LOCAL

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

There was a certain commonality to Fort Lupton City Council’s Aug. 2 approvals of updated service plans for four developments.

All four votes were unanimous. There was no public comment, nor were there questions from councilors. Each contained an intergovernmental agreement between the district and the city, and each afforded a chance to explain new rules pertaining to city developments.

Jennifer Tanaka, special counsel to the city for special districts, said all metro districts have to maintain city roads, streets and parks within the developments.

“It helps defray costs to the city and pushes them onto the developers,” she told the council.

The four service plans are for the Cottonwood Conner Metropolitan District (covering a bit more than two acres near Ninth Street and Weld County Road 31), the Cottonwood Thermo District (2.3 acres near 19th Street and WCR 31), the Cottonwood Townhomes Metropolitan District (less than a halfacre near Ninth Street and College Avenue) and the Vista Meadows Metropolitan District (152 acres of homes at build-out).

Service plans deal with the design, acquisition, construction, installation, relocation, redevelopment, and fi nancing of public improvements that are necessary for development, according to staff notes.

Later in the meeting, council voted 5-0 to approve a fi nal plat for the Flats at Lupton Village, a mixeduse subdivision of 120, single-family attached residential lots and one general commercial lot. All of it is at the northeast corner of South Denver Avenue and WCR 12.

The main point of contention was the maintenance of the development’s main road. Offi cials with Baessler Developers designed the subdivision with the idea the city would take care of the road maintenance.

“My preference would be that it stay a private road,” Fort Lupton Public Works Director Roy Vestal said.

Credit card fees at court

Credit-card processing fees for municipal court will be increasing, thanks in large part to several federal rate increases and an increase in processing fees.

The fee increases from 3.95 percent (it’s been at that level since November) to 5 percent. The city pays the difference between what’s afforded and the actual amount. So far this year, the city hasn’t been able to collect more than $1,200 in fees because of an increase in charges from its credit card company.

That’s not all.

“These fees also affect the building permits,” staff said. “The Cascade Building Permit system uses the Global Payments credit card processor. Currently, on a $1,000 building permit, Global Payments adds $39.50 to the fee, if paid with a credit card.”

OFFROAD

excavation services and applied sciences relating to soil testing.

“We discovered this building and we got extremely lucky, there was a company who had previously leased this building with the intent to move their operations from Minnesota down here. But for some reason, they could not fi nd a workforce,” said Larry L. Willis, Luxe OffRoad, VP, Business Operations.

The building has offi ces in the center with lots of space surrounding it. One of the buildings will house the off-road end of the operation with plenty of room to modify those vehicles.

Luxe Offroad had its soft opening on August 1 but will have a grand opening on Labor Day with a soiree and a band.

Dr. William Lindsey IV founded Luxe Offroad, Luxe Colour, and the applied sciences division and also developed the company’s agriculture and soil amendment technology.

“He has enormous contacts all over the country so it enables us to almost get what we want, as in terms of supplies and machinery,” Willis said.

“He’s a genius with amazing ideas such as the applications, carbon fi ber, agriculture and soil amendments. He put everything together so we can reinvent the market,” Willis said.

Three businesses under one umbrella

By the end of this year, Luxe Offroad hopes to have hired at least 16 people. They have three businesses under one umbrella.

The fi rst is the parent’s organization, Luxe Applied Sciences which specializes in wildfi re and soil reclamation, erosion control, and soil amendments – materials used to improve soil quality. The company does excavation, grading and foundation improvements.

Another service is Luxe Colour, which prints everything from vehicle wraps to graphics, banners, window screens and wall hangings.

“If you ever see restaurants with advertising that changes each month or quarter, that is simply a wall wrap that they install, and can remove and replace within an hour, “ Willis said.

When Luxe Offroad customizes a high-end Jeep or four-by-four truck, they can also wrap the truck with their in-house wrapping units.

“We take all of our heavy machinery from the applied sciences side, and we will wrap those ourselves so that it stands out when it’s on a job site. We currently have two heavy machinery units, a skid steer and an excavator wrapped in digital camo,” Willis said.

Luxe Offroad uses carbon fi ber technology to outfi t the trucks they customize rather than fi berglass. Willis said fi berglass is very solid and sturdy but weighs a ton. It can also crack in the cold or when it’s bumped into. Carbon fi ber is virtually indestructible and can repel almost any blunt force that it takes.

“We incorporate some of the carbon fi ber into the trailers we don’t build. But if people come in, we can build cabinets, upper and lower cabinets, and door drawers incorporating carbon fi ber into anything you can think of that is not metal,” Willis said.

