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January 14, 2021
ADAMS & JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
WestminsterWindow.com
VOLUME 76 | ISSUE 12
Fingers crossed for snowy winter Metro North cities prepare drought mitigation plans before spring BY LIAM ADAMS LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With 2020 being dry and officials expecting 2021 to be the same, north metro cities are crossing their fingers about snow this season. Though water supply and drought seem out of sight, out of mind, Northglenn City Council discussed the item at their Jan. 4 study session. Tamar Moon, Northglenn’s environmental manager, told councilors she wants to work on Northglenn’s drought mitigation plan as a major initiative. Since 2020, a La Niña climate pattern has been in place and is expected to last into 2021, meaning an existing drought will intensify, according to an October report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The analysis is concerning to Northglenn, Moon told councilors at the study session. “The metro area is in extreme drought. We haven’t had nearly the amount of water that we need for this time of year. So, we are going to be watching this very closely,” she said. At the end of November,
Northglenn had 71 percent of the average water supply it would expect to have in Standley Lake. Meanwhile, water usage hasn’t decreased correspondingly. It’s about on track with last year. Northglenn isn’t alone. Andrew Bliss, a spokesperson with Westminster’s public works and utilities department, said they are closely monitoring local water conditions and the Clear Creek watershed, where most city drinking water comes from. The current conditions, Bliss said, “Don’t yet equate to any drought declarations at this time due to adequate levels of reservoir water storage. The upcoming snow season may perpetuate or completely change the dry conditions, so let’s all hope for a very snowy winter in the mountains!” Thornton’s reservoir supply is at an average level for this time of year, but the city’s South Platte basin snowpack accumulation isn’t, said Emily Hunt, Thornton deputy infrastructure director. “Current conditions have us concerned,” Hunt added. In 2019, both Westminster and Thornton published drought management plans that layout different scenarios depending on the severity of a drought. In Westminster, fines and restrictions kick in at the third of five total stages. In the third stage, for example, the city would SEE WATER, P4
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 5 | VOICES: PAGE 6 | LIFE: PAGE 8 | SPORTS: PAGE 12
A view of Standley Lake Reservoir on Wednesday morning, Jan. 6.
PHOTO BY STEFAN BRODSKY
Westminster recall group sues city over petitions BY LIAM ADAMS LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Westminster Water Warriors, a group of residents trying to recall four city councilors, filed a lawsuit Jan. 6. against the city over petitions it filed in October. The filing is a last ditch-effort to recall Mayor Herb Atchison, Mayor Pro Tem Anita Seitz, Councilman Joel Voelz and Councilwoman Kathryn Skulley over claims the councilors unreasonably raised water rates. The goal is to overturn the city clerk’s decision that the recall petitions, which would have triggered a recall election, were insufficient. The Water Warriors suit claims the city violated their right to recall and their free speech, as granted by the Colorado Constitution, a press release said. “By employing hyper-technical and picayune standards, the Westminster City Clerk unconstitutionally rejected hundreds of recall petition signatures, thereby stifling the fundamental rights of thousands of voters,” the group said in a press release.
City of Westminster spokesperson Ryan Hegreness said the city is aware of the filing and will respond in court. The city didn’t offer additional comments because of ongoing litigation. City Clerk Michelle Parker’s office issued a final certification of insufficiency on Dec. 7 after finding that all four recall petitions didn’t contain enough valid signatures required to trigger an election. The certification document shows the signatures Parker’s office rejected and the reasons why. However, the Water Warriors have continued to dispute the city, saying the methods Parker’s office used were unnecessary. After the final certification of insufficiency, the recall committee was faced with giving up or taking the city to court. The Water Warriors, who have emerged as a distinct political coalition in town over the past year, claim their battle is for economically disadvantaged residents. In a press release, they said, “Financially strapped families are experiencing more pressure with additional constraints of the pandemic to pay for their utilities.”