Jefferson County Commissioners on Dec. 18 announced a $100,000 contribution to the city of Westminster's Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park Fund.

 

This is the first major contribution to the park renovation, which will be an enduring tribute to the memory of a girl whose joyful spirit touched so many. Plans for the park include some of Jessica's favorite things, like a zip-line-like track ride, knock-knock jokes, flowers and her favorite color, purple.

 

In a letter to Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally, Commissioner Faye Griffin wrote, "Your vision to make the park a memorial and a joyful place for children is wonderful. We were especially touched by the use of Jessica's favorite color purple in the park design to reflect her interests and personality."

 

The Jefferson County contribution will come from its share of the Colorado Lottery's Conservation Trust Fund.

 

"We are so pleased to receive this generous contribution, which will help us build Jessica's park," said McNally. "We are grateful for the support of the commissioners and all the residents in Jefferson County."

 

Fundraising for the Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park is being led by the Westminster Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the Westminster Rotary Club. Donations are being actively sought to help fund major improvements to the park.

 

"The Rotary Club of Westminster is pleased and excited that the Jefferson County Commissioners have committed $100,000 for the rehabilitation of Jessica Ridgeway Memorial Park," said the club's Jon Johnston. "It is a huge boost to the fundraising efforts needed to complete the project. The Rotary Club of Westminster continues its commitment to the project and to Jessica Ridgeway's memory."

 

Complete details on the fundraising effort, including plans for the park and ways to contribute, are on the Westminster Legacy Foundation website, www.westminsterlegacyfoundation.org.

BCC Support for Rocky Flats Cold War Museum

On Dec. 18, the Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution supporting the Rocky Flats Cold War Museum.

 

The Rocky Flats Cold War Museum was formed in 2001 as an independent, not-for-profit organization, collecting artifacts, gathering 150 oral histories of former workers, government regulators and public officials. The museum board of directors has collaborated with the US Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management and US Fish and Wildlife Service and civic, community and educational organizations in preserving this history.  

 

Jefferson County is a charter member of the Rocky Mountain Flats Stewardship Council, which provides local government and community oversight of the post-closure management of the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant. Rocky Flats plant operated in northern Jefferson County from 1951 to 1992. It mass produced plutonium cores for nuclear weapons for the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the nation's nuclear weapons complex.

 

Rocky Flats also played a part in the economic development of Jefferson County and the northwest Denver Metro area, providing jobs for more than 50 years during the plant's operation and subsequent decontamination and decommissioning.

 

Rocky Flats was once the subject of local and national protests over opposition to nuclear weapons development and environmental and public health concerns, but now serves as a National Wildlife Refuge.

First Hearing of Proposed Parking Policy Update
At the Dec. 18 BCC hearing the board heard the first reading of proposed changes to county policy 3.4.3, which regulates the operation of parking of motor vehicles.

 

Some of the proposed changes include the Sheriff's Office recommendations for amendments to clarify that trailers are vehicles; to add a business district to allow the Sheriff's Office to enforce the ordinance in commercial areas; to remove the requirement that the right-of-way must be posted; to eliminate the requirement that a vehicle be moved for at least eight hours within a 14 day period; to increase the number of days a recreational vehicle or trailer may be parked on right-of-way per calendar year; to eliminate the affidavit requirement for filing a complaint; and to clarify language throughout ordinance.

 

After the first reading, the proposed changes will be brought back for a public hearing on Jan. 15 at 8 a.m. in the first floor hearing room, 100 Jefferson County Parkway.