Greeley Management Scandal Worsens

Thanks to an anonymous source, Greeley Report broke the story last week disclosing the likelihood that Greeley City Manager Roy Otto and Greeley Water and Sewer Board Director Jon Monson violated several laws in their quest to bury dirty activities.  (See story below.)  Further information is coming to light, thanks to readers, and new questions continue to arise about their activities.

Take for example the grandiose plans of the Greeley Water Board.  Led by Jon Monson, this board does more than provide water for Greeley.  It is in charge of maintain existing infrastructure, forecasting and planning for growth.  According to Greeley Mayor Tom Norton, city infrastructure (e.g., roads, water and sewer lines and other items) need to be addressed in town.  But when Greeley floated $32 million in bonds for the Water and Sewer department, where did that money go?

This bond issue, $32 million dollars, was sold to build a pipeline for future water.  However, there is a problem.  Greeley doesn't even own the water rights to the water they want to flow through the pipe!  That will cost another $51 million!  Besides this, the new pipeline demands another $21 million to complete!  So $32 million in bonds was sold to build an empty pipe, based on the premise that Greeley Water and Sewer would buy $51 million in water and then add another $21 million in debt to finish the pipeline after that!

Who is running this operation?  The water department is run by Jon Monson, a long-time operator in the area.  His population growth forecasts used to justify this acquisition show Greeley growing by 2.5 percent, as opposed to more logical figures closer to 1.4 percent.  Monson seems to have grandiose plans, and tends to inflate his need for money accordingly.  Furthermore, Monson seems to be more concerned with acquiring more, new property (pipelines and water), instead of repairing and replacing existing infrastructure.  And all of this happens despite Mayoral claims to be committed to rebuilding what we have now.

Population growth forecasts have long been based on short-term trends, and water is a precious commodity in the West.  However, the scheming by Monson and City Manager Roy Otto must not be overlooked.  They are two long-time bureaucrats that seem to be running the show.  Contact Greeley City Council and present them with these articles.  Demand a response from our elected representatives, and see what happens when the lights come on in the darkened room.

Comments

[greeleygirl]

Roy Otto, ah, ya gotta be kidding, right?

[bobo]

Ahhh, Greeley report has caught onto the municipal water and sewer scam. You are just scratching he surface, keep digging. What you find in Greeley is similar to what transpires throughout all Colorado.

The allure of low interest rate loans.

Bond dealers and the insurance companies they work for say thank you.