Commerce City Sentinel Express 062923

Commerce City school receives $50,000 in security, other upgrades

Colorado taxpayers should see hefty refund checks

Good news on revenues means more money coming

back to residents

Colorado taxpayers will be sent even larger refund checks next year than expected after state tax revenues nished the scal year much higher than budget analysts for the legislature and in the

e state may now have to refund nearly $1 billion more than originally expected, nonpartisan Legislative Council Sta and the governor’s O ce of State Planning and Budgeting told state lawmakers in June, increasing refund checks by hundreds of dollars per person.

Exactly how large those Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refund checks will be remains in ux, in part because the number will be determined by whether voters pass Proposition HH in November, a 10-year property tax relief plan from Democrats in the General Assembly and Gov. Jared Polis.

BY TEDDY JACOBSEN TJACOBSEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Kemp Elementary School in Commerce City has received tens of thousands of dollars in security upgrades at no cost from a company that has donated similar systems to rural schools around the state.

Convergint, an international company that designs, installs and services electronic security systems, donated its services as part of an annual social responsibility day, where its 9,200 employees participate in a day of service in their respective communities. e e ort brought $3 million in equipment and labor to schools and security upgrades to 32 schools in three states, including

Colorado.

Convergint Director of Business Development Stephen Fisher said the security portion of the annual program is called STEP Up. It is an initiative to help strengthen school security as part of the company’s social responsibility day.

“ ere’s a lot of noise in the security space around K-12,” Fisher said. “And we are a trusted business partner who is product-agnostic and who has no agenda other than to create a safe environment for teachers and students and people on campus.”

e company installs and services electronic security, cybersecurity, re and life safety, building automation and audio-visual systems.

e backdrop to such upgrades are concerns about security across the county, especially amid ongoing incidents, including shootings at schools. According to a survey done by the Institute of Education Sciences, an independent, nonpartisan statistics arm of the U.S. Department of Education, around 58% of elementary schools reported at least one instance of violent crime in the 2019-20 academic year, the most recent data available. And, 45% reported at least once instance of nonviolent crime.

Fisher said Convergint typically provides alert technology in the schools that could inform rst

e legislature passed a bill in the nal three days of its 2023 lawmaking term, which ended May 8, that would make the refund check amounts the same for everyone if voters pass Proposition HH. ey were originally expected to be about $650 for single lers and roughly $1,300 for joint lers, but could now be roughly $850 for single lers and $1,700 for joint lers.

Last year, Colorado taxpayers received TABOR refund checks of $750 or $1,500 to account for surplus collected in the 202122 scal year, which ended June 30, 2022.

If Proposition HH fails, the refund checks would be tied to income levels. Under the default refund system — called the six-tier sales tax refund mechanism — people who make more money get bigger

SEE REFUND, P5

Volunteers with Convergint pose outside of Ward S. Kemp Elementary School in Commerce City.

COURTESY PHOTO

SEE SECURITY, P4

Farm to Market tickets on sale

Tickets for Farm to Table, a fundraising event for the Platte Valley Medical Foundation scheduled for Aug. 17 or on sale now.

e Foundation’s biennial fundraising campaign will bene t women’s health services to help women connect with the care they need throughout their adult years and to support area women who do not always prioritize their own health needs. e foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the campaign cycle. ey conduct multiple fundraising e orts annually with Farm to Table as the largest event.

Farm to Table will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 on the hospital campus. Platte Valley Medical Center’s Chef Mike Anderson uses produce donated by area farmers to create a gourmet meal for about 450 guests.

e event garners so much support that it often sells out long before the date. is year, Muñoz reserved a block of tickets that are available to the public for $75 each. ey are available at https://ftt2023.cbo.io.

A Stroll in the Garden for CASA

e Court Appointed Special Advocate program, or CASA, for the 11th Judicial District is promoting one of its major fundraisers now scheduled for September.

CASA is inviting supporters to come enjoy a Stroll in the Garden at this year’s Indulge for CASA Gala from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Denver’s Balistreri Vineyards, 1946 E 66th Ave.

is Garden Party will be full of delicious food and drinks, fantastic auction prizes, exciting entertainment, and more! Indulge for CASA is presented by the Kenneth & Myra Monfort Charitable Foundation.

CASA’s mission is to provide courtappointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth from the child welfare system so every child can be safe, have a permanent home, and have the opportunity to thrive.

Annual Stars & Stripes Event to Feature Singer Thomas Mac

e annual pre-Independence Day celebration at Riverdale Regional Park is back! Mark your calendars for the third of July celebration. Ward Electric presents a free evening in the park with country singer, omas Mac, and a festive display of reworks.

