A PUBLIC SERVICE

My View by John Cordsen
The true measure of leaders
Leadership is more than standing at a crossroads and screaming that something must be done. Any idiot can do that. True leaders lead. They lead by being out in front and offering clear, concise visions – something the masses can wrap their minds around. They offer more than “we need a new plan.” They have a plan, right down to the most minute detail and the freely share it to all who ask.
Leaders are also up front – they are people everyone can go to because everyone knows who they are. They have names. They don’t hide behind blinds or anonymity and snipe at those around them.
Most towns also have gadflies – those people who know exactly what’s wrong and are not afraid to point it out. They just don’t offer any realistic fixes that are equitable to the masses – only to a select few. Many, though, are at least not afraid to stand behind their opinions – publicly – with their names. Those are easy to at least respect.
I’ve known a couple of major gadflies during my career. One we will call Jack, and the other D. Jones. Both were well known in their respective towns and neither liked me because I didn’t see everything their way.
Jack took me to task more than once on his blog site and Mr. Jones penned a number poison letters to the editor pointing out our differences. A couple of things these two gentlemen had, though, were the courage of their convictions and their facts straight. The issues they had with me were as clear as a CU-Nebraska football game. We just saw things differently and I can respect that even if I didn’t like it.
But when a nameless faceless entity goes on the offensive, one would at least like to see accurate information.
A recent blog (which shall remain nameless because that’s apparently the way they want it) took great pains to point out some of the paper’s faults as far as the current conflict between this blog, its authors, and the Town.
It’s true that there are a few letters that never make it in the paper. They find the cutting room floor for a very limited number of reasons.
People, you just can’t call someone a crook in print. It’s not prudent and could result in a lawsuit against not only you, but the paper and its editor. Also, if the “facts” presented are patently wrong, it’s gone. Despite what some of the more knowledgeable think, I don’t hold letters simply because I don’t like what’s in them. If that were the case, a good number would not get printed.
It was also pointed out how inappropriate it is for the paper to run a column from the Town – no mention was made of the school column so it must be okay. How could we run the Town column? Well, unless I have missed the mark, the Town does represent the legally elected governing body of Estes Park. I guess that doesn’t matter though.
Both the Town and school columns were supplied after we made the offer of space in the paper. They are to inform the community of what’s going on through the eyes of those in charge. At the same time we made an offer of another entity to supply a regular column on its happenings. All three entities received the same simple request – provide a positive forward-looking column that informs and touts what each particular entity is doing. Not too complicated of a request. However, one entity chose to use its space to attack the Town – not what we requested, and not what the column was intended for. It didn’t make it.
Finally, dear bloggers, with your infallible information could you at least tell us which Town committee or committees Bill is supposedly on. He was surprised to learn he was on any and hasn’t attended one meeting. He really needs to know so he can attend. I would hate to see my publisher kicked off before the Town has gotten a return on its investment.
News Opinion Photos Classifieds Community Guide Legals

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Overheard last week.

One Estes Park Gallery Owner to the other;

How are we suppose to sell fine art to people with no teeth?

DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO

Economic Development by our town staff, pure one hundred percent unadulterated …bull-twang.

How many of our town employees would work here if they had to put in the hours seven days a week for the meager seasonal profits that the business community realizes?

According to the Colorado Municipal League our town employees are the third highest compensated municipal work group in the State of Colorado.


We do not need to hire a consultant to analyze the business environment.

The Estes Parkian suggests we:

Bring in the attorney general and have an in depth forensic audit done to find out where 27/30 million dollars a year goes. Ditto EPURA.

Study the air pollution (ozone) at Elkhorn and Moraine on July 11 every year when its 100 degrees out.

Find what the town does that makes a profit, it appears the town pours our precious tax monies down a rat hole.

Patrick C. has documented many times the boondoggle the Convention Center is financially. The Convention Center does not generate enough revenue to pay Tom Pickerings up keep never mind the cost of the building we all built for the Holiday Inn folks.

The Rodeo costs all of us about one hundred thousand dollars per year. Where do the gate receipts go, do they go back into the general fund? How much revenue is generated off of the concessions? How much goes back into the general fund?

How much money is generated by the wool market? Most of the people on the committee are from out of town. The people that set up retail space are from out of town. Where does the profit go for the money we put in to this? How many sheep farmers in the valley?

The Highland Games is the only festival that makes money. It is our most successful event, and it is private.

