Commerce City Sentinel Express October 12, 2023

More Colorado energy co-ops line up to leave Xcel

Farm access to federal money Caraveo’s aim

BY MATT WHITTAKER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Not long after Yadira Caraveo became the inaugural U.S. representative for Colorado’s new 8th Congressional District, the Democrat from ornton found herself talking with farmers about climate change.

Some were Republicans in Weld and Adams counties who wouldn’t use the words “climate change,” but they told Caraveo they are noticing things are di erent, like shifts in harvest and planting times. ey’re also tracking weather patterns they haven’t seen before and it’s only heightened their concerns about conserving water.

“To them it’s not news,” Caraveo said. “It’s something that they’ve understood for some time. ey don’t necessarily want to call it climate change. We’re talking about the same thing.”

BY MARK JAFFE THE COLORADO SUN

United Power CEO Mark Gabriel has a countdown clock on his desk ticking o the time until his electric cooperative leaves the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association on May 1, 2024.

Brighton-based United Power, however, isn’t the only Colorado coop counting days.

Seven other rural electrical cooperatives have left, are looking to leave, or renegotiate contracts with their traditional power suppliers — Tri-State and Xcel Energy — enabling them to venture into a wholesale market lled with merchant power suppliers and brokers.

“ e energy transition is now providing lower-cost, local and cleaner power solutions that o er a number of advantages to co-ops,” said Seth Feaster, an analyst with the non-

pro t Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. “It allows co-ops to forge their own energy independence.”

Traditionally, rural cooperatives bought their electricity from generation and transmission associations, created to serve the co-ops, or an investor-owned utility, like Xcel Energy. ose purchases account for 60% to 70% of the cooperatives’ budgets.

“I think that the old world is just fading away,” Gabriel said, undermined by cheap wind and solar electricity and technological innovations, such as battery storage.

“ ose companies that don’t march with time, end up just relics on the side of the road.”

United Power is striking deals with multiple suppliers for power and storage. “It’s important to recognize we really will have a much more balanced portfolio than our current

power supplier o ers us,” Gabriel said.

While there are some similarities, the co-ops leaving Tri-State and those exiting Xcel Energy each have their own particular reasons.

For the cooperatives departing Xcel Energy — the CORE Electric Cooperative, Grand Valley Power and the Yampa Valley Electric Association — the focus is on the volatility of the Xcel’s wholesale prices and questions of management.

CORE, formerly known as the Intermountain Rural Electric Association, is the largest cooperative in Colorado with 175,000 members — customers actually own the co-op — across 11 Front Range counties.  e cooperative has had a longstanding relationship with Xcel Energy, including owning a quarter of the Comanche 3 power plant.

Semantics aside, Caraveo has found some common ground with the agricultural community, particularly smaller farming operations that are looking to participate in federal programs to improve their conservation practices, but nd it tough to get their foot in the door. So, Caraveo has set her sights on changes to the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program. It is known as EQIP, and it pays farmers to use conservation methods that, in part, promote healthy soil, which is improves crop yields and, therefore, farmers’ pro ts, as well as the environment. at’s because healthier soil contains more organic matter and can store more carbon dioxide, helping to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gasses that are linked to climate

SEE ACCESS, P12

Mark Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power, at the company’s headquarters on Sept. 20, 2023 in Brighton. United Power is a member-owned distribution electric cooperative serving more than 106,000 meters across six counties along the north-central Front Range.

PHOTO BY KATHRYN SCOTT / SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN

SEE CO-OPS, P6

BRIEFS

Adams County sets Operation Freebird for Nov. 18

e Adams County Sheri ’s O ce and Human Services Department are teaming up for the annual Operation Freebird event. is event provides Adams County families in need with everything to prepare a anksgiving meal.

Operation Freebird will be from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at Mountain States Toyota, 201 W. 70th Ave. Community organizations are welcome to participate to provide resources or information for residents. If interested, reach out to Karla Ojeda.

Rocky Mountain Human Services wins Adams, Denver counties contract

e Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing is redesigning its case management process, naming a Colorado rm to manage responses for Adams and Denver counties beginning Nov. 1.

Colorado nonpro t group Rocky Mountain Human Services will provide streamlined case management services to individuals with disabilities or other complex needs requiring long-term, home, and community-based support.

e new contract is part of Colorado’s redesigned case management system intended to make it easier for people needing services to navigate the system and get the care they need. It is designed to ensure that people have one place to go for questions and support and to improve the quality of care they receive.

“We are proud and honored to be selected as the Case Management Agency for Denver and Adams Counties,” said RMHS executive director Shari Repinski. “It’s essential to reduce the burden of

a complex and siloed system of care by creating a more inclusive and streamlined Long Term Care system in Colorado that recognizes and caters to the diverse needs of individuals, regardless of their disability. RMHS looks forward to making it easier for people to access care and to know that they have a trusted partner they can count on to treat them with the utmost respect and compassion.”

Corn maze returns through Halloween

Maize in the City, the corn maze and fall celebration is open through Halloween, o ering a convenient and fun corn maze and pumpkin eld the whole family can enjoy.

Admission to the Maize in the City site is free, with attraction prices varying from free to $20. Maize in the city is located at 10451 McKay Road in ornton.