Food and beverage vendors will begin serving at 4 p.m. Enjoy live music followed by the 9:30 p.m. reworks show.

For the safety and comfort of your pets and all event attendees, please keep your furry friends at home for the Stars & Stripes event. Visitors are kindly reminded that most reworks are illegal in Adams County; please leave reworks of any type to our professionals.

For more event information and Park Rules, visit riverdaleregionalpark.org or call 303 637-8000.

Work Options FREE Culinary Training Program

e Adams County Human Services Department is partnering with local nonpro t Work Options to provide a free culinary training program for residents.

Program participants train with professional chefs over a six-week course and earn certi cations and up to $400 per month. Work Options also o ers food truck internships.

In addition to the training program, Work Options provides the Human Services Center 11860 Pecos

St., Westminster, with a full menu of breakfast and lunch options including breakfast burritos, pastries, burgers, pizza, daily specials, and more in the Mountain View Café. e café is located on the third oor of HSC. Learn more about the program at workoptions.org.

Brighton residents encouraged to take community survey

e City of Brighton is launching

e National Community Survey (NCS) through Polco NRC (National Research Center) to get resident input on a wide range of community issues ranging from crime and safety and employment opportunities to overall quality of life.

An estimated 3,000 households in Brighon should begin receiving surveys in the mail asking them to participate, and their responses will be weighted and analyzed for the survey results. Following the distribution of the mailed surveys, an online version of the same survey will be available for the rest of the community to complete in late July. More information will be sent out on the online survey when it becomes open. All residents will be able to complete the online survey by visiting www.brightonco.gov/survey.

e City of Brighton last worked with Polco to conduct a community survey in 2021. e National Community Survey allows Brighton to compare results and benchmark residents’ opinions against other communities across the country.

e survey will include questions about quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by the City, and priorities for the future.

e survey will be available online in English and Spanish. Responses will remain anonymous and per-

sonal information will be securely stored on Polco. Once results are in, they will be analyzed by Polco, then presented to City Council.

Residents with questions about the survey may contact the City of Brighton by email at communications@ brightonco.gov.

GOCO $350K grant goes to the High Line Canal preservation work E orts to protect the High Line Canal as a regional open space picked up a $350,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado.

e grant is part of GOCO’s Land Acquisition program, which supports urban and rural landscape, waterway, and habitat protection priorities and improves access to the outdoors.

High Line Canal is a 71-mile, 860acre corridor provides valuable recreation access for the Denver-metro region. It winds through some of its most diverse communities, connecting neighbors to schools, community centers, and more than 8,000 acres of parks and open spaces. e canal spans communities in Denver, Douglas, Adams, and Arapahoe Counties, passing through a diversity of Front Range ecosystems along the way.

e High Line Canal is in a time of transition as its owner, Denver Water, reduces its reliance on the Canal for irrigation delivery. e High Line Canal Conservancy is planning for its future as a recreational, ecological, historical, and stormwater resource.

State youth council needs members e Colorado legislature’s nonpartisan Colorado Youth Advisory Council has openings for new members across the state for the 2023-25 term.

1-8, and 9-10.

Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00 (All grades)

Battery maker Amprius details Brighton factory plans

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Amprius Technologies, the Fremont, Calif.-based lithium-ion battery manufacturer that plans to occupy an empty warehouse in Brighton, has already talked about how much they plan to invest in the community and how many jobs they plan to bring.

But one question they’ve been answering lately is how safe their operation will be. Company CEO Kang Sun said he wants to assure Brighton the factory will be safe.

“This is a highly regulated industry and we cannot afford to make any error,” Sun said. “One big error and our company will be gone. So we are taking this very, very seriously for our employees, our labor groups and our neighbors.”

The company announced in March its intention to occupy the empty former Sears/KMart distribution center on Bromley Lane, setting up their new lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in the 775,000-square-foot building. Their first phase would create 332 net new jobs in Brighton with an

average annual wage of $68,516.

Amprius plans to invest $190 million, including a $50 million cost-sharing grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains.

Andrew Huie, Amprius’ vice president of infrastructure, said the company still needs zoning approval from the City of Brighton and permits from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. They plan to submit their applications to the state this fall, with tentative zoning reviews with the Brighton Planning Commission in July and the City Council in August. They’d hope to be operating by the beginning of 2024.

Moving into an already-existing building is a bonus for the company.

