Transportation infrastructure connects us, resources not making the grade

partment’s standing as they remain the only County in Colorado to be accredited by the American Public Works Association.

Guest Column

When you jump in your car, hop on your bike, or set out to walk to the grocery store, you’re immediately part of a system of roads, sidewalks, bridges and other assets that connect us to our world. In Arapahoe County, our Public Works and Development department is responsible for planning and maintaining these important assets—a job that becomes increasingly more difcult as the County experiences major growth and strained revenue sources.

is month we’re celebrating National Public Works Week, May 2127, to recognize the important role public works plays in connecting each of us and to thank people who work tirelessly to ensure our safety as we navigate one of the area’s largest multimodal transportation networks. We’re also taking the opportunity to talk with you about the frank realities of the County’s budget and its impact on our transportation system.

e County has an overall goal to protect our collective community by planning growth, maintaining infrastructure, and providing an organized multi-modal transportation system. Public Works and Development plays a signi cant role in achieving this goal. rough several divisions, the department plans the County’s vast multi-modal transportation network, manages and maintains 1,198 lane miles (370 centerline miles) of paved roads, about 220 miles of gravel roads, 43 bridges, nearly 14,000 signs, and a vast network of sidewalks, guardrails, tra c signals, and other transportation assets.

We’re also very proud of the de- e goal is to have 85 percent of County roads in Excellent-GoodFair condition, but the Report Card showed that only 60 percent were at that level in 2022. Having 40 percent of roads in Poor-Very Poor condition is signi cantly higher than what it should be for a properly maintained roadway network. Maintenance goals and quality standards are established every year, and the County typically meets or exceeds those goals. However, due to funding constraints, the number of roads rated at Poor-Very Poor condition has been steadily increasing. e bottom line is that since 2004, budget allocations to e ciently maintain these assets has not kept up with in ation. is has resulted in a further decline in overall road conditions and greater delayed maintenance costs as it costs 10 times more to repair roads and bridges once they are in a poor or very poor condition than it would have cost to keep them properly maintained over the years.

We have learned through various public outreach and engagement e orts that tra c congestion and safety within the County is the largest concern voiced by residents. And in an April poll seeking resident input on needs and priorities, we saw “repairing and improving transportation infrastructure” rise to the top. As one of your elected leaders, I couldn’t agree more with this priority. I’m a strong proponent of maintaining and improving our transportation infrastructure because it is what keeps us connected to each other and those outside of our County.

This is why we are sharing the results of a 2022 assessment of our transportation infrastructure needs. For decades we have collected this data and have used it for internal decision-making and resource allocation, but until now, it has never been shared with the public in a comprehensive manner. While it will be eye-opening for many, the “2022 Infrastructure Report Card” is an honest assessment of the condition of our roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.

Our Public Works and Development staff works hard to maximize allocations for roads, bridges and other infrastructure assets, yet their fiscal stewardship can’t keep up with the demands that growth has placed on County resources. And as I mentioned in a Telephone Town Hall earlier this year, our County as a whole has done an incredible job of managing our funds and using them wisely and efficiently. But the increasing needs, especially related to our transportation infrastructure, are creating financial challenges. As your county commissioner, I made a promise to tackle that as one of my chief priorities and I intend to deliver on that promise. In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to partnering with you to determine sustainable funding sources for our transportation infrastructure. Look for future telephone town hall events at www. arapahoegov.com/townhall, follow us on social media, or subscribe to e County Line newsletter to stay informed and get involved. ink of the last time you were out to dinner with your spouse or friend, and you were having such a great time eating, drinking and sharing stories. You were probably smiling, laughing and having such a good time that you didn’t realize the impact you were having on others who probably wished they were sitting with you. ere could have been a di erent couple in that same pub or restaurant going through a di cult time, and just because your positive light, love and energy were so contagious, pretty soon they too forgot their woes and began a new and loving conversation.

Jessica Campbell-Swanson serves on the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners representing District 2, which includes Centennial, Greenwood Village, a portion of Aurora and unincorporated central Arapahoe County.

Is it our responsibility to be the light and love for others? Maybe it depends on who we ask. My answer is yes, because I believe we are called to be both light and love in this world. e world can seem very dark right now, but just remember that there is no such thing as darkness, there is only an absence of light. So let’s bring it. Do you enjoy being around people who make you happier just by being in their presence? Does your heart come alive when you see or experience moments of love and light happening around you? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail. com, and when we can enjoy the light and love of others and be the light and love for those who need it, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

BROWNSBERGER

John Scott Brownsberger

February 12, 1952 - April 10, 2023

John “Scott” Brownsberger passed away peacefully on Monday, April 10th with his beloved girlfriend, Alma, and his son, Ryan, by his side.

