Left Hand Laurel: John, Shane, Corey Heil of Excel Electric 
BY LIZ EMMETT-MATTOX
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Since the mural project began this summer, Niwot residents and commuters along the Diagonal Highway have had reason to take note of a previously nondescript building next to the railroad tracks. And since its dedication, most people in town probably realize that the space for the mural was donated by the owners of the building, Excel Electric.

But what people may not know is that the mural project is only the latest of many contributions that the Heil family has made to the Niwot community over the years.

Without the efforts of John, Corey and Shane Heil at Excel Electric, Niwot would be a darker place. Not metaphorically, but literally.
Over the years, the Heil family has contributed in significant ways to the electrical infrastructure of Niwot.

PID Boundaries Set
BY KIM GLASSCOCK
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Boundaries have been set for the proposed Public Improvement District, which would finance road reconstruction and repaving of subdivision and local access roads in Niwot, if approved.
As proposed, the PID would include most of Boulder County’s designated Niwot Community Service Area, which encompasses about 18 miles of roads, according to Boulder County transportation officials.

Niwot Community Association executive board members unanimously approved those boundaries on Jan. 4.

The NCA is coordinating the move to form the proposed PID. In July 2011, NCA members supported moving forward with a ballot proposal to create a front-loaded public improvement district, which would raise tax revenues to specifically fund road repaving and rehabilitation for subdivision and local access roads in Niwot. The tax would apply to property owners on those roads.

Pep Band

The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band played the part of the Pep Band at the Niwot High School girl’s basketball game against Mountain View Jan. 13. The band included NHS student Quinn Kalinski (top) on tuba, who also plays with the NHS Pep Band. Although the band roused the crowd with a variety of tunes, including the NHS fight song, the Cougars lost to Mountain View.

Photo by Karen Copperberg

LID And NBA News
BY KIM GLASSCOCK
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In keeping with the Niwot Local Improvement District’s newly adopted strategic plan and funding categories, members of the LID advisory committee agreed to take on paying the electric costs for the street lights along Second Avenue in Old Town Niwot and the breaker boxes on Second Avenue and near Whistle Stop Park.

At the Jan. 3 meeting, LID members unanimously approved a funding request from the Niwot Business Association to reimburse the NBA for $716.90, which was the electricity cost in 2011.
“I think this is an appropriate expense for the LID to pay, and it falls into our infrastructure budget category,” said LID member Jim Eastman.

LID members also agreed that it was appropriate for the LID, instead of the NBA, to pay electricity costs for Whistle Stop Park.