The Lost Creek Guide January 19, 2022

Volume 15 • Edition 2

January 19, 2022

Delivering to over 17,000 homes & businesses in rural Adams, Morgan, and Weld Counties

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light” George Washington “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed” Thomas Jefferson

Girls Prep Basketball: Fort Morgan Over Weld Central, 41-31

by Paul Dineen

The 7 Biggest Lines from Gov. Jared Polis’ 2022 State of the State address — and Why They’re so Notable Colorado’s governor invoked Taylor Swift and Star Trek as he discussed his focus on saving people money and reducing crime

By Jesse Paul and Daniel Ducassi, Colorado Sun

Kristin Dahl of Fort Morgan drives against Weld Central’s Jacey Lambert on January 8, 2022. (Paul Dineen / Get The Picture Sports LLC)

Fort Morgan Mustangs girls basketball notched their second victory of the season against the visiting Weld Central Rebels on Saturday, January 8 by the score of 41-31.

The win brings the 4A Mustangs’ record to 2-8 overall, 0-1 in league. The Rebels are 3-9 overall, 0-0 in league. Their first league contest will be Jan 20 at home vs Skyview.

The Rebels began the scoring on a three-point shot by Lacey Schliefelbein. That would be their last lead of the game, with the first quarter ending 9-4 in favor of the Mustangs. The teams went to the halftime break with Fort Morgan up 17-10. The Rebels then outscored the Mustangs by one in the third for a 25-19 score for Fort Morgan after three. But, the high-scoring fourth quarter was taken by the Mustangs Girls Prep Basketball: Fort Morgan Over Weld Central continued on page 16...

Fort Morgan Boys Basketball Over Weld Central, 50-36

by Paul Dineen

Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday delivered the final State of the State address of his first term, focusing mostly on the ways in which his administration and fellow Democrats plan to drive down the cost of living in Colorado.

Polis also discussed his plans to combat rising crime and gaps in children’s mental health care, while briefly delving into his climate and environmental priorities.

Here are the biggest lines from Polis’ speech along with an examination of why they are so notable: 1. “If it isn’t clear, saving Coloradans money and keeping our state affordable is my top priority this session.”

About a third of the governor’s speech Thursday was spent on ways he feels he has or can save Coloradans money.

That tracks with what Democratic leadership at the Capitol focused on Wednesday as the lawmaking term began. House Speaker Alec Garnett said affordability was also his top issue at the Capitol this year.

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It makes political sense. Polling has shown Democrats’ numbers slumping across the nation amid rising inflation. Members of both major parties say they hear from voters that the cost of living is a top-of-mind issue.

“We promise to use every single tool at our disposal to save hardworking Coloradans the money you need to live the life you want,” Polis said.

The governor said he plans this year to push through affordable housing initiatives and fee relief, including by delaying implementation of programs backed and passed

by Democrats in recent years. “My administration will work with both parties to continue cutting taxes and fees wherever we can,” the governor said.

Republicans argue that Polis and Democratic state lawmakers are responsible for rising consumer costs and find it ironic that they are now so focused on bringing them down.

“He identified a lot of the right problems,” said state Rep. Colin Larson, a Ken Caryl Republican. “It’s just that he failed to acknowledge that he created them.”

State Sen. Dominick Moreno, a Commerce City Democrat, worries that the governor’s proposals won’t benefit the right Coloradans.

“I think the key is, how can we target assistance to the people that actually need it?” said Moreno, who is vice chairman of the legislature’s powerful Joint Budget Committee. “Some of the proposals I’m seeing are a lot more broad-based. It would provide relief to, frankly, businesses and folks that don’t need it, didn’t have any impact during this pandemic, maybe even made record income and profits throughout it.”

The 7 Biggest Lines from Gov. Jared Polis’ 2022 State of the State Address — and Why They’re so Notable continued on page 3...

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE Page 2: Way of the World Nathan Gerken dunks to give Fort Morgan a 26-14 lead with 1:52 left in the first half against the Weld Central Rebels. (Paul Dineen / Get The Picture Sports LLC)

The Fort Morgan Mustangs boys basketball team began the season up and down.

And up and down. And up and down. And up and down.

Yes, they alternated winning and losing over their first eight games. They broke that pattern after the holiday break on January 7 and 8 with wins over visiting Niwot and the Rebels of Weld Central. That extended their winning streak to three and brought their overall record to 6-4 (1-0 league record).

The Weld Central boys also entered the holiday break with a .500 record at 5-5.

They dropped post-break games to University and Fort Morgan, for a 5-7 overall record (0-0 league record). The Rebels are 1-4 at home and 4-3 on the road.

Fort Morgan Boys Basketball Over Weld Central, 50-36 continued on page 16...

Page 2: January 10, 2022 Keenesburg Trustee Meeting Comments Page 3: Republican Candidates for House Seat 48 Page 7: State House Issues for 2022 Page 8: Colorado Needs to Fill Its Unemployment Fund

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Lost Creek Guide

Way of the World

by Bob Grand, Lost Creek Guide COVID 19 continues to dominate the news. The omicron variant is spreading but guess what, it is less catastrophic than the original. Now the experts are saying that regular masks which were so promoted may not be as effective as originally thought, and that people are most contagious when not yet symptomatic. Also noted is that 75% of people currently dying from COVID had other major health issues contributing to their demise.

We have become a society who has decided not to participate in our political affairs.

This has been encouraged by both political parties by virtue of not encouraging people to vote. The parties can control the results better if the vote is small and can, by getting out party loyalists, which have a much higher turnout than the average voter group. In this last election voter turnout in Weld County was a little over 30%. Nothing to be proud about, but what have you heard from the supposed bastions of liberty in the county? Silence. The same can be said about the Democratic strongholds. The reality is that more people are getting disenchanted with both political parties. That is why unaffiliated voters now outnumber both the Democratic and Republican party registered voters in the state of Colorado.

Dave Ryan had an opinion piece in the January 5th, 2022, Epoch Times entitled “Time for Solutions”. In that he quoted Sir Alexander Fraser Tyler, a 1700’s history professor at the University of Edinburgh, referencing his “Cycle of Nations”: “The Decline & Fall of the Athenian Republic”. He noted that the average age of the world’s greatest civilizations was about two hundred years and that they all passed through the following sequence: “From bondage to spiritual faith From spiritual faith to great courage From great courage to liberty From liberty to abundance, Now notice the transition: From abundance to selfishness From selfishness to complacency From complacency to apathy From apathy to dependence From dependance back into bondage” His conclusion that without a thankful heart and a responsible attitude neither America nor any nation has the ability to remain great. Reading that sequence is a bit frightening as you can relate to where we are in this scale as a nation.

The United States Attorney General recently said that the Department of Justice has no greater priority than investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. I missed the page where we talk about rising crime rates, the gang and drug issues, the immigration issues, attacking parents as domestic terrorists when they complain to their school boards, etc., etc. Is it unreasonable to expect people to all do their job? I, for one, am getting tired of hearing about people worrying about their partisanship issues and their pay and retirement benefits. I wish they would begin to focus on getting their job done and recognizing who they really work for, which is not themselves, although in many cases you would be hard pressed to recognize that.

Reading the latest press release from our United States Senators for Colorado, Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, you would think all is well with the United States. Their press releases are overflowing with pointing out how they supported getting all these free things from the federal government. It may come as a surprise to them, but there are no free things. Somebody has to pay the bill.

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Senator Krysten Sinema of Arizona stand up for what they believe in. They have not caved to overwhelming pressure from their party leadership. What can you say about our Colorado Senators other than they are there to serve Senator Chuck Schumer from New York lock, stock and barrel? Where is the historic United States Senator leadership?

We have allowed, in many cases encouraged, our elected officials at the national level to focus on partisan issues, while allowing the massive bureaucracy to manage the affairs of government. This is dangerous for us as individuals as well as the government as a whole.

They do not know better than us, but we allowed them, by default to take increasing control of our daily lives. The bureaucrats may have a few more degrees than many of us but that does not mean they have any lick of common sense. We all lead busy lives and never seem to have enough time to do what we really know we should do. The vast majority of Americans want the right thing for the country, themselves, and their families. They are not satisfied with either the Democrats or the Republicans as a party to represent them.

How do we start change? We start participating at the local level. Send a message. You care about what happens and work up the line. People in control, at any level, are readily adaptable to real participation. It threatens their control. We have no choice if we want to live in a country that offers the same opportunities for our children’s future that we all had, we must begin to participate. As always, your comments and thoughts are appreciated: publisher@lostcreekguide.com

The Lost Creek Guide, Llc Bob Grand - Publisher 303-732-4080 publisher@lostcreekguide.com

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January 19, 2022

January 10th, 2022, Town of Keenesburg Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

by Bob Grand, Lost Creek Guide I went to the January 10th, 2022 Town of Keenesburg Board of Trustees Regular Meeting with the intent of offering Mayor Gfeller and the Board of Trustees an opportunity to publish a response to Cindy Baumgartner’s comments from the last meeting in December regarding the 37.5 % water & sewer rate increases. We published her comments in the January 5th, 2022 issue of the Lost Creek Guide, which is delivered to every house & business in Keenesburg twice a month for free, as an informative piece to the citizens of Keenesburg. I ended up with a lot more. Following are the main points that came up.

The January 2022 water & sewer billings from the Town of Keenesburg reflected the new rates applied to the December 2021 actual consumption. I asked Mayor Gfeller to comment who asked the Town Administrator to respond. She stated that her interpretation of the language of the resolution was that it was effective with the first billing in January, and she was backed by the town attorney.

1. Town of Keenesburg resolution No. 2021 -64, signed on November 15th, 2021, by Mayor Gfeller states under Section 1: “The following water and sewer fees and rates are hereby established, effective beginning January 1, 2022” 2. The Town of Keenesburg issued a special Notice regarding Water/Sewer rates addressed to Dear Keenesburg residents: In closing the first paragraph the letter states: “ The new rate increase will go into effect on January 1, 2022.”

3. The January Newsletter from the Town of Keenesburg states under the Water/Sewer Rates Increases: “The new rate increase will go into effect on January 1, 2022, and will be as follows ….”

