January 22, 2015 VOLU M E 9 1 | I S SUE 23
LakewoodSentinel.com A publication of
J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Children auditioning for the Missoula Children Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” listen as instructors tell me how to deliver their lines during the audition process. Photo by Clarke Reader
Hickenlooper hones in on the economy Says workforce development, funding education key to supporting middle class By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Gov. John Hickenlooper delivered his annual State of the State address Jan. 15 during a joint session of the General Assembly, commending the state’s booming business sector and encouraging bipartisanship. “The state of our state is strong,” Hickenlooper said. “According to almost every national ranking, Colorado is now one of the top states for business climate and job growth.” Hickenlooper credits the state’s economic success to collaboration between state and local economic development developers. Pointing to the state’s economic development strategy to recruit talents and lure companies to Colorado from across the nation, Hickenlooper highlighted companies such as Panasonic, Cool Planet Energy Systems and Arrow Electronics as prime contributors to the state’s economic successes through job creation. Helping companies like Lockheed Martin, Charles Schwab and Woodward to grow has also added to the state’s growing job market, Hickenlooper said. Supporting the middle class and Colorado’s rural areas, where unemployment remains high, through workforce development will be met with an effort to jumpstart Hickenlooper’s economic plan in what he called Colorado Blueprint 2.0 from the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “The team will again be visiting all 14 regions of the state soliciting a vision for economic development starting with the counties where employment is most lagging. Counties like Otero, Costilla, San Miguel, and Huerfano,” Hickenlooper said. “Our challenge is to make sure economic prosperity reaches every household in all 64 counties.” The governor spoke briefly about his frustrations with TABOR but gave little guidance as to how the Legislature should
The Rooney Rd. Recycling Center has been accepting hazardous materials as an alternative to disposing of them in the local landfill. Photo by Amy Woodward
Gov. John Hickenlooper delivers the annual State of the State address Jan. 15. Photo by Amy Woodward navigate taxing and spending conflicts. “Amendment 23 demands more new money than we can possibly expect to have two years from now,” Hickenlooper said. “If we do nothing, if we pretend the future will take care of itself, and we’re back here in two years facing what was clearly an avoidable crisis, history will show that we failed future generations of Coloradans.” While the state must continue to support workforce development, funding education must part be part of business growth, the governor said. Hickenlooper’s budget proposal includes a $200 million addition to the state education fund as a one-time increase for school districts. He supports continued assessments in English and math for high school students but said that easing testing demands on seniors in social studies and science “might be among the right answers.” “Beyond questions of funding, we need to confront the truth about whether Colorado’s kids are getting the education they need to compete and succeed in the job market,” Hickenlooper said. The governor said he looks forward to the recommendations from the oil and gas task force appointed last year. But he Economy continues on Page 18
Recycling center could use a recharge By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Although it successfully disposes of millions of pounds of hazardous waste, the Rooney Road Recycling Center is struggling financially because of shrinking revenues and too little money to manage the facility. For more than 20 years ago, the recycling enter has accepted hazardous household items from residents throughout Jeffco’s nine jurisdictions which hold an intergovernmental agreement with the center. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Rooney Road is the only facility of its kind in the county. Between 2010 and 2013, the facility recycled or disposed of 1.3 million pounds of material that included household chemicals, propane cylinders, automotive products, paints and electronic waste. Local law enforcement agencies also drop off hazardous materials that are not used for evidence. Since opening in 1994, the center has collected an estimated an 4.9 million pounds of material. With more than 500,000 residents calling Jeffco home, the recycling facility serves only 1 percent of the county’s population. But although the center has the potential to expand services, it will have to overcome
funding obstacles to do so. Chris Naber, chairman of the Rooney Road Recycling Center Authority board said the county’s growing population will eventually “outstrip” the budget. “At some point we need to come up with a plan to be able to manage that and that’s just to maintain the services we have,” Naber said. “We also, in general, would like to grow the use of the facility and be able to advertise more openly and really be more involved in the community to get this material out.” The center relies on monetary contributions from the county’s nine jurisdictions including Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, and unincorporated Jeffco. Fees are based on population size. For example, cities such as Lakewood and Arvada pay a higher fee than Golden or Lakeside. Unincorporated Jeffco contributes the most at $113,733 a year. Although public donations are encouraged, a quick scan of the center’s current and past budgets shows revenues falling short of operational expenses. The center’s general fund has dropped by 78 percent in the past three years due to the authority using the fund to meet operating expenses. Center continues on Page 18