This week I want to share a thought about local participation in government. Before Covid, I attended the monthly meeting for the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA). I attended that one because I am on the NDDA. The meeting is once per month, although my tasks take me several hours per week to complete.
The NDDA is tasked with promoting economic development and improving infrastructure in Nederland. That can include improvement of public facilities, streets, sidewalks, and landscape; beautification – and even redevelopment of an area in the NDDA district. Dollars spent in this area will be used to improve development and infrastructure for the benefit of the public. Projects undertaken by the DDA must also be approved by the Nederland Board of Trustees, but the funds come from only the DDA property tax payers (not all Nederland residents). Tax increment financing, or TIF, is not an additional tax, rather, it is the difference or increment of tax received in the defined area from the day the DDA is approved to the day it ends 25 years later.
I’m sharing this information this week, because although the DDA is not in an election cycle at this time, the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) is. Ballots will be in mailboxes any moment. And in this election residents are selecting up to three candidates to join the BOT. As well as a mayor, although there is only one candidate for mayor, so that one is a foregone conclusion.
The Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) serves as the legislative and governing body of the Town of Nederland and is a combination of elected individuals with a variety of backgrounds, personalities, values, opinions, and goals.
As local governments, the Boards make most decisions about what gets built and where public money is spent. Yet, for decades, Nederland has had few residents participate in this important community decision-making. As well, there is uneven representation by age and income.
At this time, you get my plug about voting: Please. Vote. Research the candidates thoroughly. Select the candidates that represent what you want to see in your local community. The candidate profiles are here https://www.themtnear.com/articles/meet-the-candidates-nederland-electionscheduled-for-april-5/.
This week we are running the story about the Candidates Forum on pages 22, 23 and 27.
Select carefully! These candidates will be in charge of decisions, along with current BOT members, for many years to come.
To find out more about the Nederland BOT, check out https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/board-of-trustees.
To find out more about the Nederland DDAn check out https://nederlandco.org/government/town-boards/ downtown-development-authority/
This week also brings us the next Keep it Local stories. This week you will see one from Nederland and one from Gilpin (see pages 10 and 11). Sometimes, that is how people respond and how stories come together. Don’t worry, we’re right on track for 104 by the end of the year. For both communities.
Now another plug about our online subscriptions. As many of you know our mail delivery has been a bit spotty in the last few months. If you are a subscriber to The Mountain-Ear, email me and I will get you set up for a FREE online subscription. If you’re not a subscriber, I’ll get you set up for a FREE 100 day trial. The Mountain-Ear is working hard to get you your news reliably. And, we don’t want you to miss a thing!
I always welcome your thoughtful input on what we are covering, what we should be covering and what you want in YOUR newspaper each week. I welcome you pointing out typos and errors. Hey, we’re human and we make mistakes.
The Mountain-Ear is YOUR community newspaper, covering the news you need since 1977.
As always my door is open (in Nederland and Black Hawk), my phone is on (303-810-5409) and my email gets checked regularly at publisher1977@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!
