Last chance for say on property tax
The Carbondale Fire District Board of Directors will adopt their property tax mill levy on Jan. 10 at 11am. This is your last chance to provide input on their share of your property taxes. At the December budget hearing, citizens asked the board to reduce their mill levy to maintain 2023 tax amounts. The board objected and instead proposed a temporary mill levy reduction. This interim option is not a fix, because future valuations will certainly increase.
The valuation notice you received in May 2023, shows your increased valuation and estimated property tax. Undoubtedly, you were stunned by those increases. Garfield County residential valuations soared 54% and vacant land rocketed 98%. You will see a substantial increase in your 2024 property taxes. The amount of that increase depends on your input and the mill levy adopted by your elected officials.
Make your voice heard by attending the public hearing and/or sending a letter and ask them to drop their mill levy. They meet at 301 Meadowood Drive in Carbondale; the hearing is also accessible virtually at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6657553341
Davis Farrar, Carbondale
Off to a new year!
As if this past year wasn’t exciting enough, we are off to a busy start for the next one.
Before I even begin to think of the next one, I decided to reflect on the one that just passed. In all the years of my life, this past year was action-packed with events like never before; it’s that popular word: “unprecedented.” Technology is here, making an impact on everyone’s life, then the immigrants are here, right here in Carbondale, and this year’s presidential election process is underway.
Ending this year was great. On the last day of the year, my first customer of the day at MANA Foods simply said, “If we breathe deep and think good thoughts, we can change the world.” I smiled and said, “Yes, if it is that simple, then why doesn’t everyone just do that?” We both went silent, as we couldn’t think of an answer. So, I am passing the suggestion on. Just breathe and think good thoughts and let us see those thoughts turn to action.
My wife and I were recently on an Alabama beach. I am writing about this because those people are caring for their beach and waters. We saw dolphins swimming a hundred yards from the beach from our hotel room. There were more big sea birds than I have ever seen before. My excitement was seeing a stork for the first time. The beach sand was white and clean along with the ocean water. The government also maintains a buffer zone of natural landscape along their coast. Not so eco-friendly were the low-flying planes flying along the shoreline with advertisements, yet being from New Jersey, this was part of the experience that I remember.
I share this story about the beach because I expected to see a polluted environment from watching our news media. Yet, what I saw were people like us taking care of where they live, keeping them pristine as could be, which helps me feel refreshed that our country is moving toward a sustainable and healthy environment.
Let’s all just breathe and think good thoughts that 2024 will be the best year for all of us.
Blessings to All,
Roop Khalsa, New Castle
Shine a light
Show your support for the magnificent spruce trees on Main Street on First Friday from 5 to 5:30pm at the corner of Weant and Main. Come shine a light for the trees in a peaceful and prayerful gathering. Then go in peace.
John S. Williams , Carbondale
May the forest be with you
“One generation plants the trees. The next generations enjoy the shade.” -Author unknown
See you this Friday, Jan. 5 at 5pm at the trees. Bring your good cheer and a light!
Richard Vottero, Carbondale
Third Street update
Dear Carbondale Trustees and community members,
On behalf of the Third Street Center Board of Directors, I extend our gratitude for your unwavering support in providing winter shelter to Venezuelan immigrants, who, until early November, found refuge under the main bridge leading into our town.
The urgency of this situation required immediate action, and we are proud to have been able to offer shelter to up to 60 newcomers at the Third Street Center. Our gratitude extends to Voces Unidas for their indispensable, hands-on management of the shelter, the People’s Clinic for their guidance during the recent COVID outbreak, and our 36 tenants for their understanding and support amidst the changes to their work environment. Our gratitude also extends to the understanding of our neighbors. The overwhelming support from numerous community members and nonprofits, providing food, clothing and resources, has been a testament to the strength and compassion of our community.
The Third Street Center has operated an emergency temporary shelter for over eight weeks. Balancing our roles as a community center and an emergency shelter has placed significant demands on our staff, tenants and neighbors. The increased usage has led to challenges, such as the relocation of scheduled Community Hall events, strained facilities (especially restrooms) and heightened maintenance needs, exacerbated by the COVID outbreak.
These challenges underscore the unsustainability of this situation. In 2024, our goal is to return to our core mission: fostering community and sustainability by providing affordable office space for nonprofit tenants and hosting community events in our solar powered facility. Third Street Center is one of the busiest facilities in the region, with thousands of tenant programs and community events each year. Our core mission is an indispensable service to our community and region.
The Town of Carbondale is actively working to establish permanent, publicly-funded shelters. In alignment with this effort, the Third Street Center Board has decided on a phased closure of our temporary emergency shelter in Community Hall with transitioning of the newcomers to more adequate town-operated facilities. We anticipate relocating 20 individuals from our shelter by Jan. 5, with the remainder transitioning by Jan. 19.
The recent weeks have heightened regional awareness of the broader challenge facing U.S. communities regarding supporting unhoused immigrants. Carbondale is not alone in this and we won’t be the last to face it. We urge the Carbondale Trustees and regional officials to proactively address the needs of the unhoused beyond this current crisis. This is a critical issue requiring regional and state attention and action so our community does not find itself in a similar situation next winter.
We deeply appreciate your commitment to sheltering newcomers in our community. This public health emergency calls for a comprehensive response at all governmental levels — local, county, state and federal.
Chris McDowell, President,
Third Street Center Board of Directors
Kathy Feinsinger
Garret Jammaron
John Lund
Frank McSwain
Andrea Stewart (Third Street tenant liaison)
Luis Yllanes (Town Trustee liaison)
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