How many town employees/nontown residence has the mayor appointed to the Rodeo Committee/Top Hands, advertising policy committee, etc.etc. effectively robbing his boss, the people who elected him, the electorate, of all representation .

This is just crazy. Why do you allow this Estes Park?

New Game In Town

Well, it was bound to happen. We are getting spam on the blog and it is rather annoying. It will eliminated it as soon as possible, but don't lose heart, the truth will shine on through the clutter.

As to the underground newspaper idea, I thought that is what we are. Even better, we don't have the same editorial standards as the TG. You can speak your mind. If you want to distribute your paper send your favorite comments to your friends by clicking on the envelope at the bottom of the comment and forward to your own circle of friends (or enemies)

We regularly send postings to the TG's Mother (Denver Post) You should hear what they say. That may be an upcoming blog.

Cheers!

When Did They Sell Out?

The moral and ethical dilemma in this Town is: When do I sell out? The Trail Gazette faces that dilemma every day, but they should be honest enough to publish the actual date they sold out so that we could all celebrate. The Town is famous for parades; they should give the Trail a parade as a thank you for joining the “team.”

First of all, how do we know that they sold out? If it isn’t obvious by the slanted coverage of each and every burp that gets printed, we know that Bill Ferguson, Publisher of the Trail serves on at least one Town committee. This is ethically wrong. He sold out the papers independence by joining the “team.” He sold out the papers independence by publishing every slanted article that Baudek and Repola write, as a good “team” member should but refuses, as does editor John Cordsen, to publish articles or even letters that are contrary to the Town line. Can you imagine their owner, the Denver Post, behaving in such a way?

There is nothing about community in this newspaper. Many readers of the Estesparkian have had letters and articles rejected because they didn’t fit the Town’s plan. Not the Trail’s plan, but that of the Town. You see, they sold out. How can any newspaper refuse a letter to the editor that is sent to them with no objectionable language, no personal attacks but with only an opinion? Shame on them for the lack of true journalism standards. Shame on them for not being a community newspaper.

Perhaps a wake-up call could be given by refusing to advertise in the Trail until they publish a policy on free public opinion that we can all live with. The Trail, like the Town, should be governed by the people they serve.

Remember Home Rule?

“We believe that there is still ample reason for optimism that 2005 will continue to track with 2004,” said Steve McFarland, Town finance officer. “One of our challenges with sales tax revenues is that the information is not available until 45 days after the fact. We are trying to identify leading indicators so that we can react more quickly to the economic opportunities and challenges presented by the sales tax income stream.”
While sales tax dollars keep declining.
Remember that under Home Rule we could collect our own sales tax dollars?
Of course the Town, meaning Baudek and his hired hand Repola, said that wasn't a factor. We do just fine the way it is.
McFarland is taking a big risk making these statements. Going against the gospel is a no no in Town and at the EFree. Tsk, Tsk.

Just Say NO!

Let’s have a little fun. The Town Bugle came today. Big whoop. Upcoming meetings on the Town sponsoring another study, to look at how to develop the economy say that the Town welcomes input from citizens. It’s interesting that certain citizens are now trying to get the information that the Town has refused to give them, yet now the Town seeks those same things from paid consultants. These are things that the Town should have known long ago. What has taken them so long? What are those items? Square footage of retail, number and types of stores just to get things started. How can it possibly be that the Town doesn’t have these numbers? It’s what they use to judge economic development and taxes on. As to studying lodging and retail trends, that’s what Marsh and the equally incompetent Pickering are being paid to know. If we need consultants, we sure as hell don’t need them. Fire them both!

Did anyone else notice that under the report that Home Rule failed, Repola said the issue would be looked at again before deciding future action. Let’s be clear, Repola is the hired boy that works for the Trustees. Who the hell is he to say what the Town will do. I guess that would be up to the Trustees. So, back down boy, you don’t speak for the Town. You are just the hired hand.

More to the point of this diatribe, don’t, DO NOT, give money to the Cultural Arts Council. Sure, we’re for the arts and everything they do for this community. However, under these circumstances the Town has proven that they are dishonest liars. Remember the FOSH money? That’s the money that was donated by wonderful caring citizens to support a collaboration of the arts, the Stanley and the Town. The Town caused that to fail, and then they finagled the money to hold in reserve for the arts, then when asked to cough it up they decided to keep it. And Bill Pinkham, a dedicated advocate of the arts is a Trustee. Bill, you are a sell out!

