January 2021

Written by Kathy Gilstrap–longtime Meadowglen resident and close friend of Janie Smith

Our community lost a shining star this past week.

Over 35 years ago, Janie Smith, and her husband, Sid, moved into Meadowglen, and the neighborhood was never the same!  You may remember Sid, who haled from London, by his delightful British accent.  If you didn’t know Janie personally, you may have been warmly greeted by her and her little white Maltese dogs, as you walked past their house along the lake.

For years, Janie and Sid entertained neighbors and friends.  They loved hosting get togethers in their beautiful home, and welcomed the opportunity to share food, drink, great stories, and laughter with everyone in the community.

In turn, Janie got great enjoyment from participating in neighborhood BBQs, wine “tastings” and s’mores around fire pits, attending the holiday events at the clubhouse, and watching the numerous wildlife on the Meadowglen lake outside her window.

They were gracious people, and full of gratitude.  After Sid passed, Janie commented how she felt she couldn’t be too sad because God had blessed her with 35 years with her wonderful husband!

Janie didn’t have children of her own, however, Janie lovingly “adopted” her nieces, nephews, and many, many of the children, and young adults in Meadowglen.  She spent hours chatting with them, really showing interest in their lives, and activities.  She always had a birthday party to attend, a gift to drop off, or a card to write.  She made our young people feel worthwhile.

Janie and Sid met while working for British Airways.  For a while they made their home in gorgeous Tiburon, California.  However, when Janie’s dad asked Sid and Janie to take over the family business, Denver Sanitary, they willingly came to Colorado, and settled in their beloved Meadowglen, not far from Janie’s childhood home in north Denver.

Janie immediately got involved with the community, joining the Architectural Review Committee.   She volunteered hours, and decades, helping to develop, write, and implement concise, and thoughtful design standards for the community, thus ensuring Meadowglen maintained its impeccable beauty, and value, over the years!

Additionally, Janie was a spiritual anchor in the Arvada and Denver community, as a committed member of Spirit of Christ Catholic Church, a personal supporter of the Capuchin Franciscans Friars, and a fan and season ticket holder of the Broncos and Rockies.  She often donated her tickets to organizations for fund raising events.

Janie always had a smile on her face, and a heart full of gratitude.  When you were around her, she made you feel special.  She was a light in this world!

While you may not have known Janie personally, know that she was an integral part of creating (and maintaining) the wonderful, unique neighborhood in which we live.

Godspeed Janie, until we meet again.

You have likely heard that the City of Arvada will begin implementing an organized waste hauling system in July 2021. HOAs who are already under contract with a waste hauler are allowed to remain with that particular hauler. The BOD is opting to stay under contract with Waste Management, because the price break per resident is lower than what is being offered by Republic, the City’s selected trash hauler. Additionally, aside from some occasional slip-ups, Waste Management provides consistently solid services to Meadowglen. It is important to note that resident in HOAs who choose to remain with a hauler other than Republic will be required to pay a “minimum service fee” of 88 cents per month ($1.76 per water bill cycle). So expect to see that additional charge on your water bill beginning in September. This minimum service fee allows you to participate at no additional charge in TWO yard waste drop off events and TWO bulk item drop off events per year.

Proposed soft trail around the north and east sides of Pomona Lake​As previously reported, the City of Arvada Parks division has proposed installing a “soft” trail on the lake side of the concrete path. While this project is still on the roster, the parks crews are operating with skeleton crews as a precaution against the transmission of covid; therefore, projects are being delayed. We will keep you notified of updates. 

Slope improvements on the north slope of Pomona Lake​The City’s landscape architects continue to study the process for bank improvements. There are still feasibility and costs to understand and budget hurdles to contend with. The Beautification Committee and the BOD continue  to check in with the City to keep he project moving forward. If you have questions about the water level of Pomona Lake, the proposed soft trail or the north slope improvements, feel free to contact a BOD member or attend a board meeting via zoom.

The water level of Pomona Lake, which is primarily a storm water retention facility, was recently filled with runoff from Little Dry Creek to its maximum one-time annual fill level (for the November 1 through October 31 water year). What that means is that the valve allowing water from Little Dry Creek into Pomona Lake will only be opened again this year if precipitation and run off are so abundant that “free river” conditions exist (meaning there is no unsatisfied senior call on water downstream on Little Dry Creek or the South Platte) and additional diversions are allowed. It’s possible (remember September 2013), but considering that we may actually be facing a drought year, we can’t count on it. In past years, the water level was not monitored to make sure it was in compliance with the State’s water rights laws. Going forward, due to increased administrative scrutiny and tightening water budgets on the South Platte, it will be. We understand that low lake levels alarm our residents, but this is not something the BOD, nor the City of Arvada can dispute. Some HOA members have inquired about a method to augment the evaporative loss from the lake in the summer, which is allowed under state water law, but doing so would require both filing a water court case seeking authorization to do so and the ability to locate and purchase a fully-consumable water supply for the replacement. This process would cost tens of thousands of dollars; an amount not in the HOA budget.