Week of January 13, 2022
$1.00
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
GoldenTranscript.net
VOLUME 156 | ISSUE 4
Local group raises flag on mining project Says Denver Brick Company weak on community outreach BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY DGRIGSBY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A small group of Golden residents hopes to raise awareness and spotlight Denver Brick Company’s plans to expand its existing state land trust lease by nearly tenfold. They say many in the community may have no idea what’s about to come their way. According to the company’s application to the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, the Ft. Worth-based corporation seeks to convert its existing mine permit from a 110 Limited Impact permit to a 112 Reclamation Permit. The conversion would allow DBC to increase the operational footprint from nine to 85.5 acres at its Golden Mine, located approximately .6 miles north of the city on the west side of Highway 93. It would also authorize an increase in the amount of clay the company may extract from the mine. Protect the Hogback is a grassroots nonprofit organization formed by several Golden residents and business owners. They say DBC
has not done a good job engaging the community in the application process. Golden resident Bill O’Brien said he and others first heard the details of the project at an online community meeting held by the company in December 2020. PTH spokesperson Mike Rawluk fears many homeowners were not notified of the community meeting simply based on their proximity to the mining company’s property line. According to Rawluk, all the DRMS requires is that the company notify homeowners closest to the project property line. He points out, though, very few people live to the north of the city and behind the hogback. PTH hopes it can open community dialogue and share information about the mine application so residents may come to their own conclusion and take action if they are so inclined. The New York native and Golden homeowner said that although the organization’s mission is to unify and communicate all public opposition to the mine’s expansion, it’s also focused on getting information out to the public — a task PTH feels DBC could do a lot better. O’Brien questions why a company the size of DBC wouldn’t want widereaching communication with those who may be affected. PTH Board Member Beth Dwyer
(Left to Right) Golden residents Bill O’Brien, Mike Rawluk, Joanne Scarbrough, and Beth Dwyer are concerned about the Denver Brick Company’s plans to convert an exisiting mine permit. They say the company has not done enough to inform homeowners near the Golden Mine of plans to convert an existing mine permit from a 110 Limited Impact permit to a 112 Reclamation Permit PHOTO BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY
said that DBC’s minimal engagement with the community is one of the primary reasons the organization came to be. Another, she said, was to file a formal objection to the expansion, which PTH did, through the group’s attorney, on Oct. 27, 2021 — the last day of public comment. The City of Golden also had questions regarding the mine, citing
concerns about increased impacts from noise, traffic, and dust, as well as increased production limits. They filed their comments in a letter to the DRMS on the same day as PTH. While projects like this trigger many reactions, Rawluk cautions that now is not the time to push on SEE MINING, P2
Police shoot, kill man brandishing shotgun in Wheat Ridge Suspect alleged to have been firing at random. BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A man carrying and allegedly firing a shotgun in the area of West
29th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard was shot and killed by Wheat Ridge Police Jan. 6. According to Wheat Ridge Spokesperson Sara Spaulding, police were dispatched to the area at approximately 1:41 p.m. after receiving multiple reports of an adult male carrying the weapon on West 29th Avenue near
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
Ames Street. In her press release, Spaulding said Wheat Ridge police officers who were already near the scene also witnessed the man firing the gun as he walked toward Sheridan Boulevard. Spaulding said as police converged on the area, the man stopped in the intersection of 29th and Sheridan and challenged
police on multiple occasions while brandishing his shotgun. At that point, Wheat Ridge Police officers shot the man, who was then pronounced dead at the scene, Spaulding said. Wheat Ridge Police Division Chief Darrel Guadnola said there SEE SUSPECT, P3
JUST THE HIGH POINTS Exploring the highest elevations in Metro Denver
P14