As your mayor, one of my most important responsibilities is ensuring that Wheat Ridge is governed as effectively, transparently, and responsibly as possible. That’s why I want to share with you a conversation city council is having about the future of two important offices: the city clerk and the city treasurer.
Right now, both positions are elected by Wheat Ridge voters under our City Charter. But like many Colorado communities, we’re considering asking voters this fall whether it’s time to professionalize these roles and have them filled by qualified staff instead.
This discussion comes at a pivotal moment, with our city clerk position currently vacant, we have the opportunity to look ahead and consider how these important functions can best serve Wheat Ridge in the future. City Council is exploring whether transitioning the roles to professional staff would provide greater continuity and expertise. At present, the elected clerk and treasurer positions each carry an annual salary of $29,000, plus benefits.
Across Colorado, most cities, including Arvada, Lakewood, Golden, Edgewater, and Westminster, have already moved in this direction. Wheat Ridge is one of just five municipalities in the state that still elects its clerk, and elected treasurers are even rarer.
The city clerk carries wide-ranging responsibilities, from overseeing elections and managing public records to serving as the official secretary to council. Fortunately, our city has already built strong professional support within the office. In 2024, we added a full-time senior deputy city clerk, who, along with other staff, now manages daily operations.
The treasurer’s responsibilities include oversight of city funds, investments, and business licensing programs. Today, those tasks are managed by professionals in our finance division, under the supervision of our deputy city manager.
I recently spoke with our current City Treasurer Chris Miller about this proposal. He was clear in his support for the change, noting that it reflects how the work is already being carried out. As he told me, “These responsibilities are best managed by trained finance professionals who can ensure accountability and consistency for the city. I support this change because it’s the right thing for Wheat Ridge.”
This proposal is about more than efficiency, it’s about good governance. The legal, financial, and administrative responsibilities of these offices are increasingly complex, and it makes sense to have them in the hands of professionals with specialized expertise.
Wheat Ridge City Council will vote on August 25 whether to place this charter amendment on the ballot. Should it move forward, you, the voters, will make the ultimate decision.
I encourage every resident to stay engaged in this conversation. Our goal is to ensure Wheat Ridge continues to grow and thrive, with a government that reflects best practices and puts the community’s needs first.
City Staff Highlight
Highlighting the Amazing Members of the City of Wheat Ridge Staff
Name: Maddy Horgan
Explain your job: I’m the Homeless Navigator for the city, which means I take on clients experiencing homelessness or housing instability and help them pave the way towards a stable living situation. The majority of my role is direct client work, but aside from that, I also run donation drives, do weekly outreach in the community, present to City Council and the Police Department about our program, help conduct an alternative Court process specifically tailored to aid homeless defendants, work closely with our Community Service Officers and Environmental Service Technicians to reach more potential clients, and ensure Severe Weather plans relating to keeping homeless individuals safe and warm are properly implemented in the winter months!
How long have you worked for the city? One year and roughly 7 months (569 days, but who’s counting).
Favorite pastime: Thrift shopping- I live for the treasure hunt.
Favorite sandwich: Banh Mi… unless a gyro counts as a sandwich.
Favorite heroes: All of the female ones. Marvel, DC, doesn’t matter to me.
If you had your own talk show, who would be your first guest?: Alive: Jane Goodall. Dead: Anthony Bourdain.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 albums would you want to have with you?: Daft Punk, Random Access Memories; Frank Ocean, Channel Orange; Genesis, Invisible Touch
