Journal 05/18/2008
Once again. I've been remiss, but here
I am to make up for it.
First, some short notes:
After five years, fruition is nigh for the Gunnison
Valley Observatory. The 30-inch telescope has arrived and is in the
process of being assembled. Watch for news of the grand
opening/unveiling, and Don thought the observatory might be offering
weekend hours by this summer.
We believe ORE has a June date for electronics
recycling. it may only be in Crested Butte, despite the Denver truck
having to pass twice through Gunnison, and there will be fees attached,
but this will be your chance to do the Right Thing and keep all those
hazardous computer parts out of the landfill. You always have to be
wary of your recyclers when it comes to electronics, because often they
just get shipped overseas, but I've been assured that this firm does
its own recycling in Denver. I believe it's called GRX.
May 29, which is two Thursdays from now, I'm pretty
sure, the League of Women Voters will host a forum: "What is
Single-Payer Health Care and How Would It Affect You?" Speakers will be
Dr. Richard Gingery, Dr. John Tarr, and Nurse Practioner Jan Carroll,
and it starts at 7 p.m. at the Fred Fieldhouse.
On a related note, former self-described
conservative Republican Rocky White threw his hat in the ring as a
Democrat, running for state representative from the San Luis Valley.
The reason for his political switch is that in his years as a doctor,
he has come to the conclusion that the only way to fix the broken
American health care system is through a single-payer plan.
The district he seeks to represent neighbors
that of Kathleen Curry, who, despite the ugliness of threats and
insults she endured this legislative season, is running for
re-election. I believe she is once again unopposed, which I think is a
testament to the service she does to her constituents. I understand she
was also successful in passing her legislation requiring developers to
prove adequate water supply prior to development.
The Gunnison Food Pantry is on the move,
temporarily, while Webster Hall gets renovated. The pantry is
headed, today and tomorrow, and they'd probalby welcome volunteers to
help out, for the Schlegel Building where w portion of Tenderfoot
Daycare once resided. (Next to Edward Jones.)
As you notice your own food and gas bills rise, you
might think about the impact of these costs on those less fortunate,
and then keep in mind that the food pantry now has rent to pay, and
donate what you can.
I believe the GVCA will once again run its booth at
the farmers' market, which starts on June 28, but it may be a slow
start to the season, given our cold weather. But the weekend sure
was nice, huh? I imagine Karen will put out a call for volunteers to
help with the booth; even if you could only give up part of one
Saturday July through mid-October, that would be a big help.
Arrival in mailboxes seems to be quite haphazard,
but the RE-1J school board is disseminating a two-page letter updating
the public on its plans for a bond. The thought of a new high school
has been scrapped, but the proposal is still for upwards of $55
million. Be sure to note that the provided cost to property owners is
figured on a month, not a year. If I did my math correctly, the cost to
my landlord (for commercial space, which is taxed at triple the rate of
residential) could be $1,000 per year. I imagine, if you didn't receive
a copy of this letter, that you could pick one up at the district
office. Or maybe they'd mail you one.
Now, onto Gunnison Rising:
We would encourage you to attend (or watch on TV)
Tuesday night's work session between city council and the applicants of
Gunnison Rising. This meeting starts at 6 rather than 7, and is likely
to last at least three hours.
Here is the agenda (the numbers are my
computer thinking for me again-- they aren't correct and don't belong
there):
Discussion will take place on, but may not be limited to, the following
topics:
- Receipt by City of Requested Documentation
- Environmental Issues
- CCAA, Wetlands, Flood Plain, Storm Water
Management, Water Quality/Compatibility Utilities/Infrastructure
- Water Supply/Rights/Augmentation Plan, Sewer
Line Alignment, Electric Power Supply PUD Written Statement/Land Use
- RV Park Plan
- Transportation Issues
- Highway Access Management Plan, Trails
Easement Dedications, Connectivity, Future By-pass, Bus Stops, Off-Site
Improvements
- Affordable Housing
- Specific Land & Easement Dedications
- Pre-Annexation: School Site, Parks, Public
Works, Public Safety/Police/Fire, Transfer of Development Rights
- Post-Annexation: Cemetery Ground, Pioneer
Museum, DOW
- FAA Approval & Comments
- Economic Strategies
- Metropolitan Districts
- Public Questions of Council and Applicants
I wouldn't bank on getting much of a chance to ask questions, but
perhaps there will be some answers. The applicants have supplied a
written response, which can be accessed from the city's website (our
stupid internet service is out once again this morning -- so I will
send this from work). Perhaps someone will be good enough to provide a
direct link.
We
also invite you to look at the matrix, also available on the city's
website, compiled by city staff at council's direction. This matrix
features six pages of documents requested by the city as a result of
this proposal. It lists who is to provide or collaborate on each
request, the timeline for when the document might be made part of the
public record, and the date completed or received by the city. Be sure
to check out that last column: it's very bare.
No
banker worth his or her salt would make a loan on a proposal this
sketchy and haphazard; hopefully you would not buy a house with this
lack of documentation. Why on earth would we as a city rush into
such a blind agreement?
Perhaps
the applicants will provide documentation at Tuesday's meeting, but so
far they've been very long on promises and quite short on delivery.
Dick
Bratton did request, a few weeks ago (and so this is later than it
should be) that i clarify that the Schuck Corporation did not file for
bankruptcy, as I said. According to the magazine and newspaper
clippings he provided, Steve Shuck did lose all of his money twice, but
refused to declare bankruptcy. And when he lost money, he lost it: "I
discovered I needed $12 million to get broke," he told Colorado Biz
magazine in 2001.
Many
of the articles take great pains to blame government for the two
losses, and none of them assure us that money got repaid in full.
"Debts were settled" is how it gets phrased, which could mean creditors
were repaid in full, but it could also mean a quarter on each dollar.
And it seems to have taken at least five years for debts to get
settled, and largely because Bill Daniels stepped in and made a private
loan to the Schucks. (i have the packet of articles provided by Dick,
should anyone want to read them.)
The
fact that the Schucks did not file for bankruptcy after twice losing a
lot of money does not in any way lessen the city's need to protect
itself should any developer be unable to complete a project. It does
still highlight that developers can make bad judgments just like anyone
else, everyone gets left holding the bag. Contour once again comes to
mind here, somehow -- a big, elaborate planned unit development that
now consists of cramped and uberwide entrances and both the widest
street in town (Spencer) and the narrowest (Colorado).
I
urge everyone to pay attention to this project, because it continues to
change, and documentation has been sparse. Attend Tuesday night if you
can.
And
now, off to work. Oh, and congrats to all WSC and GHS grads!
TL