“We’ve already confirmed there is enough electricity for the first phase of our project and we will be building out the interior space of the structure,” Huie said. “Most of the construction we need to do will be inside the building.”

Understanding the process

The facility would be located at 18875 Bromley Lane, just 600 feet south of Brighton’s Mt. Princeton St. and homes in the surrounding Brighton Crossings neighborhood and due north of Brighton’s water

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

treatment plant. Neighbors have made their fears of fires and pollution clear at Brighton City Council meetings.

Huie said company officials have met with neighbors and other concerned Brighton residents since they announced their plans in March. They’ve hosted two neighborhood meetings at the Brighton Armory and have met one-on-one with several neighbors, Huie said, and more meetings are scheduled.

“One of the reasons why people are nervous is that they don’t understand the process and our business, so that’s why we are doing community outreach,” Huie said. “We want to educate them on what we are doing and how we are mitigating the concerns they bring to the table.”

Lithium-ion batteries have been the news lately, with fires in battery-powered E-bikes and cars, but Kang said most of the danger comes from mishandling and overcharging by users. He notes that his factory would not manufacture charged batteries, but empty batteries waiting for users to charge them.

“In the fires, you’ll see that the battery quality is one factor and battery misuse is another,” Kang said. “They can be overcharged or damaged, like when a car crashes. But Amprius has passed U.S. military specifications. We are

TERESA ALEXIS Marketing Consultant Classified Sales talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

very safe. And I have not heard of a fire inside a battery factory in four years. I have never heard of a battery factory fire.”

Even so, the warehouse’s interior space would be divided into smaller, fire-resistant rooms for making and storing the empty batteries and the factory will have a state-of-the-art fire suppression system.

“So we will have many engineering controls in place to help manage risks,” Huie said. “We will have four-hour-rated firewalls down to one-hour-rated walls all separating the different hazard classifications. We have high-tech fire suppression and fire detection systems as well. We will be coordinating all of this with Brighton’s Fire Department so they understand what have at the facility, the hazards as well as the suppression systems.”

Kang said he expects the company’s initial customers will be the aviation industry, providing rechargeable battery power for military pseudo-satellites and highaltitude unmanned aircraft. He also sees a market for his batteries in Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing aircraft. Someday, as soon as 2025 he said, it will be possible to take an electrically powered air taxi from Denver International Airport to downtown Denver. He wants his company’s batteries to power those vehicles.

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Amprius, a maker of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and aircraft, hope to open their large factory in Brighton in 2024. They plan to take over the vacant former Sears/ KMart distribution warehouse on Bromley Lane.

Company touts safety as they prepare for city, state reviews

State overrules Adams 14, approves charter schools

Two charter schools have received approval to open in Adams 14 despite the school district’s opposition.

e school district north of Denver had tried to block both schools —University Prep and Be the Change — from opening, but the State Board of Education last month took away the district’s exclusive say in approving or denying charter schools within its boundaries.

Adams 14 is under state reorganization orders after years of low test scores, and a majority of State Board members said it seemed the district showed a pattern of being unfair to charter schools.

Because the district lost its chartering authority, the two schools were able to apply through the state agency, the Charter School Institute. Now, both schools are expected to open in fall 2024.

At a special meeting June 20, the CSI

SECURITY

responders, other o cials and even parents during an incident. According to the IES survey, 41% of elementary schools have buttons or alarms that directly connect to local law enforcement agencies in the event of an incident. And 70% of elementary schools have systems that automatically notify parents of

Our Family Helping Your Family

board of directors unanimously approved both schools.

Joe Salazar, an attorney for Adams 14, said the district had asked CSI to hold o on their vote because of pending litigation. e district has sued the state for removing their exclusive chartering authority and requested that the judge issue a stay on the order. Salazar said the judge has not issued a ruling.

“If they issue a stay, then what CSI did today is void,” Salazar said.

e Adams 14 school board initially approved University Prep, a charter network that already operates schools in Denver, but then contract negotiations broke down. e charter network successfully appealed to the State Board of Education —twice —but the district still said it could not reach an agreement to open the school.

Leaders of University Prep said they

school-wide emergencies.

Schools apply each year for Convergint’s STEP Up for Schools program, which may include free interior and exterior security system installations, upgrades and assessments. To date, 71 schools across the country have received security donations from the initiative. Convergint has provided the service for several other schools across Colorado, including the Park County School District, Clear Creek School District and Bennett School

DOMINGUEZ Leonard Dominguez

August 28, 1958 - June 9, 2023

Leonard Dominguez 64, passed away peacefully June 9th. Leonard was born to Manuel Pacheco Dominguez and Mary Reynaga on August 28th 1958. Leonard grew up in Fort Lupton, attended Fort Lupton high school and went on to learn several di erent trades.

