Twas a lovely evening for a bike ride on the Poudre trail!

Sitting here at Odell thinking it’s such a beautiful day and would really enjoy meeting others here every so often to talk about the industry, share tools, find fun things to do? Don’t have to be all work. Just. Must. Socialize.

My work is in the distribution and management of software for scientific research, and I spend a lot of time building platforms for science and business.

I’ll be here until 3pm today but if anyone feels like their game I’d meet about anyone at this point. 😆

This is becoming too common now, how do we stop these bad drivers?

Members of the PSD Board of Education,

My name is Michael Spearnak and I retired from PSD in 2014 after nearly 25 years of service. I was PSD’s District Architect and Director of Planning, Design, and Construction. My team of construction/planning professionals and I successfully managed hundreds of complex projects affecting every school in the District, funded through bond initiatives (1996, 2000) as well as the general fund. These projects included land acquisition, remodels, additions, air conditioning, infrastructure retrofits, as well as new elementary, middle, and high schools. Fossil Ridge HS, Kinard MS, and Zach ES (and the prototypes that followed) were designed and built on my watch. 

Here’s a sample of our work from the Journal of Green Building:  

https://jgb.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/jgrb/1/1/article-p21.xml

Having served on past committees recommending school closures, here are some thoughts:  

There are typically two sides of the house, if you will, in school district bureaucracies: Administration/Education and Operations.

Imagine that on the Administration side of the house, the superintendent and cabinet positions have been eliminated and when asked for guidance on educational issues, the BOE hears from Operations - experts on transportation, facilities, custodial, and construction issues. 

Now imagine the reverse. Operations leadership has been eliminated and when asked for guidance on facility issues, the BOE hears from the Administration - experts on HR, finance, and educational issues. No need to imagine this scenario - this is the current situation at PSD.

Assertions by the Administration that Timnath ES would have to be “shut down for a year or more” for renovations, along with misinformation regarding ADA improvements and code compliance, clearly demonstrate gross ignorance of the facility renovation process. Being advised by an Administration accountant and “master planner” on complex facility issues is like relying on your health insurance provider for medical advice rather than your doctor.

During my tenure, we completed many complicated renovation projects (including at Timnath Elementary) without closing schools. The Timnath renovations cited are over a ten-year period - easily manageable in the right hands. The elevator project was shovel-ready several years ago and and no one can tell the Board why a multi-million dollar project was canceled or where the money went? Incompetence at best, at worst, malfeasance. 

Where are the District facility/construction professionals advising the BOE?

Over the last several years, PSD Operations leadership positions have been left vacant or, worse, filled by those lacking the leadership skills and expertise to effectively advocate for solutions alternative to those proposed by the Administration. Currently there is no executive director of Operations, no facilities director, no director of construction/planning, no architect. Once led by highly skilled industry professionals, Operations now has no voice in the room. 

PSD Operations used to be nationally recognized as the gold standard for best practices. Along with influencing the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, CSU, and other Colorado school districts, school districts from Alaska to Tennessee reached out to PSD as a source of best practices. PSD’s operational excellence was recognized by the US Department of Energy, US Environmental Protection Agency, American Institute of Architects, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, American Assoc. of School Administrators, CO Governor’s Office, City of Fort Collins, Larimer County just to name a few.

Leaving the management of millions of square feet of facilities in the hands of bureaucrats and accountants has consequences - and our community is paying the price. 

Though it is clear that some facilities must be closed, let’s get all the voices in the room. Closing schools to save money is the least creative, most community-destructive solution available. Just like designing award-winning green schools, finding creative solutions to real problems takes vision, leadership, expertise, and perhaps most importantly, collaboration.

Michael Spearnak, Architect

PSD District Architect and Director of Planning, Design, and Construction - Retired

Monday, October 26, at 1:30 pm.

Draft Land Use Code regulations related to data centers will be presented to the Commissioners.

Agenda Packet here https://larimercoco.portal.civicclerk.com/event/5368/files/agenda/13519

I seem to remember reading something about fees added to a users credit card if they parked a rental scooter on a sidewalk - has anyone gotten a charge like that post-ride? If so, how much is the added charge??

