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September 11, 2014 VOLU M E 6 9 | I S S UE 44 | 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
Band raising money for California trip Jeep Cherokee or cash up for grabs in raffle By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com When it comes to practice, the Legacy High School band is all business. Once the group of 190 students steps onto the pavement in the school parking lot, not only are they expected to rehearse flawlessly by band director Clay Stansberry, but also by themselves. It’s not uncommon to see a student drop down and do pushups after missing a beat or a step. This hardcore dedication to perfection is part of the band’s preparation for the Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2015 in Pasadena, California. The band was notified last October of the honor, and ever since then has been busy spending hours practicing and more hours raising money for the trip. It will cost about $1,900 per student to attend. Students have been selling batteries, chocolate bars and peaches and now are in a major push to sell raffle tickets for a 2014 Jeep Cherokee or $20,000, the choice left up to the winner, which will be announced during the Legacy Marching Festival on Sept. 27. The band is hoping to raise $125,000 from the raffle, which is just a portion of the $500,000 needed for all students, staff and equipment to get to California “The raffle is the big one, which will be spread to all the kids, unlike the other fundraisers where what each kid made, went into their personal trip account,” said Lori White,
Legacy High School Band members practice their competitive routine. The band is in the middle of an important fundraising effort to raise money for their trip to the Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2015 in California. The band is raffling off a new Jeep Cherokee or $20,000 during the Legacy Marching Festival on Sept. 27. Tickets are $25 apiece. Photo by Ashley Reimers co-fundraising chair and band student parent. “What each kid doesn’t fundraise, parents will be picking up. Some kids have to raise
their entire trip, so they’ve been working so hard over that past couple months to earn this money.”
Tickets are $25 apiece and the goal is to Band continues on Page 15
Retail marijuana tax goes to ballot Voters asked to approve 3 percent sales tax countywide 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. G ET SO CIAL WITH US
P L EA S E R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Despite the concerns of the district attorney and the sheriff, the Adams County Board of County Commissioners approved a ballot measure asking voters to authorize a sales tax on recreation marijuana. The 2-1 vote happened during the board’s Sept. 2 regular meeting. Commissioners Charles “Chaz” Tedesco, District 2, and Eva Henry, District 1, voted in favor. District 3 Commissioner Erik Hansen voted against. If approved, a 3 percent sales tax would be applied to recreation marijuana and recreation marijuana products throughout the entire county, even the incorporated cities. This would affect Northglenn, which allows retail sales, and Aurora which will allow it beginning Oct. 1. Hansen, Sheriff Doug Darr and District Dave Young urged the board to consider not the sales tax question, but instead if county residents wanted to allow retail marijuana in unincorporated areas at all.
Right now the county has a moratorium on retail marijuana that expires at the end of this year. “My concern is we haven’t seen in discussions yet when it comes to public safety,” said Darr. “The district attorney’s office, the educational community, the medical community, the substance abuse community — I believe they ought to have the opportunity to weigh in. More importantly the people who live within the communities in the neighborhoods ought to have something to say about it. They need to know what their community will look like.” Young added that his concern was not about the “40-year-olds or the adults who smoke marijuana for recreational purposes. It’s the message we give our kids when we allow marijuana industries to come to Adams County. That it’s OK to have marijuana.” He said the advertising done by retail marijuana stores could prompt teens to smoke it, which makes efforts to reduce truancy and drop-out rates harder to accomplish. The sale of retail marijuana and retail marijuana products is currently taxed by the state of Colorado with a small percentage of the tax being shared back among all of the communities, according to county attorney Heidi Miller. “The current state sales and excise tax structure on retail marijuana and retail marijuana products
is not designed to provide an equitable share back of the tax revenue to the communities from which revenue is derived,” she said. If voters approve the 3 percent sales tax on retail marijuana and retail marijuana products the revenue would pay for educational programs and for direct and indirect costs incurred by the county related to regulating and licensing such establishments, Miller said. Henry and Tedesco stressed that passing the sales tax measure would not mean retail marijuana establishments could operate in unincorporated Adams County — that is a decision the board will have to make by 2015. Tedesco said it was the board’s responsibility to ensure tools were in place in case the current or future boards do decide to allow marijuana retail. Plus, he added, the county needed to address the cities that do allow these establishments — Northglenn and Aurora. Hansen, who voted against placing the tax measure on the ballot, said while he respected the voters’ decision in 2012 to decriminalize recreation marijuana use, he did not think most voters wanted retail establishments in their neighborhoods. According to the ballot language, the county expects to generate $1,260,000 annually in the first fiscal year (2016) if the tax measure passes.
Federal Heights council appoints new member By Ashley Reimers
areimers@coloradocommunitymedia.com John Hamlin is the newest member of the Federal Heights city council. He was sworn in on Sept. 2 after unanimously appointed by his fellow councilors. Hamlin will be serving out the remainder of Tanya Ishikawa’s term, who moved out of the city, representing Ward 1. “We appreciate young people like John stepping forward to serve their city,” said Mayor Joyce Thomas. “It’s a privilege to have John sitting here.” Hamlin moved to Federal Heights in late 2009 after working on Wall Street for a large financial institution handling government retirement plans. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business
management and is currently working on earning an MBA. Hamlin, who is married to Lisa, is also a new dad to three-month old Emily. He said the move to Federal Heights was an effort to live in a small town but also have easy access to the big city. “In Federal Heights you have that local feel, but you also have everything in the big city close by,” Hamlin said. “I really love the community feel and everything the city does for the community.” About six months ago Hamlin began his involvement with local politics by attending city council meetings and addressing the city council during those meetings. He said the interaction with the council prompted him to apply for the Ward 1 position. Teamwork was also appealing to Hamlin. He said when the council works together
with each other, staff, law enforcement and fire, a lot can get accomplished. But it was the newest member of his family that really pushed him to apply. “My final decision came down to the fact that I want to be a good role model for my daughter,” Hamlin said. “I also want to get the younger folks and the kids in the community involved.” Hamlin is also hoping to grow the business community in Federal Heights and focus on education in the city as a councilman. He said he’s excited to role his sleeves up and get into the “nittygritty.” “I’m excited to express my ideas to the council and work to get the community more involved in our government,” he said.