A city that for over a decade has not only refused to do economic development (in a true sense), but has lost jobs and is now planning to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize developers, under the guise of “economic development.”
A city that, for over a decade, has done nothing to improve the path conditions along Alameda Avenue, in Ward 4. Nor have any improvements have been made to alleviate the traffic increases at Union and Alameda.
To be fair, the city did spend an untold amount of money to add “roundabouts” on Green Mountain Drive. Perfectly placed to create a road hazard with any amount of snow.
A city that has been lecturing the citizens about how the citizens should be planting trees, to cool the city, you know? The same city that is now allowing an-out-of-state developer to destroy a much-beloved park at Belmar, while chopping down dozens of decades-old trees.
A city where for years now the recreational fields at Carmody Park are in an awful shape. Fields where parents actually pay a fee to have their children play.
They “fixed it” this year:
And this is a park that has favorable political sunshine on it.
A city, where instead of maintaining the hiking and biking trails damaged by runoff, a sign is placed, telling you to be careful. You should see what the head of parks gets paid, though.
A city, where the City Council goes in to executive sessions, to decide on even more perks for a City Manager, while the needs of thousands of residents are ignored and the city is millions over budget:
A city, where the citizens are lectured about how they should not be driving, to save the environment and stuff. While the city has failed to champion any sort of real economic development, so that thousands of people would not have to drive out of the city for work.
A city, where the citizens are told not to drive, while the aforementioned City Manager gets paid for mileage, just to go to work. A City Manager that lives in the city. Gets paid to drive to work. Do you?
Here is an exert from City Manager’s contract:
Source: Lakewood City Manager Contract
The taxpayers, it seems also get to pay for the privilege of the department heads using the medical benefits, after they leave. Do you get a perk such as that with your employer?
The City Manager also has a retirement perk that seems more geared for a CEO than a “public servant”.
In just one year, the city spends about $100,000,000 just on staff alone. To be fair, some of that is police, which the city’s council has been hamstringing from even enforcing the laws that exist.
Here are the compensation numbers, just for the “department heads” (as of two years ago – you may want to see the updated ones for 2024):
As you walk around the neglected parks and drive on Kipling where the road surface has been in need of repair for years and most of the lights are out on some of the sections, may be think about asking the city what has it done with the tens of millions it receives every year, before even getting to the TABOR refunds? Perhaps start off by looking at the expenditure trends of the planning and city manager’s departments?
So when Lakewood asks for your TABOR refund (for parks and police of course), ask the city – why are millions spent on just the planning and the city manager’s offices alone and why is the city millions over budget every year? The cuts should have happened years ago, with money saved then be used for the parks, police, economic development and road and infrastructure maintenance. But, instead, the city is now spending thousands of dollars of your money for marketing research to see how to manipulate the residents in to allowing the city to keep millions more from the TABOR-mandated refunds.
The Express Employment Professionals of Lakewood will formally recognize an ownership transition via a ribbon cutting this coming Wednesday. This office has been a staple in the community since 1998 and has provided thousands of locals with jobs in the Light Industrial, Skilled Trades, and Office Professional fields. The office is being bought by Troy McLeland, the current owner of Express Employment Professionals in Downtown Denver. He has been an owner of the Express Franchise for almost seven years, and we’re so excited to watch him bring his expertise to Lakewood’s community.
We would love to see the community there to raise awareness of our staffing agency’s FREE services.
We help people in the community find jobs at no cost to them, and we’re so excited to be a part of this community.
Room 110 at the Mountain View Inn has everything Joyce Gonzales needs.
“It’s small, but it serves the purpose, you know, for me,” she said.
Over the last three years, she has worked at a nearby gas station to pay $425 a week needed to live here. From the pots and pans on the wall of her kitchen to the small couch and TV in her living space, she has made it a home.
“Don’t have much but it’s all I have. I don’t want to lose it,” Gonzales said.
Here is an example of how much Jeffco schools’ staff wanted to keep quiet the talks about Emory and the City of Lakewood/Action Center. The conversation in this clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWRI8v0vpl8 occurred at the very end of the November 1, 2023 Board of Ed study session. Staff was directly asked why they wanted the property declared surplus and their answer was that it was big and potentially costly to maintain. There was no mention that they had most likely been approached by, and had discussions with, Lakewood and possibly others. That was deceptive at best and lying by omission at worst. This deprived the Board, and community, of very important information. There is something very wrong with what transpired that evening.