Seems pretty clear and specific to me. Nowhere is mentioned applying the new rate structure to the December 2021 billing documents prepared in January 2022. During the discussion neither Mayor Gfeller nor the Trustees participated meaningfully in the discussion.

I believe the application of the new water & sewer rates to the December 2021 usage is wrong and not legally justified by the Resolution No. 2021-64 or supported by the Town of Keenesburg announcements in the special notice sent out or in the Town Newsletter. The Trustee Board approved meeting minutes were not available on the town website.

How should this be resolved? The Town of Keenesburg should issue a credit to all the water and sewer customers who were erroneously billed at the new 2022 rates for their December 2021 usage.

The second point that stood out is that the Town Administrator and the Public Works Director are powerful participants in the Town of Keenesburg management process. This is not bad as you want competent people in place to do a competent job. What is missing is indication of responsibility by the Mayor, the Trustees or factor in the people they work for, you the voting public. Town employees work for the Town administrator and that position reports to the Board of Trustees. That is supposed to be where the checks and balances comes into play, where our voice of the citizens should be heard. Alas that appears to be lacking. It is easy to blame COVID 19 and fall into the trap of doing business without having to listen to public comment. To have comment the public has to show up. At the December 10th, 2022 Trustee meeting only me and Cindy Baumgartner were present from the public. Now it was bemoaned on how nobody shows up to the budget meetings or meeting in general so what can the Trustees do? I agree that is a point. In addressing the issue of Cindy Baumgartner’s comments, the Town administrator suggested a meeting after the next board of trustees meeting, which would put it at around 8:30 pm. Cindy Baumgartner’s comment was: “who do you really expect to attend”.

Several times during the meeting it was mentioned that items under discussion were in the budget for 2022 and therefore should be approved. No one asked about the overall mill levy for the Town. A mill levy caps the maximum amount the Town can charge the taxpayers. It does not say you have to have charge up to the maximum mill levy authorized. Weld County learned a while back that even they do not need the excess in reserve that would be generated by charging at the full levy authorized by the citizens. Did that discussion ever come up at the Trustee level for discussion in the Town of Keenesburg? It was mentioned that a comparative look was made of surrounding towns to compare salaries for town employees. It would certainly be interesting to see. In today’s world of transparency there are no secrets. You should not be embarrassed by what you do as there is little that remains a secret. We are still doing research, but it would appear that the Town of Keenesburg has the most generous bonus program for senior town employees in the entire county. The allocation of those salaries impacts the cost to operates the water and sewer funds. We are reviewing the allocation process in the towns in the county to see how Keenesburg matches up.

In the notice to town citizens on the water & sewer costs the Town noted that expenses have gone up. Following is a breakdown of the historic base annual salary levels for the Keenesburg town administrator and the Director of Public works.

2018 2019 2020 2021 2021 Town Administrator: $85,565 $98,400 $108,240 $115,167 $132,000 Percentage Increase yr/yr + 15.0 + 10.0 + 6.5 + 14.6 Does not include bonus of $15,000 for 2021 2018 2019 2020 2021 2021 Director of Public Works $60,000 $72,600 $75,000 $82,500 $100,000 Percentage Increase yr/yr + 21.0 + 3.2 + 10.0 + 21.2 Does not include bonus of $10,000 for 2021 This base salary does not include, vacation, sick leave, retirement contribution, and a four-day work week.

I am not judging whether these salary numbers are right or wrong. I am thinking though these are things that the public should be aware of. The Town of Keenesburg is no longer small government. The projected revenue and the staff identified to accomplish the work is significant and the job market is extremely competitive. As citizens, we all need to understand and give our input to our Mayor and Trustees. The staff benefits as the Town grows as more work means more people and so on. Please share your thoughts on the town website, at Town Hall, or the town Facebook page. Contact the Town Clerk at email: tok@rtebb.net If you do not share your thoughts and participate in your town government, you accept what is done with little if any recourse. We, though our taxes pay the bills, should be willing to participate.

As usual your comments and thoughts are always appreciated: publisher@lostcreekguide.com

January 19, 2022

Lost Creek Guide

Gabe Evans Laying Down His Badge To Fight For Colorado In State House District 48 Weld County – I’m a US Army veteran, retired Arvada police lieutenant, small business owner, Colorado native, and Christian family man. My wife and I have two boys. I want to leave the world a better place for them, and that’s why I’m running for Colorado State House District 48.

From a young age, I’ve wanted to serve others. I’ve sworn three separate oaths to uphold the Constitution and care for my community. As a US Army and Colorado Army National Guard captain and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot, I’ve deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

At home, I led a National Guard Task Force assigned to battling wildfires. As an Arvada police lieutenant, I spent over a decade protecting my community while working extensively with local governments. I have over twenty combined years of experience in some of the most pressing challenges facing our state.

Unfortunately, our state’s current approach to public safety, cost of living, and our kids’ education is intolerable. I’ve seen these failures firsthand. The price of homes, energy, and groceries has skyrocketed. School kids are subjected to political agendas and spiking violence. Crime has soared to unprecedented levels, and the ruling Left has failed to provide needed and meaningful criminal justice reform. Instead, they’ve driven good cops away, ignored victims, and emboldened criminals. As a police watch commander, I was powerless to stop this transformation. My breaking point came in the summer of 2021 when my friend and fellow officer was murdered in Olde Town Arvada by a terrorist who was radicalized by the anti-cop rhetoric from the liberal Left. I knew I had to do something.

Laying down my badge was not an easy decision, but I refuse to stand on the sidelines while Colorado’s “woke” leadership punishes cops, families, and communities. I didn’t spend a year in a combat zone, missing every “first” for my oldest son—first words, steps, Christmas, and birthday—to quietly watch Colorado’s ruling Left declare war on farmers, ranchers, and oilfield workers. Since the State Legislature handcuffed cops, I had to find another way to fight back. That’s why I’m running for House District 48. My priorities are to make Coloradans safe again, bring down the cost of everyday essentials, and empower parents to ensure their children are being educated, not indoctrinated. I stand for freedom, the Constitution, and common sense. I’m a proven leader and fighter, which is why I’ve been endorsed by folks like former State Senator Kevin Lundberg. But I can’t fight alone. If you agree with me, please, invest in my campaign. Call or email me with your ideas or concerns. Come support me during the Republican caucus on March 1st. I’d be honored to have you on my team as “We the People” fight to take back our State.

Sincerely, Gabe Evans House District 48 was recently adjusted and includes Kersey, Hudson, Keenesburg, Ft. Lupton, Brighton, Henderson, Platteville, Gilcrest, La Salle, Lochbuie, and portions of Weld and Adams Counties.

Terry DeGroot Introductory Article Running for Republican Nomination For House District 48

When I came back home to Weld county after finishing my tour in the navy, I realized our state was in trouble.

Republicans have been slowly losing our state, and it’s becoming more challenging to live in Colorado. So I vowed to get involved in helping make things better and dove head first into a Weld county district captain position. When the position to represent my area became vacant, I knew it was time to take action.

If Republicans are ever to take back the Colorado statehouse, we must elect intelligent and motivated representatives to bring real change to our state and our party politics. Just as I served our country in the U.S Navy, I ask for your support to allow me to serve as your representative for HD 48.

I have lived in Colorado my entire life, and I’ve watched as our state has become unaffordable for the middle class. Many Republican states have led the way to reduce living costs. We must follow their example and create an affordable Colorado.

If elected, I will work to reduce excessive taxes and regulations that are harming Colorado citizens. We must break the trend of people feeling that they need to leave Colorado to have a better life.

As a former Navy police officer, I back the blue. I believe we have very professional police officers here in northern Colorado. The issue is that Democrats are creating rules that don’t fit our community. We cannot allow partisan politics to destroy our police forces. We must empower our police officers to enforce the law and put criminals behind bars.

Covid has exposed the cracks in our educational system. As a father of three kids, my kids’ education must never be held hostage by politics. That is why I stand for school choice. The funding for our children’s education must follow them whether they are better taught in public, private, or homeschooling systems. The one size fits all educational system often fails our students.

Today small business owners are fighting against a government-made labor crisis.

As a small business owner, I feel and hear the concerns of businesses that cannot find enough employees to continue. If you go to any small business, you will find owners afraid they may have to close down because they don’t have enough employees.

We must reject the free handout policy being pushed out by our federal and state governments. The pandemic is over, and it’s time to get people back to work.

As a member of your community, I look forward to your direct contact. Please email me or reach out on Facebook.

Terry DeGroot 970-284-5916 degroottd@hotmail.com https://www.facebook.com/Terry-DeGroot-for-HD-48-107125308522992

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The 7 Biggest Lines from Gov. Jared Polis’ 2022 State of the State address — and Why They’re so Notable continued from page 1...

Moreno said he wants to better tailor affordability measures to help “the people who need it the most: the low-income folks, the restaurants that were decimated during the pandemic.”

2. “Because our revenues as a state are strong, families will also receive a refund” The governor celebrated how revenues exceeding the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights limit on government growth will mean Coloradans are forecast to get refund checks and an income tax reduction for the next several years.

That position clashes with some of his fellow Democrats, who are exploring how to keep some of the excess and direct it toward priorities such as education. It also bucks the general Democratic opposition to TABOR, a Republican mainstay in Colorado that liberals complain has led to fiscal issues in the state for nearly three decades.

It was also interesting to hear Polis celebrate in his speech the 2020 passage of a ballot measure slashing Colorado’s income tax rate.

The governor said the move “is saving families about $100 per year on average, while helping businesses hire more and pay more.” But most Democrats opposed the ballot measure.

Another Republican-backed, income-tax-reduction measure is headed for the 2022 ballot.

3. “I’ve never been one to shy away from ambitious goals, which is why I want to spend the next five years making Colorado one of the top 10 safest states in the country.

The governor first introduced this objective last week during a Colorado Sun event ahead of the 2022 lawmaking term. It’s a lofty goal given that Polis says the state is in the middle of the national pack when it comes to the state’s crime rates.

The objective is yet another nod to political realities heading into the November election, as Republicans accuse Democrats of being weak on crime.

Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, R-Douglas County, said crime is just another area where Democrats are shifting their stance to meet changing public perception.