Families can get lost navigating the 20-acre Crazed Corn Field Maze. Let the little ones take the lead as you make your way through the Mini Maze – a maze cut into a shorter corn stalk eld.

Little ones can also ride through the eld on the barrel train, race through the hay bale maze, and visit and feed animals in the petting zoo. Bounce above the corn stalks on our pumpkin bounce pillow and then test your aim as you launch ears of corn 100+ feet across the eld.

e facility also o ers the opportunity to swim through the free corn kernel box or have your kiddos take turns conquering the playground or racing rubber ducks. en, stop for the perfect fall photo at one of the many photo ops throughout the site.

The St. Vrain Historical Society Presents The 53rd Annual

Hist ical Society’s Missi of Hist ic Pres vati & Educati in the C munity!

www.stvrainhistoricalsociety.com

Internships available with Adams County

Are you interested in learning more about working for local government? Adams County currently has paid internships available.

Opportunities include a cook ($16.48/hour) and classroom aide ($15.62/hour) for Head Start, an IT intern ($17/hour) for the Sheri ’s O ce, and a Healthy Farmers Market intern ($17/hour).

ese opportunities are available through the Workforce & Business Center. ose interested should work with their Business Center case manager or call 720.523.6898 to get established with a case manager.

Work Options FREE Culinary Training Program

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

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.

CCPD Introduces Online Crime Reporting Form

e Commerce City Police

Halloween Family Fun Open House

Brighton City Museum welcomes the public to our first annual Halloween Open House Bring a non-perishable food item to help support the community this holiday season and get in for free! Stroll historic city hall and learn the spooky history of the building and the City. Pose for a “ghost photo” and show your friends. Will our photographer capture a spook peering over your shoulder? Enjoy cider and crafts.

Saturday October 21st 4-8 PM

Historic City Hall 22 South 4th Ave., Brighton 80601

Department has a new online reporting tool allowing the public to report some non-emergency crimes and receive a police report immediately without speaking to a police o cer.

Community members can now conveniently report incidents that do not require immediate ofcer intervention, such as fraud, identity theft, lost property, theft/ shoplifting (less than $2,000), and vandalism.

e new form is online now in English and Spanish at c3gov. com/ReportACrime. Residents should always call 911 for emergencies.

Walk with a doc

Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.

is is a walking program for everyone interested in a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and a fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active, and enjoy all the bene ts of walking.

‘Taking No Chances’

e 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce and e Link, a community resource and assessment center in ornton, o er free, 10-week programs to families of Adams County teenagers to help develop personal and interpersonal drug-resistance skills.

Sessions are from 5:30 to 6;30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 720-2922811.

Museum open house event

Police seek community over co ee

Building a community partnership one cup at a time

McDonald’s invited cops and the community to have co ee and get to know the men and women behind the badge in observance of National Co ee with Cop Day at the Brighton Kuner Road branch on October 4.  “ ese events Co ee with the Cop are really important. Most of the time we interact with people who are having a bad day. is is an opportunity to come out and get to know members of the community in a setting where there isn’t something bad going on,” said Brighton Chief of Police Matthew Domenico.

“ is event is to get to know them a little bit, nd out what’s important to them in their communities and their neighborhoods, and share information to help everybody understand a little more about what we do and what they need from their police department.”

Celebrating 12 years

Co ee with a Cop Day started in Hawthorne, California, in 2011 by the Hawthorne Police Department as a way to serve the communities better to interact and develop trust between police and communities, according to co eewithacop.com.

As communities grow with technology, developing websites and social media creates di erent ways for police and community to interact, breaking down the walls on important within communities so they can work with police to make a safe neighborhood for everyone.

Since the Hawthorne Police Department launched its program, it has become a world success. Co ee with a Cop Day is celebrated annually in all 50 states and has expanded into Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Latin America. Its program opened a door for law enforcement and the community to work together during a crisis.

Brian and Brittany Boselli, who owns McDonald’s, hosted the event, serving co ee and bringing police and communities together.

“It’s a great opportunity for the community to come together, ask questions, have a conversation; there’s no agenda here. You get together and be one community, “ Brian said.

“Meeting with the cops is awesome, especially for our kids to see they are here to protect us. I tell my kids daily that the policemen and remen, protect and save us. It great for them to be face to face with them to see they’re real people and we can feel comfortable to ask them questions or if they’re in need,” Brittany said.

Brighton resident Catherine LeDonne wanted to hear about the o cers’ days, how they were doing and their vision. She had several questions for O cer Jacob Vaillanyi, including Brighton’s proposed public safety sales tax. Voters will decided that at the polls in November.

“We discussed the sale tax. I support the sales tax, which I never voted on a tab for tax in my life, but this is

important it also supports the police,” LeDonne said.

LeDonne said she learned the city does not have enough police o cers to take a sick day o , which puts more stress on the other o cers going to the facility to do the report and takes more o cers o the street.

“ ey need more o cers. Another thing brought to my attention is funding to allow them to have canines.

e canines are great to track perps when they run, LeDonne said.

“ at’s huge it keeps them safe.

ey’re having to rely on the Adams County Sheri ’s to work for canines, they need our own.”

LeDonne said another question asked about what is the most dangerous call; O cer Vaillanyi said domestic violence.