In 1999 he married Grace Adams in New Zealand. Leonard enjoyed spending time reading the Bible and volunteering at several ministries with Mark Roggerman. Leonard

KILDAL

also enjoyed time he spent in New Zealand with Grace, Esther and her family. Leonard is survived by one daughter Esther (22) and grandson Israel (4) and one on the way, his brother Robert (Sharon) Dominguez and many nephews and nieces. Leonard is preceded in death by his wife Grace, mom and dad Mary and Manuel Dominguez, and brothers Manuel Dominguez, Jimmy Dominguez, John Dominguez and sister Rosalie Roggerman. Services will be determined at a later date.

Phyllis Lee (Thyfault) Kildal

February 1, 1957 - January 29, 2023

Phyllis Lee ( yfault) Kildal, age 65, passed away on January 29,2023, at her home in Mesa, Arizona, after a 14-year struggle with ovarian cancer.

A mass will be held at St. Augustine Church, 178 South 6th Avenue, Brighton, CO on Friday June 30th at 11:00 a.m., rosary at 10:30 a.m.

A Celebration of Phyllis’s life will be held at the Elks Lodge, 101 North Main Street, Brighton, CO on Friday June 30th at 1:30 p.m.

e family asks that all owers and notes be sent to Amy Frazier-Gibson at 219 Poplar Street, Lochbuie, CO 80603.

worked with parents in the community, some of whom already drive their kids out of the district to attend the network’s Denver schools. Together they designed a school that is to include a preschool and programming in Spanish.

e school now has plans to open in fall 2024 serving students in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, expanding over time to enroll students up to fth grade.

Adams 14 leaders cited uncertainty about whether the school would o er preschool in the rst year as the issue that began the breakdown in negotiations. At that time, the network still hoped to open in fall 2023.

Be the Change leaders also say they had a lot of community engagement in designing their high school under a community school model with a

District.

At Ward S. Kemp elementary school, Convergint employees installed a new security system that helps prevent unwanted visitors from entering and upgraded re safety equipment. ey company also did some sprucing up with paint on June 9.

Ward Principal Robert JurhsSavage said the work done by Convergint was welcome news. He’s looking forward to learning about the new security system.

biliteracy approach. e district denied their application after criticizingthe plans as not rigorous enough.

On an appeal, State Board members sided with the district. at didn’t stop Be the Change founders from trying again, though.

Now, Be the Change expects to open in the fall of 2024 with students in grade 9, eventually serving students through grade 12.

“We are absolutely honored by the approval and thrilled for our Commerce City community to have an additional high school option in order for families to make the best decision for their children,” said Amanda Gonzales, Be e Change co-founder, in a written statement.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

“I’d love to come in and check out how it works,” Jurhs-Savage said. Fisher said the company typically selects schools from less populated, more rural districts. But a lack of funding also plays a factor in the company’s selection process.

“We’re looking for school districts that might not have the funding, the capital or the expertise to be able to do what we do,” Fisher said. “We just wanted to shorten the process for the people that don’t even have those resources.”

HOWELL

Shawn Renne (Hagens) Howell

May 24, 1969 - May 16, 2023

Shawn was born in Denver, Colorado to Clearance & Mine Havens . She married Her best Friend ,David Howell III.

She worked in Denver , CO working as Vice President Of Operations at

Westerra Credit Union. She Loved spending days with her son & puppy buddy Shawn is survived by her son, David Howell. She is preceded in death by b her sister, Donna Atkinson.

September 3, 1934 - June 5, 2023

Helen “Gayle” Ehler was born on September 3, 1934, to Homer & Chessie Callaway as the youngest of three children, after Charles & Carolyn. She grew up in Marlow, OK, graduated from Marlow High School, then attended the Oklahoma College for Women for one year. She transferred to Oklahoma University, where she joined the Delta Gamma Sorority & graduated with a BA in Education in 1957. Her rst teaching position was at Brighton High School in Brighton, CO, where she met John Ehler, a local wheat farmer & cattle rancher. ey married on July 5, 1958. Gayle continued to teach, while John farmed, until the birth of their son Alan, & later daughter Deborah. In that season, she provided bookkeeping for Ehler Farms, served on the Brighton School Board, sang in the choir, taught classes, & served as a deacon at First United Presbyterian Church. e couple also discovered their passion for world traveling & saw many places during their 63