“They have pushed very hard to let people out of jail, out of prison, be softer on sentencing,” Holbert said. “Now, it seems like their focus is trying to, again, retreat from where they’ve been.”

After Polis’ speech, the County Sheriffs of Colorado, Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police and Colorado Fraternal Order of Police released a joint statement thanking the governor for his focus on public safety but called on the legislature to focus on “sustainable, renewable funding.”

4. “Data and common sense tell us that preventing a crime does more to keep people safe than solving a crime after it’s committed.”

This is an area where Democrats and Republicans disagree on how to tackle the crime wave in Colorado.

While the GOP is pursuing some stiffer policies, Democrats want to invest in behavioral health and housing as ways to improve public safety. The idea is to create a social and economic environment where people are dissuaded from breaking the law.

But there are some exceptions.

“We also know that there are times when the swift arm of justice is the best solution,” Polis said, “which is why I look forward to legislation to strengthen penalties for drug dealers peddling fentanyl in our communities.”

State Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat who has worked extensively on criminal justice reform issues in Colorado in recent years, said she thinks the governor’s approach is correct.

“We can’t go back to the punitive policies of the 90s,” Herod said. “Instead, we need to prevent crimes of desperation before they happen, which means bringing down the cost of living, ensuring that people can live in their homes and feed their children. But we also need better trained officers and more mental health first responders in the field in our communities.”

As for Republicans blaming Democrats for rising crime, “we know that that’s not true,” Herod said.

“There’s not one single bill they could point to say that is what has caused crime to go up.” she said. “COVID or economic climate, depression and despair is the reason why crime is up. And we have to address that. This is not a political talking point. This is people’s lives.”

5. “Building safer, healthier communities also means improving our air quality and meeting the climate crisis head on.”

The governor mentioned the word “climate” in his speech only three times.

Environmental protesters outside of the Capitol, urging Polis to take more action to address climate change, could be heard throughout his speech.

The activists held signs that spelled out the message, “OUT OF TIME.” Some fellow Democrats, like state Rep. Emily Sirota, a Denver Democrat, wanted to hear Polis focus on the issue more.

“The state is literally on fire. The world is on fire,” she said. “There should be more attention paid to the climate emergency. I think that we can both do that and help save people money.”

Garnett, the House speaker, said Democrats will definitely be focused on climate and environmental issues at the Capitol this year.

“I think climate is a priority,” Garnett said, noting that cleaning up Colorado’s air will be a particular emphasis in 2022. “You’ll see us leaning in on that and trying to figure out the best way forward.”

Polis said at a news conference after his speech that “we look forward to engaging with legislators in an aggressive way to reduce emissions.”

6. “We are tougher than anything thrown our way.”

Colorado’s resiliency was also a big theme in the governor’s speech as he noted the recent wildfire in Boulder County, the Table Mesa King Soopers shooting, and a gunman’s recent rampage through Denver and Lakewood. He also nodded to the state’s COVID-19 deaths.

“Today’s speech was really about the Colorado people – the need to rise to the moment,” Polis said at his news conference.

The 7 Biggest Lines from Gov. Jared Polis’ 2022 State of the State address — and Why They’re so Notable continued on page 4...

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Lost Creek Guide

January 19, 2022

The 7 Biggest Lines from Gov. Jared Polis’ 2022 State of the State address — and Why They’re so Notable continued from page 3...

Polis said during his speech that “we are tougher than anything thrown our way.

I’ve seen it myself.” He thanked those who have stepped up during crises over the past year, saying they embody the “Colorado spirit.”

This is how the governor ended his speech: “The state of our state, just like the people of Colorado, is strong, it is steadfast, and, in spite of everything, we are boldly moving forward.”

7. “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 2022.”

Polis often injects his nerdy humor into his speeches, and his 2022 State of the State address was no exception. He referenced Star Trek by giving a shout out to certain Democratic lawmakers whose work, he said, will help communities “live long and prosper.”

He also sprinkled in music references, invoking lyrics by pop singer Taylor Swift to describe his optimism: “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 2022, everything will be all right, because we know what we gotta do.”

And the governor wrote his own version of Paul Simon’s hit song from 1975, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” saying, “there must be at least 50 ways to save Coloradans money.”

Reacting to the governor’s pop culture references, House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, noted she’s “more of a Paul Simon fan, not quite into the Taylor Swift thing, but you know, I thought it was quirky. It was the governor.”

While the pop culture references did get some laughs, Polis mentioned Taylor Swift twice compared to his three uses of the word “climate.” That raised some eyebrows.

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com

MCREA Scholarship Deadlines Fast Approaching

Scholarships Available College Scholarships

Application Deadline: Friday, Feb. 18

Lineworker Scholarships

Application Deadline: Friday, Feb. 25

site See our web fo! for more in

Concern for community is the seventh cooperative principle and one that Morgan County Rural Electric Association takes very seriously. MCREA believes in investing in the communities we serve and there is perhaps no greater investment than one put toward our youth.

That is why MCREA is happy to once again partner with Tri-State G&T and Basin Electric Power Cooperative in sponsoring a total of nine college or vocational scholarships for students who reside within MCREA’s service territory, and whose family (parents or grandparents) receives electric service from Morgan County REA. For the 2021-2022 school year, Morgan County REA will award five (5) $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors and one (1) $1,000 scholarship to a current postsecondary student that will be returning to college or trade school, Tri-State will award two (2) $500 scholarships to graduating seniors, and Basin Electric Power Cooperative will award one (1) $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior.

Only one set of application materials is necessary to apply for scholarships from all three cooperatives. MCREA’s college scholarship application and list of required materials can be downloaded at www.mcrea.org/college-scholarships or picked up at MCREA headquarters in Fort Morgan. Completed applications must be postmarked or delivered to MCREA headquarters by Friday, February 18, 2022.

College scholarships are not the only opportunities offered by Morgan County REA. The MCREA lineworker scholarship aims to encourage, promote and educate electric lineworkers for enduring and rewarding careers. This $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to applicants selected by an MCREA operations department committee.

Qualified applicants must reside within the boundaries of MCREA’s service area and be attending or plan to attend an approved lineworker training program as a full-time student. There are no upper age restrictions to apply for the lineworker scholarship. Scholarship applicants will participate in an interview process prior to selection for the scholarship, and recipients are not required to work at MCREA after graduating lineworker school.

MCREA’s lineworker scholarship application can be downloaded at www.mcrea. org/lineworker-scholarships or picked up at MCREA headquarters in Fort Morgan.

Lineworker scholarship applications must be postmarked or delivered to MCREA headquarters by Friday, February 25, 2022.

If you have questions about Morgan County REA’s scholarship programs, please call MCREA’s member services department at (970) 867-5688. Morgan County REA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

January 19, 2022

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Lost Creek Guide

CEMETERY STAFF WORKING ON DIRECTORY OF VETERANS

New Economic Analysis Has Farmers Raising Concerns about Looming Tariffs on Nitrogen Fertilizers

A new economic analysis released by researchers at Texas A&M University has corn producers raising concerns that pending tariffs on nitrogen fertilizers will create shortages and cause prices to increase even more for farmers, according to the National Corn Growers Association.

“As part of this study, we conducted a historical analysis going back to 1980 and found that fertilizer costs tend to go up when corn revenues increase,” lead researcher Joe Outlaw, Ph.D., noted. “Notably, these prices tend to go up exponentially even after accounting for natural gas prices and higher demand.”

The study notes that the price of one type of nitrogen fertilizer, called anhydrous ammonia, increased by $688 per ton – $86,000 for a 1,000-acre farm – from the end of 2020 through the end of October 2021.

The study has farmers raising concerns about a petition by CF Industries, one of the country’s major nitrogen producers, with the U.S. International Trade Commission to impose tariffs on nitrogen fertilizers imported from Trinidad & Tobago and Russia. The U.S. Department of Commerce has since released a preliminary finding recommending tariffs, despite strong outcry from farm groups.

“The proposed tariffs will create shortages and drive our costs up even higher,” Iowa farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington said. “They will add insult to injury and impose a financial hardship on family farms.”

“This academic study verifies that nitrogen prices erode profitability for family farms,” Edgington said.

“Our request is simple,” he said. “We’re just asking that these companies keep us out of their trade disputes, and they do everything possible to keep their products available and affordable for family farms.”

This increase has also been seen in Colorado. “Our farmers are facing record breaking fertilizer prices for this upcoming growing season. From a year ago January to now anhydrous ammonia increased in cost by 185% per ton on the open market,” said Jeremy Fix, President of the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee, “and the brunt of this increase will be borne by your local family farmers.”

The study was commissioned by state corn organizations in Texas, Missouri, Colorado (Colorado Corn Administrative Committee), Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

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Public asked to provide info on vets known to be in cemetery The Fort Morgan Cemetery staff is working on the creation of a directory to honor military Veterans interred at the cemetery.

After researching files, permits and other various documents to find as many Veterans as possible, the cemetery staff is now requesting assistance from the public. Anyone who knows of a Veteran in the Fort Morgan Cemetery is asked to contact Kelly Hoem at kelly.hoem@cityoffortmorgan.com.

The information requested is the Veteran’s name, rank, branch of service, theater of operation (war) and state in which they were born.

The Veterans Directory will be placed on the cemetery page of the City of Fort Morgan website, possibly as early as the spring of 2022.

6

Lost Creek Guide

Welcome Matthew Wood, MD Board-certified Pediatrician

Colorado Plains Medical Group 1000 Lincoln Street Fort Morgan, CO 80701

Medical School: University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine Aurora, CO Residency: Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Loma Linda, CA

Specializes in: ▪ Neonatology ▪ Pediatrics ▪ Family-centered care ▪ Collaborative communication between patients and provider ▪ Children with complex medical conditions

Welcoming new patients Appointments may be made by calling 970.542.4390

January 19, 2022

ALL 8 REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES CONFIRMED FORT LUPTON, CO – The Republican Women of Weld are hosting a Republican US Senate Candidate Forum, this event will feature 8 candidates for the office of US Senate. Sponsored by “Weld Strong” and Roche Constructors Inc. This important forum will be held on Thursday February 3, 2022 between 5:30 pm and 9:00 pm MST, at the Rec Center in Fort Lupton, CO. Space is limited, and all media must be credentialed and registered by 5 pm Tuesday, February 1st to gain access to the event. Due to space limitations, any media not credentialed and registered by the deadline will not be allowed in. Attendance for credentialed media is free, however if media attendees wish to eat at the event they must purchase a ticket beforehand. *Tickets will not be available for sale at the door.” * We will NOT be live streaming this event.

