https://thorntonco.cvlcollections.org/files/original/369246996719bfabe2d9850f688d3556.pdf 3b0facf5747ff373a62d88a6ef711b46 PDF Text Text Ir •-cf------------------------------------------------------------------- atter _-;-e City :\fONTHLY :"JEWS FOR THORNTON CITY E:\fPLOYEES Vol. 10 No. 2 February 27, 1981 Prom tfie Cityc':}Aa4ager $ CJJes~ When the City offices first moved to the present Washington street location in 1975, · it was known that the building would be outgrown within five to ten years. Therefore, in late 1978, the City began looking for an architect to desjgn a City complex on land which had previously been acquired at approximately 96th Avenue and Grant Street. After considering sev~ral proposals, a contract was signed with t~e architectural firm of Seracuse Lawler and Partners in February, 1979. Representatives of Seracuse Lawler began talking with every department and division than now occupies City Hall, the Annex, and the Public Safety Building. After receiving the fundamental information on floor space and persqnnel required up to 1981, as well as information on estimated new requirements bet~een 1981 and 1990, the architects begari putting together sp~ce plans for each area. These space plans were reviewed, re-reviewed arid reviewed again by staff. . We now anticipate going to construction bid sometime in late spring, and breaking ground in early summ~r. If all goes well, we still expect to move in sometime in late December of 1982 or early January of 1983. The next project to be undertaken, once construction is underway, will be to prepare the actual layout of furniture and the selectio~ of a telephone system. The buildings are designed to be both functional and attractive. It will be a complex we can all be very proud of, and the nucleus for well-planned, attractive commercial and industrial development for our City. Copies of the latest floor plans will be available for your review in the break room ~t City Half, the Annex, the Clty Shops, and the Police and Fire Departm~nts. In approximately July of 1980, when it was felt that all element~ were considered as well as co~ld be under theie speculative circumstances, the architects began preparing design development drawings (floor plans) of the new City Hall and ~djacent Pub! ic Safety Building. Numerous meetings were held and many minor changes were made in work areas, storage areas, equipment areas, and e.ven the lunch room, to accomodate the many questions and suggestions made by the staff personnel. This phase was recently completed, and the architects are now starting into the construction blue prints which will indicate all detail work, i ,e., elecirical plugs, 1 i~hting, plumbing, heating ducts, etc. - �~ -✓ NEWS FROM: Employee Continuing Education rnrn~rnrnliYIT□@~ GOOD HEALTH IS GOOD NEWS Take care, good health is something you just can't take for granted. That's why KBTV, Channel 9, is sponsoring free health screening on Wednesday, Apri 1 8, from TO :00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Thornton Recreation Center. You'll have a chance to check your height and weight, blood pressure, and vision. Have a personal health history taken, and get professional counseling and tips on how· ~o stay hea 1 thy. The Thornton Recreation Center-9 HEALTH FAIR site is still in need of non-medical volunteers. If you are interested, pl~ase contact Dorothy Stephenson at 287-5569. A HEALTHY. YOU MAKES A HAPPY US! KBTV CHANNEL 9 and THORNTON RECREATION . - ... ..__.: ......... P.O. NEWS FROM: ~(l~~~D~@ Congratulations go to Vicki Brightbill, who was chosen Employee of tbe Month for January. She was recommended "as one of the most valued employess in both the Division· and Department." Vicki has implemented a number of ways to make the Planning Division more ~fficieht, has prepared and updated material for use by the public, and has also taken over as the editor of the "City Chatter." Vicki received a check for $25.00 and a plaque from the City Council on January- 26, 1981. Ms. Brightbill 's birthday was omitted by the editor of the "Citj Chatter." So ..". a belated Happy Birthday to Vicki. Next year, look for Vicki on February 21, to wish her a Happy Birthday. K.W./P.A.V.G. Design your own degree program: Bachelor's, Masters, Doctoral--you choose the field of study. Columbia Pacific University offers a program in which you can design your own Independent Study Project working with a faculty mentor. You set your own pace in completing the project. Cost for a degree program starts at approximately $2,500 and up, depending on the degree sought. School brochures are available in Personnel. The cost is not covered under the City's tuition reimbursement program. B.P. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gary Wilmes Fame La Ramirez Fred Davidson KaroZ Schrrridt Fred Finley Joseph Leete Char l.ee McAffee Joel: SideU · C'ha:rZes Amen Penny Con Zin Nicholas Uhernik Louise Vicory Charles Stanford John Price William Ross Benito Candelario John Bales Fame La Meis · Robert Weeks .Aro Norden EZ Zen Kenney Eve Zy'n Utterback Fire 3/2 PayroU 3/4 3/6 Line Maintenance Fire_ 3/? 