April 16, 2015 VOLU M E 70 | I S S UE 23 | 5 0 ¢
WestminsterWindow.com
A D A M S C O U N T Y A N D J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O A publication of
Thornton water rates to rise MAY INCREASE WILL BE FIRST OF THREE By Ashley ReimeRs • AREIMERS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM Effective May 1, Thornton water rates will increase 13 percent. City council unanimously approved an ordinance March 31 that will also increase water rates 13 percent on Jan. 1, 2016 and another 13 percent on Jan. 1, 2017. The revenue generated from the rate increase will help fund a new water treatment plant and the construction of a pipeline. “Nobody likes to raise water fees of any kind, but this is very important to our city, our citizens and the growth coming to the city,” said Mayor Heidi Williams. “It’s important to be able to maintain what we have and get our water facility up and running.”
Treatment plant to be replaced
The Thornton Water Treatment Plant, a 20-milliongallon-per-day conventional plant, is over 50 years old and has reached the end of its life cycle. The cost to replace the plant at 9520 Ellen Court is more than $70 million and will be done in the next three to four years. The replacement will be a state-of-the-art system, treating water from Standley Lake and the Clear Creek system.
Future pipeline in the works
As part of the city’s longterm water plan, past city councils purchased water rights in the mid-1980s from the Cache la Poudre River. To deliver the water from northern Colorado to Thornton, the city will build a pipeline and related facilities in the mid2020s. The project will cost $400 million to $500 million. “The construction of the conveyance system will provide long-term water to the city’s system,” said city manager Jack Ethredge. “The city has been steadily securing water resources to ensure that those plans can be met.”
Assistance program to expand
Average Thornton households will see an increase of about $9.30 per month — a $2.87 base charge and a $6.43 user rate charge. For residents challenged with paying their bills, the water assistance program will expand to accommodate the increased cost. Funding for the program comes from late fees paid by water customers. “As rates increase, problems with paying will increase,” Ethredge said. “So we have increased those funds accordingly.”
The clarifying tanks at the Thornton Water Treatment Plant. Photo by Ashley Reimers
History Day isn’t same old same old Westminster celebration raises money for society POSTAL ADDRESS
WESTMINSTER WINDOW
(ISSN 1072-1576) (USPS 455-250) OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Westminster Window is published weekly on Thursday by MetroNorth Newspapers, 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT WESTMINSTER, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. GE T SO CI AL WITH US
P LE AS E R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
By Ashley Reimers
areimers@coloradocommunitymedia.com It’s been almost a year since the opening of the Westminster History Center, a place to explore the city’s past. The center provides safekeeping for historical documents, photos, maps, books and newspapers. The center also provides educational opportunities for students. “We want this center to be utilized by not only residents, but also for teachers and schools in the area,” said Amy Newman, director of the Westminster History Center. “Students can come here and actually see and touch history.” Newman is inviting educators to an open house on May 2 at the center, at 72nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard, to sample standardsbased social studies programs and view local archives as part of a History Day, which also celebrates National History Day in Colorado. The event, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is also open to the public and will offer history activities, presentations from history buffs dressed as characters from the past and tours of the Bowles House Museum. History Day will also be an opportunity for the community to check out the new exhibit, “Growing Westminster,” which takes a look at community, industry, agriculture, water rights, annexation and other factors that grew the city from rural beginnings to a bustling metropolis. The exhibit is broken into three eras: 1859 to 1919, 1920 to 1960 and 1961 to present day. The display features maps, photos and other key artifacts that illustrate the growth of the city. “Around 1960, that’s when all hell broke loose and the population went from 15,000 to 110,000,” said Westminster History Center volunteer Phil Goedert. “Water was a key issue in terms of the growth because we knew the population was growing and we needed to be able to support infrastructure to support the population.” History Day is also raising money for the Westminster Historical Society with the help of Barnes and Noble at 92nd Avenue and Sheri-
Phil Goedert, a volunteer at the Westminster History Center, takes a look at a Westminster map donated by the city. The map is part of the new exhibit “Growing Westminster” which covers keys events in Westminster’s history that contributed to the city’s growth. Photo by Ashley Reimers
WESTMINSTER HISTORY TIMELINE 1859 - High Line Canal originates at Clear Creek and Archer Street in Golden 1870 - Pleasant DeSpain settles at 76th Avenue and Lowell Boulevard and plants first orchard. 1911 - The Town of Westminster is chartered. 1910 - The National Grange forms the Grange Hall. 1912 - First well drilled. 1920 - Water tower is built and distribution system is established. 1949 - Westminster High School opens. 1953 - Westminster adopts first ordinance. 1956 - Population reaches 7,000, well drilling no longer an option to keep up with growth. dan Boulevard. Anyone who shops at the store between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and mentions the historical society will have a portion of the sale
1960 - New water tank built on Gregory Hill, storing 4.5 million gallons. 1962 - Mothers march on city hall. 1963 - Westminster obtains 52 percent ownership of High Line Canal. 1969 - Semper Water Treatment Facility constructed. 1979 - Westminster, Northglenn, Thornton and Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company, FRICO, enter into four-way agreement to share water from Standley Lake. Mid-1990s - Planning, designing and construction of gray water system from treated discharge from the Dry Creek Treatment Plant is completed. will go back to the society. For more information on History Day, visit www.westminstercohistory.com.