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Week of September 1, 2022
ADAMS & JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
WestminsterWindow.com
VOLUME 77 | ISSUE 45
Thornton Water Project waiting on court’s decision BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Thornton City Council unanimously approved an agreement between the city and Adams County for the construction of the Thornton Water Project in lieu of a 1041 permit. According to the agenda, Adams County and Thornton decided on an intergovernmental agreement instead of a 1041 permit, which many local governments use. Now, according to City Spokesper-
son Todd Barnes, all the city needs is to obtain a permit from Larimer County, or a court decision in favor of the project. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ website reads “these 1041 powers allow local governments to identify, designate, and regulate areas and activities of state interest through a local permitting process.” However, the Thornton Water Project has much history behind it. The entire Thornton Water Project is 74 miles long and it will
deliver water from a reservoir near Fort Collins, nearly doubling the city’s current water supply. Twelve miles of the pipeline will run through Larimer County, 34 miles through Weld County, and five miles through Adams County. The rest of the pipeline will go through municipalities throughout those three counties. Weld County landowners were influential opponents of Thornton when the city went through the permit application process. In 2019, the Weld County Planning Commission
LAST MINUTE WIN
recommended approval of the project, but protests from landowners caused the planning commission to reverse its recommendation in 2020. Residents’ complaints were also cited by commissioners as a reason for denying the permit at a hearing on May 5. A decision from Thornton’s council in June 2021 to override Weld County’s denial of the permit authorized the pipeline’s construction. SEE WATER, P4
Westminster approves Freitag’s contract BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Holy Family’s quarterback Rylan Cooney breaks loose for a 40-yard run during the fourth quarter of his team’s Aug. 26 PHOTO BY JONATHAN MANESS against Frederick. The Tigers won 27-26. See the story and more photos on page 16.
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
Mark Freitag survived the first official vote on his Westminster city manager contract, as council approved it on Aug. 22. City Councilors Sarah Nurmela and Obi Ezeadi voted no. His first city council meeting will be Oct. 24 and Interim City Manager Jody Andrews will resume his role as Deputy City Manager then. Freitag will be earnFreitag ing $265,000 a year with benefits and will be provided with a car. SEE FREITAG, P9
SECOND HAND LOVE
Finding prizes at unique thrift shops P12