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December 26, 2013
50 cents Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 69, Issue 8 A publication of
westminsterwindow.com
Water, maintenance fees increasing next year Residents’ annual bill going up $25.56 on average By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Westminster residents will see a four percent raise in their water and sewer rates in 2014. The increase equates to an additional $2.13 per month or $25.56 per year
for the average user. “The rate adjustment will fund increasing costs for operations and maintenance,” Stu Feinglas, a city water resources analyst said . “It will also fund costs for other improvements like replacing sewer pipes, upgrading components of the water treatment plant and protecting the city’s water supply.” Feinglas said the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, continues to require
more testing of water, which costs more money to the city. He said it’s a good thing to continue the testing, but to help offset the cost is an increase in rates. Although the rates are increasing, Feinglas said the rates continue to remain comparable with area cities along the Front Rage. According to a graph found on the city website, in 2013 the annual combined water and sewer bill in Westminster is $681 and in 2014 the average bill will be $707.
In Northglenn the 2013 combined water and sewer bill is slightly lower than $681, in Thornton the bill is just over $600 and in Golden the bill is $800 per year in 2013. With costs on the rise, Feinglas said people can take steps to offset the increasing numbers. “The best thing to do to save money on Water continues on Page 5
Jeffco board raises eyebrows Hiring process of lawyer leaves unanswered questions By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com
Women gear up to play a round of golf during a Ladies Night Out event at the Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills. The facility celebrated 50 years in business this year and was honored by the city of Westminster during a city council meeting on Sept. 23 as part of the Business Legacy Award Program. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Businesses recognized through awards program
By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Beginning in 1990, the city of Westminster sponsored the annual Business Appreciation event, honoring local businesses. For 2013, the city made a change and started the Business Legacy Awards Program, recognizing businesses who have reached longevity milestones starting with 25 years. This year 53 Westminster businesses were honored throughout the year at city council meetings ranging from 25 years to 60 years of business. Ryan Johnson, economic development specialist, said the Business Legacy Awards Program was introduced to continue to provide an opportunity for council to personally say thankyou to business owners for their commitment in doing business in Westminster for a long period of time. “Business owners and employees are able to receive formal recognition by council through this program,” he said. “Businesses that have been here POSTAL ADDRESS
for a long time are really part of the fabric of the city’s history, and they deserve to be honored.” Accomplishing 60 years of business this year was Valente’s Deli Bakery and Italian Market at 7250 Meade St. Owned and operated by three generations of the Valente family, now run by Larry and his son Dino, the business staple provides not only homemade Italian sausage and cannolis to the community, but also a place for residents to feel at home. “The number one thing is the friendliness to the customers and the relationships we have with the customers,” Larry said. “The guys and girls who work here know many customers by their names and people love that, and they come back.” In business for 55 years in 2013 is Bea & Herb’s Old Town Auto Care at 3791 W. 72nd Ave. Owned by Herb and Bea Waltemeyer, began their journey by first opening a Phillips 66 Station. Years later a car wash was added. In 2011, after both Bea and Herb passed away, their daughter Jody took over management and now
the building is rented to auto care businesses. The 2013 50-year honorary is The Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills at 9650 Sheridan Blvd. Named after the former Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District director Greg Mastriona, the facility offers four courses to patrons ranging from beginner to expert, a recently renovated club house and food from Ciancio’s Restaurant. “It is truly an honor to have fifty years behind us and to continue to grow and maintain the golf courses in a way that honors the original vision and meets the needs of new golf enthusiasts,” said Joann Cortez, communications director for Hyland Hills. Below is a list of the 50 other businesses honored by the Business Legacy Awards Program: 40 years: Camp’s Rocky Mountain Cut Stone 35 years: Hodgson Enterprises, Inc., Klein Plumbing and U-Haul Center North Federal 30 years: The Augustin Companies Inc., Colorado Sound Recording LTD , Continental Cleaners , DRH Builders Inc., Hair Styles by Jacque , Lee Chiropractic Center , Standley Shores Dental Group , Tri-State Generation and Transmission , Village Inn resPrinted on recycled taurant #238, 7 Eleven Store #24165, newsprint. Please Cleasby Manufacturing of Denver, recycle this copy. Coenen Construction Inc. , Magic Man Car Wash , Mark Platek Agency Inc. , Serpentix Corp , TJ Maxx/Home Goods #253 and Westminster Dental Program continues on Page 5
It only took until the first full meeting of the new Jefferson County School Board for fears to be renewed about changes the new board will make. New board president Ken Witt, John Newkirk and Julie Williams outvoted Lesley Dahlkemper and Jill Fellman to hire Brad Miller of Miller Sparks LLC, a Colorado Springs law firm, to represent the board — not the district. Allen Taggart, the district’s in-house legal counsel, retired on Dec. 19. Miller represents the Falcon School District, which is east of Colorado Springs, and has done work for several Colorado charter schools. Questions are being asked about this action, however, because Dahlkemper and Fellman were only notified about the potential hire two days before the vote via e-mail, and there was no public interview process. “I voted ‘no’ because we had so little time before the hiring was brought up, and we don’t know anything about cost,” Fellman said. “The charge for Mr. Miller is going to be around $90,000 a year, which is around $7,500 a month. That is the cost of two new teachers, and I’m not sure we need this new lawyer.” The board was booed twice during the meeting, both times about the hiring of Miller. The move was also a break with tradition, since normally the district does the hiring, with the board approving those hires. Fellman said that she was left with a lot of questions, including how Miller will communicate with the rest of the board. “There is a cost for him to have secretarial support, but we don’t know how much that cost will be,” she said. Fellman said that Witt directed board members to Miller’s website for references, but there are only testimonials on the site, which carries a different meaning to Fellman. “This makes me uneasy. The hiring of this lawyer sets a lot of precedents in my mind,” Fellman said. “This is a brand new board, and we want to establish trust, but it’s going to difficult with this hanging over our heads.” Calls were made to Witt, Newkirk and Williams for comment, and were not returned.