years of marriage. Gayle returned to teaching junior high English in the late 1970’s, then students in the Adams County juvenile delinquency system for a decade. John & Gayle sold the farm in 1999, and moved to Wenatchee, WA, to be closer to their children & grandchildren. Beginning in 2003, the couple wintered in Palm Desert, CA, but in 2018, the couple moved to Lake Las Vegas, NV. She passed into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, June 4, 2023, while still in their home with the Love of her Life. Gayle always freely share her Faith, wit & beautiful smile. She is survived by her husband, John Ehler; children: Alan Ehler & Deborah Strahm; beloved children-in-law: Keira Ehler & Todd Strahm; grandchildren: Hannah & Stephen Ehler, Luke & Jake Strahm. A Graveside Service will be held on July 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., Elmwood Cemetery in Brighton, CO. RSVP Reception Following - share memories - deborahstrahm@yahoo.com.

EHLER Helen “Gayle” Ehler

refund checks based on which of six income tiers they fall into.

People in the lowest tier, who make up to $50,000 a year, were expected to receive refund checks of $454 for single lers or $908 for joint lers. For those in the highest tier, who make $279,001 or more, the checks were expected to be $1,434 for single lers and $2,688 for joint lers.

e improved economic outlook would mean larger refunds for people in every tier, though people in the top tier would bene t most.

People in the lowest tier would now receive refund checks of $587 for single lers or $1,174 for joint lers. For those in the highest tier, the checks would now be $1,854 for single lers and $3,708 for joint lers.

e refund amounts are determined by how much money the state government collects above the TABOR cap on government growth and spending. e cap is calculated by annual growth in population and in ation.

Colorado taxpayers will get their refund checks next year after they le their taxes.

Nonpartisan Legislative Council Sta now expects the TABOR cap to be exceeded in the current 202223 scal year, which ends June 30, by $3.31 billion — an increase of roughly $600 million over what they projected in March.

e governor’s O ce of State Planning and Budgeting now expects the TABOR cap to be exceeded in the current scal year by $3.527 billion — an increase of about $870 million over what they projected in March.

Greg Sobetski, the chief economist for Legislative Council Sta , called the increases a “signi cant upward revision.”

Both LCS and OSPB said betterthan-expected corporate income tax revenue was a large driver of the improvements.

e updates were presented to the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, which received its quarterly economic and tax revenue forecasts from LCS and OSPB. While the end of the scal year is fast approaching, it will be months before the state

knows exactly how much money it collected over the TABOR cap.

Legislative Council Sta and the governor’s O ce of State Planning and Budgeting forecasts state government to collect tax revenue in excess of the TABOR cap through at least the 2024-25 scal year, which ends June 30, 2025.

Emily Dohrman, an economist with Legislative Council Sta , said the risk of recession has also decreased.

“ e economy is still showing positive growth, but slower growth than what we saw through most of 2022,” she told the JBC. “Our forecast is anticipating that growth will continue to slow through the end of 2023 but then return to a more moderate pace of growth in 2024 and 2025.”

She said there’s still a risk of an economic downturn, but that risk is lower than it was in March.

Polis touted the forecasts presented to the JBC. He said Colorado’s economy remains strong and that it’s evidence the state “continues to be the best place to live, work and do business.”

e next quarterly tax revenue and economic forecasts will be presented to the JBC in September. e panel in November will begin drafting the state’s 2024-25 scal year budget, which takes e ect on July 1, 2024.  e full legislature will vote on the spending plan after it reconvenes in January.

is story via e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver that covers the state. For more, visit www.ColoradoSun.com.

e Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, which owns Colorado Community Media.

Adams County hosts Tiny Home Festival

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e sixth annual Tiny Home Festival returned to Riverdale Park on June 24 and 25, showcasing some big ideas with small footprints.

e park was busy, with many people lining up to see each one of a kind of custombuilt home. Each tiny house ranged from 400 square to larger, with amenities like full-size washers, dryers, and kitchen appliances.

Legislators approved the Colorado Tiny House Bill, House Bill 22-1242, that creates construction standards for theand , makes the event more timely than ever.

“ is new legislation will make tiny home living in Colorado a more viable option,” said Art Laubach, Colorado Tiny House Festival organizer. “ e legislation will protect consumers setting standards for tiny home building and manufacturing in Colorado.”

Laubach said since the Colorado Tiny House Bill passed, it will be better next year now that they are opening up the building code, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). It’s an organization that handles standards.

“ e building code has been approved as part of the new bill, which was in e ect beginning of July. Next year, the ASTM code we hope it will be approved nationally”, Laubach said.

