb that will be opposing and need to overcome.
Do you think they’ve finally got or are going to discover the goods on Hillary?
I think so. I have not heard of Platte Valley Networks having state or federal contracts (other than this) where they would have the official, controlled WIPE software, to over write all the Hard drives, depending on how many was in that server, Those my son worked on years ago for Digital here in Colorado had multiple hard drives in server, one for each account.
I do know he did then, and even yet, do IT work and warranty work for city, county, state, and federal on equipment his employer sells, and are still under warranty. And he records every hard drive he removes, and the replacement HD, and of profiling it to the client. On one that is removed to update, he does the transfer of data with operator observing, and both sign a certificate of that. Operator gets copy, son keeps a copy, and copy is sent to his employers for their files.
He has been doing this work most of his life, and was transferred with company, when bought and merged to larger ones. Drives to N.M., all over Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, Utah, and leaves house at 2,3 in morning when going into mountains or far away, to be there when business or office opens, with pre-arranged meeting time. Yesterday he completely rebuilt a laptop, and it worked here. In the clients office it failed. Early this morning he picked it up, brought it back and it is going back to corporation for analysis. He ordered all parts needed, and today, he installed all needed equipment for that client, and profiled it. Will take it to them tomorrow, having left a loaner. He disassembles them to smallest components, and rebuilds them. Never comes up short pieces, or any left over. ——–
He just laughs when I asked him about wiping the HD. It takes 7 complete cycles with special software. Otherwise to remove that data, is to beat the stuffing out of drive with sledge hammer, then use very large magnet.
Does not sound like they did that, so I suspect the FBI will have a lot of info. Deleting a file, only removes the title from the registry, so the computer does not see it any more, but the data is still there. Will remain there, until you defragment the files, do a registry clean, then write new data over it. That is what Ollie North got in trouble with when he thought all data was gone. Nothing was gone but the titles.
I’m watching nightly for updates.
One other comment, in different slant. I think they already know what she did. But being who she is, as wife of ex-president, campaigning for President, makes it a complex problem in just how to attack the head end of this snake. Obama used racism to protect himself, by his aides never letting us forget he was black, so we had to be prejudiced.
In her case, the women of this country are ready to yell sexism, if she is charged, or questioned. Anyone else would be confined somewhere with everyone asking where are they? All of her aides, contacts, and those who sent or received emails from her system would be talking to 2 or more agents, being recorded, and having been read their rights. Not arrested until facts are known, but not able to leave either.
I was involved with one of those in California in 1961-62, when a black box I had signed paperwork and placed in base supply as ready for use, tested, calibrated, and only needed to be connected to aircraft system.
When a flight line electronic technician went to supply to check it out, the paper seal on box was broken. Supply man and that technician immediately brought it back to my shop. Opened with all my subordinates observing, just witnessing the screws were removed by my subordinate. All the grounding clip wires for every wire connection in that box had been cut. If it had been inserted into aircraft without checking it would have run proper tests, but pilot would have probably crashed and that plane was very expensive, with pilot having much training, and very expensive to replace him too.
OSI was called, came and took possession of box, took down all of our names, and we were ordered to another building, where each of us was read our rights, not arrested. Just questioned, recorded, and signed paper of the questioning. We never did find who cut those wires, or why. But the repair was too extensive, and we sent that box back to Hughes Aircraft to be replaced completely by another. And security on base supply was tightened immensely with limited access by others than assigned personnel.
Security is not a joking matter in military or intelligence. And Hillary seems to think it is not important. So her judgment is very questioned, and should be.
Wendy Mitchell says, “The project is under construction. …” and Mayor Hogan says, “Dismissing the litigation will assist with the financing …”.
Has anyone asked Wendy Mitchell for the construction schedule, a copy of the plans, checked for construction permits, or seen anything more than a silt fence at the Gaylord site?
Wendy Mitchell claims more than 100 jobs have been created by the hotel project so far. What are those jobs? [attorneys and staff or construction job]
What financing has RIDA already obtained? All of this makes one ask, what is real and how much is whistling past the grave yard?