Now, as mentioned here before, Bob’s Amoco property was paid for by our money, given to the Town’s favorite developers, and in order to reclaim the $1 million purchase price they want to stick it to the arts group. Why reward the Town for a stupid financial decision? What should the arts group do? Demand that the money be given to them. Once the commitment is made, then, and only then, can you believe that your donation will be put toward a good cause.

SERIES #2

All statutory towns must comply with the laws and statues set forth by the State of Colorado.


Executive Order, Integrity in Government
Ordered by Governor Roy Romer, State of Colorado 1988

Public confidence in the integrity of the Government of the State of Colorado is of utmost importance;
Employees of the executive branch of government must discharge the duties of their office in an independent and impartial manner;
Executive branch employees should demonstrate the highest standard of personal integrity and honesty;
Qualified individuals should be encouraged to serve in state government and have equal opportunities with all citizens to develop private economic and social interests;
Executive branch employees should not realize personal gain from the performance of any official duties;
All executive branch employees should treat the public with respect, courtesy and dignity.

Code of Ethics

Each person in public office in the branch of government:

1. Shall serve the public with respect, concern, courtesy and responsiveness;
2. Shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness and honesty and shall through personal conduct inspire public confidence and trust in government;
3. Shall recognize that personal gains from public office are limited to respect, recognition, salary and normal employee benefits;
4. Shall not use public office to bestow any preferential benefit on anyone related to the public official by family, business or social relationship;
5. Shall not disclose or use or allow others to use confidential information acquired by virtue of state employment for private gain;
6. Shall not accept any fee, compensation, gift, payment of expenses, or any other thing of monetary value, under circumstances in which the acceptance may result in:
a: An undertaking to give preferential treatment to any person;
b: Any loss of complete independence or impartiality; or
c: The making of a governmental decision outside official channels.
7. Shall not engage in outside employment unless the outside employment is disclosed to the governor or the employee’s immediate supervisor and the outside employment does not interfere with the performance of state duties;
8. Shall not use state time, property, equipment or supplies for private gain;
9. Shall not knowingly engage in any activity or business which creates a conflict of interest or has an adverse effect on the confidence of the public in the integrity of government;
10. Shall carry out all duties as a public servant by exposing corruption wherever discovered;
11. Shall support equal access and employment opportunities in State government by all citizens of the State of Colorado regardless of age, sex, race, ethnic or national origin; and
12. Shall comply with the standards of conduct set forth in Title 24, Article 18 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.

BUBBLE BOY

Have you ever read that human interest story about the Bubble Boy? There was a movie about one, staring John Travolta. The story goes something like this; the boy has a dysfunctional immune system and any germ can kill him, so he must spend his entire life in a germ proof bubble. His entire world is enclosed and because he has no contact with the real world, he develops dysfunctional behaviors. Slowly he blocks out any real world semblance of normalcy, choosing to live in his world of make believe. Isolation is not good for people or communities they get stagnate and stale inward looking apposed to outward thinking.

Overtime Estes Park has developed a polarized population; locals on one side (when does one become a local?) retirees, business owners, building owners, seasonal residents and town government. Each faction enclosed in its own version of self serving reality. Oh you do love to fight amongst yourselves, as the rest of the world passes by.

The evolution of Estes Park as a retirement community has proven to be amongst the most negative of the polarized factions. They only vote one way, NO. The town government has had to find funky ways to get things done, as the retirees and part time citizens predictably turn everything down. The way things have operated in the past decades have been shady politics in town hall and you have stolen our future.

• No community center
  
• No discovery center
  
• No home rule
  
• No concerts
  
• No performing arts center
  
• No fire district

There is no future in providing the amenities that the retirement community needs here in Estes Park, ever. Break out of your bubble for a minute and journey with me down highway 34 to the intersection of highway thirty four and I-25. You will notice two gigantic construction projects going on. On the West side of I-25 you will find a regional medical center and on the east side of I-25 you will find a huge regional shopping complex, including a gigantic automobile dealership. What retired person on a fixed income would not travel the hour to this ultramodern - fully equipped medical facility and then do ones necessary shopping? I know several long term locals that have sold their Estes Park homes and moved to the Loveland area, commuting to Estes until their business sells. There are year around things to do, places to eat and you are not always fighting town hall.