Lakewood citizens are becoming increasingly frustrated over the amount of shoplifting, vandalism, and “less important” crimes that are not being pursued by the police. And rightfully so!
Not long ago, my wife and I watched a man, pushing a shopping cart full of items at Home Depot, breeze through the self-checkout area – bypassing the opportunity to pay for the items – and head to the parking lot. We looked at the cashier/attendant with stunned expressions on our faces, as we watched the Home Depot personnel do nothing. Her response was, “The police won’t do anything, so we just let them go.”
For a fleeting moment, I thought about canceling my purchase and just loading the items in the cart and heading to my car… Remember, I said “for a fleeting moment.” I wonder if I would have been treated in the same manner as the thief who had the shopping cart full of items. Chances are good that Home Depot would have alerted the police if I tried to steal the same merchandise.
If I had been pursued by the police and the other person wasn’t, it would be a case of “Selective Prosecution.” Selective prosecution should be distinguished from “Prosecutorial Discretion.” Historically, prosecutors have had broad discretion to pursue those cases where the facts support a conviction and elect not to pursue matters where the facts are less clear. However, as we read the news the lines between “Prosecutorial Discretion” and “Selective Prosecution” have become blurred – perhaps intentionally.
“Prosecutorial Discretion” has been in the news recently when a federal prosecutor elected not to charge Mr. X in a matter relating to stolen classified documents. Mr. X kept those documents in his garage next to his Corvette. In electing not to indict Mr. X, the prosecutor noted that he was an elderly man with a poor memory and those facts made it problematic in obtaining a conviction. Many legal authorities believed this prosecutor’s decision was far more political than legal, thereby removing this case as a matter of traditional and historical “prosecutorial discretion.” After all, the prosecutor had the individual “dead to right.” The facts were indisputable. In reality, the results of this case amounted to “Selective Prosecution” rather than “Prosecutorial Discretion.” Don’t think for a minute that you or I would not be indicted if Top Secret documents were found in your garage next to your Ford station wagon… even if we were old and had a poor memory.
The City provides disparate treatment to different classes of individuals.
Therein lies a big problem for the City of Lakewood (or any municipality). The City provides disparate treatment to different classes of individuals. The City seems to rely on some form of “prosecutorial discretion” for its diversionary programs that elect not to charge certain classes of individuals with crimes even though the facts of the crime are indisputable. Or, in the alternative, dismissing or reducing charges for those classes of individuals. In reality, it is “Selective Prosecution,” and it is only a matter of time before Lakewood citizens decide they are fed up with being treated this way. Based on current practices ANYONE can load up their cart at any store, and exit the store with the cash still in their pockets, knowing they won’t be prosecuted.
In other words, in the Home Depot scenario above, if the police elected not to charge the vagrant pushing the cart full of stolen property out of the Home Depot store, they cannot charge anyone pursuing the same activities. To do otherwise is “selective prosecution” which the courts have said violates the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. (The 14th Amendment is often referred to as the Equal Protection Clause.)
Some might suggest that a law that isn’t enforced should be removed from the books, or in the alternative, in the case of shoplifting, making it legal if it is under a certain dollar threshold. The “theory” is that people who need items like food to survive would have this resource. There again, legal authorities have said that you cannot prosecute only certain classes of people. If a vagrant can’t or won’t be charged then no one can be charged. That is the essence of the prohibition of “selective prosecution.”
Lakewood City Council seems to think that shoplifting by anyone who can say they need the items for food to survive, should not be prosecuted. Likewise, other “low-level” crimes like panhandling/washing your window at the stop light, and public urination/defecation are not worthy of attention by the police. But remember City of Lakewood – if you allow one group to get away with something, you must allow all.
Most honorable citizens believe that all crimes should be pursued and pursued equally. As parents, we know that if you don’t enforce the small stuff, it becomes impossible to enforce the big stuff. This isn’t rocket science but it is a matter of fair treatment of all citizens and all businesses. If everyone started pushing their shopping carts out of Home Depot, King Soopers, or Walmart, without paying, those stores would be closed and Lakewood’s tax revenue would be in the toilet.
