CORRECTIONS: Laurie Chase’s name was misspelled in last week’s Glenwood Report; Age-Friendly Carbondale was mistakenly referred to as “Pet Friendly Carbondale” in last week’s calendar.
Vote Godes
Having served on Rifle City Council, I know firsthand that many of the biggest issues facing our communities do not stop at city limits. Transportation, infrastructure and economic development affect all of us, and they take real cooperation between cities, towns, counties and state partners to address.
That is one reason I have appreciated working with Jonathan Godes.
Through my work with the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, I have had the opportunity to work alongside Jonathan in his roles with the I-70 Coalition and as a regional grants navigator. I have seen how committed he is to bringing people together, finding common ground and helping move important projects forward.
Regional work is not always easy. Every community has its own priorities, needs and limited resources. It takes someone who understands how to listen, build relationships and keep people focused on practical solutions. Jonathan does that well.
Jonathan and I have worked together on regional transportation issues and on helping Northwest Colorado communities pursue state and federal funding for projects that matter locally. He understands that communities like Rifle, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Silt and Parachute each have their own challenges, but that we are also connected by shared roads, infrastructure and economic concerns.
As someone who served on Rifle City Council, I know how valuable it is to have regional partners who understand what local governments are dealing with. Jonathan understands the pressures our communities are facing, especially when it comes to I-70 and Highway 82. These transportation challenges did not become important to him just because he is running for office. He has been working on them for years.
There are plenty of people who can talk about the problems. What I have seen from Jonathan is someone who works to bring people, funding and projects together — and who keeps working until progress is made.
I believe that experience and commitment would serve Garfield County well.
Dana Wood
Silt
Concern about Godes
I want to address my concern with Jonathan Godes running for county commissioner. We ‘ve seen his policy making with regards to the City of Glenwood Springs and I
don’t think he would be a good fit as commissioner for Garfield County. My question is, why really does he want to be one of Garfield County’s commissioners? I have doubts regarding his sincerity with his answers. I think his focus is the same we see with other Democrat candidates regarding TDS. They exhibit no common sense, concern for Americans, America First and lack fiscal responsibility and honesty. I truly believe he would not make decisions compatible with our rural county, but more like Denver and Boulder. And lastly, yes Mr. Godes, God did help us when Trump became president.
Gayle Samuelson
Glenwood Springs
Support our libraries
How much do I value the Garfield County Public Library system?
I can find almost anything on my phone, so why do I need the library? In fact, I often use the library from my phone. I check out books and audiobooks on Libby, watch a movie on Kanopy, browse magazines — everything from old favorites like The New Yorker and The World of Interiors to others I’ve never heard of — What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You, Backwoods Survival Guide, Garden & Gun, Vogue Music (in Japanese!).
What happens if we don’t approve 6B extending the one-mill tax levy that we approved in 2006?
There would probably be some reduction in staff, shorter hours, fewer days your favorite library is open. Roof leaks might not get fixed. Bathrooms might not be so clean. Meeting rooms might not be available. Online resources could shrink.
By approving 6B, we invest in a stable future for the libraries at a cost of about $60 per $1 million of assessed value of your home. Our libraries provide true sanctuary in every town in the county for less than the cost of many streaming services. Where else can you go and be alone and quiet yet in company with other people? Where else can you discover something new by just walking down an aisle? Our libraries offer a form of participation in community that is accessible to people of all ages, incomes, sociabilities, schedules, backgrounds and agendas and it’s entirely free.
Vote yes on Garfield County Public Library District Ballot Issue 6B.
Olivia Emery
Carbondale
Yes to school funding
With so many statewide measures on this year’s multi-page ballot, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Remember: you don’t have to vote on every single issue, but there is one local measure where your vote matters tremendously. The single most important question to vote YES on is the Roaring Fork School District’s Question 5C, which you’ll find near the end of your ballot if you live in RFSD’s boundaries from Glenwood to Basalt.
Voting Yes on 5C is the single best way to support our local schools, teachers and students. Question 5C is a modest property tax increase that goes directly toward increasing teacher and staff salaries — projected to raise starting teacher pay by approximately $5,000.
This funding is critical. The state recently reduced RFSD’s cost-of-living adjustment, despite our district having the fourth highest cost of living in Colorado. To recruit and retain the quality educators and staff our students deserve, we must pay them a living wage.