Sometimes they can replace the metal with carbon fi ber while retaining its tensile strength. It weighs about one-tenth of fi berglass or aluminum and is sturdier.

“We have a proprietary blend, where we also mix it with Kevlar. It’s even stronger for the designs of trailers that are car haulers,” Willis said.

Willis said when they build cabinets, especially countertops, they blend magnetic powder.

“Let’s say you’ve been working in your trailer, you’re putting things away, you forget that wrench or whatever tool that’s metallic, it will magnetize to the countertop. So, when you’re driving around, it’s going to stay there,” Willis said.

The applications for carbon fi ber are endless when it comes to customizing accessories on cars, trailers or vehicle parts.

One popular application is for truckbed toolboxes. Willis said the toolbox prototypes weigh much less

Custom vehicle wrap done by Luxe Colour. COURTESY LUXE OFFROAD

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than $52,600 from the city’s utility fund.

The two sides have an almost $1.9 million agreement for the design of a new lift station. But the agreement did not include requirements for funding application requests from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Council’s agenda packet said the utility fund budget contains $2.5 million for engineering services for the wastewater treatment plant.

Councilors also agreed to a $15,000 service agreement with Engineering Design Consultants to help determine the proper spot for a water storage tank at a planned gun range that will be on city property.

Council’s agenda packet said the analysis “will determine the ability to eliminate the existing pump station for the high-pressure zone of the potable water system.” The vote was unanimous in favor.

Additions

In other business, the council unanimously agreed to add the property at 13400 Weld County Road 10 into the Lupton Village Commercial District. There was no discussion Aug. 2, nor was there any public input.

Luxe O road custom work to a semi.

COURTESY LUXE OFFROAD

OFFROAD

FROM PAGE 1

than the standard metal boxes but stand up to daily use better. The standard metal tools boxes absorb the heat from a sunny day and can get boiling hot inside while carbon fi ber acts differently.

“We tested a bag of ice in a carbon fi ber toolbox in the bed of his truck. We closed the lid, and after about an hour, we came back, and all there was a slight puddle of water underneath it,” Willis said. “The inside of the box was 50 to 70 degrees; it was cooled down by the ice instead of being heated by the sun. It repels the heat inside.”

Fort Lupton fortunate

Willis said the company was fortunate to fi nd Fort Lupton. Willis said he took over the original lease from a company that never set foot in the building.

“Honestly, it is the perfect site for us. Trying to fi nd something large enough that could house what we wanted to do, and how we wanted to do it, was the fun part. This building literally fell into our laps. We were also impressed with Fort Lupton and loved the city, “ Willis said.

Willis said he was impressed with the investments in commercial infrastructure that the city and other developers had made. He noted that his neighbors include Halliburton, the fi re department, and oil and gas companies.

“They have invested to build themselves up as a city. And we were very impressed with that commitment before anybody had signed on the dotted line,” Willis said.

New housing construction in Fort Lupton and other established companies were also part of the lure. There’s also room for expansion for growth for a lot of other companies, he said.

“The commercial market, real estate, or commercial real estate market here in Colorado, is fragile. Because we have lots of companies moving to Colorado, we have lots of companies in Colorado that are expanding or moving locations, Willis said.

“We can see companies will be moving into the area within the next fi ve years and we’re happy to be here fi rst.”

Finding roots

Luxe Offroad has its footprint in Denver with plans to establish in northern Colorado. Within a year, his goal is to be statewide and then go nationwide– if not global.

“The reason we’re happy with Fort Lupton is that we can absolutely bring all of the customers from Denver. We are not that far away from Denver and can bring our customers from northern Colorado as well,” Willis said.

For more information, visit http://www.luxeoffroadllc.com/

Old-Fashioned Summer Picnic

SATURDAY, AUG. 13 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Adams County Museum 9601 Henderson Road Brighton, CO 80601

Featuring the Vintage Motorcycle Club (dozens of bikes from the early 1900s to 1990s), a stilt walker, free ice cream (while supplies last), black smith demonstrations and games! Entry into the museum buildings for free!

FORT LUPTON POLICE BLOTTER

Here are the police reports for July 23 to July 29 to the Fort Lupton Police Department. Not every call made to the police is not listed on this report.

July 23

Three Fort Lupton teenage boys and one Fort Lupton teenage girl were issued summonses for criminal mischief complaints in the 300 block of Harrison Avenue.

A Fort Lupton man, 59, reported a theft of his catalytic converter valued at $416.00 in the 300 block of Third Street.

