JEFFERSON COUNTY
Foundation increases support of outdoor lab
A year after coordinating a community effort to save the Outdoor Lab School of Jefferson County, the Outdoor Lab Foundation continues to be a key supporter in the success of the Outdoor Lab program.
A separate 501(c)(3), the foundation raised $66,168.79 to support the capital maintenance needs of the two sites. The funds went to recertifying the fire systems and to putting a new roof on the Mount Evans astronomy lab.
A total of $255,613 went to local schools via the Lab Cards program to support tuition needs for students, with more than $190,000 still in reserves for future years.
Finally, the foundation brought more than $21,000 in in-kind and cash donations to the Lab School sites for much-needed projects and supplies.
“We are proud of the work we are doing for the Outdoor Lab program,” executive director Shannon Hancock said. “And we look forward to continuing to advocate for the labs helping to reach the goal of thriving and being self-sustaining.”
The Outdoor Lab Schools will host an open house Sept. 21. More details are available online at
WESTMINSTER
Infrastructure fee increase pays for maintenance needs. Westminster residents will see an increase in the monthly infrastructure fee on their utility bills beginning in 2014. The $1 per month ($12 per year) increase goes to pay for needed maintenance for streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and street lights.
There is a similar increase of $1 per month that will begin in 2015, which will bring the fee to $6 per month from its current $4 per month.
The infrastructure fee helps pay for ongoing maintenance to repair curbs, gutters and sidewalks that are deteriorating. Each dollar in the fee raises about $360,000 annually. This helps offset more than $1 million in annual spending to maintain curbs, gutters and sidewalks in our community.
Those efforts include improvements to bring older city sidewalks into compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
The fee also helps with ongoing energy and maintenance costs for more than 8,000 street lights in the city. The city will spend more than $2 million this year on street light energy and maintenance. This cost has been increasing an average of 3.7 percent annually.
Revenue from the infrastructure fee also frees up more money to help the city pay for major roadway paving projects. Street maintenance spending alone exceeds an average of $4 million each year.
Bid award approved for traffic signal at Front Range Community College. Westminster City Council has approved the award of the construction bid for the installation of a traffic signal on 112th Avenue at the east entrance to Front Range Community College.
The traffic signal is being funded with federal safety funds with the local match provided by Front Range Community College.
Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-September.
Project completion is anticipated in early January.
Students can get free homework help. Looking for a quiet place to do your homework after school?
Visit the Homework Center at the Irving Street Library, 7392 Irving St.
Volunteers are on hand to assist, and computers are available for homework assignments.
No registration required.
The Homework Center is open from 3-5:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. City of Westminster
