November Newsletter
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GOVERNMENT<br />
MAYOR RON reports<br />
TRANSITION<br />
Life is composed of transitions. Kindergarten to grade school.<br />
Being single to married. By the time you read<br />
this I will be about to transition from being<br />
Mayor to private citizen status.<br />
Shortly I will hand over the gavel to our<br />
presumptive Mayor George Lantz. He has<br />
devoted many years of service to the Village:<br />
City Council, Planning and Zoning, and Board<br />
of Adjustments and Appeals, to name a few of<br />
his efforts. I ask that you give him the same<br />
support I received from you.<br />
At this point in retirement remarks, the speaker<br />
Ron Rakowsky<br />
rrakowsky@ usually would recite a litnay of statistics. I will<br />
greenwoodvillage.com note the Village has no short-term, long-term,<br />
303-486-5741 or pension debt, and ample reserves for<br />
unexpected contingencies. Furthermore, we<br />
have funds for future capital improvements.<br />
We have seen spectacular buildings added to our tax base:<br />
CoBank, Spectrum, Granite, and my favorite AMG National<br />
Trust Bank. The Village’s new Maintenance and Parks<br />
building will be finished in early 2020. The Curtis Center for<br />
the Arts expansion was particularly important to me. Our<br />
Park improvements, with significant assistance from the<br />
Arapahoe County Open Space Fund, are the envy of many of<br />
our neighboring jurisdictions.<br />
As great as our 47 miles of trails and nonpareil snow removal<br />
operations are, the special asset of this Village are the people<br />
of Greenwood Village. The residents, businesses, schools,<br />
religious organizations, and the people who populate them<br />
have been great to work with. They are the essence of this<br />
Village. My frequent interaction with other Mayors tells me<br />
how fortunate I have been not to face the issues that have<br />
confronted my peers.<br />
I am the 13th Mayor of Greenwood Village. My predecessors<br />
left a magnificent legacy for me to add my stewardship to<br />
their accomplishments.<br />
The Mayors Pro tem with whom I have served were all very<br />
special in their own way. The Village benefited from their<br />
dedicated service.<br />
COUNCILMEMBERS<br />
I have often said I have been blessed to have had Blue<br />
Ribbon City Councils. Of particular note have been the<br />
female colleagues. Both present and past ladies on the City<br />
Mayor Ron Rakowsky and Mayor Pro tem George Lantz.<br />
Council brought the actions of the body to a noteworthy<br />
level that might not have been otherwise reached.<br />
At this point in retirement remarks, speakers frequently decry<br />
the succeeding generation. I will not do so as I am excited<br />
about their capabilities. The future is in good hands.<br />
Kenneth, Emily, Joey, Ethan, Molly, Spencer, Grayson, Sean<br />
Patrick, Joseph Paul, Nick, Abbie, Troy, Lori, Katie, and Jon<br />
are just a few of those young leaders in our Greenwood<br />
Village community I have had the privilege of meeting that<br />
will take our Village, community, region, and world to new<br />
heights.<br />
My most unshakable opinion of greatness centers around the<br />
Greenwood Village staff. The depth of talent is truly<br />
remarkable. I have learned much from virtually all of them.<br />
Take the time to listen. You will all benefit from hearing their<br />
thoughts. Your tax dollars are being well spent.<br />
I hope my tenure would be measured by a quote from<br />
Secretary of Defense James Mattis: “You have a role to play<br />
for a little while, play it well, but don’t let it go to your<br />
head.”<br />
Serving as your Mayor for almost nine years has been a<br />
singular honor and special privilege.<br />
As I always said at the end of my Village Showcase program<br />
on GVTV 8 and YouTube, that’s a wrap. GV<br />
PG. 2 GV NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2019