NCA Discusses Donations and Open Space

The January meeting for the Niwot Community Association (NCA) was held on Wed., Jan. 6. Some board members were absent due to colds or being on vacation, but the meeting proceeded as normal.

NCA members discussed nominations for outstanding NCA volunteers, to recognize people who volunteer their time and efforts at various NCA events. Nominees don’t have to be NCA members, although they can be, but they can also be community members who just enjoy lending a hand.

The meeting also included a discussion on various donations the organization gives yearly to various other organizations. In years past, the NCA has usually donated $100 to the NBA for membership dues, $50 to the Left Hand Grange and $50 to the Niwot Historical Society.

This year, however, members decided to give more in donations to organizations who do so much for the community. They voted to keep their NBA donation the same to continue their annual membership, but members decided to give $250 to the Grange because of everything the Grange gives to Niwot and the surrounding area. They also voted to donate $100 to the Historical Society, which collects Niwot history and archives it, and maintains the firehouse museum on Second Avenue.

The NCA ended its meeting focusing on Niwot open space and various issues surrounding the topic. Board Member Craig Rahenkamp told the rest of the members about an issue he was discussing with employees from Boulder County Parks and Open Space.

The issue concerns a low fence that was put in beside a trail between Highway 52 and the Somerset neighborhood. Originally the land in question was open to Boulder County residents for many decades, until last summer.

Rahenkamp mentioned that many residents were disappointed with this move, because they never heard of any public discussion about it before the closure was made. He spoke with Brent Wheeler, project coordinator for Boulder County Parks and Open Space, who told Rahenkamp that, through his knowledge and help from others, the area is an important and sensitive ecological area.

Wheeler told Rahenkamp that visitors are now encouraged to remain on all designated trails through the use of the small fence; this is to prevent unnecessary impacts on the land. Rahenkamp also said he was told through an email correspondence that Boulder County has a rule that all bicycles must remain on designated trails. Since the area between Highway 52 and Somerset does not have any formal designated trails, they are prohibited.

Rahenkamp said he was not fully pleased with the answers he received from the county, but he realized he was searching for answers during the busy holidays. He plans on reaching out to Wheeler again to inquire more about the reasons provided, and give the county another chance to offer a more positive and significant reason. NCA board members agreed with his approach.

The NCA meeting ended with a motion to donate $100 to Niwot Prairie Productions in memory of Liz Darling, who recently passed away. Pat Murphy said Darling donated so much of her time to her passions and deserves to be recognized by the community. The motion was approved.