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Appointments to Boards & Commissions
The BCC appointed Kathy Harvey to represent the Division of Youth Corrections on the Juvenile Review Board. Harvey replaces Bonnie Cady, who resigned as a regular member. The Juvenile Review Board is responsible for approving residential community placement in Jefferson County of children who are in the custody of the Division of Youth Corrections. |
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BCC Approves Cultural Council's Recommendations for Grant Recipients
Eighty-five nonprofit organizations that operate in Jefferson County will receive nearly $909,000 from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), because of recommendations made by the Jeffco Cultural Council and approved by commissioners.
 The SCFD collects a penny for every $10 spent in seven metro area counties, including Jeffco. About 13.5 percent of that funding goes to small organizations with cultural or scientific missions, based on the recommendations made by the county's cultural council, which is appointed by commissioners.
In 2010, the Jeffco Cultural Council received requests for $1.45 million and will award $909,000, a 9.7 percent increase from 2009. The increase represents a $9,000 roll-over from 2009 and an overall increase in collected sales tax. In the year to date, the SCFD has seen a 7 percent increase in funds, mostly because of retail sales, Peg Long, SCFD executive director told commissioners at the staff briefing.
Eligible nonprofits must have been in existence for at least three years. This year's nonprofits represent a wide range of arts, music, theater, culture and history. The Foothills Art Center in Golden received the largest grant for nearly $58,400. Other major recipients include the Evergreen Chorale, Friends of Dinosaur Ridge, Jefferson Symphony Association, Morrison Theatre Company and Ballet Nouveau Colorado. |
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Jeffco Secures Federal Funding for Local Projects
With help from its congressmen and senators, Jefferson County successfully secured federal funding for two local projects - a methamphetamine prevention and response collaboration and a veterans' housing project.
 Congressmen Jared Polis and Ed Perlmutter and Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet requested a total of $390,000 for the Jefferson County Sheriff's West Metropolitan Drug Task Force Methamphetamine Interdiction and Response Collaboration. The two-year request was for equipment and overtime needs.
Perlmutter and Udall also requested $600,000 for a homeless veterans' housing project. The county will partner with Metro West Housing Solutions (MWHS) to provide homes within MWHS' proposed 200-unit complex at West 13th Avenue and Lamar Street in Lakewood. In 2009, Jeffco received $190,000 in federal money for the same project.
In today's economic and political climates, federal appropriations for local projects are highly scrutinized, Michael Feeley with the county's lobbying firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, told commissioners. The money that these projects received speaks highly of their quality.
Jefferson County had also requested appropriations for improvements to the South Wadsworth Boulevard and Waterton Road intersection, but the intersection is in the district of Congressman Mike Coffman, who pledged not to request federal appropriations for local projects this year.
Feeley said Congress will consider the appropriations this fall. |
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BCC Proclaims Jeffco Fair Week
With help from dozens of 4-H youth, parents and Jeffco CSU Extension staff, commissioners proclaimed the week of Aug. 9 as Jeffco Fair Week.
From left, Commissioners Kathy Hartman, Faye Griffin and Kevin McCasky with this year's Fair Commemorative Poster Contest winner Kaylen Gehrke. | This year's fair, "A Country Fair with an Urban Flair," included a rodeo, skateboard demonstrations and a chili cook-off.
"The Jeffco Fair not only offers opportunities for the youth of Jefferson County to showcase their 4-H achievements and compete for entry to the State Fair, but also allows citizens from all across the county the chance to display their best efforts in photography, woodworking, fiber arts, quilting and foods," according to the proclamation.
Commissioners also recognized Kaylen Gerhke, a sixth grader from Mitchell Elementary in Golden, who won the fair's annual commemorative poster contest. Nearly 35 children from kindergarten through 12th grade in the Jeffco School District and the 4-H program took part in the contest. Second place went to Melanie Roman, an eighth grader at Bell Middle School in Golden and a member of the Range/Wranglers 4-H club. |
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