Editor’s Note: This plan will be acted on by City Council during the April 22 meeting.Check that meeting packet to see the full proposal for the LAC side of the story.
The Lakewood Advisory Commission (LAC) put together a “Beneficial Home Electrification and Upgrade Program” (BHEUP). This plan will come a great expense to the residents of Lakewood, and will mandate drastic changes to the City’s building code.
The Plan
The BHEUP plan targets Lakewood homes and multi-family buildings for CO2 reduction. It is presented in response to a proposal at a July 2023 City Council meeting where the Advisory Committee was approved to look into policies and actions to expedite “green renovation” in Lakewood’s residential buildings. Lakewood has a 2015 “sustainability plan” that calls for reducing the city’s CO2 emissions to 20% below 2007 levels by the year 2025. According to the plan, “Partnering in the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy commits Lakewood to achieve net zero community greenhouse gas emissions by 2050”. Achieving these goals means the entire elimination of the use of natural organic fuel sources (oil, natural gas, and coal). There is no discussion in the report why the city has partnered with a global organization that does not represent our residents.
Achieving these goals means the entire elimination of the use of natural organic fuel sources (oil, natural gas, and coal).
The plan states that 21% of Lakewood’s CO2 emissions come from residences. The sources of the remaining 79% of CO2 emissions in Lakewood (commercial, transportation, unspecified “consumption”, and other sources) are not targeted for reductions. The report does not state why residences are specifically targeted and why larger CO2 contributors are excluded. Traditionally, governing bodies have found it easier to regulate individuals, as corporations and larger organizations have lobbying groups and funding, and are better equipped to fight back and litigate if necessary.
The plan states that the targeted properties are multi-family units over 20,000 square feet, with certain exemptions for new homes under 2,500 square feet, and remodeling of existing homes. Further reading shows in fact, that it calls for changes to be made to the EDM which would include all existing residences and all new construction regardless of square footage under this plan.
The plan LAC proposes has four primary recommendations to achieve the goal of greenhouse gas reduction:
1. Establish a Lakewood program for tax credit and rebate match for qualifying upgrades.
2. Make additions to the Enhanced Development Menu (EDM), Article 13 and (continue to) adapt as conditions develop in order to meet goals.
3. Add full time employees as deemed necessary at the Lakewood Building Department and Sustainability Division to implement and administer recommendations.
4. Develop a comprehensive community outreach and education plan to promote and support appropriate electrification and weatherization.
Adding more support staff to implement these changes has budget implications at a time Lakewood is already asking for more money.
The plan calls for partnering with companies such as BlocPower, a for-profit corporation based in New York. No doubt BlocPower would profit from Lakewood’s adoption of this proposal. Representatives from BlocPower are noted as assisting in preparing this plan.
A Sense of Urgency
The LAC is making this proposal with a sense of urgency:
“The LAC supports urgent adoption of these recommendations so Lakewood staff will have time to develop programs affecting the 2025 city budget. Federal funds are available now and state funds become available in 2024”
and:
“They (Federal funds) may not be available indefinitely, especially given the uncertainty of election outcomes and politics. It is therefore imperative that Lakewood takes the below listed steps related to funding opportunities…”.
A quick approval of this plan by City Council allows less time for resident’s feedback. It does not allow for careful analysis of the necessary expenses and possible consequences of a proposal that will be very costly for the residents and likely to require unacceptable lifestyle changes.
Mandated Major Changes
The plan seeks to take away homeowners energy choices and impose city mandated regulations via changes in the building code and permitting processes to achieve these goals:
“Broad adoption of electrification is necessary to make significant change. Where voluntary reductions fall short of decarbonization goals, upgrades at the point of replacement of heating appliances and furnaces can be encouraged at permitting or through the expansion of Lakewood’s Enhanced Development Menu: EDM. Additionally, Federal, state, and local incentives can assist most homeowners in the transition away from greenhouse gas producing systems and can be weighted to further assist homeowners when affordability is insurmountable.”