“I know our city is working with di erent partners to help people trying to escape these types of cases,” LeDonne said.

“We have an excellent team in our police department and a great communications o ce.”

O ce Brandon Cannon said that our good police work starts with our community and gaining their trust.

“A lot of cases we solve starts with the community with suspect leads. It’s important to have that good com-

munity relationship,” Cannon said.

Brighton Police Commander Monce Portillo said being at a higher level is essential to remind our citizens that we’re in a partnership.

“So many of us are citizens in the community who face the same problems as we do. We are here as a partnership and want to solve problems together.

O cer Jalene Abeyta said having trust with the community is crucial.  It’s about gaining trust, allowing them to reach out to us when they need us, and knowing that we are here for them,” Abeyta said.

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In the middle, Brian, Brittany, Bodan, Bryson, Brantly and Brynlea Boselli pose with some o cers at the Brighton Police Department. Brian Boselli owns the McDonalds that hosted the Oct. 4 Co ee with a Cop event. BELEN WARD

Brighton workers join Kaiser strike

Workers want better hiring, more pay

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

While 3,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers walked o the job with picket signs across Colorado, workers in Brighton were marching too and ghting for pay increases and to solve labor shortage issues.

e strike started on Oct. 5, with over 75,000 striking across the country, according to Service Employees International Union SEIU.

“ e Brighton frontline healthcare workers are out here because they’ve been asking for and demanding real solutions on how to solve the Kaiser short-sta ng crisis, how bad the pay is,” said Stephanie Felix-Sowy, president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 105.

SEIU Local Union 105 represents over 4,000 Kaiser healthcare employees and 3,000 frontline workers in Colorado.

At the Brighton Kaiser at 859 S. 4th Ave., healthcare workers were picketing in front of Kaiser, walking along 4th Avenue and Bromley Lane, waving to cars driving to honk in support of their cause.

Felix-Sowy said the Kaiser front-

line healthcare workers across the state 3000 are striking because of an unfair labor practices. e Kaiser Permanente executives have not come to the bargaining table in good faith since starting in April, she said.

Felix-Sowy said union members presented a plan to solve the sta shortage crisis that would have accelerated and simpli ed the hiring process. e goal is to bring people in at competitive wage to retain existing sta committed to Kaiser and helping patients— and more make the jobs more competitive to attract new hires.

“We’ve also asked for an increase in education funding so that again, we can help people get into health care and also provide some career opportunities for the folks who are loyal Kaiser employees,” Felix-Sowy said.

Felix-Sowy said Kaiser talks of sta ng shortages across the country and industry.

“We acknowledge that however, Kaiser needs to be better with our membership, frontline health care workers, the patients who are receiving care, expect better. Patients pay for their services, and all of the plans this year have been increased in price,” Felix-Sowy said.

Felix-Sowy said patients in the buildings for appointments and over the phone are experiencing longer wait times for essential ser-

vices like labs, screenings, colonoscopy, and mammography.

“We believe Kaiser should be doing better for our healthcare workers,” Felix-Sowy said.

Felix-Sowy said the solution for the hiring practices needs to be better and faster. One of their members took her four to six weeks to hear from Kaiser about a job.

“We hear from other people going to leave the Kaiser and to other systems, say those hiring practices sometimes only a week long. e long hiring practice will a ect the ability to bring people in Felix-Sowy.

“People who worked for Kaiser for years go to another job, and other places o er hiring bonuses, retention, and higher pay and bene ts; it a ects folks.”

Felix-Sowy said the other solution that keeps good workers and attracts good workers in healthcare is career ladder opportunities and investment in them.

“We asked Kaiser for commitment to education and career advancement for our members as we move forward,” Felix-Sowy said.

Peter Cain, a Kaiser licensed practical nurse, said many things are on the table, such as retirement, sta ng, and pay raises.

“Our patients come rst; we need more sta . We can’t take care of the patients that we currently have because we need more sta . We have been ghting for so long this year,

and nally, strike for it was bad enough. Retirement is a huge issue; pay increases the cost of living,” Cain said.

“ ese are all crucial for us to maintain. If we get more people in, we’re hoping for a decent wage to bring them in. We have to be able to have enough money to entice new employees. I stand behind our union with them going to the table, which is exciting for us. We are not going to compromise, and we need them not to compromise,”

Lindy Vallejos, a Kaiser clinical laboratory assistant phlebotomist, said that member access is more important.

“I have family members that are immunocompromised. ey have to wait three to six months to see their physician. It’s concerning for me. Also, Vallejos said that a friend who is going through a lot had to have a stent procedure, and it took over a month for her to get scheduled for the procedure,” Vallejos said.

Vallejos said another issue is her coworkers are all very overworked. It’s expected that many of them have to work a lot of overtime on weekends.

“ e beautiful part is that frontline healthcare workers have real solutions that they have brought to Kaiser and are willing to work with Kaiser to make sure that we can solve it together,” Felix-Sowy said.

MEDINA

Marbella Medina

February 25, 1938 - September 16, 2023

Marbella Medina, age 85, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2023, in Commerce City, CO. She was born on February 25, 1938, in Chama, CO. Later on in life she married the love of her life, Virgil O. Medina on May 9th, 1959, in Hawthorn, CA.

