June Niwot Community Association Meeting

Following a successful July 4 parade, the Niwot Community Association board has turned its attention to working with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office to hold a National Night Out event in Niwot.

The National Night Out will be held at 6 p.m. Aug.1 along a portion of Murray Street in Niwot. National Night Out is a nationwide, annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The event was previously held in Gunbarrel in the Heatherwood neighborhood, but the county sheriff’s department decided to move it to Niwot this year to encourage participation from a broader area of the county. The NCA is aiding the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office in organizing the event.

Along with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, National Night Out participants include Mountain View Fire Rescue, the Longmont Emergency Unit, and the Colorado State Patrol. There will be bomb squad robots on hand, a K-9 unit, law enforcement drones and an antique fire truck.

“There also will be free food because the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a cookout, and the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band will perform along with Bongo the Clown,” NCA at-large representative Kathy Koehler told NCA board members at the July 12 meeting. In addition, NCA board members also agreed to add to the fun by providing bubbles for children attending the event.

Trash receptacle

At the NCA meeting, Niwot resident Elizabeth O’Neill asked board members to work with the Boulder County Department of Parks and Open Space to provide at least one additional waste bin along the Niwot Loop Trail.

“The Niwot Loop Trail is seven miles around, and for at last five of those miles there are no trash bins,” O’Neill said. “A waste bin where the loop trail crosses Niwot Road near Niwot High School would really help out all the dog walkers who use that trail. And I think we could facilitate better citizenry by giving people a place to dispose of trash and dog waste.”

O’Neill brought up the issue at the NCA’s annual meeting in April and NCA officials have had some unofficial conversations with county officials. Her request will now formally be given to Parks and Open Space officials.

“I think adding a waste bin would encourage people to self-police and also would not be setting a precedent since there are bins at trailheads,” said NCA member Johnny Barrett.

“We have heard concerns from other residents about this issue,” NCA Vice President David Limbaugh said. The group agreed unanimously to bring the request to the attention of county officials.

July 4 celebration

NCA members unanimously voted to thank and make donations to groups that helped with the July 4 parade events. Those groups included the Niwot Nifties 4-H, Boy Scout Troop 161, Divine Savior Lutheran Church and the pedicab drivers. The Niwot Cookie Moms will receive the proceeds from the pancake breakfast tip jar.

Several photos of the July 4 parade and events can be viewed on the NCA’s website at Niwot.org.