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Colorado - Wed. 01/22/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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COLORADO IDENTIFIES TOP FIVE TOXIC AIR CONTAMINANTS
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The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission on Friday named five pollutants as priority air toxics, one of the key steps in a multiyear process to ratchet back neighborhood air pollution. Those hazardous pollutants are formaldehyde, benzene, hexavalent chromium compounds, ethylene oxide and hydrogen sulfide. The contaminants are separate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas and ozone regulations, though four of the five of them appear on both lists. The new list, known as regulation 30, was created to target street-level toxins with adverse health effects on individuals, and to fill in gaps in the federal framework.
The list is the latest move to comply with Colorado House Bill 1244, passed in 2022, which laid out a roadmap to a more robust toxic contaminants program. One of the bill’s statutes required the Air Quality Control Commission and Air Pollution Control Division to identify “up to five” priority toxins by April 30, which will become the focus of a yearlong regulation-building process. By April 30, 2026, the commission must create “health-based” standards for each of the toxins and establish new monitoring and enforcement protocols.
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CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO'S ELEPHANTS ARE NOT "LEGAL PERSONS" UNDER THE LAW
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The Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a national animal rights organization’s ninth attempt to declare animals “legal persons” in court and secure them the right to challenge their confinement and custody. Activists with the Nonhuman Rights Project sued the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo last summer on behalf of the facility’s five elephants. The project’s organizers wanted to get the animals released into a sanctuary under the writ of habeas corpus, which protects people against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. El Paso County Court dismissed the case in June, ruling that the writ of habeas corpus doesn’t apply to elephants because animals do not qualify as “persons” under state or federal law.
The Nonhuman Rights Project appealed the case to the Colorado Supreme Court, which has now upheld that decision. The state’s Supreme Court justices disagreed with the activists and affirmed the district court’s June decision, ruling that habeas corpus does not apply to nonhuman animals, “no matter how cognitively, psychologically or socially sophisticated they may be.” Since 2013, the Nonhuman Rights Project has filed nine lawsuits, including this one, to free elephants and chimpanzees in New York, Colorado, California and Hawaii. It has yet to win a single case.
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KING SOOPERS WORKERS UNION SCHEDULES STRIKE VOTES FOR NEXT WEEK
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Denver-area grocery workers are going to vote next week on whether or not to strike against King Soopers again. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 scheduled votes for strike authorization on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30, after the contract between the union and King Soopers expired last week and union leaders rejected the grocer’s “last, best and final offer." The last time the union went on strike was in 2022 for nine days by about 8,000 workers at 78 Denver metro-area King Soopers and City Market stores, both under the Kroger corporate umbrella. It ended when the grocer and the union agreed on a three-year contract that expired last week, creating an estimated $170 million to $174 million worth of increases in wages, both for raises and increased starting salaries and health care benefits.
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ASPEN THRIFT SHOP COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR L.A. WILDFIRES
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The Aspen Thrift Shop and Aspen Fire Protection District are collecting donations for Los Angeles wildfire relief. Volunteers are gathering items like toothbrushes, diapers, soap, and clean clothes at the Aspen Fire Station. Aspen Fire Chief Rick Balentine and another volunteer will drive the supplies to Southern California. The effort aims to support firefighters and victims of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which have consumed nearly 40,000 acres and resulted in at least 27 deaths. The community is urged to donate new essentials, with a focus on practical, affordable items. The Aspen Fire Station serves as the primary drop-off location at 420 E. Hopkins Ave. While monetary donations are appreciated, donated goods provide immediate relief.
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FRUITA PICKS VASSEN AS NEW CITY MANAGER
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Fruita City Council unanimously voted to offer the vacant City Manager position to current Interim City Manager Shannon Vassen. Vassen will officially take over the permanent city manager position once the city manager contract is agreed upon by both the Fruita City Council and Vassen. The process for hiring a new city manager was extensive and Vassen stood out among the other 43 candidates for the position, a Tuesday news release said. A recruitment agency, Columbia Ltd, was contracted to manage the process.
Fruita City Council reviewed all 43 applications, and Columbia Ltd recommended 10 candidates to the City Council. From the top 10 candidates, City Council chose four to move forward to the final interview process. Vassen was selected interim city manager on Dec. 3 following the departure of Michael Bennett, who had held the position for 10 years. Bennett took over as Grand Junction City Manager on Dec. 2.
Vassen served as Fruita’s assistant city manager since 2023 and as the assistant to the city manager for Fruita in 2021-2022. Vassen has also worked as a management analyst for Fruita and previously worked for the City and County of Denver and Mesa County Dept. of Human Services.
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GRAND VALLEY POWER LOOKS TO BENEFIT FROM $13 MILLION GRANT FOR SOLAR POWER
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A recently awarded $13 million federal grant from Inflation Reduction Act funds will go far to defray the costs of electricity for Grand Valley Power customers while helping put it on a path to getting all its electricity from clean-energy sources. Grand Valley was selected to receive the grant over 15 years from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program. It plans to use the funds to obtain more than 26 megawatts of renewable energy from the Garnet Mesa Solar agrivoltaics facility under development in Delta County.