Marbella is survived by her children; Virgil Jr. (Wil Martinez), Terry (Joe Hains), Frank, Eric, and two grandchildren Victoria & Frank Jr. Marbella will always be remembered for her beautiful eyes, kind heart, and will be deeply missed by all of her friends and family.

KUNGEL

Clay Stueve Kungel

June 2, 1993 - September 26, 2023

Clay Stueve Kungel was born at 9:47 p.m. on June 2, 1993, in the former hospital on Egbert Street in Brighton, CO. A short 30 years later, he went to be with the Lord on the evening of September 26, 2023. Not long before his motorcycle accident on Riverdale, Clay had happily shared his future plans before proudly donning his brown fringed leather jacket to take a full moon ride. On top of the world, he went out the door praising God for the blessings in his life. Our loss is surely heaven’s gain.

He is survived by his mother Paula Stueve and Father Dallas (Priscilla) Kungel; brother Dallas Noah Kungel, sister Tomah Kungel; and Goddaughter Zofya age 3. Also deeply missing him are his uncles and aunts, Gary (Kathy) Stueve of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Marcia (Mark) Tracht of Spokane, Washington; Peggy (Spike) Maas of Bonners Ferry; and Rita Kungel (Sven Steinmo) of Boulder. Clay had many beloved cousins and cherished nieces and nephews who will surely miss him profoundly. His blue heeler Reign su ers in the way only a loved companion can.

Clay truly loved the outdoors and would

stay the night by himself in his treehouse in the corner of 35 acres— age 8. Clay attended Zion Lutheran School for his early years and then graduated from Brighton High School. An avid hunter and sherman, Clay completed a monthlong canoe trip this summer in Minnesota and Canada. Since she could not hold the other oar, Reign was given the duty of carrying her own dog food in saddlebags made speci cally for her. Clay was very proud, and rightfully so, of his HVAC business, 3-Heart Enterprises, which was named after his great-grandparents’ Idaho cattle brand. He loved the America that the founding fathers had prayed into a nation. His roots on both sides went back to the original Tea Party. It’s not hard to see him in feathers and native garb making afternoon tea in the bay. Another ancestor fought years in Washington’s Army during the American Revolution. He was proudly patriotic.

Clay’s love of life will not soon be forgotten. He brought love and laughter with him everywhere he went. Clay touched many lives in his short time on this Earth and will be remembered as a bright light by every one of them.

Colorado College o ers HAVEN for transfer students from anti-DEI states

BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE

In a growing backlash since the nation was rocked by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, ve states have now passed anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion laws targeting colleges and universities - Florida, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

Rosalie Rodriguez - associate vice president of institutional equity and belonging at Colorado College - said for the next two academic years, students from these states can transfer and nd a safe haven on their Colorado Springs campus.

“None of us learns well in an environment where we are feeling unsafe, where we are feeling harm, we’re feeling oppressed, we’re feeling scared,” said Rodriguez. “We do not perform at our best when we are under threat.”

Republican lawmakers have introduced 40 bills since 2022 in an e ort to end practices - including diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings; and classes that deal with systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege.

e bills’ proponents say these concepts distort historical events and promote identity politics. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said DEI should stand for “discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination.”

Many worry the new laws could lead to a climate of uncertainty, fear, and even violence.

Rodriguez said the HAVEN initiative is a response to an immediate need for those in harm’s way. She added that the program removes many barriers transfer students typically face.

“So, all of the students who are applying through the HAVEN initiative

will get their full nancial need met in their tuition package,” said Rodriguez. “We are also making sure that all of their credits transfer. We also will guarantee housing.”

Rodriguezz also challenged other colleges and institutions interested in holistically educating students to push back against repressive laws that are in opposition to their values.

She pointed to a salient statement

by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“Because we all know that silence is the voice of complicity,” said Rodriguez. “And I think there are many of us who do not want to be complicit in regressing some of the rights that we have worked so hard for over these many years.”

CO-OPS

e Sedalia-based cooperative is suing Xcel Energy for breach of contract over the troubled, 750-megawatt, coal- red power plant in Pueblo, which has su ered more than 700 days of breakdowns since it went on line in 2010.

“Taking a share of Comanche 3 was probably the biggest mistake CORE ever made,” said Steve Figueroa, the co-op’s commercial operations director. e lawsuit is slated to go to trial in Denver District Court in October.

While CORE and Xcel Energy battle it out in court, the cooperative

is moving to replace its power supply. “Largely it is the transition from capital intensive resources, like coal plants, to more modular resources,” Figueroa said. “It’s the promise you don’t have to live with the historical mistakes anymore.”

In January, CORE signed a 20-year contract with Invergy, a multinational power project developer, to provide electricity, including 400 megawatts of new solar and wind energy and 100 megawatts of battery storage, backed up by 300 MW of existing natural gas resources starting in 2026.

e cooperative also signed a contract for some extra natural gas- red generation with Onward Energy and is negotiating for additional renewable energy capacity, Figueroa said.

CORE is also exploring adding more battery storage.

“When the terms of our deal (with Xcel Energy) are over we don’t want to stay with this old business model,” Figueroa said.

e other issue the co-ops had with Xcel Energy was the explosive increase in rates due to natural gas prices — rst as a result of the 2021 Winter Storm Uri, which shutdown Texas gas wells tripling spot market prices, and then last winter’s high prices.

