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May 8, 2014 Adams County, Colorado | Volume 6, Issue 19 A publication of
brightonbanner.com
Oil-gas study measure dies Bill would have required probe of health impacts By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com A bill that would have created a study of the health impacts of oil and gas drilling on Front Range residents died in a state Senate committee on April 29. The bill — which increased in cost over time — was killed in the Senate Appropriations Committee, following a 5-2 vote. Democratic Sens. Pat Steadman of Denver and Mary Hodge of Brighton joined all Republican committee members in voting against the measure. A dejected bill sponsor expressed disappointment after her effort failed. “I think the people’s voices have been
silenced,” said Rep. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins. House Bill 1297 would have required the state to conduct a three-year health impact study on residents living in the Front Range counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Report Broomfield, Larimer and Weld. The study would have included the surveying of residents living in those areas and the possible review of medical records. The effort was a response to concerns over the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” — the practice of mixing of water, sand and chemicals and blasting the mixture deep into the ground to crack
Capitol
City Council honors efforts to preserve history By Lou Ellen Bromley Brighton City Council members recognized May as Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month at the May 6 council meeting. Several members of Brighton’s Historic Preservation Committee were present, and chairperson Joseph Burt, Patricia Reither, Allison Lockwood and Sheryl Johnson were recognized for their work in preserving some of Brighton’s great historic buildings. Burt said “...that Brighton had over 100 buildings over 50 years old. By saving our historic buildings we are saving our history, culture and pride for the city, for ourselves and future generations.” During the meeting, council reviewed the ordinance for the approval of the original City Hall building on 575 Bush St to become a local historic landmark. The building was originally built in 1919 as the first City Hall building to house Brighton city government and utilities for the city. The Brighton Historic Preservation Commission has been working toward getting this one-time Brighton City Library and Brighton Senior Center designated a local historic landmark to be able to move forward toward state and national recognition. City Manager Manuel Esquibe said the ordinance was only to recognize the building as a historic landmark and nothing else at this time. “This is just one step in the process, this building is worthy of being a historic landmark,” Mr. Esquibel said. But because of concerns about the cost to restore and maintain the building, council decided to postpone final ap-
proval. Council was split on the decision to support the building as a historical landmark by a 3-to-4 vote, council members, J.W. Edwards, Lynn Baca Joan Kniss and Rex Bell voted to support the postponement. Council members Mark Humbert, Kirby Wallin and Cynthia Martinez voted against supporting the postponement, stating the historic value of the building and the need to move forward toward getting it secured as a local historic landmark is important to the city. Also recognized by council were the four seniors graduating from The Brighton Youth Commission this year. These high school seniors are Kyla Miller, Brandi Chaparro, Mauricio Macias and Loni Farina. They have been active in the Brighton Youth Commission for several years. Youth Commission Leader Tawnya Russel congratulated each student present and allowed them each an opportunity to speak to council about their plans for the future. Among other items presented in the council meeting were National Kids to Parks Day to be held May 17 at Brighton Park, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Presented to city council by Jeffry Hulett, this event is free and open to the public for kids of all ages. The collection of fees for credit card and e-check users for utility bills was approved by council. The city in past years has absorbed the cost of service fees charged by credit card companies and e-check processers at a loss of over $60,000. Persons wanting to use electronic bill paying will be charged $2.95 for credit cards and 95 cents for e-checks. To avoid these charges the costumer can send in payments by regular mail service, drop off payments at city hall’s drop box or walk into city hall and pay in person.
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porous rock and free up oil and gas. The study would have focused on counties that include communities that have sought to either ban or limit the practice of fracking over the last few years. Ginal and other bill supporters said a study would provide both a health and educational benefit for Coloradans who want to know more about the impacts of the controversial oil and gas industry moneymaker and job creator. However, the bill received only a single Republican vote in the House. Some legislators and oil and gas industry leaders opposed the effort for reasons that included concerns that the study would be slanted toward the viewpoint of fracking opponents. Money was also an issue. Originally, the bill sought only to include Adams, Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties as part of
the study. But a House committee added Arapahoe County and the City and County of Broomfield to that list. The additions increased the study’s cost to about $700,000 — something that concerned Ginal before it even got to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate President Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, said she did not know if cost or other factors led to the bill’s defeat. Carroll did say that she supported the bill and that “it’s a basic responsibility (of the state)” to look out for the health of its residents. “I think sooner or later it behooves all of us to get a credible and independent study,” Carroll said. “And, from the oil and gas perspective, if (fracking) is as safe as they say, then they should have credible independent studies that confirm that.” Ginal said she intends to revive the effort next year.
DITCHING IT
Megan Wittrig, Justin Woodcock and Joey DeMers, foreground left to right, finish planting a tree with Jordan Albano and Melanie Whatley, background left to right, along the Brighton Memorial Trail on Friday during the third annual Brighton High School ditch day. About 250 seniors participated in the day that changed an informal tradition of skipping a Friday of classes in May to instead planting trees and shrubs and otherwise beautifying Brighton parks, with authorization from school officials. Photos by Michelle Boyer