The business community is hopelessly up to their chins in a sewer swamp, standing on their collective tip toes, hoping no one makes waves and hoping the sewage levels don’t rise any higher. GULP! Help your businesses community, they are about to be drowned!

The Downtown Business District (Haberville) is a collection of old buildings infested with toxic mold, asbestoses, ancient and frayed electrical wiring, raccoon droppings and old telephone poles with transformer pots and rusted droopy wires going every which way. The town leaders enthusiastically will tell you everything they did after “the flood”. THAT WAS TWENTY YEARS AGO, your urban renewal needs urban renewal. My study shows that are no more dams to burst, we are not prone to tornados, earth quakes are a long shot, but a fire in downtown is a real and frightening prospect.

Five years ago, the then town administrator Richard W. had an article in the Chipmunk Gazette how the town was on a five year plan to compete with Aspen, Vail, and Steamboat. Richard your five years are here, you fell a little short - in fact you back slid a might. Richard where are you? I see your pay stub every two weeks, but you are no where to be seen.

If you want a good “show and tell” take a field trip to Manitou Springs Colorado. An old summer resort (statutory government) that went to seed and now it’s just a dump, with a few shops people pass on their way to somewhere else. You know all the traffic counts the town is so proud of? About twenty thousand vehicles a day and we only have one thousand parking spaces. The traffic peaks when there is a big concert or festival in Winter Park, Breckenridge or Steamboat. Those people are sitting on their wallets, backing up traffic and polluting our air, on their way to somewhere else.


Here is a road map, print it and paste it to your refrigerator:

• Break out of your Bubble Boy Bubble and join the real grown up world Estes Park
  
• Look ahead not behind, your head follows you eyes and if you keep looking behind that is where your head goes ...in your behind
  
• Clean up town hall and the parks and recreation district - be careful who you elect
  
• Home Rule
  
• Hire a town administrator/planner/town attorney with proven records of success in a successful resort town
  
• Become a forward looking and vision based community
  
• Pass a bond and make some community improvements
  
• Remake your image
  
• Become a year around community
  
• Discourage through taxation part time residence, they are the bane of Colorado
  
  ESTES PARK “PROUD OF OUR TOMMORROW”

ASSIGNMENT ESTES PARK

Estes Park here is an assignment, we need a new town slogan to replace Estes Park “The Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park” because the widely read National Geographic heaped scorn to the rest of the world rating us as a dismal gateway not to be emulated. So we must find a new handle.

Here is my suggestion for a new town slogan: Estes Park “Where Ignorance is Bliss”, kind of catchy don’t you think?

The National Geographic coordinated with three hundred marketing professionals to rate one hundred National Park gateway communities - out of one hundred we were 56. In school 56 out one hundred meant you were held back in the fourth grade. We flunked, we did worse than an F, we are a collective “Blight”. We flunked due to infrastructure issues; like land use policies appropriate to our location, traffic issues, noise and pollution. Our Mayor lied to us and said the magazine apologized to him. I am waiting for my next issue of National Geographic Traveler to read the retraction. The rest of the world has read that we suck. We have been labeled as a “blight” on RMNP and our elected leaders alibied; the damage is done, the boat hit the ice burg, the rabbit died, the genie is out of the bottle. In addition to the national attention we got courtesy of the town trustees, with the “pledge stuff” , we have an image problem and the best the mayor can do is alibi . John doesn’t have time for silly stuff like our national image he is to busy kicking the piss out of the Chamber of Commerce.

This summer we have managed to run down twice as many tourist as last year in the cross walks, but that’s OK Mayor it was local boys that hit’um shucks you know his dad. The Mayor is to busy kicking the piss out of the Chamber of Commerce to be bothered with silly stuff like running over tourists.

You turned down home rule and the ability to create local land use policy which we need- BECAUSE WE BORDER A NATIONAL PARK - the same land use policy that works for Burlington is not appropriate for Estes Park. GET IT BONE HEAD.

Traffic downtown is explained as “it’s a state highway”. What are we doing about this John, oh he is not available right now he is still busy kicking the piss out of the Chamber of Commerce.

We just had a vote to change our entire system of government and only 816 of 2600 registered voters bothered to step up. Where were you Estes Park? "We were all in the back room watching John kick the piss out of the Chamber of Commerce". Doing a fine job of it too, kick'em again, kick'em again, harder , harder.
This town would have elected an individual to the home rule commission who actually campaigned against home rule.