Heat Pumps
The plan advocates the use of heat pumps to replace natural gas furnaces. Heat pumps can be thought of as air conditioners that can be run in reverse. They generally work well and efficiently within certain specific indoor/outdoor temperature ranges, but when those temperatures ranges widen, the efficiency drops. Working as a heat pump, the units depend on a certain amount of heat to be available in the ambient air outside so that heat can be transferred indoors for heating. For residential heating, heat pumps can work fairly well when the outside temperatures are in the 50 to 60 degree range, but their efficiency and ability to heat a home drops considerably when the temperatures approach 40 degrees. Below 40 degrees, heat pumps are not able to maintain indoor temperatures at comfortable levels so some sort of back-up heat source is required. The back-up is typically either a natural gas furnace or an electrical (resistive) heating source. While resistive heating works well, it is very expensive compared to natural gas heating. Heating homes in this area with heat pumps is very expensive, not efficient, and not practical considering the cold winters we have in Lakewood.
The plan also mentions heat pump systems for heating water. The BHEUP proposal states:
“Add electrification compliance of a heat pump water heater at the replacement of natural gas hot water heaters. This achieves GHG emissions reduction at a relatively low cost”.
This is a fallacy as the tanks and required equipment for heat pump systems are more complex and expensive than a traditional natural gas water heater. As with a heat pump furnace, the operating costs for a heat pump water system will increase dramatically on cold winter days when the temperature drops and the system needs to rely on an electrical backup for heat. Heating water with natural gas is clean, efficient, and inexpensive cheap. Heating water with electricity is very expensive.
The Costs
The BHEUP plan comments on the expenses that will be incurred if their plan is adopted:
“Decarbonization of existing homes is expensive. When federal and state incentives are not adequate to lower the costs enough to prompt action, additional incentives from local governments will be required and are proven to be effective, especially for those with low and moderate incomes.”
This is tacit admission that the residents will not be able to afford compliance with the plan, and that Lakewood will have to spend taxpayer money to cover shortfalls after state and federal funds are exhausted.
Additionally, the BHEUP plan directly calls for the taxpayers to pay for, or subsidize, the costs of implementing the plan:
“The past few years have brought an unprecedented surge in available government funding to support initiatives recommended here. Most of this recent funding comes from massive federal legislation: the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and other programs, providing targeted funding for climate and clean energy development with millions of dollars available to Lakewood and our citizens”.
During, and as a result of, the covid scare, the Federal government adopted a number of plans to make funds (through programs such as IRA and IIJA) available to stimulate the economy. The current availability of these funds to be used for funding the BHEUP plan is not addressed in the report. Similar arguments about the use of taxpayer funds (“grants”) were made by city council members in the discussions regarding the DOLA grant for the navigation center – the taxpayer money is available, let’s get it and spend it before another city takes it. Lakewood City Council has adopted a position of taking whatever taxpayer money is available and spending it without careful consideration of the possible range of outcomes or disadvantages. It is important to note that subsidies from the government come from money paid by taxpayers, so the plan would be implemented at a cost to the residents both directly and through the collection of property and income taxes.
There will be additional expenses for maintaining, growing, and administering a new BHEUP program. The plan calls for hiring people to seek funding for the program and to oversee and monitor the progress of the program to make sure the City stays on-mark with their CO2 reduction goals.
“…Add necessary full time employees at the Sustainability Division and as needed at the Lakewood Building Department to implement and administer any adopted recommendations.”
A typical basic solar conversion can easily cost $30,000. That will provide a homeowner with a 6 or 7 kwh system of panels, inverters, a battery backup, and wiring. An older electrical panel will require an upgrade, which will run an additional $5,000 to $10,000. Insurance companies sometimes will not insure homes after installing solar if the roof is beyond a certain age, so a new roof may also be necessary when converting to solar. Replacing natural gas furnaces and water heaters with heat pump units could easily cost $10,000 or more. Because heat pumps require more equipment, some remodeling may be in order to accommodate the additional equipment. What might appear to be a simple conversion away from natural gas to the alternatives advocated by LAC could easily cost the homeowner in excess of $50,000. The cost to convert all 42,000 single family homes in Lakewood would be in excess of $2 billion. There are an additional 30,000 housing units (multi-family, apartments, condos, etc.) that would need to be converted under this plan, at additional costs likely to exceed $1 billion. It is unlikely federal, state, and city governments would be willing to spend over $3 billion for Lakewood to upgrade its housing to all electric. The bulk of the costs, if this plan passes and the mandates are imposed, will be borne by the residents. With residents already struggling with their property taxes and a high inflation post-covid economic environment, it’s unrealistic they will be able or willing to spend anything near $50,000 to comply with this plan.