Born in Canton, Ohio, he moved out west shortly after graduating from Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio.

Scott loved the outdoors and spent much of his youth hiking in the woods where he’d occasionally rescue an orphaned great horned owl or red-tailed hawk. He loved animals of all kinds. He also loved shing, pitching horseshoes and was a great cook, known for his excellent green chile.

Scott is survived by his dear girlfriend,

Alma Gri en, his brother, Richard Brownsberger and wife Connie from Mentor, Ohio, his brother Gary Brownsberger and sister, Judy Fisher and husband Bruce of North Canton, Ohio. He is also survived by his beloved son, Ryan Brownsberger of Centennial, Colorado and Ryan’s mother, Linda Johnsen of Aurora, Colorado.

He will be deeply missed by those who knew him and whose lives he touched.

Friends may gather for a celebration of life at e Pondy at 220 West Main Street in Cedaredge, Colorado on Saturday, May 13th beginning at 2pm.

May 2, 1944 - February 27, 2023

Donna Burkamp Arndt was born May 2, 1944 in Lansing, Michigan and shortly thereafter moved to Denver, Colorado with her mother, Marge, father, Rudoph Burkamp and her older brother Marty. e family then moved from Denver to Littleton, Colorado (with her other brother Wayne) around 1956, Donna attended grade school, junior high school and high school in Littleton, Colorado. After graduation from Littleton High school in 1963, Donna worked for South Suburban Park District in Littleton for many years and met the love of her life, Martin Arndt, while working there. Martin and Donna then moved to New Jersey, where

Martin maintained a home, and eventually got married. e two of them lived and worked in New Jersey until Martin’s death. Donna then moved back to her hometown of Littleton. Donna was a wonderful artist and painter and produced many beautiful paintings and drawings which she either gave away to family and friends or hung in her home. Donna passed away in LIttleton on February 27, 2022 at her home at the age of 78. She will be missed by family and friends. She is survived by her brother, Wayne, her stepdaughter Marina Arndt and her nephews, David and Billy Burkamp.

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Pools around the metro area are gearing up to open for the summer. That is, if there are enough lifeguards.

The years-long trend where pools have cut hours or closed altogether appears to be waning, though it’s still a possibility in some places, according to aquatics managers across the Denver area, who are more optimistic than in past years, but still concerned as summer nears.

For instance, South Suburban Parks and Recreation needs 250 lifeguards for its peak summer season but has only 183 ready to go.

Karl Brehm, the recreation dis- trict’s aquatics manager, hopes to get closer to the goal as summer approaches but wonders why applications are so slow to roll in.

“I have seen, more and more, less interest in the position,” Brehm said.

He’s been in the business for a long time. Brehm worked at Elitch Gardens for five seasons and the Highlands Ranch Community Association for 16 years. He said he’s seen a general lack of interest, generationally, from young people who want to do the job. Fewer people are becoming CPR certified as well, he added.

“I’ve often wondered why we were having those issues,” Brehm said. “Back in the day, I remember if you didn’t have your job by spring break, you weren’t getting a summer job.”

The problem could affect South Suburban pools across the district, which serves more than 150,000 residents in Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Littleton, Sheridan, Lone Tree and parts of Centennial and Douglas, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties.

If he can’t hire enough lifeguards, hours at pools could be cut, Brehm said. It’s not for a lack of trying, though. The district has introduced incentives, bonuses, pay bumps and more in hopes of luring in more lifeguards.

South Suburban isn’t alone.

There’s a national lifeguard shortage, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. Lifeguard shortages affected roughly a third of public pools throughout the country.

In response last year, Gov. Jared Polis announced a “Pools Special Initiative 2022,” in which Colorado introduced incentives. Chief among them was a $1,000 payment to those who completed lifeguard training to fight pool postponements and decreasing operating hours.

Now, out of necessity, hiring lifeguards is ongoing throughout the entire summer season, Brehm said. Lifeguards for South Suburban make between $15 and $19.14 per hour, per South Suburban’s website. A head lifeguard makes $15.75 - $19.93 per hour.

But there are additional costs to South Suburban. Though life-