Any candidates who announce by the date of the forum, will also be invited.

The evening begins with a meet and greet/ dinner with the candidates at 5:30, and the forum will begin promptly at 7pm. Veteran Political Strategist & Former Colorado State Republican Chairman Dick Wadhams will serve as moderator. Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams will be the Time-Keeper WHO: Republican Women of Weld WHAT: Republican US Senate Forum, featuring all 8 announced candidates WHEN: Thursday, February 3, 2022 5:30 (meet and greet/ dinner); Forum 7-9 pm WHERE: Fort Lupton Rec Center, 203 South Harrison Avenue, Fort Lupton, CO 80621 Confirmed candidates- Eli Bremer, Gino Campana, Deborah Flora, Ron Hanks, Juli Henry, Gregory Moore, Joe O’Dea, and Pete Yu For more information, or to credential and register as media, contact Tammy Klein at (720) 290-3289 email Tscott@swspolifi.com tickets available at- www.WomenOfWeld.com

CFVGA 8th Annual Conference Feb.28 – March 1 to be Offered Live & Virtually

ColoradoPlainsMedicalCenter.com

Keene Craft Mercantile

A Special Place Where Talented People Bring Their Home-made Crafts to Sell We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm 65 Main Street, Keenesburg, Colorado 303-910-0640

The Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) will hold its eighth annual conference Feb. 28-March 1, both in-person at the Denver Renaissance Central Park Hotel and online.

“While we are glad to be meeting in person this year, we were surprised at the positive response last year from our virtual conference attendees, some of whom would not have been able to attend a live event,” said CFVGA Conference Committee Chair and Founding Board Member Adrian Card. “The committee made the decision last spring to offer an event that is fully in-person and also available online. Funding from the Specialty Crop Block Grant administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture is allowing us to livestream all conference sessions through a virtual event website as well as to provide networking opportunities between on-site and virtual attendees.”

The conference will open with a panel on Colorado Senate Bill 21-087, which passed and was signed into law last spring and summer. Following remarks from panelists, the audience will be able to ask questions.

“Growers will have the opportunity to learn how this bill became law and how CFVGA impacted the final legislation,” said CFVGA President Bruce Talbott, Talbott’s Mountain Gold, Palisade. “Panelists from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment will unpack the many provisions of this bill to help growers better understand how to comply with the new regulations.”

Conference attendees will be able to choose from a variety of educational sessions, including the latest in research and production practices, branding & marketing Colorado produce, protecting farmworkers from injury and heat illness, GAP audit success strategies, labor solutions, production technology and food safety practices. Participants will be able to watch all conference sessions at no additional charge for months after the event on CFVGA’s conference website.

The conference also will feature a full slate of on-site and virtual exhibitors, the growerbuyer networking session, CFVGA annual meeting and time for participants to network and socialize. Tuesday’s award luncheon will culminate with presentation of the 2021 CFVGA Robert Sakata Member of the Year Award.

View the CFVGA conference promotional website and register here: https://pheedloop. com/CFVGA22/site/ For general questions as well as more information on exhibiting and sponsorship, contact CFVGA at 303.594.3827 or admin@coloradoproduce.org The CFVGA is comprised of more than 250 members, including growers of all sizes and types of production throughout the state, as well as representatives of allied industries. The Colorado fruit and vegetable growing sector contributes nearly $485 million to Colorado at the farm gate and is multiplied as it goes through the distribution chain. Over 90,000 Colorado acres are in fruit and vegetable production.

January 19, 2022

7

Lost Creek Guide

What Will be Debated at the Colorado Capitol When the Legislature Returns Next Week Gov. Jared Polis and four state lawmakers joined The Colorado Sun for an event ahead of the 2022 legislative session.

By Daniel Ducassi and Jesse Paul, Colorado Sun Gov. Jared Polis wants Colorado to become one of the top 10 safest states in the U.S. within five years, he said Thursday night during a virtual Colorado Sun event ahead of the 2022 legislative session, which begins next week on Jan. 12.

“It’ll take a lot of work to get there,” he said.

Polis, a Democrat, joined four top state lawmakers at the event to outline their policy plans. The politicians also shared their perspective on hot issues affecting the state as the 2022 election season begins in earnest.

Polis said he plans to focus his efforts at the Capitol this year on measures aimed at ensuring Colorado is not just “a great place to live, but that people can afford to live here.”

It’s an acknowledgement of how inflation has hit Coloradans’ pocketbooks.

“What’s frustrating people is how costs have gone up faster than incomes,” Polis said.

Polis’ priorities The governor said the main way he plans to drive down Coloradans’ costs is by providing relief from government fees. That includes reducing the price to register a car, eliminating the costs to start a new business in the state and reducing the amount of money people have to pay to get licensed in certain medical occupations.

Polis is also asking the legislature for about $60 million to delay for one year the implementation of a new fee on gasoline that’s aimed at raising money for transportation projects.

Finally, Polis wants to avoid increases in payroll costs by paying back much of the state’s $1 billion debt to the federal government in pandemic unemployment spending, and pre-paying some of the state’s new paid family and medical leave premiums.

“If we fail to act, payroll taxes will go up in Colorado, costing businesses and workers money,” Polis said.

Polis said he wants to do “everything that we can as a state to save Coloradans money: increasing affordability, decreasing costs, protecting communities.”

He pointed to the legislature’s plans to spend $500 million in federal coronavirus stimulus dollars on affordable housing, as well as his past efforts to bring down health care costs and introduce universal prekindergarten Polis also highlighted his 2022 proposal to invest more money in K-12 education. The state has a constitutional requirement to increase per-student funding each year to keep up with inflation, but state lawmakers haven’t met that requirement in years, resulting in what amounts to a multibillion-dollar IOU to school districts.

The governor’s budget proposes making a dent in what’s called the “budget stabilization factor,” with $150 million each year for the next three fiscal years.

Another big priority for Polis is making the state safer, saying Colorado is “in the middle of the pack with regard to crime rates.”

He wants to see the state have one of the 10 lowest crime rates in the country within five years.

“Let’s start this legislative session with a historic opportunity to invest in a package to tackle crime and promote public safety,” he said.

The package would include more funding for policing, community based grants to promote safer streets and monitoring and youthful offender intervention. He also wants to boost funding for the forensics lab for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, as well as explore restorative justice programs and co-responder models that pair police officers with mental health workers.

He also said he wants to prevent crime before it happens by investing more in behavioral health.

Here’s what Republicans said Two prominent Republican state lawmakers agreed with many of Polis’ goals, though they have different approaches to how they want to accomplish them.

State Rep. Janice Rich, whose Western Slope district includes Grand Junction, said Polis’ “priorities seem to be very familiar or similar to ours.

“One of our top goals is to make Colorado more affordable because we do live in a state where middle class families cannot afford their homes, gas or groceries,” she said. “And we as Republicans want to reverse the excessive fees, taxes and regulations that threaten to put the American Dream out of reach.”

Rich also sees public safety as a priority, asserting that crime, “under the Democrats watch, is spiraling out of control.”

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Sen. Bob Rankin, a Carbondale Republican, said he thinks the legislature can make a lot of progress on affordability and education.

“But having said that,” he said, “we will not neglect our responsibility as the minority party to have alternative proposals, and to be very critical of some of the aspects of the proposals that we’re seeing.”

He said he sees opportunities to address behavioral health issues and early childhood education, but that those efforts “come with new bureaucracy.”

Rankin is concerned about requests from agencies to add new full-time employees to the government’s payroll, and specifically how the growth of state government will affect Colorado’s long-term financial health.

Rankin also said he wants to see the state be more aggressive with the budget stabilization factor and the state unemployment trust fund. Rankin wants to provide enough funding to eliminate the budget stabilization factor entirely, and believes increasing property tax revenue will help the state get there.

He also wants to see more money go toward paying down the state’s unemployment trust fund debt, noting the governor’s $600 million proposal won’t eliminate the $1 billion deficit.

Rankin said “we need to do a lot more” on forest management and wildfire mitigation, providing more support for local fire departments as well as equipment and benefits for volunteer firefighters.

Rankin also defended his party’s positions on climate change, arguing the state has been so focused on wind and solar energy that it has overlooked other renewable alternatives, and “we’ve neglected a slower transition when it might actually support jobs and people.” He argued that “taking a hard look” at the state’s efforts to transition to

renewable energy “does not mean that we deny climate change, nor do we deny the need to move to renewable energy.”

Here’s what Democrats said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, largely echoed the governor’s legislative agenda.

Esgar also said she will be focused this year on passing legislation in Colorado that would ensure a woman’s ability to get an abortion in Colorado as the U.S. Supreme Court mulls the future of Roe v. Wade.

“It’s clear that a patient’s fundamental right to have an abortion is at risk nationwide in our country right now,” Esgar said. “And we’re not going to just stand by and let Republican politicians put it at risk here in Colorado as well. We are going to codify the right to an abortion and stop any and all efforts to limit abortion access in our state.”

On education, Fenberg said Democrats would love to eliminate the budget stabilization factor but that he wants to make sure it’s not just for one year.

“Getting rid of it for one year doesn’t do a whole lot of good,” he said. “We have to get rid of it in a way that is sustainable so that it goes away forever.”

He argued that paying off the budget stabilization factor this year would mean having to rely more on property tax revenues in future years.

“It’s complex, but we absolutely are there as a partner if the Republicans have ideas that are sustainable to address the structural problems that we have in funding,” he said.

Fenberg also pushed back on Republicans’ criticisms about rising crime and inflation on Democrats’ watch.

“I think the handling of things that nobody ever saw coming has been on the Democrats’ watch,” he said. “At the end of the day, I think voters generally support our policies, much more than the Republicans.”

