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January 30, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 13, Issue 3 A publication of
lonetreevoice.net
Taste of Lone Tree has future Organizers plan changes to overcome issues that hindered 2013 event By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com Plagued in 2013 by bad weather, low vendor participation, food and alcohol shortages, and a shortage of volunteers, the Taste of Lone Tree’s future was uncertain a few months ago. But the event’s organizers now say it will return in 2014, bigger, better, and with a few changes. “Everybody is enthusiastic about moving forward in a positive manner,” said Donna Russell, Lone Tree Chamber of Commerce board member. The chamber’s 7th annual event is planned for Aug. 9 and 10 if enough vendors commit. The venue, while not yet set, will be different. Because the undeveloped lot on which it was held in 2012 and 2013 turned
to mud after heavy rains last year, the next Taste will be on a paved site, Russell said. To ensure ticket holders can sample a variety of food and vendors have enough for all, Taste organizers plan to beef up the number of participating restaurants to a minimum of 25. Just nine restaurants participated in the 2013 event, which drew an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people. “They got slammed,” Russell said. Nine “is just simply not enough vendors to be able to handle that crowd. So we need to make a commitment to them up front we will have enough vendors this time. “There will be a time built into our process at which if we don’t have the correct number of vendors, we will not pursue the event.” Russell doesn’t believe that will be the case, however. In meetings held to assess what went wrong in 2013 and whether support existed for continuing the Taste, participants indicated support for the event. Taste continues on Page 11
People wait in line for tastes during the 2013 Taste of Lone Tree, held on an empty lot in the Lincoln Commons shopping center. The location will be new in 2014 and organizers are calling for a ‘bigger, better’ event with more options. File photo
Wildfire legislation rolled out Key recommendations by governor’s task force absent By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Snow dusts a Lone Tree neighborhood on the evening of Jan. 27. With no shoveling ordinance in place in the city, officials are seeking a way to encourage residents to clear their sidewalks. Photo by Jane Reuter
Some residents don’t dig winter chore City has no legal authority to require snow shoveling By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com With Colorado’s snowiest months still looming, Lone Tree city leaders recently pondered ways to inspire more homeowners to shovel their sidewalks. The city does not have an ordinance on the subject, so it has no legal authority to enforce the action. “In residential areas, we do not require it,” city attorney Neil Rutledge said. “Of course, it is expected.” Councilmember Harold Anderson raised the issue during the council’s Jan.
21 meeting, saying one of his neighbors fears she’ll fall on the snow-covered sidewalks. “Roughly 50 percent of the people in town with single-family homes do their best to get out there as soon as it stops snowing and shovel. Unfortunately, we’ve got some people out there that unless we get a little bit tough with them, they’re not going to do a thing.” Almost every home in Lone Tree is governed by a homeowners association, which is designed to provide some maintenance and establish covenants. And public works director John Cotten said that’s where the power of enforcement typically rests. “Really, I think it’s something better done through the (homeowners association),” public works director John Cot-
ten said. “I don’t know how many may or may not already have that in their covenants.” The city generally clears sidewalks on many public streets, but that work comes second to plowing roads. Cotten said public works employees have tried talking with homeowners whose sidewalks aren’t maintained. “About half are very nice,” he said. “The other half really don’t care.” City Manager Seth Hoffman suggested the city publicize programs that match senior homeowners who are unable to shovel with volunteers. They also agreed to post reminders on the city’s electronic signs, which are located along major throughways. For more information, visit www. cityoflonetree.com/snow.
Gov. John Hickenlooper and state lawmakers unveiled a package of bills on Jan. 23 that is “aimed at improving Colorado’s ability to mitigate and fight wildfires.” However, Hickenlooper and legislators spent most of a Capitol press conference answering questions having to do with wildfire mitigation options that are not part of the eight bills that were introduced. The bills do not include key recommendations made by the governor’s own wildfire task force committee, including ones that place fees and building code mandates on homeowners who reside in areas where a high potential for wildfires exists. And the package does not address the creation of a state firefighting fleet. The governor’s office says the issue needs more work. But a Republican lawmaker who is sponsoring his own air tanker legislation said at the same press conference that the time for a wildfire fleet is now. “I believe that wildfire is a clear and present danger to Colorado and we need to take action,” said Sen. Steve King, RGrand Junction. The governor insists that the bipartisan pieces of wildfire legislation that were introduced on Jan. 23 will go a long way in combatting a growing threat facing the state. “I think with this year we will continue to raise the ante and try to dedicate more resources up front to try to get to these fires sooner,” Hickenlooper said. Wildfire continues on Page 11
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