8 JULY 4-10, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | never received a citation or even a formal warning. “It’s freedom of speech,” he says. Since the noise isn’t enough, Elliott ar- gues that Phantom is falsely accusing his business of unlawful behavior in order to get the county to shut him down, therefore silencing his criticisms of Phantom. “The only witnesses are two county com- missioners and Phantom, our competitor,” Elliott says. “How does a family business even battle something like that?” Some of the commissioners have been open about their disdain for Jurassic. At the same April 2022 meeting where Holmes suggested that Elliott “go back to Colorado,” he also tried to put a condition on Jurassic that would au- tomatically revoke its permits if the sheriff’s offi ce received two calls about the store. Thompson voted against the store’s per- mits in 2022 and 2023, though he was the only commissioner to oppose the applica- tions at the time. When those permits came up again this spring, he told his colleagues that rejecting them would “send a message.” “We’ve received complaints from surround- ing businesses, with bullhorns and just obnox- ious behavior disrupting other businesses,” Thompson said during the April 16 meeting. “I don’t think these guys are a good community partner. ... We talk every year — ‘Please be a better partner, please be a better partner.’ And it just keeps getting worse and worse.” This time, the other commissioners agreed. At that meeting, the board rejected Jurassic’s permit by a vote of 4-1, and Artil- lery World’s permits 3-2. The rejection came as a shock to Elliott, as many of the specifi c concerns the com- missioners referenced were from years prior — such as the standing-on-a-trailer incident from 2019 and claims that they obstructed traffi c in 2021. The store had continued to receive permits annually since those alleged incidents, and there have been no service calls involving Elliott or either of his stores since November 2023, according to the sher- iff’s records. Elliott’s attorneys requested a reconsideration on those grounds. “You’re addressing a concern that was raised years ago,” attorney Bruce Asay said during the May 7 reconsideration meeting. “This past year, we have not had a single citation.” Thompson called the alleged bad behav- ior “a pattern,” referring to Elliott’s con- tinued use of bullhorns and the criticisms against Phantom broadcast over speakers. But Elliott says he’d been repeatedly assured by sheriff’s deputies that the bullhorn and speakers violate no laws. “It can’t be that he’s told by law enforce- ment that he is acting under the law in these certain situations and then be denied a permit because he thought he was acting under the law,” attorney Dion Custis said. But their arguments paled beside new accusations from a couple of commissioners: that Elliott had threatened them in response to the permit rejections. Thompson and Commissioner Brian Lovett both received an email from Elliott the day after the April 16 meeting that they said they found to be threatening. Dur- ing the May 7 meeting, a sheriff’s deputy told commissioners the department had opened a criminal investigation into the email, though sheriff’s records provided to Westword showed no report involving it. “My kids are my world, and protecting them comes with no borders, I would be careful when scolding someone’s daughter while threatening to destroy her business, they may not be as forgiving as I am,” reads a portion of Elliott’s email. “I say this with the strength I trust in my faith, because the sick things that run through my head that no one should ever be subjected to only can be contributed due to the pain other humans can cause.” Elliott denies that the email was a threat. But at the reconsideration meeting, Holmes also claimed that Elliott “attempted to in- timidate” him in person last year while he was driving around Elliott’s store. Elliott says he just approached Holmes’s car and asked if he needed help, and provided a brief video recording of the end of the interaction, which shows the men wishing each other a good day as Holmes drives away. The commissioners unanimously voted against reconsidering the rejections. The Fourth and Beyond Jurassic Fireworks and Artillery World were up and running again less than two months after the permits were denied, thanks to the court-issued preliminary in- junction. But the long-term future of the businesses is uncertain. The preliminary injunction allows Juras- sic and Artillery World to continue operating for the rest of the calendar year or until the court decides on whether to reverse the per- mit denials — whichever comes fi rst. Until then, they must adhere to certain limitations, including not harassing other fireworks businesses, not going into the right-of-way to direct customers, and not playing bullhorns or speakers louder than 80 decibels (police sirens are around 120 decibels). “It is diffi cult to estimate when any fi