Finally, Esgar addressed returning to the Capitol amid a surge in COVID cases. Last year, Democratic leadership paused the legislative session to let an increase in the disease’s spread wane.

“We’re taking every step necessary to ensure the health and safety of everyone who comes into work in this building while balancing the public’s right to participate in the political process,” she said. “We have to remember that’s key. And that’s essential. While we’ve been seeing how rapidly things can change over the course of this pandemic, the vaccine is highly effective. And we feel that with sufficient safety protocols in place, the session can proceed safely at this time.”

Esgar said the situation could change and that Democratic leadership is “being very flexible.”

“We’re going to continue monitoring the situation,” she said.

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization that covers Colorado people, places and issues. To sign up for free newsletters, subscribe or learn more, visit ColoradoSun.com

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8

Lost Creek Guide

January 19, 2022

Colorado Needs to Refill Its Now Empty Unemployment Fund. Here’s How That Will Impact Employers, Workers

Unemployment insurance costs are going up in January but probably far less than expected in an economic recovery that needs $3 billion to restore a depleted trust fund.

By Tamara Chuang, Colorado Sun When the notice about higher unemployment insurance premiums arrived this month from the Colorado labor department, business owner Jim Noon said he was shocked.

“The surcharges all said zero,” said Noon, who owns Centennial Container in Denver. He remembered how employers’ premiums doubled and even tripled more than a decade ago as the state recovered from the Great Recession. “I was like, ‘Why are the surcharges zero? Are they just going to surprise me with it later?’”

The short answer is yes.

A more complex one is that efforts have been in the works for more than a year to postpone the fee. But how those and other extra fees will be tacked on to employer bills still isn’t 100% certain. Last year, lawmakers delayed the solvency surcharge that kicks in when the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund falls below a certain level.

Jim Noon poses for a portrait on Dec 14, 2021, in Denver. Centennial Container, in business for its 37th year, processes and resells shipping boxes and packing materials. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun)

Auto, Home, Farm & Commercial

Agents Mark Kinnear Devon Kitchell 303-732-9700 20 S. Main Keenesburg, CO

The trust fund, which pays benefits to laid-off workers, had run through its $1.1 billion reserve six months into the pandemic, causing the state to borrow $1 billion from the federal government. Employers are responsible for refilling the trust fund and paying back the loan. And the surcharge is usually how that’s done.

But the state’s approach to replenishing the trust fund is very different this time, just as the pandemic recession is very different from the Great Recession. By delaying the surcharge for two years until 2023, employers don’t have to cough up $350 million — at least not yet. There’s also hope that a strong economy along with federal stimulus money and raising the taxable wage base for unemployment premiums will fill the trust fund up faster than last time.

“It’s dramatically different now,” said Loren Furman, president and CEO-elect of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. “In 2009, it was a typical recession. In 2020, nobody was anticipating a pandemic, that the state government would shut down businesses. When the government forces businesses to shut down, of course they’re going to have to lay off workers. … Employers should never be held responsible for the decisions that were made in response to the pandemic.”

Nearly every employer will see some sort of rate increase come January. But it may not be that noticeable to some companies.

But that worries Noon. By his calculations, the annual unemployment insurance premium will rise by $60 to $70 to about $130 for each of the 14 people who work at Centennial Container. He recalls paying up to $300 per employee during the Great Recession.

“I’m not going to get upset about an extra $60 per year per employee,” Noon said. “But if all of a sudden in 2023, we’re hit with a surcharge that adds $5,000 per employee, that’s an entirely different conversation. … The way it looks right now on the paper I have in front of me, it looks like we have no shortages, there’s not going to be a surcharge and everything looks terrific. I happen to know that the federal government is going to want their billion-plus dollars back and the fund is virtually bankrupt.”

A less shocking bill in 2022 What has been sorted out is 2022. Two changes will increase insurance payments in January — though neither have to do with the billion-dollar loan.

The first is rates are rising because the trust fund was empty on June 30, the date of the annual health checkup. By state statute, that alone means Colorado employers shift to a higher rate. Colorado employers will now pay the highest rate possible (here’s the rate schedule — we’ll be in the far right column in 2022).

2022 increases • Rates increase because Colorado is now on the highest tier of insurance rates.

Depending on a company’s history of layoffs and job cuts, rates are going up 5.6% to 7.8%.

• Amounts also increase because employers must pay insurance on an employee’s first $17,000 of pay, up from $13,600.

That means annual premiums are moving a bit higher, depending on an employer’s history of layoffs. Companies currently pay between 0.71% and 9.64% of an employee’s wage into the trust fund. That rate will increase to between 0.75% and 10.4%.

Despite the increase, 73% of employers still will have insurance rates below 2% and that has a lot to do with a pandemic benefit that doesn’t count COVID-related layoffs against companies, said Ryan Gedney, senior economist with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Colorado needs to Refill its Now Empty Unemployment Fund. Here’s how that will Impact Employers, Workers continued on page 12...

January 19, 2022

9

Lost Creek Guide

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Purchases the Colorado Clays Shooting Park

Colorado Clays BRIGHTON, Colo. - Colorado Parks and Wildlife has closed on a real estate transaction for the purchase of the Colorado Clays Shooting Park in Adams County.

CPW will take over ownership of the shooting park and will manage it as a state recreation area. The agency entered into a concessionaire agreement with its previous Vice President of Marketing, Cory Kraft, who will continue to run the facility under CPW ownership.

“This ties directly into our mission to provide safe, responsible and accessible recreational sport shooting opportunities and education,” said CPW Northeast Region Manager Mark Leslie. “We look forward to a seamless transition out there, as the public will continue to enjoy the offerings they previously had available to them at Colorado Clays.”

Located just 30 minutes northeast of Denver and near Barr Lake State Park, Colorado Clays Shooting Park offers the region’s most complete shooting range experience.

“We have high demand for safe places the public can go to shoot along the Front Range and the purchase of this established range helps with safety concerns,” Leslie said. “It will continue to provide a safe and professional shooting experience and we felt it was important to continue to offer the public those opportunities at this firstclass facility.”

Situated along a cottonwood creek bottom, overlooking Colorado’s snowcovered peaks to the west, Colorado Clays is open to the public and specializes in accommodating both competitive and recreational shooters of all ages and abilities.

It hosts the region’s widest variety of clay target shooting, including sporting clays, skeet and trap, as well as both rifle and COLORADO’S POWER PATHWAY pistol shooting.

This past year, Colorado Clays hosted PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES over 30,000 visitors and threw over four million clay targets.

Please join us to provide input on transmission line routes and substation locations “We are excited to partner with the state to continue to offer a safe, convenient OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE Greeley and affordable recreational shooting Fort St. Vrain Canal Crossing Pawnee Additional meetings are planned for early range for local Coloradans,” Kraft said.

Fort Morgan March. View the full meeting schedule on our “We look forward to collaborating with website.

Yuma Colorado Parks and Wildlife on expanding Wray Segment 1: Monday, Jan. 24 educational and program opportunities Fort St. Vrain – 4-7 p.m. while continuing to ensure that the Canal Crossing Platteville Community Center facility is available for our state’s outdoor 508 Reynolds Ave, Platteville, CO 80651 Segment 2: Denver enthusiasts for the next 26 years and Canal Crossing – Tuesday, Jan. 25 Goose Creek Harvest Mile beyond. We are thankful for all of our past 4-7 p.m. and future patrons and we look forward to Fort Morgan Field House, Gym 3 1239 E Kiowa Ave, Fort Morgan, seeing you at Colorado Clays.”

Castle Rock CO 80701 Colorado Clays is open to the public and Burlington Limon Wednesday, Jan. 26 memberships are not required. All staff 4-7 p.m. are CPR/First Aid certified and are NRA Segment 5: Monument Washington County Event Center, Trained Range Safety Officers.

Tundra – Large Room Colorado Clays is named as a nod clay Harvest Mile Goose Creek 551 W 2nd St, Akron, CO 80720 target shooting. Clay pigeon shooting is Colorado Springs Thursday, Jan. 27 the art of shooting at special flying targets, Segment 3: 9-11 a.m. known as clay pigeons or clay targets, Goose Creek – May Valley Grassroots Community Center with a shotgun. Clay target shooting has 6671 US Highway 36, Joes, CO 80822 Segment 4: Eads at least 20 different forms of regulated 4-6 p.m.

May Valley – Tundra competition called disciplines. These Seibert Community Center Tundra 504 4th St, Seibert, CO 80834 can be roughly divided into three main Pueblo May Valley groups: trap, skeet and sporting clays.

Monday, Jan. 31 Lamar Las Animas This property also boasts a state-of4-6 p.m.

Pueblo Community College, the-art rifle and pistol range that includes Extension: Fortino Ballroom a comfortable, heated, semi-enclosed, May Valley – Longhorn 900 W Orman Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004 (optional) shooting canopy with 10, 100-yard rifle Tuesday, Feb. 1 lanes and 10, 25-yard handgun lanes. The Longhorn Walsenburg 9-11 a.m.

Existing Substation shooting canopy has natural ventilation The Heritage Center New Substation and individual illuminated shooting stalls.

Corner of 3rd and Main, Crowley, CO 81033 Springfield Focus Area The range is fully baffled, with no blue sky, 4-7 p.m. allowing the shooter to enjoy natural light Kiowa County Fairgrounds, Xcel Energy continues to make progress identifying potential locations for Colorado’s Power and ventilation.

Community Building Pathway. Please join us at one of our upcoming in-person public open houses to provide input Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s northeast Fairground Rd, Eads, CO 81036 about our revised transmission line routes and substation site options. We want to hear from you region is a member of the Northern about this important project and any topics we should consider in your area.

Wednesday, Feb. 2 Front Range Recreational Sport Shooting 9:30-11:30 a.m.

No formal presentation is planned, so please attend at any time during the open house. If you Cheyenne County Fairgrounds, Auditorium Partnership (NFRRSSP) with the U.S. are unable to attend, meeting materials and an electronic comment form will be posted at W 6th St S, Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810 Forest Service, Arapaho & Roosevelt ColoradosPowerPathway.com.

4-6 p.m.