The arrangement is expected to power nearly 6,600 homes a year and produce more than $700,000 in cost savings to Grand Valley Power members per year. The project will cover about 40 percent of the power requirements of Grand Valley Power’s residential members. Grand Valley Power serves more than 16,000 members. More information will be available online at gvp.org.
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TELLURIDE MOUNTAIN CLUB PRESENTS: MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MOUNTAINS
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The Telluride Mountain Club proudly presents the third annual Mental Health in the Mountains event on Monday, Feb. 17 at the Sheridan Opera House, with the doors opening at 5:45 p.m. It will be an evening dedicated to breaking down barriers, building resilience and fostering connection around mental health. With the support of Alpine Bank and Tri-County Health Network as primary sponsors, as well as contributions from Jagged Edge Mountain Gear, Arc'teryx, the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office and Telluride Rotary Club, this event promises to inspire hope, empathy and actionable change. The evening features a screening of the film Feel It All and an inspiring on-stage discussion with journalist and former Telluride ski patroller Paddy O’Connell (PaddyO) and professional skier and filmmaker Drew Petersen.
Mental Health in the Mountains has become a cornerstone event for the Telluride community, providing a space to address the unique mental health challenges faced in mountain towns. Join in an evening of laughter, tears and connection as we build a healthier, more resilient community.
Free tickets are available for community members facing financial barriers. To receive a no-questions-asked promo code, email info@telluridemountainclub.org. For questions about the event, contact Operations Director, Sophie Fabrizio at sophie@telluridemountainclub.org.
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GUNNISON HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION RECOGNIZES RANCHING HISTORY
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Last month, the Gunnison County Historic Preservation Commission recognized the Allen family for its contributions to the valley’s cattle ranching history. The beginnings of the Allen Ranch came about in 1886 when an immigrant from Scotland, John M. Allen, bought a homestead just north of Gunnison in the lower Ohio Creek Valley. He first came to this country at age 19, arriving in New York City on July 4, 1868. The booming of cannons in celebration of the day alarmed him with fear of another civil war. They prompted him to exit the city and begin what would become his migration west.
A tailor by trade, he also worked in mining, construction and retail in a variety of places. It was not until 1882 that he and his wife, Lucia Ella, settled in Gunnison where John opened a mercantile. He gradually purchased more acreage with the proceeds and began improving the land, erecting buildings and establishing a cattle herd. It was an arduous task in those times, but especially so for a man who had lost a leg from the knee down. John and Lucia had seven children, four of whom survived to adulthood. All of the fourth generation have worked on or been involved in the ranch in different capacities. Most still do, often along with their spouses.
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SOUTHWESTERN WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT AWARDED $25.6M GRANT
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The Southwestern Water Conservation District was awarded a $25.6 million grant from the Bureau of Reclamation after more than 30 entities representing regional and local shareholders collaborated on the application in an unprecedented partnership. The Upper Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation Program, known as ‘B2E,’ is a funding initiative under the Inflation Reduction Act. It offers grants to public entities and tribes with the goal of tackling drought-related challenges through ecosystem and habitat restoration.
The SWCD said the funding will go to 17 projects aimed at supporting aquatic ecosystems during periods of drought across the Dolores and San Juan River Basins in Southwest Colorado. The projects will address three broad categories: the removal of invasive plants, erosion control and habitat connectivity. The projects were selected on their feasibility, readiness and level of local engagement, and had the support of 37 different federal, state, tribal and local entities representing regional and local stakeholders. The large-scale partnership is an application framework that had not previously been implemented in Southwest Colorado.
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OPEN HOUSE ON PROPOSED PUBLIC SPACE NEAR VAIL HEALTH, TODAY
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The town of Vail will host an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. today, Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Vail Public Library Community Room to share ideas and gather feedback on a proposed new public gathering space near Vail Health, Dobson Ice Arena and the library. Referred to as Lot 10, the property is located at 281 West Meadow Drive and is currently used as a parking lot. The project arises from the anticipated redevelopment of the Evergreen Lodge property, providing a unique opportunity to create a public space on both public and private land. An initial draft plan has been created to show one possible design concept, which includes two levels.
The lower level is located on the town-owned Lot 10, with the upper level located on Evergreen property. The two levels would have a public connection between Meadow Drive and the South Frontage Road. Representatives from the town and the Evergreen will be on hand to listen to community ideas and collect feedback. Those who are unable to attend the open house are encouraged to review the project plans, provide input and subscribe to receive project updates at EngageVail.com/lot10park. For more information, contact Gregg Barrie, the town of Vail’s landscape architect, at gbarrie@vail.gov.
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COWBOY DOWNHILL CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
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Not even Monday’s frigid temperatures could slow down the 50th Bud Light Cowboy Downhill as the rodeo stars traded in their cowboy boots for skis and chased the chance to race down the Stampede trail at the Steamboat Resort. Larry Mahan, a world champion rodeo cowboy and bull rider, started the event along with Steamboat Springs skiing legend Billy Kidd in 1975.