Comments From Advocates of the Plan
An advocacy group called Clean Energy Lakewood is cited in the BHEUP plan as assisting with the details and documentation of the report. A number of people speaking for this group appeared before City Council at the February 26 meeting during public comments. Each of them addressed the issues contained in the BHEUP plan. One speaker began his remarks with “the most important thing we can do is not use energy in the first place”. Living without the use of energy is not possible, yet this seems to be the ultimate goal of those promoting the plan. Another speaker commented that the residents need (as an imperative) to modify their homes, stating “we don’t have the resources to scrape them (the older houses in Lakewood), we’re going to have to rehab them”, seemingly implying City Council needs to mandate upgrades. He even admitted the cost of doing so is high, commenting that converting his home to net zero energy was “not easy and not cheap”. He added that the residents would have to change to a new way of living, stating “the greatest (variability) of all is lifestyles and the people that live in those homes”. Another speaker advocated the oft-heard money-grab excuse that we better get the Federal money before someone else does, saying “the Federal government has money available for this and if we do nothing, that money goes to other cities and residents (sic) elsewhere”
No Direct Benefit to the Community
Contrary to the name of the BHEUP proposal, the plan is noticeably absent of any mention of direct benefit to the community. It claims the aim of the plan is to reduce CO2 emissions, but there is no discussion or indication how implementing this plan will impact our lives or make anything better for residents. Claims that CO2 increases global temperatures (or vice-versa) are spurious at best. The “science” of the global warming/climate change debate is in fact not settled as a number of highly credentialed climate scientists seriously doubt the claims made by climate alarmists. To put this in perspective, global annual CO2 emissions are in the 35 billion ton range. The BHEUP plan notes that Lakewood’s annual CO2 equivalent output is approximately 882,000 mt which is far in excess of the global total – I believe the number they mean to represent is 882,000 tons. With these figures, Lakewood’s contribution to global CO2 output is 0.0025%, or about 1 part out of 40,000. If Lakewood entirely eliminated CO2 emissions, not just elimination of CO2 from residences targeted in this plan, there would be no significant impact on the global CO2 levels. A number of countries are continuing to increase their CO2 emissions each year, and those increases far exceed the total CO2 output from Lakewood. It is incredulous that the city would expect each homeowner in Lakewood to spend tens of thousands of dollars (not to mention additional tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer funded grant money) on a plan that has no discernable benefit whatsoever.
The Bigger Picture – A Reason to Pause
As I write this, I take note of the bigger picture. There’s a movement advocating a switch to electrical power and the total elimination of the use of natural organic fuels by 2030, or 2040, or 2050 (depending on which global organization you listen to). People and corporations are beginning to realize the failures and limitations of this great conversion, and we’re seeing it in some recent headlines. “Ford to scale back plans for $3.5 billion Michigan battery plant as EV demand disappoints, labor costs rise”, “Ford Rival GM Pulls Back On 2024 EV Production Plans”, “EV euphoria is dead. Automakers are scaling back or delaying their electric vehicle plans”, and “Mercedes-Benz scales back electric ambitions as EV pessimism grows”, just to name a few. Large corporations and investment firms (including JP Morgan, State Street Bank, and BlackRock) who once embraced ESG (environmental, safety, and governance) guidelines are now baking off after realizing the onerous demands, high costs, and minimal benefit of the “environmental” part of ESG. A number of states have also taken positions against ESG themed investing guidelines for their state funds. People are realizing that converting everything from traditional organic energy sources to electricity is just not working out as promised. Yet the City of Lakewood seems to be rushing ahead, embracing the failed promises of an all-electric future as many others are taking a second look and backing off.