National Forests and Pawnee National Project staff will be available to provide information about transmission line routing activities and Lamar Community Building, Dance Room Grassland and Boulder, Clear Creek, answer questions about the new transmission line project, including the overall timeline, route 610 S 6th St, Lamar, CO 81052 options, construction processes and topics related to easements and right-of-way.

Gilpin and Larimer counties. Its purpose Thursday, Feb. 3 is to develop a landscape-level, multi9:30-11:30 a.m.

ABOUT THE PROJECT jurisdictional strategy to provide safe, Baca County Resource Center responsible and accessible recreational Colorado’s Power Pathway is a $1.7 to $2 billion investment proposed by Xcel Energy to improve 1260 Main Street, Springfield, CO 81073 the state’s electric grid and enable future renewable energy development around the state. sport shooting opportunities.

This project will increase electric reliability, boost the regional economy and create jobs during The purchase of Colorado Clays construction. We estimate the system will cross more than a dozen counties and include: Shooting Park was made entirely with FOR MORE INFORMATION • Approximately 560-650 miles of new high-voltage transmission line grant funds awarded to CPW by the U.S. • Four new and four expanded substations Fish and Wildlife Service through its Office Visit ColoradosPowerPathway.com of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration If approved, construction could begin in 2023 and the first transmission segments could be in or contact us at 855-858-9037 or ColoradosPowerPathway@xcelenergy.com. service in 2025, with other segments completed in 2026 and 2027.

Programs (90 percent) along with Great Si necesita asistencia o información Outdoors Colorado and the Colorado Note about COVID-19: If local, state or corporate guidance prevents in-person meetings or affects en español, por favor contáctenos Lottery (10 percent). venue capacity, these open houses may be rescheduled or moved to an online format. Please check directamente al 855-858-9037 o ColoradosPowerPathway.com or call the project hotline at 855-858-9037 for up-to-date information.

ColoradosPowerPathway@xcelenergy.com.

CPW closed on the purchase on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

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10

Lost Creek Guide

January 19, 2022

1201 East Platte Ave. * Ft. Morgan, CO 80701 FINANCIAL FOCUS

Should Inflation Affect Your Investment Moves?

As you know, inflation heated up in 2021, following years of pretty stable – and low – numbers. And now, early in 2022, we’re still seeing elevated prices. As a consumer, you may need to adjust your activities somewhat, but as an investor, how should you respond to inflation?

First, it helps to know the causes of this recent inflationary spike. Essentially, it’s a case of basic economics – strong demand for goods meeting inadequate supply, caused by material and labor shortages, along with shipping and delivery logjams.

In other words, too many dollars chasing too few goods. Once the supply chain issues begin to ease and consumer spending moves from goods to services as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, it’s likely that inflation will moderate, but it may still stay above pre-pandemic levels throughout 2022.

Given this outlook, you may want to review your investment portfolio. First,

Kyle S. Bernhardt

Financial Advisor 606 Grant St. Ft. Morgan, CO 80701 970-542-6401

consider stocks. Generally speaking, stocks can do well in inflationary periods because companies’ revenues and earnings may increase along with inflation. But some sectors of the stock market typically do better than others during inflationary times. Companies that can pass along higher costs to consumers due to strong demand for their goods – such as firms that produce building materials or supply steel or other commodities to other businesses – can do well. Conversely, companies that sell nonessential goods and services, such as appliances, athletic apparel and entertainment, may struggle more when prices are rising.

Of course, it’s still a good idea to own a variety of stocks from various industries because it can help reduce the impact of market volatility on any one sector.

And to help counteract the effects of rising prices, you might also consider

Timothy R. Guggenmos Financial Advisor 228 Main St. Ft. Morgan, CO 80701 970-867-2441

Mark A. Hough

Financial Advisor 513 Main St. Ste A Fort Morgan, CO 80701 970-542-3048

investing in companies that have a long track record of paying and raising stock dividends. (Keep in mind, though, that these companies are not obligated to pay dividends and can reduce or discontinue them at any time.)

Apart from stocks, how can inflation affect other types of investments?

Think about bonds. When you invest in a bond, you receive regular interest payments until the bond matures. But these payments stay the same, so, over time, rising inflation can eat into your bond’s future income, which may also cause the price of your bond to drop – a concern if you decide to sell the bond before it matures. The impact of inflation is especially sharp on the price of longerterm bonds because of the cumulative loss of purchasing power.

However, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) can provide some protection against inflation. The face

Wes Cable

Financial Advisor 611 Edison St Brush, CO 80723 970-842-2252

value, or principal amount, of each TIPS is $1,000, but this principal is adjusted based on changes in the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

So, during periods of inflation, your principal will increase, also increasing your interest payments. When inflation drops, though, your principal and interest payments will decrease, but you’ll never receive less than the original principal value when the TIPS mature. Talk to your financial advisor to determine if TIPS may be appropriate for you.

Ultimately, inflation may indeed be something to consider when managing your investments. But other factors – especially your risk tolerance, time horizon and long-term goals – should still be the driving force behind your investment decisions. A solid investment strategy can serve you well, regardless of whether prices move up or down.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Forrest Hough

Financial Advisor 129 S. 4th Ave Brighton, CO 80601 303-659-2301

January 19, 2022

Lost Creek Guide

Wiggins Early Morning Sunrise by Kim Thomsen

Colorado Minimum Wage Rising by 24 Cents with the New Year

By Megan Verlee

David Zalubowski/APA waitperson wears a face mask while tending to a patron sitting in the outdoor patio of a sushi restaurant, late Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in downtown Denver.

Starting today, Colorado’s minimum wage is $12.56 an hour for regular workers and $9.54 for tipped employees.

Thanks to a voter-approved law a few years ago, the state’s rate increased rapidly for a few years, hitting $12.00 in 2020. Now it gets a cost-of-living bump annually based on the Consumer Price Index. That increase is calculated from the middle of one year to the next. That means the relatively rapid rise in inflation felt in the fall of 2021 isn’t part of this increase, but will be reflected in the 2023’s rate.

In Denver, minimum wage workers will see an even bigger hike, to $15.87 an hour. It’s the last of a series of big annual jumps for Denver’s minimum wage, as approved by the city council in 2019.

The city auditor’s office also announced Thursday that it will begin proactive enforcement of the city’s minimum wage by looking for employers that may be underpaying workers based on industry patterns, information from other government agencies, or complaints at other locations with the same ownership.

The office said many of its wage cases come from businesses right on Denver’s borders, where the owner may think the state-wide minimum wage rate applies, and multi-state chains where the home office isn’t aware that the city has set a higher floor on wages.

In 2019, Colorado lawmakers gave local governments the power to increase their minimum wage above the state’s rate, but so far, Denver is the only city to do that.

Jan. 1 also ushers in a higher minimum wage for direct care workers whose employers receive state funding, like nursing homes staff and home health aides. The policy ensures they make at least $15 an hour.

The state’s budget committee approved funding the raises in September, using federal COVID relief funds, although eventually, the increase will have to come from general state dollars.

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January 19, 2022

Colorado Needs to Refill Its Now Empty Unemployment Fund.

Here’s How That Will Impact Employers, Workers continued from page 8...

The second reason is that all employers must start paying insurance on the first $17,000 of an employee’s salary. Last year, the base was $13,600. So this, too, will have employers paying more money per worker even if insurance rates don’t budge.

This translates into 34.4% higher insurance payment for a company with 10 people who make at least $30,600 a year. We’ll call it Company X and use them as an example in this story.

Company X is a typical employer with few layoffs in its history so it has an “experience rating” of +6, which is the median company rating in the state. Companies lose points when they lay off workers, resulting in a lower “experience rating” and higher insurance rates. Those with the worst layoff history have experience ratings of -25. The best are at +20 or more.

The pandemic was brutal to Company X, and while it now employs 10 people, it laid off several more last year. However, COVID-related layoffs will be ignored forever and not count against the experience rating, thanks to last year’s Senate Bill 207.

“That’s something that did not happen during the Great Recession,” Gedney said.

For Company X, its new insurance rate will be 1.86%, up from 1.35%. That’s not a huge hike. But because it’s now paying insurance on $17,000 of a worker’s salary, insurance costs will grow 34.4% to $3,162 next year, from this year’s $2,352.

The change in the wage base also comes from the aforementioned Senate Bill 207, sponsored by Sen. Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat. Hansen has been trying to increase the wage base for years because it wasn’t keeping up with inflation. By the

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Unemployment insurance rates are going up for Colorado employers in 2022 due to a depleted unemployment insurance trust fund. But most companies will pay a rate of less than 2%. That’s a larger portion of Colorado’s employers then in 2021. (Colorado Department of Labor and Employment)

time the pandemic began, the trust fund had $1.1 billion. It really needed to be at $1.5 billion. By raising the base wage on which unemployment insurance is calculated, employers pay more per worker and that replenishes the fund faster.

“We went for decades without changing the wage base so that it stayed constant with real terms. That is the root of the problem,” Hansen said. “This puts us on a sustainable path.”

The new law increases the base wage every year until 2026, when it will be at $30,600. After that, the base increases depending on the change in annual wages.

Here’s what that will look like: What’s going up in 2023 If laws don’t change, employers’ costs for unemployment insurance will go up again in 2023. Insurance rates won’t change, but the wage base increases to $20,400.

2023 increases • No change in rates since they’re already at the highest level • Taxable wage base increases to $20,400 per worker • The UI trust fund solvency surcharge scheduled to start • Colorado loses its credit from the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and employers will start paying $63 in FUTA per employee per year, instead of $42.

The trust fund solvency surcharge is also scheduled to kick in in 2023. And because Colorado is expected to still have a federal loan balance, employers lose a special credit from the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, which can reduce taxes. FUTA jumps to $63 per employee per year, from $42. CDLE said the higher FUTA rate takes effect in 2022 but isn’t paid until January 2023.

THE MATH: The Federal Unemployment Tax Act rewards states that provide unemployment benefits. Instead of a 6% tax on an employee’s first $7,000, employers get a 90% discount. The FUTA rate drops to 0.6%, or $42 per employee. But if the federal loan is outstanding on Nov. 10, 2022, the credit is reduced 0.3% — or 0.9%, which is $63 — and continues each year until the loan is repaid.