Please make sure to turn your ballot over and vote YES on 5C. Let’s support our local schools with local dollars that stay right here in our community.
Ben Bohmfalk
Carbondale
Reconsider South Bridge
The Glenwood Springs council is moving forward with the South Bridge Project; an $80 million plan aimed at creating a fourth evacuation route primarily for Four Mile residents. While federal funds will cover about $50 million, Glenwood Springs citizens are expected to shoulder the remaining costs, including project management and all cost overruns. In addition, there are long-term costs for maintenance, snow removal, policing and repayment of the bonds needed to fund the balance. This comes at a time when Glenwood is already struggling to meet its current financial obligations.
Since the 2002 Coal Seam Fire, we now have a comprehensive evacuation plan, featuring early notifications, access to the Dry Park and the Prehm Ranch roads and coordinated rapid response from various agencies. Given these improvements, the necessity of a new mile-long road and bridge — especially one that is outside of the city limits and will primarily benefit Garfield County residents — seems questionable. It is particularly concerning that Garfield County is not contributing financially and is instead calling for further studies before construction begins.
The project will have irreversible impacts on daily Midland Avenue users, leading to increased traffic and eventual gridlock. Additionally, the anticipated growth in the Four Mile area will further strain Midland and require more emergency services. Finally, a new traffic light on Highway 82, the taking of portions of the Jackson Ranch, and impact on the Rio Grande Trail cannot be minimized. For an event with a low probability and robust existing safety plans, the costs and consequences of this project appear to outweigh the benefits.
I urge city leaders and residents to reconsider whether this project is truly in Glenwood Springs’ best interest.
Chuck Peterson
Glenwood Springs
Know your vote
Colorado voters beware of those ballot initiatives! Many of them do the opposite of what their title implies. For example: Amendment 85 — “Plain Language Ballot Questions” sounds wonderful, but its real purpose is to make it harder for citizens to successfully get ballot initiatives in front of voters and harder to enforce if passed. There are already clear laws about ballot language.
Since there are so many ballot initiatives, here’s a brief look at their purpose:
Amendment 81: forces local law enforcement to assist with ICE.
Amendment 82: amends the constitution and limits our ability to control greenhouse gasses.
Amendment 83: amends the constitution and takes wildlife planning away from professionals.
Amendment 84: makes it harder to vote in Colorado when we already have an excellent system.
Amendment 85: redundant to current laws, and will create legal challenges to many initiatives.
Amendment 86: basically limits our ability to respond when other states gerrymander.
Amendment 87: IMHO, a good one. Cuts taxes on low income, raises on higher incomes.
Proposition NN: another good one: uses money already collected to fund education.
Proposition 132: another “war on drugs” proposal that is expensive and treats the symptoms rather than the root of the problem.
Proposition 133: similar to above but with sex trafficking; may make it harder on victims and limits a judge in sentencing.
Proposition 134: a culture wars proposal taking away school districts’ ability to decide who can play in which sport.
Proposition 135: another culture wars proposal taking away a family’s ability to decide what is best for their child.
Proposition 137: a good one; directs existing taxes on sporting goods to conservation measures.
Peter Westcott
Carbondale
Don’t fall for it
I just finished voting, and WOW is the ballot wording confusing! Between misleading language on our ballots and massively-funded disinformation campaigns, I encourage everyone to seek some trusted sources before voting on the ballot measures.
Typically, citizen groups get initiatives onto the ballot by relying on volunteer signature collectors, people who are passionate about the cause. This year, eight ballot initiatives were bankrolled by the far-right, dark-money group Advance Colorado, which spent millions of dollars hiring professional signature-collectors.
Funded by right-wing, ultra-rich individuals, Advance Colorado is trying to push their Project 2025 agenda onto our state: expand ICE power in Colorado, block clean energy policy and cut taxes for the richest Coloradans.
Advance Colorado has bankrolled Amendments 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, and 86, as well as Propositions 132 and 136. Propositions 133, 134 and 135 have been financed by far-right billionaires and anti-trans groups.
If I hadn’t learned about the money and politics behind these eleven measures, I probably would have voted yes on some of them. On the surface, they seem quite reasonable. Now I know to vote NO.
A great website for learning more is WhoIsAdvanceColorado.org by investigative journalist Logan Davis.
It’s more important than ever this year to vote, vote early, and vote carefully!
Debbie Bruell
Carbondale