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 30, in the 300 block of Harrison Avenue for felony menacing, protection order violation, obstructing a peace offi cer and resisting arrest. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Fort Lupton man, 53, was taken in custody for DUI,and multiple traffi c offenses. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

July 24

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 23, in the 200 block of Pacifi c Court on a harassment charge. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

July 25

A Wheatridge man, 33, was arrested in the 1400 block of Second Street on DUI, possession of a scheduled II drug, driving as a habitual traffi c offense and multiple warrants. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Police issued a summons for a 17-year male for causing a careless driving accident at First Street & Rollie Avenue.

July 26

A Commerce City man, 24, was pulled over in the 600 block of 14th Street and issued a summons for using fi ctitious plates.

July 27

Police arrested a Thornton man, 31, in the 600 block of Fourteenth Street on a Douglas County warrant for distribution of a controlled substance, possession of scheduled II drug, weapons violation and protection order violation. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Fort Lupton woman, 32, was arrested on an Adams County warrant for failure to appear on the possession of a controlled substance charge. She was held on bond at the Adams County Detention Center.

Police issued a summons to a Fort Lupton woman, 20, for causing a careless travel accident at South Denver Avenue & Weld County Road 8.

July 28

A Fort Lupton woman, 44, reported the theft of tools taken in the 100 block of South Harrison Avenue. The case was under investigation.

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 38 for attempted assault, criminal trespass, harassment and driving while license under restraint. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

July 29

An Aurora man, 46, was arrested in the 400 block of Harrison Avenue on a Weld County warrant for failure to appear in a traffi c offense. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 41, on Weld County and Jefferson County warrants for domestic violence-related charges. He was held on bond in the Weld County jail.

A Colorado Springs man, 29, was arrested for assault on a peace offi ce, resisting arrest, DUI, and multiple traffi c offenses. He was held on bond at Weld County jail.

TURN TO THE COLORADO SUN FOR NEWS ACROSS THE STATE

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In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

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Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Community Media newspapers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opinions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun. com.

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Finding smoother air through the turbulence

All of us who have fl own have experienced turbulence. Some of us experience anxiety and fear as we drive our fi ngernails into the armrest or the arms of the person sitting next to us. Many regular fl yers have come to know and trust in the pilots and aircraft and are confi dent that we are okay. While some even treat the turbulence like a thrill ride or roller coaster.

On a fl ight from Denver to Phoenix several years ago, our plane went through incredibly intense turbulence. My seatmate was not a frequent fl yer and was already anxious about the trip, and the choppy air had her holding onto the armrests with a white-knuckled death grip. And when the plane took a tremendous jump, her fi ngernails left the armrest, and she immediately dug them into my forearm.

Is there turbulence in the world? Absolutely. This is not a shock to anyone. When pilots experience turbulence, they attempt to fi nd smoother air, and most times, they seek higher altitudes to see if they can get us to less bumpy airspace so we can feel better and have a more enjoyable remainder of our fl ight. I have noticed throughout my life that when faced with turbulent or diffi cult times, situations, or people, looking for a higher altitude means taking the high road. And I would have to say that by fi nding a higher altitude in almost every turbulent and trying situation, taking the high road has made all the difference in fi nding that smooth air so we can move on with a more enjoyable and safer fl ight through life.

Trying, challenging, and diffi cult times know no prejudice. We all eventually go through seasons of life that are incredibly hard, causing us great pain physically, mentally, and spiritually. And for so many of us, we react hastily and maybe even angrily instead of taking a moment, responding favorably as we look for the onramp to the high road. And by the way, I can share with you that when taking the high road, we never run into a traffi c jam as many people would prefer to stay in the fi ght or keep perpetuating an argument, failing to fi nd smoother air and peaceful resolutions.

There are undoubtedly turbulent global situations that we cannot infl uence at all. Yet we can still fi nd a higher ground or a higher altitude to try and maintain order and fi nd peace. The events, arguments, and divisiveness going on right now are causing a tidal wave of differences of opinions and creating a breeding ground for violent responses, chaos, and confusion. My encouragement is that when we fi nd ourselves right in the middle of it, we can stop, pause, and remember to fi nd a higher altitude and smoother air by taking the high road.

There is a classic and great song by Buffalo Springfi eld titled “For What It’s Worth.” And some lyrics should remind us of what’s happening around us and that we can fi nd our way to being less combative, more cooperative, less angry, and more agreeable, even if it is agreeing that we can disagree. The lyrics go like this, “There’s battle lines being drawn, nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong.”