For Company X, insurance costs will go up to $3,794 in 2023 solely due to the base wage increase. There’s also an additional $765 to cover the trust-fund solvency surcharge. And losing the FUTA credit means employers will be paying $63 per employee, instead of $42.

In total, Company X’s unemployment tax bill would be $5,399 in 2023, up 42.4% from the prior year and nearly double from 2021.

About that billion dollar loan Between March 29, 2020, and Dec. 4, the state paid $3.4 billion in unemployment benefits to workers whose employers paid into the trust fund. This excludes gig workers and the self-employed, who were paid from federal relief funds.

While the state labor department battled unprecedented levels of fraud in the pandemic, the vast majority of the $30 million in confirmed fraud was paid within the federal programs, which employers are not responsible for. A recent state auditor’s report found that 81% of likely fraud to dead or incarcerated users were in the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which covered gig workers and the self-employed.

But about one-third of benefits paid since the pandemic began was covered by the federal loan, which was interest free until September. That loan was at $1,014,167,918.51, as of Dec. 9.

Gov. Jared Polis took all of this into account when he proposed his budget for 2022.

His plan is to take $500 million from the general fund to pay down the loan and also replenish the trust fund. And he wants the state legislature to take $100 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and put it into shoring up the trust fund. Both must be approved by the legislature.

In the best-case scenario, the trust fund gets $600 million and Colorado’s recovery continues to be strong. The surcharge would turn off in 2026, leaving just three years for employers to pay that extra fee. In a weak economy, it would take four years. But with no government help, the trust fund would continue to remain insolvent possibly until 2028, though Gedney said he didn’t model it that far into the future.

“This forecast is assuming there’s no injection of federal money,” Gedney said. “You can see that if we do have ARPA money injected, it could make a big difference. If it’s $500 million or $600 million, that’s really helpful to paying down the loan balance. …

The ARPA money gives you that extra cushion.”

For Company X, a strong economy means fewer unemployment insurance fees. If the surcharge is eliminated by 2026, Company X’s annual payment drops 13.5% to $5,316 for its 10 employees.

Colorado needs to Refill its Now Empty Unemployment Fund. Here’s how that will Impact Employers, Workers continued on page 16...

January 19, 2022

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Lost Creek Guide

Communication

Tax & Accounting Solutions

Offices in Arvada and Hudson

303-233-6118

• Individual, Corporate and Partnership Tax Prep • Estate and Trust Prep • Tax Planning • Bookkeeping and Payroll Services • Sales Tax Returns • Financial Statements • CFO, Controller Services

By Pastor Perry Friday, 7 January 2022 Ephesians 4:29 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Have you ever been around someone who talks too much?

So much that it is difficult to try and get a word in someplace?

I have known a couple of people like that, and sometimes, I think I am as guilty of it as another!

From the beginning of time, communication has been the way for people to reach out to one another, to understand one another, to share and explore. From the hitting of a hollow tree trunk to 5G, communication is something we need in order to move beyond the self.

And, for a time, it has gone along fairly well. You may call me a Boomer, but I remember the day when your word was highly held; when a handshake was as good as a contract; when people actually talked to one another when they sat across from each other at a restaurant table or around the proverbial “water cooler”. When sharing yourself also included listening to the other person!

Today, with the advent of all this technology – computers, cellphones, gaming consoles; and with some of the by-products of it – texting, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., etc., we have lost much of what good communication is all about! Oh, we may share things about ourselves on those social venues, but the talk is pretty much superficial, or maybe even wishful!

When is the last time you sat down and had a good conversation with someone?

I mean something that lasted more than 5 minutes! When was the last time you took time to understand where that person was coming from, and respected their viewpoint even though yours differed from theirs?

We don’t do that so very much today, do we? Think of the news of the past year… how much good communication came out of people? I dare say, not much. Instead, all we see is conflict; blaming; whining; arguing, sometimes even violently.

What happened to good communication… no corruption coming out of our mouths; our only intent to build others up?

Let’s all start communicating in this way, and let’s start today. In fact, let me give you two words to tell yourself before you say something to someone else…”be kind”.

It will take some practice, but your friends will thank you for it!

Be Well, Do Good Work, and…

Be Blessed Like Crazy!

Pastor Perry Destination Ministries

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Lost Creek Guide

January 19, 2022

STORYTELLER TO FOCUS ON ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Dave Lively featured at Jan. 18 Brown Bag Program at Library/ Museum Do you ever yearn to have lived in the pioneer days? To have the courage, stamina, and adaptability to follow Ute trails across the Continental Divide in search of a new home and community in an unsettled, harsh mountain environment? To have the ambition to leave all behind to pursue a brighter future?

Storyteller Dave Lively will help visitors envision those times and places and learn a bit about the history of Rocky Mountain National Park with his presentation of “Rocky’s Westside Stories” on Jan. 18 at the Fort Morgan Library and Museum.

The free Brown Bag Program will start at noon in the Howard Rollin Memorial Community Room.

Lively will take participants on a speedy tour of the recurring themes of survival and success during the past 11,000 years in this high isolated mountain valley.

Enjoy stories of human nature encountering Mother Nature. Be inspired to preserve the wilderness, wildlife and wonder of Rocky Mountain National Park’s west side.

This program is free to the public and does not require registration. For more information contact Educator Kathleen Byrne at (970) 542-4014 or kathleen. byrne@cityoffortmorgan.com.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! www.facebook.com/cityoffortmorgan

- Obituary -

Mary Ellen (Dale) Bell Mary Ellen (Dale) Bell, 87, of Greeley passed into her new life on January 4, 2022.

She was born in Greeley, CO on January 18, 1934, to Edward and Louise (Crowley) Dale of Keenesburg, Colorado.

Mary Ellen graduated from Keenesburg High School with the Class of 1952. She attended CSU for 1 year. On September 4, 1953, she married Donald Lee Bell of Keenesburg, CO in Killeen, Texas while he was stationed there in the Army. Upon completion of his military service, they farmed in the Keenesburg area until their retirement in 1999.

Mary Ellen was a member of the church of Christ in Windsor, CO. She taught Sunday School classes for many years. She was also a Cub Scout Leader, 4-H leader and active in the Keene Homemakers Club. She was also the leader of the local teen singing group ‘The Six Degrees’. She worked for the local newspaper, The Keene Valley Sun, before starting her 20-year career with the Weld County RE-3J school district. She first worked at Weld Central High School and then as administration assistant to the superintendent. She volunteered in many areas within the community in both Keenesburg and Greeley. At the young age of 82, Mary Ellen published her first novel, ‘Happenstance’. She was very proud and excited about this accomplishment.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband of 68 years, Donald, and their children; Jack (Robbi) Bell of Coffeyville, KS, Kathy Bell of Greeley, David (Marie) Bell of Keenesburg and Deanna (Vince) Smith of Tempe, AZ. Also, grandchildren Bridgette (Troy) Wright of Gillette, WY, Heather (Stephen) Pratz of Greeley, Eli Bell of Coffeyville, KS, Morgan Dobbs of Seattle, WA, Kyle (Jodi) Bell of Lakewood, Holly (Brian) Smith of Greeley, Brandi Smith of Aurora and Lea Smith of Aurora. She was also blessed with 8 greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Surviving sibling is her brother Alan (Shirley) Dale of Buena Vista. She is preceded in death by her parents, older brother Ivan (Donna) Dale and grandson Ryan Dobbs.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 13, 2022 at Stoddard Funeral Home. Graveside service will be at 12:00 p.m. Friday, January 14, 2022 at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Family and friends may leave condolences at www.stoddardsunset.com.

January 19, 2022

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Lost Creek Guide

SERVICE DIRECTORY Computer Support Repair, Service & Sales

Reliable, Local, Professional Roggen Telephone Company

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Thomas J Croghan DDS Family Dental Practice

Appointments: 303-377-8662 Appointments Available in Keenesburg and Denver

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Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Assistance for Roggen, Keenesburg, Prospect Valley, & Hudson Call to Request Assistance

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HELP WANTED LEVEL 1-2 TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND NETWORK TECHNICIAN Roggen Telephone Cooperative is looking to expand its team.

We are a small ISP serving customers in the Roggen, Keenesburg and Hudson areas. Candidates with education/experience in ISP networking, static and dynamic routing, DHCP, DNS, PoE, IPv6 networking, NetXMS, Linux, Mikrotik, Ubiquity or Mimosa equipment would be preferred, but not required.

Basic requirements are a positive attitude towards customers and their issues, good interpersonal skills, patience and ability to help solve problems in creative ways. There are required monthly Safety meetings during business hours.

You will be able to become familiar with the wireless communication and fiber optics as well as all aspects of its deployment and maintenance.

This position is full time and salary starting at $20 - $22 per hour depending upon experience. Must have a valid Colorado driver’s license and be able to pass a drug test. Benefits include medical, dental, vision and Life insurance and 401k plan. Roggen Telephone is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug/Alcohol-Free workplace.

You can email your Resume to roggenmang@rtebb.net.

BROADBAND INSTALLER AND REPAIR TECHNICIAN Roggen Telephone Cooperative Company (RTCC) is accepting applications for a Broadband installer and repair technician. Ability to communicate with co-workers and function as a team player. Duties include installing and maintaining all types of Broadband services and related equipment.

Experience with mechanical and power hand tools. Minimum requirements include the ability to lift up to 50lbs, along with the ability to perform physically exerting tasks such as climbing ladders, running cable and mounting hardware on roofs of businesses, outbuildings and homes. There are mandatory monthly Safety meetings during business hours that we provide.

You will be able to become familiar with the wireless communication and fiber optics as well as all aspects of its deployment and maintenance.

This position is full time and salary starts at $18 - $20 per hour depending upon experience. Must have a valid Colorado driver’s license. RTCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug/Alcohol-Free workplace. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, Life insurance and a 401k plan.

You can email your Resume to roggenmang@rtebb.net.

TRUCK DRIVER-PART-TIME Dairy Farm, located in eastern Colorado, needs a dependable & hardworking driver & willing to jump in where needed.

Duties will consist of hauling commodities to the facility, hauling manure to fields, harvest driving & anything that may need hauling. It will be local driving and home every night.