“So if you wanted to build a tiny home, let’s say in Missouri and you want to bring it to Colorado, then you would be able to get the inspection done. Its would be more viable.”

“ e legislation will also provide a path for counties to recognize tiny homes as permanent dwellings and open up nancing opportunities,” Laubach continued.

ere are several places where tiny home living is already legal in Colorado, including El Paso County, Park County, Durango, Leadville, Lyons, and Woodland Park.

Many people lined up to see this 34-foot two-bedroom tiny home built by Indigo River.

PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD

This tiny home is built by the Adams 12 high school students in the construction pathway program. They donate the houses to Access Housing, which we are a nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless youth and families transition out of homelessness.

The Veteran Community Project builds this tiny home. They build tiny homes for homeless, at-risk veterans. They are building 26 tiny homes in Longmont.

At AdventHealth Avista, you’ll experience world-class health care designed to heal the whole person — body, mind and spirit. Guided by a special mission — to Extend the Healing Ministry of Christ — we’re committed to fulfilling the needs of our community, team members and partners across the region. It’s a whole new level of care for every age and every stage of life. Discover the di erence that faith-based whole-person care can make.

Learn more at AdventHealth.com/Colorado.

©

TRIVIA

2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What does HTTP stand for in a website address?

3. LITERATURE: Which kind of animals are featured in the novel “Watership Down”?

4. HISTORY: When was the rst iPhone released?

5. MOVIES: What kind of sh is Nemo in “Finding Nemo”?

6. GAMES: What is the nal course on Mario Kart video games?

7. ASTRONOMY: How many planets in our solar system have moons?

8. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was licensed as a bartender?

9. MEDICAL: What is a more common term for somniloquy?

Solution

10. TELEVISION: How many castaways are on “Gilligan’s Island”?

Answers

1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

2. HyperText Transfer Protocol.

3. Rabbits.

4. 2007.

5. Clown sh.

6. Rainbow Road.

7. Six of the eight planets.

8. Abraham Lincoln.

9. Talking in your sleep.

10. Seven.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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CLASSIFIEDS

Help Wanted Nursing Faculty

Full-Time, 167 work days beginning August, 2023. The faculty member is responsible for instruction to students in the Associate Degree Nursing program. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/ jobs/2935855.html and https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/ jobs/2935846.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Advisor for Career Technical Education

Full-time, The position advises current and prospective students about college and career opportunities in the manufacturing industry. This position will be the primary contact between students, regional workforce centers, manufacturing/industry partners, secondary schools, and the College regarding available pathways for students. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2831678.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Coordinator of Regional Center - Bennett

Full-time. This position is responsible for assisting with the delivery of credit and non-credit programs to residents of the communities served by the Regional Center. The position has responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Center (either in Bennett or Strasburg) under the direction of the Director. This includes assisting with recruiting, testing, advising, and registering students. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2930398.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Director of Human Resources

Full-time. The Director of Human Resources manages the leadership and day-to-day operations of the human resources department. This is a hands-on position requiring data entry as well as coordination of a comprehensive human resources program for the college in coordination with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2934043.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Instructional Coordinator

Full-time. This position exists to manage the operation of the Instructional O ce in collaboration with the Coordinator of Instructional Support. It involves the development, analysis, and evaluation of processes to ensure e ciency and compliance within the Instructional Division. This position facilitates communication between the Instructional O ce and the other areas of the college and provides support services to Deans, VPI, faculty and instructors.

For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2930453.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

STEM Coach

Full-time. The STEM Coach is responsible for a variety of activities related to intense support services for students in underserved populations interested in STEM elds. This position will provide one-on-one support services primarily for minority, low-income, rst generation, and/or at academic risk students in the STEM programs. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2837758.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Student Support Specialist

Full-time. The primary role of the Student Support & Equipment Specialist is to provide support and training to students in the operation and use of instructional equipment for in-person and remote learning. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/ jobs/2665963.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

CLASSIFIED AD SALES

303-566-4113

classifieds@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY ADS

Contact Teresa, 303-566-4125

talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

PUBLIC

303-566-4123

Legals

City and County

Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO

Notice is hereby given that this public hearing will be conducted on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Commerce City Civic Center, 7887 East 60th Avenue. The Board of Adjustment will consider:

A-1768-U-23: Imam Ali Center is requesting a Use-by-Permit for a religious institution to be located at 6951 Dexter Street. The subject property is approximately 0.63 acres in size and zoned Single-Family Attached Residential District (R-2).

