November 1, 2012
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourarvadanews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 8, Issue 23
Council approves utility rate increase
DECKED OUT
Average rates will increase $31.20 per year By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews.com
A French Bulldog takes a ride along Grandview Avenue in a toy car Sunday during Paws ‘n’Play Howl-oween costume contest and trick or treating for dogs in Arvada. Photo by Andy Carpenean
Romney rallies support Republican candidates gather at Red Rocks By Sara Van Cleve
svancleve@ourcoloradonews.com More than 10,000 people packed Red Rocks Amphitheatre Oct. 23 to welcome presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney back to Jefferson County the day after the third and final presidential debate. Romney visited the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden on Aug. 3. “I’m not happy with what’s happened in the last four years, and I think Romney can make a difference in the next eight,” said Art Foss of Westminster, a member of the Reagan Club of Colorado and a Romney supporter. The former Massachusetts governor brought an entourage of supporters including his vice presidential running mate U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Colorado Rockies infielder Todd Helton, singers Rodney Atkins and Kid Rock, former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, Jefferson County Commissioner John Odom, U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner of Colorado and several other state leaders. Several speakers expressed support for Romney and reminded the crowd that Colorado could be the deciding factor this election. When Ryan took the stage thousands cheered. He referred to the final presidential debate and said Romney showed the country for a third time that he is ready to be a great president. “What we witnessed is a man with a vision, a man with bold ideas, a man with solutions. What we also witnessed is a president who is out of ideas,” Ryan said. “We witnessed a president who really has no record to run on, what we witnessed is a president who is simply offering more of the same, and you know what, Colo-
Mitt Romney and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan wave to supporters Oct. 23 concluding a rally at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Campaign supporters New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and country music artist Rodney Atkins applaud. Photo by Andy Carpenean rado, we can’t afford four more years like these last four years.” He noted that Colorado is one of several swing states considered key to the results of the election due to the Electoral College. “This election we’re not just picking the next president for the next four years, we’re picking the direction and the course of our country for a generation. This is that kind of an election,” he said. As several registered Democrats held signs on stage that said “Democrats for Romney,” Romney called for the crowd to reach out to voters of all parties to participate in the election. “We need you to reach across the neighborhood to Democrats, and Independents as well, to make sure they know and they understand that this is the year to vote for real change if you want real recovery,” Romney said. “The president’s out of ideas, he’s out of excuses and in
November you’re going to make sure he’s out of office.” Romney said he is the better candidate and discussed his history of his successes as well as saying Obama’s “status quo campaign” is losing steam. “The president said he is a president of change, but in fact he has become a president of status quo, and the policies of the president are a continuation of what we’ve seen over the last four years,” Romney said. “He calls his campaign slogan ‘Forward,’ I think ‘forewarned’ is a better term.” Romney also discussed his five-step plan for the country if he is elected president. His plan includes making America energy independent within eight years, improving trade to make it benefit America and improving education by putting students, parents and teachers before teacher unions.
Residents will see a small increase in utility bills next year after City Council approved increases to begin Jan. 1 as part of the 2013-14 budget. The unanimous decision came during council’s Oct. 22 meeting. The increases will cost the average household an additional $2.60 per month, or $31.20 per year. Arvada Water defines the average household as a single-family standalone home with three to four residents. The average household will see its annual utility bill jump from $732 to $763 when the new year begins. Jim Sullivan, the director of utilities for the city of Arvada, said rate increases for water and wastewater were necessary for several reasons. “One, we obtain water from Denver Water and Denver Water has had a significant increase for use,” Sullivan said. “Two, we’ve had an increase in the infrastructure replacement program; we have pipes that were put in the ground in the ’60s and ’70s and are reaching the point where they need to be replaced.” The increase for waste water, which is the city’s sanitary sewer system, is due to increases by Metro Wastewater Reclamation District. “They run the regional wastewater treatment and flows generated by Arvada end up there,” Sullivan said. “They are having rebuild their plant so they can meet the stream; the increases are needed for construction.” Arvada’ combined utilities, which includes water, wastewater and stormwater, cost the average single-family household $732 in 2012. In 2012, Arvada had the lowest utility rate out of Littleton, Denver, Golden, Westminster, Lakewood and Aurora, Sullivan said. Sullivan said he expects Arvada customers to continue having one of the lowest utility rates in the Denver-metro area despite the increase. The stormwater utility, which is used to fund mainly needed drainage projects, will not see an increase in 2013 because the current fund is sufficient for upcoming projects as of right now because construction prices held steady, Sullivan said. For more information on the water and wastewater rate increases, call the city of Arvada Utilities Department at 720-898-7760.
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