Pay will be determined by experience, & retired drivers welcome to apply.

- Solid experience preferred - Need to be self-motivated, good communication skills with staff & ownership - Must have CDL Class A with a clean driving record - Able to pass a drug & alcohol screening - Most trucking is within a 200-mile radius, home at night.

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Dave Haney Painting & Dry Wall Interior - Exterior Cabinets, Fence Staining Located in Platteville 720-217-2089

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Recycled asphalt, concrete Great for driveways & parking areas. Also sand & gravel.

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Aladdin Assisted Living 15 South Ash Street Keenesburg, Colorado Care Givers Needed Call: 303-732-4856

Open Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm Family Medical are for All Ages

Keene Clinic

190 So. Main St., Keenesburg

303-732-4268

Loya’s Cleaning LLC Maria Loya

First Baptist Church, Keenesburg, Food Pantry Open every third Saturday 9 am to 12 pm 100 North Market Street, Keenesburg For emergency needs, please contact 720-480-6428 or email us at: http:// www.fbca.church

Donations are welcome to help us defeat hunger in our community

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Colorado Needs to Refill its Now Empty Unemployment Fund. Here’s How That Will Impact Employers, Workers continued from page 12...

Beyond 2023 Despite high unemployment in the past two years, Colorado employers are paying more money than ever to workers. The amount of total wages paid is expected to grow 3.6% this year to $145 billion, up from 2020’s $139.9 billion. That’s a much slower growth rate than past years but hey, it was a pandemic!

And because of the higher wage base, the state labor department estimates employers will contribute $650 million to the trust fund in 2021. Next year’s total wage growth is expected to be 5.5%. At that rate and if the economic recovery remains strong, the trust fund is forecast to return to its pre-pandemic balance by 2025.

Future premiums will also go down as the trust fund is refilled. That could start in 2025 or 2026, depending on how the economy recovers, according to CDLE estimates.

And the FUTA credit is expected to return in two to three years because, presumably, the $1 billion loan will be repaid.

As for the solvency surcharge, the trust fund just needs to reach what is called a “reserve ratio” of 0.7% in order to go away. The ratio is the trust fund’s balance divided by total wages. It’s currently negative. Based on rising total wages in Colorado, Gedney estimated that even without government aid, the trust fund will be at more than $1.2 billion by June 2025 and the surcharge would drop off in the following year.

A fee is added to employer’s insurance premiums when the state’s unemployment trust fund falls below a reserve ratio of 0.5%. That happened in June 2020, when it fell to 0.3% because the trust fund paid out enormous amounts of jobless benefits in the pandemic. But the fee, called the solvency surcharge, was postponed by law until January 2023. The reserve ratio, which is the trust fund balance divided by total wages, is now at -0.72%. (Colorado Department of Labor and Employment) But for Colorado to be considered solvent by U.S. Department of Labor standards, it needs a reserve ratio of 1.0. At that reserve, the trust would be positioned to provide considerable benefits for laid-off workers in another recession or pandemic.

In other words, the trust fund would need “$2 billion, positive,” Gedney said. “So there’s a gap of about $3 billion.”

THE MATH: The solvency surcharge turns on when the trust fund’s reserve ratio — the trust fund’s balance divided by total wages — falls below 0.5% on June 30, the end of the state’s fiscal year. The surcharge adds to an employer’s insurance premiums. To turn off, the ratio needs to reach 0.7%. Based on state forecasts that Colorado’s workforce will earn $165 billion in total wages and have $1.16 billion in the trust fund by June 2025, the surcharge would turn off in 2026.

All that said, anything could change those forecasts in 2022 — even at just a legislative level.

Rep. Rob Woodward, a long-time small business owner and Republican from Larimer County, said he is working on a proposal to use more of Colorado’s federal relief dollars to restore the trust fund completely. It would supplement Polis’ plan to put in at least $500 million.

“My proposal would be to take somewhere around $1.7 billion out of the one-time federal money and put it back in the bank and write a check to the feds to pay them back. It literally is just a budget item that restores the trust fund,” he said. “It shouldn’t have to rob any current programs but it certainly will prevent us from spending the money on …. something brand new.”

Almost 20 states, including Ohio and Maryland, are using federal relief to replenish their trust fund and pay off their loans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Last month, Texas passed a budget that allocates $7.2 billion of its ARPA share to pay off its federal loan and steady its unemployment fund.

Colorado’s legislature could also decide to postpone the solvency surcharge until 2024. Or they could bring back a bond, which Sen. Hansen hopes is considered.

After the Great Recession, a bond was used to pay off the federal unemployment loan and restock the trust fund. That eliminated the solvency surcharge and FUTA credit reductions, though it took employers until 2017 to pay the bond.

“The feds right now are charging 2.2% and it kicks in the FUTA surcharges,” Hansen said. “One of the options would be to bond for some portion of that negative balance to get rid of that FUTA charge and the good news is the bonding right now we can do for about 1.5% to 1.8%. There are significant savings, at least 40 basis points lower than the federal loan rate. And as you can imagine, on that big of a balance, it adds up pretty quickly.”

The $1 billion federal loan in September started racking up $63,000 a day in interest, labor department Chief of Staff Daniel Chase said during a Joint Budget Committee hearing this month. The state made its first payment of $1.5 million on Sept. 30. The next one, which Chase estimated would be between $22 million to $25 million, is due next September.

Furman, with the Colorado Chamber, said employers are still recovering, they’re raising wages as they struggle to find workers, and now they face higher unemployment payments due to the federal loan and the rising wage base, which she suggested be stalled or reduced as businesses recover. The chamber would also support more federal relief to pay off the debt and replenish the fund.

“We’re all realists,” she said. “We’ve all been working in this environment for so long, we just want relief. We want relief for our employers, and there are (dozens of) other states that have done this already. They have used federal stimulus dollars as their general funds to backfill their deficits. This shouldn’t even come into question as to whether the state should help these employers.”

January 19, 2022

Girls Prep Basketball: Fort Morgan over Weld Central, 41-31 continued from page 1...

(16-12) for the 41-31 final.

Fort Morgan scoring was led by Olivia Wolff with 13 points and Emma Christensen with nine.

Complete stats for Fort Morgan were unavailable by deadline.

For Weld Central, Lacey Schliefelbein scored 19, including nine on three-pointers. Rylie Cagle pulled down nine rebounds. Jolie McBride had five steals.

The Rebels did well enough in this game from Lacey Schliefelbein scored nineteen points for the Rebels, here defended beyond the threeby Mustang Emma Christensen on point arc, going three January 8, 2022. (Paul Dineen / Get for five. They were The Picture Sports LLC) also capable from the charity stripe, going 16 for 22 from the foul line (73%, their season high) on 15 fouls by Fort Morgan. Where Weld Central struggled was with getting the twopointers to fall, shooting just 3 for 20 (15%).

After the game Mustangs head coach Steven Starcer said, “I’m very proud of the way the girls competed -perhaps our best game of the season to date. Getting Mustang Olivia Wolff advances the ball against Rebel Gracie Weber as to the foul line was one of our goals today and we Fort Morgan hosted Weld Central on knocked them down when it counted.”

January 8, 2022. (Paul Dineen / Get Fort Morgan began this season slowly, dropping The Picture Sports LLC) their first five contests, but, they have since won two of five. The 4A Mustangs have eight games remaining against 4A opponents and one against 3A. They are in a fiveway tie for fifth place out of ten teams in the 4A Longs Peak league.

Weld Central also began the season slowly, dropping their first seven contests, then winning three straight before losing two. Comparing Weld Central with other teams in the 4A/3A Colorado league currently with losing records, there is cause for optimism.

The Rebels have outperformed those three teams in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and turnovers, trailing in only assists and fouls committed. The 4A Rebels have five games remaining against 4A opponents and four against 3A. They are in sixth place out of eight teams in the 4A/3A Colorado league.

The next home games for Weld Central will be January 20 versus Skyview and January 21 versus Roosevelt. For Fort Morgan, the next home games are January 28 against Mountain View, and February 2 versus Northridge.

Fort Morgan Boys Basketball Over Weld Central, 50-36 continued from page 1...

Fort Morgan got off to a quick start in the January 8 game, leading 8-2 after two minutes. They rode that to a 15-6 lead after the first period. The Rebels matched the pace in the second period, taking that one by one point for a 26-18 Mustang lead at the half. Though, Nathan Gerken excited the home crowd with a dunk with 1:52 left in the half.

At the halftime break the Mustangs resolved to raise the intensity at the start of the second half. But the Rebels more than matched that, bringing the score as close as three points at 31-28 with 2:10 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs followed through by scoring seven straight points before the end of the quarter. That made it 38-28 going into the fourth.

The leading scorer for the They further expanded the Rebels was Dylan Pevler lead to 46-28 on the way to against Fort Morgan on the 50-36 final.

January 8. (Paul Dineen / Weld Central scoring was Get The Picture Sports LLC) led by Dylan Pevler with eleven points. Gunner Hesse was next with eight. Abdul Alarape led in rebounds with seven, Brenden Buzzell was next with six.

After the game, Rebels head coach Tommy Klausner said “We’ve got to get better. We’ve got a week ahead of us with only one game. That’ll give us the opportunity to get in Abdul Alarape takes a shot the gym to practice and for Weld Central against Fort Morgan. (Paul Dineen / Get improve.”

The 4A Rebels have five The Picture Sports LLC) games remaining against 4A opponents and four games against 3A. They are sixth out of eight teams in the 4A/3A Colorado league.

Fernando Marquez paced Fort Morgan scorers with thirteen points. Frank Ortega was next with nine.

Briggs Wheatley was held to two points in limited game time due to a flu that had forced him to sit out the previous night’s game with Niwot. Complete stats for Fort Morgan were unavailable by deadline.

The 4A Mustangs have eight games remaining against 4A opponents and one against 3A. They are in Fernando Marquez led Fort a five-way tie for first place out of ten teams in the 4A Morgan in scoring against Longs Peak league.

Weld Central on January 8 The next home game for Weld Central will be January with thirteen points. (Paul 21 against 4A Roosevelt. For Fort Morgan, the next Dineen / Get The Picture home game is January 22 versus Thompson Valley.

Sports LLC)