Advance registration for virtual testimony/ public input is required. Additional information and instructions to register for testimony can be found in the published agenda at https://commerce.legistar.com and at www.c3gov.com/PC or by contacting staff at 303-227-8818 or kadame@c3gov.com. Notificatcion de un Proyecto de Desarrollo potencial cerca de su propiedad. Para servicios de traduccion en espanol, llame a Kimberly Adame 303-227-8818.

The legal description of the above property is on file with the Department of Community Development.

Commerce City Board of Adjustment

Para más información contacte 303227-8818

Legal Notice No. CCX1087

First Publication: June 29, 2023

Last Publication: June 29, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO

Notice is hereby given that this public hearing will be conducted on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Commerce City Civic Center, 7887 East 60th Avenue. The Board of Adjustment will consider:

A-1765-U-23: Jiffy Lube International, Inc. is requesting a Use-by-Permit for a minor vehicle repair facility to be located at 6155 Parkway Drive. The subject property is ap-

proximately 0.53 acres in size and zoned General Commercial District (C-2).

A-1768-U-23: Imam Ali Center is requesting a Use-by-Permit for a religious institution to be located at 6951 Dexter Street. The subject property is approximately 0.63 acres in size and zoned Single-Family Attached Residential District (R-2).

The legal description of the above property is on file with the Department of Community Development.

Advance registration for virtual testimony/ public input is required. Additional information and instructions to register for testimony can be found in the published agenda at https://commerce.legistar.com and at www.c3gov.com/PC or by contacting staff at 303-227-8818 or kadame@c3gov.com.

Notificatcion de un Proyecto de Desarrollo potencial cerca de su propiedad. Para servicios de traduccion en espanol, llame a Kimberly Adame 303-227-8818.

Commerce City Board of Adjustment

Para más información contacte 303227-8818

Legal Notice No. CCX1088

First Publication: June 29, 2023

Last Publication: June 29, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Bids and Settlements

Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL PAYMENT

NOTICE is hereby given that the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District (“District”) of Adams County, Colorado, will make final payment at its offices at 6595 E. 70th Avenue, Commerce City, Colorado, 80022, on July 17, 2023, at the hour of 3:00 p.m. to Brannan Construction Company of Denver, CO for all work done by said Contractor(s) in construction work performed for the District.

Project Contractor:

Brannan Construction Company

Project Name:2023 SACWSD PZ21

Development Conversion to Irrigation System

Project Location: Primarily located on Potomac Street between E 104th Avenue and E 108th Avenue and side streets. Other work areas were in various locations in the surrounding areas of the developments adjacent to Potomac Street.

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender,

or other supplies used or consumed by any contractors or their subcontractors, in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplies rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work, and whose claim therefor has not been paid by the contractors or their subcontractors, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, is required to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid, and an account of such claim, to the District at the above address, Attn: Dawn Fredette, District Clerk, on or before the date and time hereinabove shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement of claim prior to such final settlement will release the District, its Board of Directors, officers, agents, and employees, of and from any and all liability for such claim.

All of the above is pursuant to §38-26107, C.R.S.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SOUTH ADAMS COUNTY WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT acting through its SOUTH ADAMS COUNTY WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT ACTIVITY ENTERPRISE

By:Vicki Ennis Secretary

Legal Notice No. CCX1086

First Publication: June 29, 2023

Last Publication: July 6, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Summons and Sheriff Sale

Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, 80601

Plaintiff: FRONTERRA VILLAGE FILING NO.3

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado nonprofit corporation;

Defendants: JOSEPH S. MENDIOLA; PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC; ADAMS COUNTY TREASURER; UNKNOWN TENANT(S) IN POSSESSION.

Case Number: 2023CV30329

Attorneys for Plaintiff: THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC

Stephane R. Dupont, #39425

Address: PO Box 1073, Castle Rock, CO 80104

Phone Number: (720) 644-6115

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): Joseph S. Mendiola

You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the Complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an Answer or other response. You are required to file your Answer within 35 days after the service of this Summons upon you. Service of the Summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.

If you fail to file your answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the Complaint without further notice.

This is an action for judicial foreclosure of an association assessment lien pursuant to C.R.S. 38-33.3-316, in and to real property situated in Adams County, Colorado, more particularly described on Exhibit A, attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof.

Dated: May 18, 2023

THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC

By: *s/ Stephane R. Dupont Stephane R. Dupont

This Summons is issued pursuant to Rule 4(h), Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure

Exhibit A

Lot 8, Block 15, Fronterra Village Filing No. 3, County of Adams, State of Colorado.