Estes Park “Where Ignorance Is Bliss”

Let's Share Information

How does one help the Estesparkian uncover the truth behind all the corruption in this Town? Surely there are disgruntled employees, people who have been harmed by actions of the Town, perhaps church members that hate that their good money is going toward bailing out people who should be in prison. Leave a comment on one of the blogs and we can all share what we know. The truth will set us free. What types of information would be useful?

Evangelical Free Church directors and members

Meeting times and places of Town Trustees where there are more than 2 present without public notification

You can decide what’s important to you.

FIRST IN A SERIES

As a public service and to avoid the notion that the Estes Parkian somehow has developed a prejudicial point of view concerning our elected knuckle heads. I offer a series of articles concerning criminal law; please enjoy.

By Lawyers for Lawyers
Definitions

Government Corruption
Government corruption is any type of abuse of public office or title for personal gain. All areas of the government in every part of the world are vulnerable to government corruption. Government corruption may be related to organized criminal activity or it may be a more isolated event. Government corruption can occur from the local level to the multinational arena in both political and bureaucratic offices. Some common types of government corruption include: bribery, extortion, fraud, nepotism, embezzlement, and similar activities.

Bribery is government corruption whereby one party offers something of value to a government official in exchange for some favor or immunity from laws or ethics. Extortion is the use of one’s political position to obtain something of value. Government corruption that involves fraud can include any act that is intended to deceive another party (including the public) in order to achieve personal gain. Nepotism is government corruption whereby family or close kin are favored in some political dealing. Embezzlement is government corruption involving taking or using government money for personal use.

There are many conditions which are favorable to government corruption in any area of political activity. When a population has a weak rule of law (possibly due to judicial corruption), a weak legal profession, restricted freedoms of speech and the press, and other vulnerable institutions, government corruption is more likely to take place. A society may also be more vulnerable to government corruption when there is little transparency in government transactions, power is relegated to the hands of a few decision makers who are not held accountable to the masses, and when there are no checks and balances on the political system.

Government corruption is also more common in situations involving large scale public projects, transactions involving certain resources, and virtually any matter where a public official stands to gain significant personal benefit for a public decision or transaction.

Anti-government corruption laws have been established on both the state and federal level in the United States in order to reduce the incidence of government corruption. Most statues make crimes of government corruption felony offenses that are punishable by incarceration, fines, and more.

THANK YOU ANONYMOUS

It is not my purpose to beat a dead horse here but Anonymous brought up a very good point that I will share with you now.

Double, double toil and trouble;/ Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

The new finance director for the town is none other than Steve McFarland the same Steve McFarland that is the administrator of the Rocky Mountain Church.

Double, double toil and trouble;/ Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Gee Brother Randy with the whole world to search for talent the very best finance director would be your own church administrator? Praise the Lord! How lucky for us all.

Double, double toil and trouble;/ Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

I guess so because the very best town administrator after searching the whole world was Brother Randy who worked his way into the hearts of everyone and rose from the position of crossing guard to head man after many "executive sessions" with the towns pedophile.

Wake up Estes Park the cock is crowing ........... the witches brew is on the boil.

PRAISE IN THE PARK

All the Estes Parkian can do is present you with the facts, if you put on the blinders or choose not to care well to hell with you move back to Omaha and stop breathing my pure Colorado air.
Case in point:
I told you that the number one reason to create a Home Rule charter is corruption. Back on Sunday February 27,2005 (see our archive Feb 05) I told you about the major road through the Kiowa Ridge subdivision that popped up out of town staff - seemingly from no where.

Do you have any idea how much a curb cut, curb – gutter and paved road costs?

Remember I told you that corruption comes when no is watching over staff and elected officials?

Well the road improvements courtesy of our sales tax dollars happens to coincide with the construction of the new House of Worship being built at the foot of Mary’s Lake Lodge.

Now is it a coincidence that a major mover and shaker in this Church happens to be none other than (surprise, surprise) Randy Rapolla town administrator and his wife, it gets better ………. Town trustee Chuck Levine and his wife, it gets even better………Tom Deleo and his wife "Sticky Fingers" Mary Deleo. Pretty involved group this, a lot more going on here than singing the praises, boys and girls.

If we all hold hands and pray on it real hard maybe we will get a new road, good Lord it’s a miracle!!!!

