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<br />First, the <br />Standley Lake Operatina CommitteeCfondly known as SLOC). <br />Challenged to resolve issues relating to condemnation actions <br />over water storage in Standley Lake, the Cities of Thornton, <br />Westminster, Northglenn, and the Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation <br />Company (FRICO) created SLOC to determine allocation of storage <br />rights, and sharing of operation and maintenance costs and <br />capital improvement expenditures for Standley Lake and its <br />associated facilities. Its deliberations have not always gone <br />smoothly, but it works. <br /> <br />Next, the <br />COSMIC Aareement. Prompted by severe water quality problems, <br />years of squabbling and untold dollars spent on litigation on <br />Clear Creek, the Cities of Thornton, Westminster, Golden and the <br />Coors Company reached a comprehensive agreement on the use of <br />effluent bypasses and exchanges to protect the water quality of <br />Clear Creek. <br /> <br />And finally <br />Thornton's Northern Pro;ect. Frustrated by the ever increasing <br />roadblocks, to say nothing of the escalating costs of the Two <br />Forks project, the city searched for an alternative that would <br />meet Thornton's future water needs. The resultant Northern <br />Project is a cooperative effort which accommodates both municipal <br />and agricultural needs for water. It also includes an agreement <br />between Thornton and the Water Supply and Storage Company which <br />addresses a multitude of water quality and quantity issues. <br />While the Court's decision has not yet been handed down, the city <br />is confident that this project will be successfully completed. <br /> <br />I think you will hear Chips Barry and Rollie Fischer this <br />afternoon describe some other successes involving creative solutions <br />to Denver and West Slope entities have fashioned. <br /> <br />These experiences, SLOC, the COSMIC Agreement, and the Northern <br />Project have also been difficult and challenging, but they all have, <br />or will, result in water for the future. It seems to me that the <br />difference between these successes and the efforts that have achieved <br />no resolution is that the successes focused on solving discrete <br />problems rather than focusing on broad, philosophical issues. <br /> <br />When I was first elected Mayor in 1979, I automatically became a <br />member of the Thornton Utility Board, the first woman, incidentally. <br />At that t~e, my knowledge of water acquisition, development and <br />distribution might have filled a teaspoon. Today, 13 years later, my <br />knowledge of the subject has increased dramatically. In fact, on a <br />good day it might fill a soup ladle. <br /> <br />Therefore, I come to the podium this morning a product of my <br />experience, as one who has championed Metro cooperation in water <br />matters ... and one who has also had to stand before my City Council <br />and the Thornton citizens who elected me, to explain why today's <br />utility users should finance tomorrow's water projects. I have to <br />admit that one of the greatest successes of my political career has <br />been the willingness of the Thornton City Council and the citizens of <br /> <br />12 <br /> <br />~ <br />