Congratulations Jody and Dudley Weiland: Woman and Man of the Year

Volunteers of the Year – Dudley and Jody Weiland for their volunteer work with organizations including the Majestic View Nature Center, creating a traveling wildlife exhibit for schoolchildren, various clean-up projects, and chair positions on the Arvada Festivals Commission.   Dudley and Jody Weiland have been residents of Arvada since 1963. Both were teachers for many years and have retired within the last 10 years. Dudley taught in Arvada schools for 35 years and is still involved at Peck Elementary school by volunteering to maintain the xeriscape garden that he began for his students and the school many years ago. Jody taught in the Denver Public schools for about 30 years and was a tutor in Arvada for several years after retiring.
Over the years, they have both been involved in many activities in Arvada. Dudley worked with the city of Arvada to help develop their recycling program and improve the environment. They have bought, planted and watered a number of trees in several of the parks in Arvada.

In 2010, their dedication to Arvada continued. They are active volunteers at the Majestic View Nature Center, where they spend considerable time teaching classes and helping to improve the center.  “The Weiland’s have been valuable in the overall development, promotion and ultimate success of Arvada’s Majestic View Nature Center, spreading our environmental education mission,” says Karen Miller, Nature Center Director. Besides developing and teaching programs, their financial support via donations and volunteer hours are crucial to the operation of the Center. They also created an educational traveling exhibit featuring Colorado’s wildlife that has been enjoyed by thousands of students and citizens over the years, circulating this impressive display in elementary schools, recreation centers and libraries.  They also volunteer to clean up a 1.5 mile stretch of Oberon Road and pick up trash in that area several times each week. They also continue to be on the Arvada Festivals Commission. As members of that organization, they have chaired the successful Arvada kite festival each spring. They spend many hours in organizing the festival, which drew several thousand people in 2010. They also help out at the Arvada July 4th celebration. Jody was secretary of the Festivals Commission in 2010.
This past year, Dudley donated an old tractor that he had bought to the city parks and is at the “farm park” in town for children to see what farm life is like. Jody and Dudley also volunteer at St. Anne’s Church, helping out with funerals. Outside of Arvada, Dudley and Jody, are active volunteers with the Denver Zoo. Thanks for all of your hard work Jodie and Dudley we appreciate what you do.

How Tim Steinhaus Spends Your Money

Wait who is Tim Steinhaus? Well, he is Craig Kocian's buddy for one, that is why he is retiring in July. I mean he is retiring because he wants to and his timing has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that Mr. Kocian is also retiring. Other than that Tim Steinhaus is the director of Arvada Urban Renewal Authority, also known as AURA, but not the good kind like in Harry Potter. AURA is best known for taking private property and giving it to their friends who happen to be developers. They also use tax money to make private loans and fly to Chicago for parties. reports revealed the group spent up to $2,300, or about $250 per person, on meals during trips and about $400 monthly on after-board steak dinners in the past three years. But don't worry it's better now the AURA has $45,000 set aside for travel, training and meetings. By the way that is more than many people make in a year, but these guys are spending it on steak. 

This was an article that appeared in face the state:

After the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority condemned and forcibly acquired an elderly small business owner's property in 2004, the land was transferred to a private developer who was given the property free of charge. Now city leaders and other project supporters are lauding the project with awards, despite the fact that the new development sits mostly vacant. The total tab to taxpayers thus far is estimated at nearly $800,000 and counting.

This is how the  retirement press release read:

Timothy Steinhaus Will Leave on July 5, 2011

Arvada, CO……..After 13 years with the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority (AURA), Executive Director Timothy Steinhaus announced his intention to retire effective July 5, 2011.

Many significant projects and milestones were accomplished during Steinhaus’ tenure with AURA, not the least of which was the sunset of AURA’s original district, Arvada City Center in 2006. This district included the retail power center located on Wadsworth Boulevard just north of I-70. The City Center district was only the second to sunset in the State of Colorado and is widely regarded as one of the most successful examples of urban renewal in the State, increasing the City’s tax revenues by over $13.7 million per year. In addition, AURA has established five new districts under Steinhaus’ direction including Ralston Fields which will revitalize the central business district of Arvada. This district began with the redevelopment of the abandoned Ridge Home State Hospital into a Super Target-anchored shopping center, with future residential and transit phases to come.

Perhaps most significant is the revitalization of Historic Olde Town Arvada that has occurred under Steinhaus’ leadership. He also oversaw the development of the Water Tower Village, a 600-unit new urbanistic village located adjacent to Olde Town.

“Tim Steinhaus has changed the face of Arvada through all the quality redevelopment projects he oversaw and is responsible for revitalizing many key sites in our City,” stated John Carpenter, Chairman of the AURA Board. “Due to his efforts, Olde Town Arvada has been selected to compete for DRCOG’s best Live/Work/Play community”.

Mr. Steinhaus’ future includes volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and building homes in third world countries.

In case you were wondering he was responsible for many other things including but not limited to, efforts to condemn Shrine of St. Annes Catholic Church's parking lot, narrowing of the streets in Olde Town Arvada, Water Tower Village where he owns several units, and one of his most recent decisions to blight and condemn dirt west of the city for development purposes. All accounts revealed the dirt was in awful condition. Thanks for all of your hard efforts to ah, improve, our city. We will miss you!