1-Color
January 16, 2014
75 cents Arapahoe County, Colorado | Volume 125, Issue 26 A publication of
littletonindependent.net
Governor: State of state is strong Hickenlooper touts economic numbers during annual address
rado does not quit. Colorado does not break,” he said, to a standing ovation inside the House chamber, where all 100 state lawmakers were gathered. Hickenlooper hyped Colorado as a magnet for businesses and a state where job numbers continue to grow. And, for the most part, he stayed away from contentious issues that dominated the Legislature last year. While Democrats walked away glowingly from the governor’s speech, many Republicans voiced a “wait-and-see” response. “Well it felt good, but let’s see if those feelings continue for the rest of the year,” said Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock. “When he talked about not wanting parties to lock down, I hope he holds to that with his own party.”
By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Gov. John Hickenlooper motions to his cabinet, seated in the House chambers in the Colorado State Capitol, during the State of the State speech in Denver on Jan. 8. Photo by Hannah Garcia
Gov. John Hickenlooper sounded like a man running for re-election during his annual State of the State address inside the Capitol on Jan. 9, as he touted Colorado’s economic rebound and called on lawmakers to “ignore divisive politics.” The governor sounded themes of unity throughout his speech, but particularly when he lauded Coloradans’ resilience during times of tragedy last year — which led to one of the most enthusiastically-received lines of the day. “Colorado does not shut down. Colo-
State continues on Page 19
Consulting firm looks at Littleton fire rescue Seeks ways to improve service, save money By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com Never a dull moment for Littleton Fire Rescue, which is about to undergo its fifth intensive study in as many years. “Over the last several years, a number of studies and discussions have taken place to explore additional partnership and consolidation opportunities,” reads a Jan. 8 news release from the city. “The result of this due diligence, the partners agree, is that the current model is very successful and a good fit for everyone involved. That’s not to say there isn’t room for improvement, and that’s where the master plan begins.” The night before, city council approved a resolution to create a long-term strategic plan for the department, something the firefighters’ association has been asking for. “When asked over the years to articulate a strategic plan, we have always been met with silence, puzzled looks or at best a response of `status quo,’” members of the association wrote in a letter to City Manager Michael Penny in May 2013, after passing a vote of no confidence in Chief John Mullin. Mullin announced his retirement four months later and exited at the end of the year. With new LFR Chief Christopher Armstrong now at the helm, the city has hired Fire continues on Page 10 POSTAL ADDRESS
MULCH ADO ABOUT SOMETHING Raymond Harrison takes advantage of the City of Littleton’s free mulch program at Cornerstone Park at Belleview Avenue and Windermere Street. He dropped off his Christmas tree there a few days earlier, then returned Jan. 13 to claim his share of the mulch it was ground into. Any Littleton resident is welcome to help themselves as long as the supply lasts. Photo by Jennifer Smith
Chatfield project edging closer One more hurdle to clear before heading to governor By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously accepted the Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation Project plan during its Jan. 9 meeting, sending it on next to the Colorado Water Conservation
LITTLETON INDEPENDENT
Board and ultimately to the governor. Chairman Bill Kane, while acknowledging the concerns of many citizens who addressed the board, noted the document is compliant with the law. “We have to decide if the greater good is served by approval or denial,” he said. “And we’ve got to figure out of the perfect could potentially be the enemy of the good.” The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers authored the plan in an effort to meet the
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growing need for water in the metro area. It recommends reallocating 20,600 acrefeet of water from flood control to usable storage, raising the water in the recreation area by 12 feet. Water would cover more of the park, requiring reconfiguration of the marina and other amenities. “Chatfield wasn’t originally meant to be recreational,” said Commissioner Dean Wingfield. “We’re going to put a
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Chatfield continues on Page 19
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