Two years ago, it seemed as if all anybody wanted to talk about at Northglenn City Hall were allegations of corruption.

Some council-watchers complained about the city leasing a large SUV for the mayor.

Others thought officials were playing fast and loose with their city-issued credit cards.

And when it came to light that the then-city manager had fired his information technology director only to hand him a $48,000 contract job, critics said it looked like a severance package in disguise.

"My concern was there were accusations flying all over the place and we needed some sort of investigation to either clear everyone or get someone indicted," former City Councilman Bill Gillespie said.

So, in July 2005, Northglenn Police Chief Russ Van Houten asked Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr to investigate whether public officials were guilty of any crimes.

And last month, Darr announced his decision.

"The allegations of criminal behavior are unfounded," Darr wrote in a Feb. 7 letter to Van Houten, adding, "I believe we have formally resolved any lingering issues that merited the attention of our criminal detectives."

Darr hired a certified fraud examiner, who compiled seven notebooks of investigative research.

Yes, the city had paid 80 percent of Mayor Kathie Novak's lease on a Ford Excursion. But the city had paid the same portion of a vehicle lease for her predecessor, and investigators found no evidence to suggest criminal behavior.

The investigation found sloppy accounting practices relating to reimbursement for travel expenses for City Council and staff, but ruled those were noncriminal, public policy matters.

Finally, it was determined that then-City Manager Phil Nelson acted legally and within his powers when he solved a personnel issue creatively.

True, Nelson had fired former IT director Anthony Fortenbury, only to award him a $48,000 contract. But investigators found that he did so because he thought Fortenbury was a wizard with computers who lacked the necessary people skills to manage other employees.

Van Houten said he always thought the accusations were based more on politics than facts, but sought the investigation so the city could "put this to bed."

"There's still people out there who say they still don't believe" that no crimes were committed, he said. But, he added, if an auditor, the DA and the sheriff couldn't find anything wrong, "I don't know who they expect would."

Novak said she is glad the investigation is over.

"It was good to hear that what we knew all along was in fact confirmed, that there was actually no foundation to any of the allegations," she said.

The city has a new city manager "and no doubt he will be looking at a number of things, including policies that were mentioned in the investigation," she said.

Novak said she expects to hear what those might be in the next couple of months.

bargec@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5059