3/8 Purchasing Fire 3/9 3/9 Fire Police 3/9 3/14 Thornton Plant 3/16 City Clerk 3/1? Police· 3/1? Police 3/18 Fleet Maintenance 3/18 Building 3/19 Western HiUs 3/21 Sanitation 3/21 Fire 3/22 ·Administration 3/25 Sanitation 3/28 Fleet Maintenance 3/29 Recreation · 3/31 Utility BiUing page 2 �NEWS FROM: [p(l!JW[10~ W@W~~ m NEW EMPLOYEES Public \Jorks is proud to welcome two new employees--Beckie Gregory, Clerk II in the Administrative Division, and Ken Swearengin, Project Inspector in the Engineering Division. We are so very happy to have them, and wish them much success with their new positions. PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES HONORED A special luncheon was held this month honoring several Public Works e~ployees as outstanding employees within our Department. These employees all received outstanding performance evaluation ratings during the year of 1980. They were as follows: Sharon Brooke, Admin. Clerk II, Administrative Division; Ben Candelario, Equipment Operator, Mike_Ehrm~n, Equipment Operator, John Pustek, Equipment Operator, Jim Scheer, Equipment Opefator, and Doyle Weeks, Equipment Operator, all of the Sanitation Division; and Kevin Salmen, Equipment Operator, of the Streets Division. · A hearty congratulations to all of these outstanding employees. A special congratulations goes to Kevin Salmen for being selected as the Public Works Employee of the Month for January .. Kevin and his supervisor will be treated to a luncheon. SUMMER DROUGHT? Many of us have certainly been enjoying · the warm winter we have been experiencing so far this year. But, warm, dry weather presents the problem of drought in the spring and summer. Public Works put together some figures relating to the predrought .season of 1977-78, and compared them to this ~inter s figures. This information · was for the period from October l through January 31: 1930..:s1 1977-78 Mileage 4,519 4,743 Manhours 499 462 Tons of Sand/Salt 1,666 2,289 There are definate similafities. We all need to hope for a lot of spring rain! 1 NEWS FROM: ODTI□[1□ □ 0 u rn~ rn~@o~rnrnmo~@ UTILITIES EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR The City of Thornton Utilities Department takes great pleasure in announcing the 1980 employee of the year, Mr. Gary Hill. At the present time, Gary Hill is Chief Utilities Inspector in the Utilities Engineering Department. He has been employed by the City for 2 years, and in that short span of time, has been a real asset to Thornton. Mr. Hill has shown a sincere desire to improve himself ~nd the Utilities Department and be a role model for all employees. Mr. Hill has worked on many very important Utilities projects. He was responsible for the inspection of the North Thornton Transmission Line. His ability to coordinate such a huge project as well as perform the on-site inspection was extraordinary. This project was completed on schedule and resulted in a savings of over $80,000, much to Gary s credit. Gary performed as the inspector on the Thornton/North~lenn Severance Contract and did an excellent job of coordination between the contractor, the two cities, and the public affected by the contract. The surprising lack of problems with the contract can be attributed -to Gary s thoroughness and initiative. Lloyd Gronning, Utilities Director, stated, "Gary is a conscientious employee and will benefit the Utilities Department -by his expertise in the field of engineering. He certainly iS deserving of the award. 1 1 11 ~~~~~~~£y,!0~ SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations go the the Kevin Salmen f?.mily. Kevin is an Equipment Operator for the Streets Division. On Saturday, Februe ry 21, 1981, Kevin and his wife became the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy. His name is Derrick Scott, and he weighs 5 pounds, 11 ounces. Best Wi_shes to all of you from all of us! S.6. page ,, �c,e ,un ~ .c .-,,I ' 0 ._ i Sun Fans, It's Tax Time again and here's some good news on Energy Tax deductions, F.Y.I. Colorado taxpayers can take advantage of one of the highest tax credits in the country, plus other tax incentives, for installing solar and other renewable energy efficiency of existing hones and bu.i.Id.inqs , With the passage of iie« state and federal legislation in 1980. taxpayers, in sane cases, can recoup 70 cents on the dollar spent for a solar or other renewable energy system in. the form of tax credits. A tax credit is subtracted from the arrount of state· or .federal taxes, you may subtract the unused portion from roth your state and federal taxes in future years. ;~~@@:~~~ If Recent changes in Employee Health Care programs are as follows: COLORAOO COMPRECARE 1) Out-of-Area Emergency: The member will pay 50% up to the first $150, and Comprecare will pay 100% thereafter. 2) Allergy Treatment: a $50 co-payment will apply for each diagnostic exam. A $10 co-payment will apply to each visit. 3) Sterilizations: a $125 co-payment will apply to all sterilizations. 4) Outpatient Physical Itierapy: a $50 co-payment will apply to each outpatient physical therapy session. 