Transcript Wheat Ridge
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 30, Issue 5
July 25, 2013
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwheatridgenews.com
City says go-ahead to gold getters By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com
Ellen Holmes works on a flower bed project at the Wheat Ridge Happiness Gardens on July 18. Photos by Vic Vela
Youth Corps comes to Wheat Ridge Group cleans up Greenbelt, improves community garden By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com A group of young volunteers visited Wheat Ridge last week to lend a hand on outdoor projects aimed at making the community safer and Happiness Gardens’ visitors even happier. Members of the Mile High Youth Corps were in town to take part in a fuel-reduction project in the Greenbelt area, and to make improvements in the city’s community garden area. The Denver-based organization gives young people the opportunity to work in the areas of conservation and neighborhood improvement. In addition to helping communities, Youth Corps members receive training in areas of possible future careers and can earn awards to pay for post-secondary education. “I just love being outside and being able to actually do something for the community,” said 21-year-old Connor Billings, of Littleton, who has been with the organization for about three months. “It feels awesome that I’m actually doing
Youth continues on Page 22
Angelica Thabit shovels dirt during an improvement project at the Wheat Ridge Happiness Gardens on July 18.
Crime lab change to speed police work Police department joins regional lab By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com It may take Wheat Ridge police less time to solve crimes soon, now that the city has agreed to partner with other Jefferson County agencies to form a regional crime lab. Wheat Ridge City Council approved a resolution July 22 that will allow the city to pay into the creation of the Jefferson County Regional Crime Laboratory — one where forensic evidence taken from crime scenes across the county will be analyzed and proPOSTAL ADDRESS
cessed. Right now, Wheat Ridge police sends its forensic evidence to a state crime lab, where analysis turnaround times can take several months. Wheat Ridge police Chief Dan Brennan believes a regional crime lab will allow his detectives to solve cases in a timelier manner. “We think our citizens will be getting a greater bang for their buck by going through this regional lab,” Brennan said after the council meeting. “We think we can have a quicker turn around and be able to analyze more evidence, solve crimes sooner, and be more effective.” Wheat Ridge police, like most departments across the state, submit case evidence related to DNA, firearms and tool markings — where tools are used in property crimes cases — to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations for processing. But the cases there are prioritized, often resulting in delays in getting back analysis for investigations that may not always make headlines. Beginning next year, Wheat Ridge will join Arvada, Golden and Lakewood, as well as Jefferson County, to form a Golden-based countywide crime lab, which Brennan believes will alleviate some of the state’s workload. The council voted unanimously to approve funding for Wheat Ridge’s part in the intergovernmental agreement, which is expected to be about $31,280 a year for the first two years, beginning in 2014. The money will come from the city’s general fund.
There’s gold in them thar Wheat Ridge waters, and now the city will allow folks to go git it. Wheat Ridge City Council approved a plan July 22 that will grant the city permission to take over an undeveloped area of greenbelt land that historically has been used for gold-panning, but has never been managed. Now, through a resolution that will allow Wheat Ridge to lease the land from Jefferson County, the city will let folks pan for gold, while also instituting usage rules that officials believe will strike a balance between giving gold-getters what they want, while also protecting the banks of the Clear Creek from being damaged. “I think it’s a good solution to an issue that’s been going on for years,” said Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Director Joyce Manwaring, during a city council study session that preceded the July 22 vote. The land, known as the Arapahoe Bar, is located west of Interstate 70 at Youngfield Street and 41st Avenue, and is a vacant and undeveloped area that’s adjacent to Clear Creek. Gold panning has been going on in that area for about 100 years, but because the open space-designated area has neither been under the jurisdiction of Wheat Ridge or Jefferson County, the activity that goes on there has never been managed. Complicating matters prior to the lease agreement was the issue that Jefferson County allows for gold-panning in open space areas around Clear Creek. However, the City of Wheat Ridge had not allowed the activity inside the Greenbelt. Because of the lack of management, concerns had been raised that heavy, motorized equipment that is used for goldpanning can cause damage to creek banks, and that no entity is able to enforce the noise that emits from the devices. The lease will allow the city’s Parks and Recreation department to institute rules regarding gold-panning activities, relating to equipment use and dredging locations. Officials believe that the financial impact to the city will be minimal and that environmental concerns will be met, under the lease agreement. “I think we have a great parks and recreation department, and they’ll monitor the situation,” Wheat Ridge Mayor Jerry DiTullio said after the July 22 meeting. “And we have a lot of citizens down in the Greenbelt too. So, if someone’s doing something wrong I’m sure we’ll hear about it.” DiTullio also touted the possible financial benefits that the city could end up reaping by visitors coming to Wheat Ridge for gold-panning purposes. “The Greenbelt is a crown jewel of Wheat Ridge,” the mayor said. “And, any time we can bring more people into the city, those folks have the potential of shopping here and bringing in business here.”
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