Especially hard hit were Xcel Energy’s smaller cooperatives, such as Grand Junction-based Grand Valley Power and the Steamboat Springsbased Yampa Valley Electric Association.  Grand Valley has 19,000 members

and Yampa Valley 27,000 members and under their Xcel Energy contracts the price of natural gas was passed directly to their members — as is to the utility’s own residential and commercial customers.

“ e philosophical issue for me and the smaller co-ops is that it is managed exclusively by Xcel and we have zero input, but our Grand Valley consumers have to pay for it,” said Tom Walch, Grand Valley’s CEO.

e high natural gas prices added about 10% to Grand Valley member bills. “It certainly motivated us to look at other options,” Walch said.

Yampa Valley saw a 14% increase in its rates in 2023, according to a

SEE CO-OPS, P7

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CO-OPS

letter to members from co-op CEO Steve Johnson announcing the plan to leave Xcel Energy. e cooperatives will leave after a ve-year transition.

So frustrated were four cooperatives served by Xcel Energy — CORE, Grand Valley, Yampa Valley and Glenwood Springs-based Holy Cross — that they led a complaint with federal regulators in January contending the utility had mismanaged its Storm Uri gas supplies.

e four were seeking a refund of $6.9 million in fuel charges, but the Federal Energy Regulatory Commis-

sion rejected their request.

“We thought we had a good case, but we were dealing with a situation where it was David versus Goliath,” Walch said. “It was Xcel’s home court.”

“It was the big kid pushing the little kid around,” Walch said. “I am not saying Xcel is a bully, it just feels that way sometimes. But if a bully is taking your lunch money, maybe you nd a di erent route to school. at’s what we are doing, taking a di erent route to school.”

“We were disappointed that they chose to go elsewhere but understood the decision that they were making,” said Robert Kenney, CEO of Xcel Energy’s Colorado subsidiary. “We never want to lose the customer.”

While United Power and CORE have the resources to manage their own power portfolios, Grand Valley needed to nd a single provider to replace Xcel Energy, Walch said.

e co-op settled on Denver-based Guzman Energy, a wholesale power provider, and signed a 15-year contract with xed power prices. “What It provides for us is certainty of what our power costs will be and that’s something we never had with Xcel,” Walch said.

Yampa Valley also chose Guzman and the power wholesaler has already been instrumental in the departure of two co-ops from Tri-State, which serves 42 cooperatives in four western states.

In 2016, the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, in Taos, New Mexico, was

the rst to pay an exit fee and leave Tri-State. Guzman nanced the $37.5 million fee and included it as part of a long-term power contract.

Four years later Colorado’s DeltaMontrose Electric Association paid a $136.5 million exit fee to Tri-State, also nanced through a 12.5-year power contract with Guzman.

“It has gone extremely well,” said Jack Johnston, DMEA’s chief executive. “Our last rate increase was right before switching to Guzman at the end of 2019 and we announced at our annual meeting that we won’t have a rate increase in 2024.”

Compared to Tri-State wholesale prices, DMEA customers will save tens of millions of dollars over the course of the Guzman contract, Johnston said.

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Coordinated Election will be held in Adams County, Colorado, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, as a Mail Ballot Election.

Beginning October 16, 2023, ballots in signed Official Return Envelopes may be dropped off at any of the following designated drop-off locations. 24-Hour Drop Box Locations

2550 Strasburg Rd., Strasburg

Thornton Civic Center –

9500 Civic Center Dr., Thornton

Trail Winds Recreation Center –

13495 Holly St., Thornton

University of Colorado Anschutz Campus (Health & Wellness Center) –

12348 E. Montview Blvd., Aurora

Westminster City Hall –

4800 W. 92nd Ave., Westminster

Westminster Motor Vehicle –

8452 N. Federal Blvd., Westminster

Ballots must be received at the Adams County Election Office, a designated ballot drop box, or Voter Service & Polling Center (VSPC) location by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2023, for your vote(s) to be counted. Ballots received after 7 p.m. on Election Day will not be counted. Postmarks do not count as a received date.

VOTER SERVICE & POLLING CEN -

TERS

Services offered include voting, ballot replacement, ballot drop box, ADAaccessible ballot marking devices, new voter registration, and voter registration updates available at all locations.

Phase 1 VSPCs

October 30 – November 7, 2022

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, November 4 – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Tuesday, November 7, Election Day – 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Adams County Government Center (Conference Center Entrance on West Side) – 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Brighton Adams County Human Services Center

–

11860 Pecos St., Westminster

Bennett Motor Vehicle Office –355 S. First St., Bennett Commerce City Motor Vehicle –