5) Outpatient Prescription Drugs: the co-payment on prescriptions will increase from $2.00 to $3.00 per prescription. Colorado taxpayers can subtract from their state incorre taxes up to-30 percent of the cost of eligible solar, wind or geothernal energy systems. This rreans they subtract the credit from what~they owe in taxes. Credi ts can be claimed for the first $10,000 expended per residence, for a maxirnim state credit of $3,000. KAISER 1). Mental Health Services: Services have been expanded to include up to 20 outpatient visits and 20 days of inpatient hosp i tat care per calendar year. A $2.00 registratibn fee will be charged at ~ach visit. B.P. RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDI'IS The state credit applies to expe.Dditures made by the taxpayer on his principal residence between January 1, 1980 and January 1, 1986. Unused credits may be carried forward five years after the expenditure is made. Principal residence is defined as a dwelling unit occupied by the taxpayer for at least. six rronths during the taxable year, and includes a rental unit, an owner· occupied hare, a condorrun.ium unit or an interest in a cooperative housing corporation. · The credi~ is available to the first person who.actually uses the renewable energy resource system. This could be the-person 'who added a system to his hare. Or, it could be the first principal resident of a newly l::uilt home. Also, it 'it.Ould cover the first o..mer and user of a hone that had been rerrodeled, retrofitted with a Continued on page 5 NEWS FROM: fIDOJJO[L[Q)O~@ [Q)~~&ffiiU~~~U We would like to welcome to our City and our Department, Ralph Overbay, our new Chi~f Building Official. He comes to us from Corvallis, Oregon, where he held the position of Chief Building Off1cial. We hope he has made himself at home in his new surroundings and urge him to take a chance ... play a game of cards with the inspectors!! c.s. page~ �~ . .. Continued from page 4 renewable energy system, and then resold by a real estate s:peculator (the l::uyer gets the credit). Eligible expenditures are the same as those under the federal Energy Tax Act of 1978 which excludes :p::x)l heating, photovoltaics, 'M)()d stoves and heat pwnps. Passive solar systems such as greenhouses (also excludoo from the Federal credits) are eligible for state credits. Under the state law, passive energy systems include "passive structural features which are designed to provide a calculated r.et energy gain to the structure from renewable energy sources rut excludes those parts of the structural system that wuld be required regardless of the energy source being utilized." G1.1ildlines on eligible passive solar energy features are available from the Colorado Office of Energy Conservation or the Department of Revenue. '\Bl~ ,. .--::-,. \. ~ energy features, to material or comfOnents which do not serve any other structural function-like a wall--ceiling or floor-in the building. Wood stoves, greenhouses, Trornbe walls, heat poops and leased systems are not eligible for the federal tax credit, just to mention a few. The credit may be taken on any new home acquired during the eligibility :periOd. EXAMPLE Say a Colorado resident l::uys and installs a $2,000 solar energy sistem to supply domestic hot water to his home. Under the 30 :percent Colorado credit, he can deduct $600 of that cost from his state incorre taxes. He also can decuct 40 :percent-or another $800--from his federal incorre taxes. That rreans $1,400 of the.original $2,000 cost can be recouped through lower state and federal incorre taxes. If this :person's state incorre tax bill for the first year after installation was only $400, he could reduce it to nothing that year, and then reduce his next year's incone tax bill by another $200. The same can be done on federal incorre taxes from year to year. LIMITATIO.~S FEDERAL Both the state and federal tax credits are "non-refundable," which rreans the total credit can never exceed the total arrotint of incorre ·taxes due. If you don't pay any inccme tax, you can 't get additional rroney refunded to cover the solar tax credit. Federal taxpayers can subtract from their federal incorre taxes up to 40 percent of the cost of eligible solar, wind or geo- thermal energy systems. The federal tax· credit was increased in 1980 by the·u.s. Congress. Credits can be claimed for the first $10,000 expended, for a maxirnum allowable federal credit of $4;000. Also, the federal renewable energy credits may be limited or prohibited if the system was financed with a governrrent grant or subsidized under a government low-interest loan program for financing conservation or renewable energy. Contact the Office of Energy Conservation if you have questions. The nev federal credit is effective January 1, 1980, and runs through January 1, 1986. Unused credits may be carried forward through the 1987 tax year. The system rrust be installed in or on your principal residence, which can be owned or rented •. All systems eligible for the state or federal tax credits must be reasonably expected to last five years after installation. The 1980 arrendments to the federal tax credit added photovoltaics and other solar systems that produce electricity. Also, .the federal credit limits passive solar . COWRAOO PROPERI'Y TAX BREAK Legislation passed in 1979 defers pro:perty tax assessment on solar systems until 1990. Although·improverrents and pro:perty are gencont inued on page 6 pag-=E (., �con trt.nuec: J iorn 2u.0,:; ..; erally assessed at 30 percent of their value for taxation purposes, solar and alternative energy properties or improvements are not to l:::e assessed until 1990. The deferment applies to a system, mechanism, or device which is designed to utilize solar energy (active, passive, or