I see scooters parked in the middle of sidewalks often and it makes me wonder if the last rider was just a lazy a-hole or if someone else moved it to the middle of the sidewalk??

Does the city fine the rental company for scooters blocking the sidewalk? If not, they should, like $100 a pop.

Are you a last minute voter who is extra intimidated by how long your ballot is this year?

Does having kids make it difficult to take time to sit down and fill it out?

Are you looking for a chance to have some Halloween fun and maybe get some treats? 

Join us for our first Vote or Treat event where we will do a few ballot breakdowns and have a fun family friendly environment where you can gather treats from different booths and participate in some fall games and activities. 

There is a Ballot Dropbox right outside of the park in the Habitat for Humanity Parking lot. So bring your ballot with you, and you can fill it out and drop it off all in one fun filled afternoon! Already voted? come be a part of community! 

You can drop off your ballots at any drop box in Colorado and they will be sent to your county clerk's office

Anybody know of a good soccer bar doing a watch party for El Clasico on Sunday? Thought it would be fun to watch with other Barca fans

I've gotten texts addressed to Michael for years since I got this phone number in 2009. He lived in Hawaii for a while as I used to get so many political texts from Hawaiian politicians.

He has moved back to Fort Collins and the realtors and vermin wanting his property love to doxx his address to me.

Im just tired of these texts. I dont understand if Michael just gives out his old phone number for funsies sometimes as he doesnt think it's in use.

I know it was definitely his number at some point as I got texts from actual friends of his when I first got the number.

How do I stop the madness. Help me Michael, I want it to end.

I included a couple examples from the last few years. Michael, dont worry I was careful to not doxx your address, now please stop giving out my number everywhere.

Does anyone know of any grief support groups in Fort Collins?

👻💕 BOO-TIFUL BEADED GHOSTS — TAKE TWO! 💕👻

We're giving our adorable little ghosts another chance to haunt Craft Social this Sunday!

I made a little BOO-BOO last time and accidentally posted the wrong location! 😅 I sincerely apologize if anyone showed up at City Park looking for us!

This time, we're getting it right!

📍 Stodgy Brewing Company — Fort Collins

📅 Sunday

⏰ 1:00–2:00 PM

💰 $20 per crafter — all supplies included!

Come make your very own adorable pony bead ghost! Choose your colors, give your little ghost some personality, and turn it into the cutest keychain or backpack bling! 👻💖

Bring a friend, grab a drink, and enjoy an afternoon of crafting, creativity, and a little spooky cuteness!

Whether you missed us last time or just want to make one of these little cuties, we'd love to see you!

Let's give these ghosts the Craft Social they deserve! 👻✨

#SunshineCraftSocial #StodgyBrewing #FortCollinsCrafts #BooTifulGhosts #CraftSocial

Hey gang, I am looking to get some indian tonight, it has been a loooooong time. Is Star still any good? Where do you like to get indian food from? Best dishes?

Hi Fort Collins friends!

Does anyone have any recommendations for someone to do my hair and makeup for some portraits I'm going to be getting. I'm not good at either of these things but I've learned that, you should take the photo. So here I am, I'm gonna do it, but I'd like to look at least presentable 🫣😅 - it's November 1st.

Thanks!

Anyone swimming in kittens currently?

It's so neat the church on S Lemay by Southridge is getting into the Halloween spirit! That spooky graveyard with all the little crosses is just what we need for trick or treaters...hopefully they have little ghost babies "lurking" and handing out candy Halloween night. Scary fun!!!! 👻🪦👻🪦👻🪦

I’ve been on the hunt for a good gyno in the area that understands endometriosis/pcos. Any recommendations?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I would really like my votes to count. My permanent address is in Otero County, but I live here for now. I asked a similar question for the 2024 election but I don't know if there are different rules for midterms.

FTC have spot where we can go visit/hang out with a donkey. Petting Zoo?
Lee Martinez or ???