Kingston St., Aurora

Commerce City Civic Center –

7887 E. 60th Ave., Commerce City

Commerce City Motor Vehicle –

7190 Colorado Blvd., Commerce City

Daniel C. Vallez Family Education

Center

(fka Perl Mack Community Center) –

7125 Mariposa St., Denver

Federal Heights City Hall –

2380 W. 90th Ave., Federal Heights

Front Range Community College

(College Hill Library) –

3705 W. 112th Ave., Westminster

Hilltop Village Shopping Center –

13762 Colorado Blvd., Thornton

Kelver Public Library* –

585 S. Main St., Byers

Martin Luther King, Jr. Library* –

9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora

Northglenn City Hall –

11701 Community Center Dr., Northglenn

Riverdale Animal Shelter –

12155 Park Blvd., Brighton

Rotella Park –

1824 Coronado Pkwy. S., Denver

Strasburg Sheriff’s Substation –

7190 Colorado Blvd., Commerce City Martin Luther King, Jr. Library* –9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora Moorhead Rec Center –2390 Havana St., Aurora

Westminster Motor Vehicle –8452 N. Federal Blvd., Westminster

Phase 2 VSPCs

November 6-7, 2022

Hours:

Monday, November 6 - 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday, November 7, Election Day - 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Anschutz Medical Campus (Health & Wellness Center) –

12348 E. Montview Blvd., Aurora

Front Range Community College –3645 W. 112th Ave., Westminster

*Denotes Drop Boxes and VSPCs shared with Arapahoe and/or Denver Counties.

Sample ballots will be available online at GoVoteColorado.gov by accessing your

voter registration record.

For more election information and frequently asked questions, visit the Adams County Elections website at AdamsVotes. com or call the Adams County Elections office at 720.523.6500.

ADAMS COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER

Josh Zygielbaum, Clerk & Recorder 4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Suite E3102

Brighton, CO 80601

Legal Notice No. CCX1177

First Publication: October 12, 2023

Last Publication: October 12, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Public Notice AVISO DE ELECCIÓN

Elección Coordinada mediante voto por correo Condado de Adams, Colorado 7 de noviembre de 2023

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se realizará una Elección Coordinada en el Condado de Adams, Colorado, el martes 7 de noviembre de 2023, en modalidad de elección mediante voto por correo.

A partir del 16 de octubre de 2023, las papeletas en sobres oficiales de retorno firmados podrán depositarse en cualquiera de los siguientes sitios designados para ello.

Sitios con buzones disponibles las 24 horas del día

Adams County Government Center –

4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Brighton

Adams County Human Services Center

–

11860 Pecos St., Westminster

Adams County Justice Center –

1100 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton

Adams County Western Services Center – 12200 N. Pecos St., Westminster

Anythink Library Wright Farms –

5877 E. 120th Ave., Thornton

Aurora Motor Vehicle –

3449 N. Chambers Rd., Aurora

Aurora Municipal Center* –

15151 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora

Bennett Motor Vehicle –

355 S. First St., Bennett

Brighton City Hall –

500 S. 4th Ave., Brighton

Carpenter Skate Park

(Margaret Carpenter Rec Center) –

3558 E. 112th Ave., Thornton

Colfax Community Network –

1585 Kingston St., Aurora

Commerce City Civic Center –

7887 E. 60th Ave., Commerce City

Commerce City Motor Vehicle –

7190 Colorado Blvd., Commerce City

Daniel C. Vallez Family Education Center (conocido anteriormente como Perl

Mack Community Center) –7125 Mariposa St., Denver

Federal Heights City Hall –

2380 W. 90th Ave., Federal Heights

Front Range Community College

(College Hill Library) –

3705 W. 112th Ave., Westminster

Hilltop Village Shopping Center –

13762 Colorado Blvd., Thornton

Kelver Public Library* –

585 S. Main St., Byers

Martin Luther King, Jr. Library* –

9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora

Northglenn City Hall –

11701 Community Center Dr., Northglenn

Riverdale Animal Shelter –

12155 Park Blvd., Brighton

Rotella Park –

1824 Coronado Pkwy. S., Denver

Strasburg Sheriff’s Substation –

2550 Strasburg Rd., Strasburg

Thornton Civic Center –

9500 Civic Center Dr., Thornton

Trail Winds Recreation Center –

13495 Holly St., Thornton

University of Colorado Anschutz

Campus (Health & Wellness Center) –

12348 E. Montview Blvd., Aurora

Westminster City Hall –

4800 W. 92nd Ave., Westminster

Westminster Motor Vehicle –

8452 N. Federal Blvd., Westminster

Las papeletas deben recibirse en la Oficina Electoral del Condado de Adams, en un buzón de papeletas designado o en un Centro de votación y servicios para electores (VSPC) antes de las 7 p.m. del día de la elección, el martes 7 de noviembre de 2023, para que su voto sea contabilizado. No se contabilizarán las papeletas que se reciban después de las 7 p.m. del día de la elección. Los sellos de la postal no cuentan como fecha de recepción.

CENTROS DE VOTACIÓN Y SERVICIOS

PARA ELECTORES

Entre los servicios ofrecidos se incluyen la recepción del voto, sustitución de papeletas, buzón de papeletas, dispositivos de marcado de papeletas accesibles en conformidad con la ley ADA, registro de nuevos votantes y actualizaciones del registro de votantes disponibles en todas las localidades.

Centros VSPC para la Fase 1

Del 30 octubre al 7 de noviembre de 2023

Horario:

De lunes a viernes, de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m. Sábado 4 de noviembre, de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m.

Martes 7 de noviembre, día de la elección, de 7 a.m. a 7 p.m.