Lakewood has hired Magellan Strategies to conduct a ballot measure survey intended to help pass a ballot measure allowing the city to keep your TABOR refunds. Residents are already receiving the first part of that survey by cell phone message. The intent is to use the survey to find out what question residents respond positively to, and use that language on the ballot. The survey will also allow weighing responses by demographic group and information targeted to specific demographics. The city will spend up to $74,000 figuring out how to convince residents to give up their refund. Opposing groups will not have this advantage.
This survey is a one-sided informational campaign aimed at allowing the city to keep TABOR refunds because the Budget and Audit Board has already identified the need to keep the funds. According to Magellan, a cold ballot measure, one without prior information, does not have a good chance of passing. Through the survey, the city can spread the information that the city needs money.
In other words, the survey is a way to get around the prohibition against government ballot campaigns.
“A ballot measure survey is more than just measuring voter support and opposition for a sales or property tax increase. The ballot measure survey is the single best way a government organization can educate and inform their resident and voters about the reasons why new revenue is needed for core services, capital projects, an other needs.
From years of experience, we believe a ballot measure asking voters to approve a tax increase for any purpose is more likely to pass if a survey is conducted. One primary reason being, informed voters, who trust their local government’s leadership, appreciate the information and can better rationalize the financial contribution they are making.”
Well…. everything. The city does not know and cannot say specifically. Spending levels for all city departments have gone up over the years and that level is now expected to be maintained.
The survey attempts to find out what residents would be willing to spend money on so that the city can justify keeping refunds.
The Budget Board had not identified possible specific cuts prior to the survey. If the ballot measure fails, City Manager Hodgson told the Board the city will default to across the board spending cuts. In other words, reverting to previous levels.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and is composed of general interest and demographic questions. This will help gauge the mood of the residents. The demographic questions will help the surveyors weigh your response. For example, respondents who are homeowners over 65 will have their answers downplayed, while Hispanic renters will have their answers amplified. This artificial weighing allows the consultant to mimic the demographics of Lakewood, rather than the demographics of actual respondents or voters.
There will be a second survey in June to refine the actual ballot language. This first survey is just gauging community interest.
Residents question the use of city funds in an effort to gain resident money, as demonstrated in the Nextdoor post below. According this post, the average income in Lakewood is $45,000, almost $30,000 less than what Lakewood may spend on this survey.
Arrests for shoplifting in Lakewood are down 56% over the last 5 years. Reported shoplifting cases are also down but not by as much due to a sharp increase in reports last year.
Compiled from Lakewood Crime Statistics to National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
Council Member Rich Olver recently made the point that the two Walmart stores on Wadsworth have taken out their self-checkout aisles. By speaking to the store managers, he confirmed this change was due to shoplifting. Olver noted that something must have changed for Walmart to go the expense of closing what was supposed to be a long-term investment for self-checkout lanes.
The visible proof at Walmart shows that shoplifting is up.
On March 12, there were reports that three busloads of people were dropped off at the Walmart on Colfax and Wadsworth. These three busloads of people reportedly came in, filled their carts and left without paying.
Walmart has no official comment on the bus incident. Unfortunately, many business are unable to make comment on recent crime trends without enduring public backlash.
However, again, the proof of increasing shoplifting is in the change of checkout lanes. For years, stores in Lakewood have been putting up gates and extra security guards at most grocery stores.
Stores Face Difficulty Prosecuting
Stores have long been resigned to enduring loss through shoplifting. For one thing, the bar for prosecution is extremely high. Regular customers and store employees are deemed unreliable witnesses.
The store must get the accused to agree to wait for police without chasing them or restraining them.
The store must prove intent. Proving intent is almost always the act of concealment. If there is not a consistent witness throughout concealment, or if there is no concealment, the store may have a problem getting a court to pursue.
If the store is fairly confident they have the procedure right, they still have be sure the police will arrive “in reasonable time.”
If any of this goes wrong, the store could be sued for illegal detention or false imprisonment. There is no benefit of the doubt in the “Shopkeeper’s Privilege” to hold accused shoplifters.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (April 11, 2024) — QuikTrip (QT), one of the nation’s leading convenience and gasoline retailers, announced the opening of a new location in Lakewood at 5201 W. Mississippi Ave., located at the northwest corner of S. Sheridan Blvd. and W. Mississippi Ave. This is the 12th QT location in Colorado, with four more locations scheduled to open throughout 2024 and others in early 2025.