On Monday, Meeker cowboy Jace Logan, who grew up in South Routt County, took the lead in the men’s dual slalom event with a time of 24.24 seconds. Ari-Anna Flynn, a barrel racer from Charleston, Arkansas, finished in a time of roughly 1 minute and 10 seconds to win the women’s race. That racing event was followed by the infamous “Stampede” — an all-out race from the top of the hill to the finish line at the bottom. That event was won by saddle bronc rider Brody Wells from Powell, Wyoming. “Best Crash” honors went to Dalton Williams, a bareback rider from Loveland.
The field of 66 competitors was made up of members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Professional Bull Riders, bringing together athletes coming from across the U.S., Canada and even Australia. The cowboys and cowgirls are in Colorado to compete in the National Western Stock Show in Denver and include bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders as well as steer wrestlers, barrel racers, rodeo queens and calf ropers who turned their spurs in for skis on Monday.
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WOMEN UNITED SIP & PAINT FUNDRAISER BENEFITS BABY SUPPLIES
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Women United, an arm of nonprofit United Way of the Yampa Valley, is hosting its fourth annual Sip and Paint Fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 at Bud Werner Memorial Library Hall in Steamboat Springs. The 21-and-up event will include wine and will raise funds to purchase newborn and infant supplies for the Women United Community Baby Shower that benefits local health and human service organizations to provide baby supplies for families in need. Last year Women United donated more than 5,000 diapers, 7,000 wipes and 125 packets of baby food to five local agencies to distribute to their clients.
The ticket includes all art supplies, drinks and a personal charcuterie bento box. Local artists Cindy Wither, Joanne Orce and Emma Friedland, will be on hand to help attendees create their own unique paintings. The creative evening can be enjoyed with friends or as a date night with a significant other. Tickets for the event are $125, with $100 being a tax-deductible donation, and can be purchased at Unitedwayoftheyampavalley.org/women-united.
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WHEN DID DILLON RESERVOIR FREEZE OVER? LATER THAN USUAL
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The Dillon Reservoir froze over this month on Jan. 9, later than average, according to Denver Water. Denver Water spokesperson Jimmy Luthye said that on average the Dillon Reservoir freezes over on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. When the reservoir freezes over in the winter, it becomes a playground for recreational activities, from cross-country skiing to ice fishing, ice hockey, dogsled racing, kiteboarding and more. With a capacity of 257,300 acre-feet and almost 27 miles of shoreline, the Dillon Reservoir diverts water under the Continental Divide through the Harold D. Roberts Tunnel, providing a source of drinking water to Denver and the Front Range.
The reservoir is currently about 80 percent full. Denver Water began keeping records on when the reservoir froze over beginning in 1966, about three years after the dam was created. In those 59 years of record-keeping at the reservoir, this is only the 11th time that the man-made body of water has frozen over later than Jan. 1, Luthye said. The latest the reservoir has ever frozen over was Jan. 31, 1981, while the earliest it ever froze over was Dec. 10, 1962.
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IRS ANNOUNCES TAX FILING SEASON TO BEGIN
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Tax filing season is set to begin on Jan. 27. Businesses must file wage statements and certain information returns with the federal government by Jan. 31. Filing the required forms error-free by the deadline not only helps payers and recipients avoid penalties but also helps the IRS fight fraud by making it easier to verify income information. The Jan. 31 deadline applies to employers filing Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, with the Social Security Administration. Jan. 31 is also the deadline for businesses to provide 2024 Form W-2 to employees. For more information, read the IRS announcement at https://bit.ly/42mQuOu.
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IRS 2025 TAX FILING SEASON OPENS JAN. 27
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According to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, the entire IRS has been working to get ready for the opening of the 2025 tax filing season on Jan. 27. The date marks when IRS will begin accepting paper and electronic tax returns.
- The agency expects more than 140 million individual tax returns to be filed by Tax Day, April 15, 2025.
- More than half of all tax returns are expected to be filed this year with the help of a tax professional.
- Many software companies and tax preparers will accept tax returns before opening day. For clarity, that doesn't mean that your tax return will be filed early—the IRS will begin processing returns when the season officially opens.
- The tax season filing deadline will be April 15, 2025. If you live or work in a federally declared disaster area, you may have additional time to file.
- As of the end of last year, the IRS issued 104,866,000 tax refunds. The average tax refund was nearly $3,138, and most were issued via direct deposit. (The IRS says that’s the fastest way to get your refund.)
- This year, the IRS anticipates issuing more than nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days. Although the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, the IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a refund by a specific date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take longer.
- If you need help this tax season, it is available. In addition to the resources above, the IRS has developed a Get Ready page on IRS.gov to highlight steps taxpayers can take to streamline the filing process.
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MARKET UPDATE - 01/21/2025 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 01/16/2025)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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