nal decision on either of the matters might be produced,” says Laramie County Attorney Mark Voss. “The county’s position is that the decision denying the permits was in accord with law and should be sustained.” Elliott is hopeful that the court will rule in his favor, but such a ruling wouldn’t ease his concerns: The board of commissioners must approve operating permits for the fi reworks businesses every year. He says the two stores lost around $300,000 because of the pause in operations, and that his family suffered emotional trauma. “I’m worried about everything up here,” Elliott says. “I’m worried about someone shooting one of us.” As the Fourth of July approaches, busi- ness has returned to normal levels. Elliott says he intends to put the money the stores earn this year toward raising “awareness” about the county government, following races for local offi ce and advocating for term limits for elected offi cials. “Something good has got to come of this,” he says. “We’ll see where it goes with the county. And we will be pursuing Phantom after this.” In the meantime, the explosive con- fl ict has quieted while the parties await the court ruling...except for the bullhorns still booming outside of Artillery World. Email the author at hannah.metzger@westword. com. Sparks .re Flying continued from page 6 Colorado shoppers rush to Jurassic Fireworks before the Fourth of July. EVAN SEMÓN WATCH THE FIREWORKS! While the skies over Colorado will be fi lled with fireworks displays both professional and amateur on July 4, it’s illegal for any non- permitted person to buy, own or launch fi re- works in Colorado (yes, even if you get them in Wyoming). Smaller fi reworks such as spar- klers, fountains and smoke balls are allowed across the state, but laws vary from city to city. Although the restrictions may be ineffec- tive — in Denver, which bans all fi reworks year-round, police received 166 calls related to illegal fi reworks from May through mid- June — you should still know them before you set off any patriotic pyrotechnics. Here are the specifi c fi reworks restrictions in various metro Denver municipalities, as well as other popular Independence Day destinations: Arvada: All personal fi reworks are prohib- ited at all times in Arvada, including sparklers. Aspen: Follows the state’s lead in prohib- iting only exploding and fl ying fi reworks, though smaller fi reworks can be banned during active fi re restrictions. Aurora: Allows the use of state-legal fi re- works from June 15 to July 4, but only for people at least sixteen years old or super- vised by someone over 21. All fi reworks are prohibited for the rest of the year. Black Hawk: The municipal code doesn’t expressly forbid personal fi reworks, but the city has discontinued Independence Day fi reworks shows since 2020. Boulder: It’s illegal to possess personal fi reworks of any kind in the City of Boulder. Breckenridge: In 2019, Breckenridge banned all public and private fi reworks in the town indefi nitely. Colorado Springs: Fireworks that require a fl ame to ignite are prohibited at all times in Colorado Springs. Novelty items like snap- pers and poppers are allowed. Commerce City: State-legal fi reworks are usually banned, but Commerce City allows them for personal use on July 3 and July 4 until 11 p.m., in honor of the holiday. Denver: Though some of the state’s larg- est fi reworks shows are in the Mile High City, all personal fi reworks are prohibited year-round. Englewood: Fireworks are always banned, and the city asks residents to report the use of illegal fi reworks online or by calling 303- 761-7410. Fort Collins: All personal fi reworks are prohibited in Fort Collins at all times, includ- ing sparklers and snakes. Frisco: Like the rest of Summit County, Frisco allows state-legal, non-exploding fi reworks. But all fi reworks are illegal in National Forest lands, which make up about 80 percent of the county. Glenwood Springs: Aligns with state law for personal fi reworks, allowing them as long as they don’t explode or leave the ground, according to the Glenwood Springs Fire Department. Golden: All personal fireworks are banned within city limits, and the Golden City Council voted in January to ditch the annual professional fi reworks show for the foreseeable future. Lakewood: Only professional fi reworks displays are allowed within Lakewood; all other kinds of fi reworks are illegal year- round. Littleton: All personal fi reworks are pro- hibited at all times in Littleton, including sparklers. Monument: All fi reworks are forbidden in Monument. Steamboat Springs: Allows state-legal, non-exploding fireworks, but asks indi- viduals to refrain from setting off personal fi reworks out of respect for the community. Thornton: All personal fi reworks are il- legal in Thornton at all times. Westminster: State-legal fi reworks are allowed between midnight on July 3 and noon on July 5. Wheat Ridge: All personal fi reworks are banned, including fountains and sparklers. — METZGER