How about you? Have you experienced a smoother ride through the turbulence by taking the high road? Or could you use a little reminder to help you fi nd higher altitude and smoother air? Either way, I would love to hear your story at mnorton@ xinnix.com, and when we can navigate through the turbulence, it will be a better than good year.

WINNING WORDS

Michael Norton

Michael Norton is the grateful president of XINNIX, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

What advocates of nuclear must also talk about

Anuclear reactor might be a nice addition to the economy of Craig, the community in northwestern Colorado. But can Colorado afford nuclear power?

Three coal-burning units at Craig will be closed between 2025 and 2030. Those plants and associated mining provide the Moffat County School District with roughly 20% of its property tax base and many jobs that pay uncommonly well for rural Colorado.

A nuclear power plant rising like a phoenix from the ruins of coal could use existing high-voltage transmission and deliver at least some of the lost jobs.

Too, a new-generation nuclear power plant could supplement Colorado’s abundant wind and solar generation. Utilities say they have fi gured out how to achieve 85%, possibly even 90% emissions-free electricity from renewables without risking reliability and raising rates extravagantly. Nobody yet has the answer for that last 10% to 15%. Nuclear could help.

The Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, a fi ve-county planning agency based in Rifl e, has emerged as a fulcrum for this conversation. As fi rst reported by the Grand Junction Sentinel, members met in June with State Sen. Bob Rankin, a Republican from Garfi eld County, to talk about the potential.

Rankin in the last legislative session tried to get fellow legislators to appropriate $500,000 (amended to $250,000) to study the potential for nuclear. “If we really believe that climate change is an existential threat, then how can we not look at every option?” said Rankin in introducing his bill. Some who testifi ed at the committee meeting cited environmental concern. A couple of selfidentifi ed environmentalists testifi ed in support because, they said, nuclear does provide emissions-free energy. More than 19% of all U.S. emissionsfree electricity comes from nuclear.

Conspicuously absent was support from the administration of Gov. Jared Polis. The bill failed 3-2 on a party-line vote.

Nuclear has a nagging problem, though. It’s expensive. Advocates rarely mention this. Costs of Georgia’s Plant Vogtle, the only U.S. nuclear power plant under construction, have ballooned from $14 billion to now $30 billion-plus. In South Carolina, investors pulled the plug on a nuclear power plant after spending $9 billion. It has become among the very costliest of energy sources, only slightly less than rooftop solar, according to Lazard, the fi nancial analyst.

Modular nuclear reactors have been promoted as a way to shave costs. Specifi c projects have been conceived in both Idaho and Wyoming. Bill Gates is an investor in the latter. Maybe they will overcome this cost problem. We won’t really know for another 10, maybe 15 years.

State Sen. Chris Hansen remains skeptical. He has expertise unsurpassed among legislators. He set out to become a nuclear engineer after fi rst laying eyes on a reactor when a high school junior from the farm country of Kansas. He got his degree but had already turned his attention to economics. He went on to earn degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and, from Oxford, a Ph.D. in resource economics.

Nuclear, he told a county commissioner from Sterling in 2019, simply does not compete in cost. That was the fi rst time I heard him answer this question. Last week, when we talked, he offered more detail.

“I think those technologies will have to prove themselves,” he said of modular nuclear reactors. “Right now, in the best-case scenario it looks like they will deliver electricity at $60 to $70 per megawatt-hour. Wind and solar are coming in at less than $20.”

The sun doesn’t always shine, the wind doesn’t always blow, and we have very little long-term storage.

“Absolutely there is extra value for a power plant that you can operate at the fl ip of a switch, but keep in mind those (coal-burning) units have high rates of unreliability because of maintenance needs and breakdowns, and some nuclear plants have had the exact same problems,” he said.

Hansen suggests that reliability may more economically be provided by less expensive alternatives. For example, he has pushed transmis sion and passed legislation to create organized markets that will allow electricity to be moved across broader geographic areas in response to consumer demands. Colorado is currently an island with limited bridges to other areas.

Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest utility, also has a wait-and-see attitude. In June, I asked Alice Jackson, who now directs planning for Xcel Energy across its eight-state service territory, what her company must see. “Costeffective investment in construction of the new versions,” she said. Xcel, she added, will be paying attention.

Will the new generation of nuclear become cost-effective? Perhaps. We don’t have all the answers to 100% emissions-free electricity even as we expand its use into buildings and transportation. Nuclear could be an answer. But it does come at a high cost. Any serious conversation must acknowledge that.

GUEST COLUMN Allen Best Allen Best

Allen Best writes about the energy and other transitions underway in Colorado at BigPivots.com.

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