Also known as: 16483 East 98th Way, Commerce City, CO 80022

Legal Notice No. CCX1071

First Publication: June 8, 2023

Last Publication: July 6, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

###

Judge rejects e ort to block 10-year property tax relief plan

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

An e ort by conservative scal activists and GOP-led counties to block a 10-year property tax plan formed by Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats in the legislature from going before voters in November was denied on June 9 by a Denver judge.

Denver District Court Judge David H. Goldberg found that he didn’t have jurisdiction to consider the case. But he also rejected arguments that Proposition HH violates requirements in the state constitution that ballot measures deal with a single subject and have clear titles.

e plainti s in the lawsuit, led in May, included Advance Colorado, a conservative political nonpro t, and more than a dozen Colorado counties controlled by Republicans. Several GOP county commissioners and Republican current and former politicians also signed onto the legal action.

“Prop. HH undoubtedly violates the single-subject and clear-title provisions in our constitution,” Michael Fields, who leads Advance Colorado, said in a written statement Friday. “We plan to appeal this decision.”

e appeal will go directly to the Colorado Supreme Court.

Polis’ o ce said the governor “appreciates the court’s ruling to allow the voters the opportunity to enact Proposition HH as passed by the legislature.” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, celebrated the ruling.

“I am pleased that the court today agrees that voters should have their say,” Fenberg said in a written state-

ment.

Sen.Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat and an architect of the proposal, calling the ruling “clear and decisive.”

Proposition HH was placed on the November ballot through a bill passed by the legislature in May. It’s meant to respond to massive increases in Coloradans’ property tax bills starting next year caused by a sharp spike in property values. e median increase in home values across the state in May when county assessors determined property values was 40% since June 2020, the last time assessors determined property values.

Here’s how it would work for residential property:

e residential assessment rate would be reduced to 6.7% from 6.765% in 2023, for taxes owed in 2024, and to 6.7% from 6.976% for taxes owed in 2025. e 6.7% rate would remain unchanged through the 2032 tax year, for taxes owed in 2033.

• In addition to the assessment rate cuts, residential property owners would get to exempt the rst $50,000 of their home’s value from taxation for the 2023 tax year, a $10,000 increase made through an amendment adopted Monday. Residential property owners would then get to exempt $40,000 of their homes’ values from taxation for the 2024 tax year. e break would persist until the 2032 tax year, except for people’s second or subsequent single-family homes, like rental or vacation properties, which would stop being subject to that bene t in the 2025 tax year.

Here’s how it works for commer-

cial property:

• For commercial properties, the assessment rate would be reduced to 27.85% through 2026, down from 29%. e state would be required to evaluate economic conditions to determine if the rate reduction should continue. If the rate reductions persist, the commercial assessment rate would be reduced to 27.65% in 2027, 26.9% in 2029 and 25.9% starting in 2031.

• For agricultural properties and properties used for renewable energy, the assessment rate would be reduced to 26.4% from 29% through the 2032 tax year. For properties that fall under both classi cations, such as those used for agrivoltaics, the rate would be cut to 21.9%.

How are property taxes calculated?

Property taxes are determined by how much your county assessor values your property, what the state’s property assessment rate is and what your local mill-levy rate is.

A mill is a $1 payment on every $1,000 of assessed value.

Property taxes in Colorado are calculated by multiplying the statewide assessment rate by the value of a property — sometimes referred to as a market value — as determined by a county assessor. at number is then multiplied by the local mill levy rate.

(A mill is a $1 payment on every $1,000 of assessed value. So in order to gure out what your tax bill is you should multiply your mill levy rate by 0.001 and then multiply that number by the product of multiplying your property’s value by the statewide assessment rate. at’s how much you owe.)

So someone who owns a home

valued at $600,000 and assessed at a 6.765% statewide residential assessment rate in a place where the mill levy rate is 75 would owe $3,044.25 in taxes each year. e formula to get to that number looks like this: $600,000 x 0.06765 x (75 x 0.001) = $3,044.25.

e proposal would also prevent many local taxing districts from increasing property taxes above the rate of in ation, though school districts would be exempt and local governments could override the cap after giving notice to property owners.

To account for the cuts, the legislature is planning to spend $200 million to repay local governments, including schools, for the additional revenue they would have collected. e plan also calls for using about $250 million of the $2.7 billion Colorado is projected to collect in the current scal year, which ends June 30, above the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights cap on government growth and spending, to further account for local districts’ revenue reduction.

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