SENTINEL EXPRESS C O M M E R C E
VOLUME 34 32
C I T Y
TUESDAY , JUNE 1,24, 2021 TUESDAY , NOVEMBER 2020
50cI
SSUE 48 23 ISSUE
New COVID-19 restrictions will prohibit indoor Councilors READYdining, TO GOpersonal gatherings
talk about fireworks changes Mayor suggests allowing safe fireworks July 3, 4 and New Years Eve BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
City councilors are on board with changes to Commerce City’s fireworks rules, which could include legalizing holiday use of sparklers and other tame varieties while increasing fines for the more explosive kinds. “There will always be a challenge, whether we continue with the ordinance the way it is or we loosen the ordinance up to have people who can be in compliance,” Mayor Ben Huseman said. “When people can drive an hour north and purchase any kind of firework that you want to -- big ones that boom or light up the sky or make it look like you are calling close air support -- we will always have that challenge. What I’m trying to do is diminish the problem A Prairie View High School 2021 graduate turns to face the crowd after claiming his diploma cover from principal Michael Burke a bit and give people a little bit of May 26 at the school’s athletic field. He was one of the 407 graduate as a part of the school’s class of 2021. See more graduation county is required to follow based on the BytoEllis Arnold freedom.” PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR photos on rapid page 6.testing site at A long line of cars outside the city of Brighton’s severity of a county’s local virus spread. Colorado Community Media Councilors are expected to vote Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent The dial grew out of the state’s safer-aton a draft of changes at their June 7 these were not supposed to be illegal would continue to be banned all to use whatever falls under the legal weeks due to high demand. Adams County’s test positivity rate a Aslong. Denver metro counties continue to home order — the policy that came after year meeting. in our 14-day ordinance, there has been defi nition.” inch closer to local stay-at-home orders statewide stay-at-home orderon this Currently, people caught with fire- the Councilors said they were City Attorney Sheesley was 15.9 percent,Robert as of Nov. 17, accordingmiscommunication.” to Tri-County Health Department. works can face a $500 fi That fine Huseman said that board withallowed the changes. said Commerce City follows thetest positivity under Colorado’s system ofne. coronavirusspring and numerous types of Brighton and Commerce City’s rates were bothconfusion higher than goes uprestrictions, to $1,000 per if made reconsidering the city’s fire“I agree to with the mayor. We need state’s own fire codes regarding related the infraction state announced businesses reopen. 13 percent. Forty-five people in Brighton and 29 in Commerce City have that person is caught with fireworks to have a clear communication plan works codes even more necessary. legal fireworks. Anything that a new level of rules that prohibits indoor The what’s state recently to color died fromorCOVID-19 related health issues.“The To limit the spread of COVID-19, again. Councilor Meghan Grimes intention is to allow some about legal,switched what’s illegal explodes leaves the ground is dining and personal gatherings — a identifiers — levels blue, yellow and what suggested increasing the fines, as stuff on days people are celbanned, while sparklers and and an educational piece about at least 15 counties moved tofountighter restrictions thatwhen prohibits indoor and change that applies to the majority of the well. orange rather than numbered levels — to ebrating,” Huseman said. tains are allowed. we’ve done in the past,” Councilor personal gatherings. “I’m wondering if there is a Huseman said he favored allowJose Guardiola said. That came as a surprise to several Denver metro area and many counties in avoid confusion. Until Nov. 17, level red way increase the fine for illegal ing things like sparklers, smoke He’sanot a fan of increasing city councilors. otherto regions. meant stay-at-home order. Now, the level fireworks,” she said. “That’s what bombs, snakes and fountains July 3 fines, however. “Our community relations staff The state’s COVID-19 dial, which has red — “severe risk” — is the secondsee in our neighborhoods, the and 5 and Photo Dec. 31. They’d be banned “I just think it comes down to an have put out guidance to residents by Belen Ward we been in since is theloud set ones upeffect in the skySeptember, and making for the rest of the year while bottle educational piece,” he said. “We in the past that says that even sparof different levelswant of restrictions thatineach have to promote the things that are noises. I don’t to see that rockets, mortars, flying spinners klers are illegal,” Huseman said. Pleaseitseeclear.” RESTRICTIONS, Page 2 crease, but I’d like to see people able and firecrackers other explosives legal and make “So we need to get that clarified. If
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