hybrid), geothennal, renewable biomass, or wind resources. The definition includes any passive structural design element which is an integral p:i.rt of the alternate energy system, device, or mechanism, l::ut applies only to costs in excess of conventional design and construction costs. It applies to new and retrofit construction on any taxrlhle property. ENERGY ca-JSERVATICN TAX CREDITS COLORAJX) Colorado taxpayers can subtract from their state incare taxes up to 20 per:cent of the cost of new energy conservation measures, including insulation, storm or thermal windows and doors, caulking and weatherstripping, autc:rnat.:t.c setback therrrostats, furnace rrodifications to improve efficiency, and meters that display the cost of energy use. Credits can l:::e claimed for the first $2,000 spent on these items and their installation, for a maxirrum al.Lowable credit of $400. Also, the Colorado credits apply only to conservation measures in excess of state energy efficiency code requirements for new construction. These requirements call for R-19 ceiling insulation, R-11 wall insulation, R-11 floor insulation (over unheated areas) , double-pane windows, and weatherstripping around exterior doors. The state energy conservation tax credits apply to expenditures l:::etween January 1, 1980, and January 1, 1986. Unused portions of the credit can l:::e carried forward for five years after the year of the expenditure. FEDERAL Federal taxpayers can credit against their federal incorne taxes up to 15 percent of the cost of new energy conservation rneasures for the same iterns covered by the state tax credit. Credi!:s can l:::e claimed for the first $2,000 s:pent on these itenis 2nd their installation, for a maximum allowable federal credit of $300. The federal energy conservation credits cover expenditures made l:::etween April 20, 1977, and Decemter 31, 1985. Unused portions of the credit can l:::e carried forward from year to year, until the expiration date. Example Say a Colorado taxpayer upgraded the energy efficiency of his horne by installing $1,500 worth of insulation, stonn windows, stonn doors, and weatherstripping and.caulking. He can deduct 20 percent of that arrount $300 - from his state incorre taxes, and another 15 persent - $225 - from his federal incare taxes. That means $525 of the original $1,500 investrnent can l:::e recouped through lower state and federal incorre taxes. LIMITATICNS Both the state and federal energy conservation tax credits are non-refundable which is explained in the section on r'enewahl.e energy tax credits. Also, all materials eligible for the state and federal tax credits nust l:::e reasonably expected to last three years after installation. Federal credits apply only to horres which v.iere wilt l:::efore April 20, 1977. FURI'HER Th'FD~TICN Colorado Energy Extension Service Check for. a local EES office in your corrmunity or contact the state EES, 1600 Downing Street, Denver, CO 80218. Telephone: 839-2186. Colorado Office of Energy Conservation ReneWc;ible Energy Resources Division 1600 Downing Street, Denver, CO 80218 Telephone 839-2186. Colorado Department of.Revenue Capitol Annex Building, 1375 Sherman Street Denver, CO 80203. Telephone 839-5600. U.S. Internal Revenue Service Denver District Office, 1050 17th Street Denver, co 80203 Telephone 825-7041. PATSY KALLMAN page 6 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource City Chatter, the Voice of Thornton Employees Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public Domain: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/</a> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1972-1982 Subject The topic of the resource Municipal officials and employees--Colorado--Thornton Newsletters Description An account of the resource Drafts and published volumes of City Chatter, a newsletter by and for city employees. It was published for roughly a decade from 1972 to 1982 and contains articles relating to local events, developments in city government, and other topics relevant to city employees. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Thornton, Colorado Type The nature or genre of the resource Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource City of Thornton Language A language of the resource eng Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context COTA-001 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/</a> Title A name given to the resource City Chatter vol. 10 no. 2 Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1981-02-27 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource City of Thornton Description An account of the resource Issue of the City Chatter, internal newsletter for City of Thornton employees Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. Thornton Subject The topic of the resource Municipal officials and employees Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context COTRG0204099 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Thornton Language A language of the resource eng EAD Archive The Encoded Archival Description is a common standard used to describe collections of small pieces and to create hierarchical and structured finding aids. Arrangement Information on how the described materials have been subdivided into smaller units. C:\Users\amilliga\Digital Archive Items