Adams County Government Center (entrada por el Centro de Conferencias en el costado oeste) –

4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Brighton Adams County Human Services Center

–11860 Pecos St., Westminster Bennett Motor Vehicle Office –355 S. First St., Bennett Commerce City Motor Vehicle –7190 Colorado Blvd., Commerce City Martin Luther King, Jr. Library* –

Public Notices

9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora

Moorhead Rec Center –

2390 Havana St., Aurora

Westminster Motor Vehicle –

8452 N. Federal Blvd., Westminster

Centros VSPC para la Fase 2

El 6 y 7 de noviembre de 2023

Horario:

Lunes 6 de noviembre, de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m. Martes 7 de noviembre, día de la elección, de 7 a.m. a 7 p.m.

Anschutz Medical Campus (Health & Wellness Center) –

12348 E. Montview Blvd., Aurora

Front Range Community College –3645 W. 112th Ave., Westminster

*Denota buzones y centros VSPC compartidos con los condados de Arapahoe y/o Denver.

Habrá muestras de papeletas de votación disponibles en línea en GoVoteColorado. gov mediante el acceso a su registro electoral.

Si desea obtener más información sobre la elección o acceder a la sección de preguntas frecuentes, visite la página web de Adams County Elections en AdamsVotes. com o llame a la oficina de Adams County Elections al 720.523.6500.

SECRETARIO Y FUNCIONARIO DE REGISTRO DEL CONDADO DE ADAMS

Josh Zygielbaum, Clerk & Recorder

4430 S. Adams County Pkwy., Suite E3102 Brighton, CO 80601

Legal Notice No. CCX1178

First Publication: October 12, 2023

Last Publication: October 12, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Metro Districts Budget Hearings

Public Notice

NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET

AND AMENDMENT OF 2023 BUDGET

THIRD CREEK METROPOLITAN

DISTRICT NO. 2

ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Sections 29-1-108 and 109, C.R.S., that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Third Creek Metropolitan District No. 2 (the “District”) for the ensuing year of 2024. The necessity may also arise for the amendment of the 2023 budget of the District. Copies of the proposed 2024 budget and 2023 amended budget (if appropriate) are on file in the office of the District’s Accountant, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP 8390 Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 where same are available for public inspection. Such proposed 2024 budget and 2023 amended budget will be considered at a regular meeting to be held on October 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. via video-teleconference at https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetupjoin/19%3ameeting_ZTYwNTI2ZWEtYjk

2Ny00ZTJlLWIyZDUtZWU4ODAyZWRl

YmNm%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%2

2Tid%22%3a%224aaa468e-93ba-4ee3-

ab9f-6a247aa3ade0%22%2c%22Oid% 22%3a%225b9f6fa2-e9dd- 42cc-bfd8f7dd2ed196a6%22%7d or call 720-5475281andenter conferenceID249774 239#. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2024 budget or the 2023 amended budget, inspect the 2024 budget and the 2023 amended budget and file or register any objections thereto.

THIRD CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2

McGEADY BECHER P.C.

Attorneys for the District

Legal Notice No. CCX1182

First Publication: October 12, 2023

Last Publication: October 12, 2023

P ublisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AS TO AMENDED 2023 BUDGET AND PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed 2024 budget has been submitted to the RIVER OAKS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, for the fiscal year 2024 A copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the accountant, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, in Greenwood Village, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection. Such proposed budget will be considered at a regular meeting and public hearing of the River Oaks Metropolitan District to be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 19, 2023. If necessary, an amended 2023 budget will be filed in the office of the accountant and open for public inspection for consideration at the regular meeting and public hearing of the Board. The meeting and public hearing will be held at the Belle Creek Family Center, 10693 Belle Creek Boulevard, Henderson, Colorado. Any interested elector of the River Oaks Metropolitan District may inspect the amended and proposed budgets and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the proposed 2024 budget and 2023 amended budget.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIREC-

TORS: RIVER OAKS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /s/ SETER & VANDER WALL, P.C.

Attorneys for the District

Legal Notice No. CCX1180

First Publication: October 12, 2023

Last Publication: October 12, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express Bids and Settlements

Public Notice

FINAL SETTLEMENT

Project Title:Windler 36” Waterline Relocation

Project Owners: Windler Public Improvement Authority

Project Location: City of Aurora, Colorado

The Windler Public Improvement Authority plans to accept the above titled project as substantially complete and for Final Settlement to Reynolds Construction, LLC after October 30, 2023. In accordance with the Contract Documents, the Windler Public Improvement Authority may withhold a portion of the remaining payment to be made to Reynolds Construction, LLC, as necessary, to protect the Windler Public Improvement Authority from loss on account of claims filed and failure of Reynolds Construction, LLC to make payments properly to subcontractors or suppliers. Project suppliers and subcontractors of Reynolds Construction, LLC are hereby notified that unresolved outstanding claims must be certified and forwarded to: Contact Person:Barney Fix, P.E. Address:5970 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. Greenwood Village, CO 80111 as soon as possible, but no later than October 23, 2023.

