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April 8-15, 2014
In This Issue
Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter
Board Appointments
Budget News
National Crime Victims' Rights Week
Improving Deer Creek Bridge
Airport ODP Updated

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Board Appointments

The BCC approved appointments to several of its volunteer boards and commissions.

 

April 8

 

Hazardous Substance Response Authority Board

Mark Gutke and Wayne Belohlavy were reappointed and James Lancy was appointed to the Jefferson County Hazardous Substance Response Authority Board. 

 

The board is responsible for the administration and operation of the county hazardous substance response program.

 

April 15

 

Historical Commission

Nina Kite will represent District 2 and Chuck Hause, Max Lankston and Louis Fohn will be at-large members on the Historical Commission

 

The commission promotes the preservation and use of historical resources and historic sites through educational activities, publications and research projects

 

Library Board

Ruth Anna was reappointed and Charles Naumer was appointed to serve on the Library Board of Trustees

 

The trustees establish policies for the county libraries; employs the executive director for the library; recommends the annual budget for the libraries to the BCC and dispenses funds; acquires and oversees libraries and library assets; and participates in strategic planning and library advocacy.

 

Marijuana Task Force

Lin Browning, Robert Cantwell, Mike Elliot, Thomas Gorman, Ramey Johnson, Erin Logan, James McCormick, Ronn Nixon, Brian Richardson and Jordan Wellington as selected to serve on the newly formed Marijuana Task Force

 

The task force will also have representatives from the Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office, Jeffco Planning and Zoning and Jeffco Public Health. The taskforce will be charged with helping county staff identify and report on the impacts of marijuana establishments.

 

 

Budget News

At the April 8 staff briefings, the commissioners discussed how the 2013 budget bills_coins.jpg wrapped up. The amended revenue with intra-county transfers was $476.5 million. The actual was $416.4 million, plus $91 million in intra-county transfers, for a total of $507.4 million. Part of the gap was due to the $24.4 million, above the estimated amount, in general long-term debt proceeds. The county refunded some of its long-term debt through refinancing certificates of participation (COP).

 

For 2013, expenditures were estimated at $371 million or $562.1 after adding in capital improvements and inter-fund transfers. The actual expenditures were $386 million. Add in $52.3 million is capital improvements and $87.2 million in inter-fund transfers for a total of $526 million.

 

The main disparity was due to the refunding of the COPs, which was offset by the revenue that was received for it. Also some capital improvement projects, along with the budgets for them, were carried forward into 2014. Other funds were over in expenditures due to unforeseen events such as the September 2013 flooding. For example, the Road and Bridge Fund expenditures were $4.4 million more than what was adopted when the budget was approved in 2012. However, most budgets were under spent due to savings in areas such as salaries and supplies.

 

At the April 15 hearing the BCC approved the 2013 budget supplemental and appropriations and carry-forwards for the 2014 budget. By statute, the BCC has to adopt a budget by Dec. 15 of the prior year. The timing of the adoption doesn't capture unanticipated events or needs. These are brought forward during the budget year for the commissioners to review and choose to amend the budget.

 

Some of the 2013 supplemental budget items included:

  • $237,315 Tobacco Grant received by Public Health.
  • $290,000 for termination pay for the Sheriff's Office Patrol Fund. Some of this is due to long-time employees leaving and accumulated benefits paid out upon separation from the county.
  • $770,500 in additional sales tax revenue for the Open Space Fund. This amount is shared with the county's municipalities.

 

Carry forwards from the 2013 budget to the 2014 budget include:

  • $3,427,145 for the Open Space Fund. These are funds carried forward for multi-year projects such as the improvements at the trailheads at Matthews Winters and South Table Mountain Park .
  • $13,880,672 for the Jail Expansion project. This is in the Capital Expenditures Fund and paid for from previously acquired certificates of participation.
  • $998,997 in the Southeast Sales Tax Capital Fund. This will help cover costs for projects such as improvements on West Quincy Avenue from South Kipling Parkway to South Wadsworth Boulevard.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week

The BCC, at its April 8 hearing, proclaimed April 6-12, 2014 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week. There to accept the proclamation, along with their staff, were Sheriff Ted Mink and District Attorney Pete Weir.

 

More than 30 years of progress for crime victims stands on the shoulders of dedicated advocates and brave victims who overcame shame, isolation, and indifference to gain a voice, rights, and respect. National Crime Victims' Rights Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the energy, creativity, and commitment that launched the victims' rights movement. 

 

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners is joined forces with victim services programs, criminal justice officials, and concerned citizens to raise awareness of victims' rights and observe National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

 

Improving Deer Creek Bridge 

Deer Creek Bridge, which is located on Cougar Road just south of Deer Creek Canyon Road, is on its way to being updated and safer to use. The BCC, at the April 8 public hearing, approved the contract with Technology Constructors Inc. for $160,938 to widen and upgrade the bridge over Deer Creek. The existing bridge deck is functionally obsolete and needs to be widened to improve traffic safety. The project is being paid for with FASTER funds. Construction is slated to begin in June 2014. 

 

Airport ODP Updated 

At their April 15 hearing the commissioners approved an amendment to the Official Development Plan (ODP) for the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. The amendment will allow for warehousing and distribution facilities in use area three.

 

There is approximately 600 acres of vacant land to the west of the airport. In 2007, the county entered into a development agreement with Urban Frontier to market and develop the property for job-creating land uses. The above uses were added to give more options on which kind of businesses may be located in the vacant area.

View BCC Meetings Online!   

Public Meeting Calendar Did you know Jefferson County records each County Commissioners Hearing for rebroadcast on its website? You can also find recordings of other county meetings, videos of events and Jeffco's video program, Jefferson County Insights.  To learn more, visit the Jeffco Media-on-Demand site.