“We are excited to continue bringing QuikTrip’s signature commitment to quality and efficient service to Lakewood,” said QuikTrip Corporate Communications Manager Aisha Jefferson. “The QuikTrip team is working hard to ensure our customers enjoy best-in-class service and amenities from day one, and we look forward to continuing our reputation as a good neighbor in the Lakewood community and throughout the Denver metro.”
This location will create approximately two dozen new jobs, and all interested applicants should apply online at www.quiktrip.com/store-jobs/.
Store employees pose on April 11, 2024, outside QuikTrip’s new location in Lakewood, Colo.
For decades, people have looked to QT for an on-the-go snack or meal as well as a safe and comfortable atmosphere. The Lakewood location will include full-service QT Kitchens, featuring freshly prepared grab and go items and custom-made menu items. QT Kitchens customer favorites include warm, soft pretzels, custom breakfast tacos, hardwood smoked BBQ sandwiches, cold brew coffee and frozen treats like QT’s QuikShake®. Customers will also be able to enjoy fresh donuts, sub sandwiches, wraps, QT’s signature pizza by the slice and roller grill items.
Since its founding in 1958, QT has established a reputation for taking great care of its employees, receiving national recognition as a top place to work year after year. In addition to providing superior benefits and opportunities for advancement, QT offers competitive pay, tuition reimbursement, medical insurance and excellent 401k benefits.
QT is also proud of the positive impact it has in the communities it serves, with the company donating five percent of its annual net profits to charitable organizations. Among the organizations QT supports are United Way, Safe Place, local food banks, schools and Folds of Honor, a non-profit whose mission is to provide educational scholarships to the military and first responder families of those who have been killed or disabled while on active duty.
Over the last 66 years, QT has grown its footprint to more than 1,000 stores across 17 states and employs over 31,000 people.
About QuikTrip
QuikTrip Corporation is a privately held company headquartered in Tulsa, Okla. Founded in 1958, QuikTrip has grown to a more than $11 billion company with more than 1,000 stores in 17 states. QuikTrip gives back to the communities it serves, donating five percent of net profits to charitable organizations in those communities. With more than 31,000 employees, QuikTrip has consistently been ranked as one of the top convenience store marketers in product quality and friendly service. To find out more about QuikTrip, visit www.quiktrip.com.
(DENVER, CO) Locals and visitors to Denver alike now have a new way to explore the region. The ‘Denver Orbital Trail’ (AKA the ‘DOT’) is a 177-mile, 28-segment, walking, running, and wheeling route linking existing trails and public-access paths to completely encircle the Denver metro area.
The DOT’s designer is Golden resident Michael Tormey, a Civil Engineer currently working on transportation safety projects on public lands. He developed his love of walking the outdoors in the English countryside while in graduate school in London.
He says his goal in developing the DOT route was to create something that would get more people outside exploring more of the region. “A circular walk brings you right back where you started,” Tormey said, “but along the way, I hope you find yourself seeing all this incredible region has to offer, that you find yourself changed along the way.”
He wanted to make sure as much of it as possible is easy for walkers of all ages and abilities, close to amenities and facilities, and public transportation-accessible. It’s a long route, so it’s been divided into manageable parts. The 28 segments vary a lot. They range from 2 to 12 miles in length, all perfect for day hikes.
This was not just drawing a circle on a map! Tormey walked every inch of the DOT to confirm and document the trails, which enabled him to build a detailed website with plentiful information on every segment, including photos. While walking the route, he discovered some side-trail opportunities, which are also included on the website. He calls those, of course, ‘sub-orbitals’!
It took Tormey a few months to walk the entire orbital, but he says the beauty of it is that it’s ‘hop-on, hop-off’. “People can walk as many or as few segments as they like. They can take as long as they want to complete the whole circuit,” Tormey says, “Or maybe they never get all the way around. That’s OK too. That said, there’s something great to see on every single segment, so my hope would be that people aim for a complete orbit!”
