January 8, 2015 VOLU M E 1 49 | I S S UE 5 | 5 0 ¢
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Election results, correction facility mark the year Highlights of 2014 in Jeffco Jefferson County saw old problems repaired, new faces move into leadership, and some criminally surprising action in 2014 Jeffco Open Space continued its focus on flood recovery efforts to fix the damage done in 2013. With the help of dedicated volunteers who have pitched in with trail repairs, majority of the work has been completed, reported David Davenport, outdoor recreation management coordinator for Jeffco Open Space. Jeffco Open Space requested $375,000 from FEMA last year. In early October of this year, the nearly 50-page environmental assessment was approved, and trail specialists can now move ahead on repair work for Mustang Trail, Mesa Top and Wranglers. Apex park is now open and the re-routing of Pick ‘n Sledge is being pushed until Spring 2015, but trail specialists said nothing is planned but getting trails open. Christopher Sullivan, 37, the armed carjacking suspect who went on a crime spree around Lookout Mountain over the summer made headlines and acquired a slew of charges including child sex trafficking. His trials are set sometime in early 2015. At the time of his preliminary hearing for his incidents on Lookout Mountain, Sullivan faced 48 criminal counts. After his capture on Interstate 70 by Jeffco Deputy Sheriff Fred Haggett, Sullivan’s cash bond was set at $1 million.
lead and proved to be the “vast difference” between him and his opponents, he said. Just a month before the election, Shrader discussed deputy attrition at the Sheriff’s Office. If annualized, the attrition rate is at 20 percent, Shrader said. While he wants to make the Sheriff’s Office competitively worthy in the job market, he recognizes he will have to convince the Jeffco Board of County Commissioners that investing in public safety should be a high priority.
Community Corrections relocation
Sheriff Jeff Shrader ran a successful campaign for more than a year which paid off by capturing 72 percent of the votes on election night. Photo by Amy Woodward
New Jeffco sheriff After 10 years as Jefferson County Sheriff, Ted Mink exited as sheriff and was replaced by a new face and astute insider Jeff Shrader. The term-limited Mink, will leave the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office after leading its departments and deputies for 11 years. During the Republican primaries, Shrader campaigned hard throughout Jeffco, and once he received 58 percent of the del-
egate vote at the county assembly, he said he knew he was a shoe-in. He held an early lead against his Republican opponent Jim Shires at 61.60 percent of the early total of 35,307 votes cast during the primaries. His nearly 30 years at the Sheriff’s Office holding leadership positions and creating strategic management and response tactics for deputies, supervisors and command level ranks is what’s given voters the confidence that Shrader is experienced to
The Jeffco Board of County Commissioners have attempted to re-locate its community corrections facility known as ICCS for at least two years but each time, commissioners have retreated due to public outcry and planned protest. After the last decision to drop plans to relocate ICCS on W. 6th Avenue. Frontage Road near the Jeffco Fairgrounds, Commissioner Tighe held on to hope, stating, “I’m not ready to throw out the program. This is about trying to be successful with re-integrating these individuals.” It is unclear what 2015 will bring but commissioners could decide to keep ICCS at its current location in the New York Building on Kendall St. in Lakewood or find other ways to work with cities and communities. “I did receive direction from the Commissioners to resume considering options and alternatives for relocating Community
Cold case
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GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. GE T SOCIAL WITH US
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Year continues on Page 11
Clear Creek was not immune to the frigid temperatures last week which seemed to freeze the flowing creek in its place. Photo by Amy Woodward
Legislators await oil, gas task force results Lawmakers eye construction defect issue By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Republicans expressed doubt the governor’s oil and gas task force will provide useful recommendations, and are carefully eyeing construction defect laws that may hinder condo development. During the second annual Business Legislative Preview on Jan. 5, state Senate and House leaders from both sides of the aisle stated perspectives for the legislative session — after an election that saw Republicans take a majority in the Senate, while House Democrats retained a slim edge of 34-31. Civic leaders expressed concerns with the governor’s gas task force, which was formed last year after debate over how much con-
trol local governments should have on the state’s oil and gas industry. But it’s too early to tell whether the task force’s findings will influence policy making, said House Minority Leader, Brian Del Grosso, R- Loveland. “To have two-thirds majority for anything to come out of that — considering the makeup of that task force — I would be kind of surprised if anything actually comes out of there,” said Del Grosso, who spoke at length about the pressures of regulations on the state’s multibillion dollar oil and gas industry. “It seems like the state of Colorado recently has moved from viewing coal, oil and gas as an asset to more of a burden. We are one of the most regulated states in the country when it comes to those natural resources … and to think that we need to regulate that industry more is just crazy to me.” Senate President Pro Tem Ellen
Roberts, R-Durango, agreed. “We jammed the toolbox full of all sorts of things that communities can use, that the state can use to make sure there was responsible oil and gas development,” Roberts said. “Let’s find reasonable compromise, mitigate an intrusion on the surface owner but at the same time let people reasonably and responsibly develop those resources.” Construction defect laws, which are being criticized for obstructing condo developments, were discussed by speakers, but neither party presented detailed plans for reforms. New credit requirements, higher insurance rates and the weight of debt that burdens many millennials looking to enter into the housing market, are other areas of concern besides construction defect laws, said Senate Minority Leader Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora. “There are probably about a dozen different ideas that we
spend looking at in the Senate that we think help spur condominium units throughout the state of Colorado in a way that doesn’t sacrifice quality or construction,” Carroll said. Del Grosso and Roberts said little about reforms to the state’s construction defect laws but said it is important for the state to present a cohesive bill before more cities follow in the footsteps of Lakewood, which passed its own reform ordinance in October. “I think each municipality trying to tackle that on their own — it’s going to be a bunch of patchwork all across the state,” Del Grosso said. “If we can fix that at the state level, and make that more palpable across the state, I think that’s the best way to do it.” The preview was held at the Brown Palace was hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Competitive Council and Denver Business Journal.