Legal Notice No. CCX1161

First Publication: September 28, 2023

Last Publication: October 12, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express Non-Consecutive Publications

Public Notice

FINAL SETTLEMENT

Project Title: Porteos – Phase 6 (Segment 2)and Phase 8 (Segment 5) Streetlights

–LP1 of Phase 8

Project Owners: Velocity Metropolitan District

Project Location: City of Aurora, Colorado

The Velocity Metropolitan District plans to accept the above titled project as substantially complete and for Final Settlement to Dynalectric Colorado after November 13, 2023. In accordance with the Contract Documents, the Velocity Metropolitan District may withhold a portion of the remaining payment to be made to Dynalectric Colorado, as necessary, to protect the Velocity Metropolitan District from loss on account of claims filed and failure of Dynalectric Colorado to make payments properly to subcontractors or suppliers. Project suppliers and subcontractors of Dynalectric Colorado are hereby notified that unresolved outstanding claims must be certified and forwarded to:

Contact Person: BarneyFix, P.E.

Address: 5970 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. Greenwood Village, CO 80111 as soon as possible, but no later than November 6, 2023.

Legal Notice No. CCX1181

First Publication: October 12, 2023

Last Publication: October 26, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Non-Consecutive Publications

politan District, Aurora, Colorado will make final settlement with Sturgeon Electric Company, Inc. (“Contractor” herein) for all construction services rendered for materials, labor, supplies and construction services rendered by Contractor for the installation of the Traffic Signal at Salida Street and Walden Street located in Gateway Park, Aurora, Colorado (“Project” herein). Prior to October 26, 2023, any persons having properly filed claims for labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies, rental machinery, tools, or equipment furnished to the Contractor specifically for this Project should present the same to Sand Creek Metropolitan District, 100 Saint Paul Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80206 attention Mike Serra III. Failure to timely and properly file said claim shall relieve Sand Creek Metropolitan District from any duty to withhold funds for such claim.

Sand Creek Metropolitan District Mike Serra, III, District Manager (303)371 9000

Legal Notice No. CCX1179

First Publication: October 12, 2023

Last Publication: October 19, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express Notice to Creditors

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of ELLA MAY MORRIS, Deceased

Case Number: 2023 PR 30653

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before February 5, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Martha G. Finney

Personal Representative PO BOX 1641 Palmer Lake Palmer Lake Colorado 80133

Legal Notice No. CCX1170

First Publication: October 5, 2023

Last Publication: October 19, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Name Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on September 14, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Ashley Munoz Mendoza be changed to Ashley Millan Mendoza

Case No.: 23 C 1412

By: Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. CCX1168

First Publication: October 5, 2023

Last Publication: October 19, 2023

Notice is hereby given that on or around November 3, 2023, Sand Creek Metro-

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

change. e program is viewed by many as a win-win.

While the program is technically open to farms of all sizes, it skews toward larger agriculture operations because federal payments are calculated by acreage. Larger farms typically have more sta and time to handle paperwork.

Small farms nd it tough to access the program, Caraveo said.

“ ey wish that they could get into EQIP,” Caraveo said. “We’re trying to address some of those ills.”

In September, Caraveo introduced legislation to create an EQIP subprogram tailored to small farmers and ranchers like the ones she’s met in her district. e bill would streamline the application and approval process and create bonus payments for farms under 50 acres.

Called the “Small Farm Conservation Act,” Caraveo’s bill is a companion to a U.S. Senate measure of the same name introduced in June by Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, Ben Ray Luján, D-New Mexico, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

“Farmers and ranchers love EQIP,” said Dan Waldvogle, director of the Denver-based Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, an advocacy group for farmers and ranchers in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. “EQIP has never been accessible for small producers.”

Conservation measures supported by the program can improve irrigation e ciency, make land more resilient to drought while making it more productive and pro table, he said.

“ at’s a very tangible bene t,” he said.

How much nancial assistance a farmer can expect from EQIP depends on the type of conservation methods they want to employ, from organic practices to using hoops covered with plastic over crops to extend their growing season. Farmers can be reimbursed a maximum of $450,000 over the term of an EQIP contract, which can range up to 10 years.

One of the biggest factors in soil health is organic matter, said Mike Nolan, a farmer with Mountain Roots Produce in Mancos in southwestern Colorado. e more of it, the better water savings. For instance, he could water potatoes every seven days instead of ve

and extend the growing season for larger potatoes that sell for more money.

In addition to potatoes, his farm grows salad mix, tomatoes, kale and other vegetables, as well as owers. It also participates in a collective that ships garlic to the Denver metro area.

Although the EQIP program isn’t geared toward smaller operations, such as Nolan’s farm, he found a way to access it, but said it is difcult.

“It’s government paperwork, so there’s a lot of it,” he said on a recent afternoon after harvesting potatoes at the farm. “ is bill is kind of addressing some of those

things.”

Both Caraveo’s bill and its companion in the Senate are separate from the “Farm Bill,” a package of legislation renewed roughly every ve years that is key to a broad swath of agricultural and food programs.

Caraveo, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, expects to play a role in drafting the Farm Bill and aims to have her Small Farm Conservation Act included in the nal package.

Congress’ deadline to pass a new Farm Bill came and went entering October and Caraveo’s sta says work on it will progress in the months ahead.

Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo takes the microphone during a Brighton discussion in August. She is pushing for get more conservation money to farmers. SCOTT TAYLOR