COLD-BLOODED COMPANIONS
September 15, 2016 VOLUME 96 | ISSUE 35 | 75¢
Exotic pets require unique foods, habitats. PAGE 12
EnglewoodHerald.net A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Four retail marijuana issues on ballot Voters also will decide whether to OK bond for police station By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com The fate of recreational marijuana sales rests in the hands of Englewood voters after the city council’s Sept. 6 approval of four retail marijuana-related questions on the November ballot. The council also placed a fifth ques-
tion on the ballot, which will ask voters whether the city can sell $27 million in general obligation bonds to build a new police station. The decision to put the bond issue on the ballot came after the determination that the aging police station was overcrowded, had poor ventilation and has water leaks. Making repairs was compared to putting a Band-Aid on a large wound. The question asks voters to OK the bond sale, which in turn will mean an increase in property taxes to repay the
bonds. During the discussion about the four marijuana-related ballot issues, it was noted that voters will face the challenge of sorting through two sets of competing questions. One set of competing questions asks voters to decide whether or not the retail sale of marijuana in Englewood should be permitted. The second set of competing questions concerns how the city would tax the sales of marijuana if voters approve retail sales
in Englewood. Acting City Attorney Dugan Comer was asked how the issue would be decided if both sides of a question passed. “The voters will decide the issues,” he said. “However, if two competing issues like allowing and prohibiting the sale of retail marijuana in Englewood both pass, then the ballot question that received the most votes becomes law. The same is true of the two questions concerning how marijuana sales will be taxed.” Marijuana continues on Page 16
Residents ask for more sludge data City seeking independent company to assess water plant materials By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com
day,” Natalie Legg said as she fed Hatch ice cream made for dogs. “She romped, swam and ran the whole time we were in there. I think today finally used up all her energy so she will sleep well tonight.” Kate Dyson had her dog, Ruby, at the plunge. Ruby chased her in and out of the water in the children’s pool area. “I am a Freedom Service Dogs volunteer and that was where I met Ruby,” the Lakewood resident said. “Ruby wasn’t
Eight residents spoke to the Englewood City Council Sept. 6 and expressed their continuing concerns about potential health hazards from the residual material called sludge at the Allen Water Treatment Plant. At the same meeting, City Manager Eric Keck said the city has begun the process to hire an independent company to do a complete assessment of the water plant sludge. The issue is the material created during the water treatment process, called residuals and referred to as sludge. Alum sludge is a byproduct of the water filtration process. The sludge contains naturally occurring background levels of radioactivity, and it is spread out and dried adjacent to the water plant. It is then shipped to a landfill with facilities to accept materials like the sludge that contain low levels of radioactivity. Residents who spoke to the council Sept. 6 asked for missing results of tests to be provided and asked that residents have a role in selecting the independent firm to test and assess the sludge.
Dogs continues on Page 16
Sludge continues on Page 16
Grayson takes a flying leap into the pool as she goes after a tennis ball during the Sept. 10 Doggie Plunge at Pirates Cove Family Aquatic Park. The event is an annual fundraiser for Freedom Service Dogs, and Grayson’s owner Terese Snowden said she and her dogs love the plunge. Photo by Tom Munds
Dogs take over Pirates Cove Canines enjoy a day at the pools during annual doggie plunge
By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com Dogs of every breed, color and size became honored guests at the Sept. 10 Doggie Plunge at Pirates Cove Family Aquatics Center.
Each year, after the pool is closed to the public for the season, Englewood cooperates with Freedom Service Dogs by allowing the organization to hold a fundraising event as they allow dogs to splash and swim in two of the park’s pools. Freedom Service Dogs is an organization that rescues dogs from shelters, trains them as service dogs and gives them to clients without cost. The Legg family from Arvada brought their dog, Hatch, to the event. “Our dog had such a great time to-
Free Cocktails, Food and Swag Bag. RSVP now for September 29th. 303-945-2080 David Verebelyi, MD
See page 5 for more information
ENGLEWOOD HERALD (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 176-680) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Englewood Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 2550 S. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LITTLETON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Tue. 11 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.