Praise the Lord and pass the sales tax dollars. Thank you Brother Randy, and thank you Estes Park, hell its only money.

Cleary Again Misses Mark

Cleary gibberish again misreads the economic condition of Estes Park. It seems he is so busy trashing Tavel and showering support for our Town government, he isn’t clear on reality. His recent commentary states “Well, things seem to be rolling along just fine. Shops are still open for business. Tourists are still flooding into town. The sun shines on the mountains. Life goes on…” What he says may be true, but all to a lesser degree than what has been anticipated by the shop owners and the Town. Business is down significantly. Look at the storefronts that are empty and those that are announcing their closing. Tourists are here in lower numbers. Shops are selling less. Tax dollars are decreasing.

When will citizens of this Town finally embrace the business community as their friends? These businesses provide much needed tax dollars to the community and they should be embraced and supported. Have you all forgotten that we no longer have a car dealership with associated service department? Imagine how many tax dollars are being lost because of that. How will citizens replace those tax dollars? What scheme will this Town staff come up with to sell the trustees on? Better get your checkbooks ready, and don’t whine about it. Nobody is listening.

Levine, Baudek and Pickering. Three Fat Men in a Tub!

Levine is an idiot. Didja notice that in the meeting he congratulated the Board on not having secret sessions it was following a meeting where they held a secret session. Let’s get real. There are times when it only makes sense to hold meetings in private. However, the Town abuses that right and Levine knows it. Another interesting statement in the July 12 meeting was by Baudek who said he and Pickering called the National Traveler Magazine and got an apology. Absolutely not true! There was a follow-up call to the magazine and they said it didn’t happen – not in the history of the magazine. Funny, Baudek is now groveling in the dirt with Pickering. Usually he has more sense than that and would leave him hanging. John, under a little too much pressure?

Prayers to Missing Ranger

The community has come forward to help in the search and rescue of missing Rocky
Mountain National Park Ranger Jeff Christensen. As many as 140 trained search personnel from Gunnison, Colorado Springs, Steamboat Springs and Wyoming, as well as many other nearby communities have spent days searching the remote areas near Chapin and Chiquita Mountains looking for any sign of the missing Ranger.

Along with personnel there are as many as 5 helicopters, from as far away as the Grand Canyon, and rescue dogs used in the search.

All deserve our gratitude and support.

We Can Change!

Teensneeded makes a good point. Why focus on marketing when it isn’t the only problem here. For one thing, marketing is a symptom of what is wrong in Estes Park. The marketing department was created illegally by being against State Statute. They have a staff of incompetents and account for somewhere between $2.5 and $4 million taken out of the general fund to be misspent on programs that are not very good. Everyone in Estes Park that pays taxes should be mad as hell about this, but they don’t seem to care. So let’s look at other fixables: How much is spent toward the Scottish/Irish festival that is a private function? How much is spent on the Rodeo and where do the gate receipts go? To Top Hands and funneled to Town employees instead of back into the rodeo.

So, the bottom line on why don’t we have stuff for teens? It is too much work for the people that could make it happen; People such as Pinkham, Levine, Baudek, Doylen, and the like. They don’t have a vision. They don’t see beyond staff recommendations and they are self serving. We need to eliminate EPURA as the “planning arm of the Town” because that isn’t what they were created for regardless of what Al Wasson says. Why did he sell out? Corruption in this Town is too nice a word.

When will we see things change? When we have the courage to vote for new people. When we make demands and stop settling for poor performance.

Down In Flames As Predicted

Tonight the voters spoke. Isn’t it strange that when someone refuses to stand for the flag we have a large turnout of veterans and patriots, but when that very patriotic act of voting for our government’s future becomes an opportunity the voters stayed home? Our forefathers would be ashamed.

So, we had 814 voters show up to have 324 of them says Yes to Home Rule. There were 490 No votes, so we won’t see Home Rule at this time in Estes Park. That is fewer than 25% voter turnout. Isn’t it even more interesting that the largest vote getter had only 331 votes, even though this doesn’t count because there will be no Charter Commission.

Two really good candidates would have been on that commission - Larry Pesses and Patrick Cepola. Citizens are recognizing them as being good leaders and good for this Town. Congratulations to them.

Isn’t it interesting that the Town brought the issue to the forefront, put up their own slate of candidates, and then forgot to tell their supporters that they should vote in favor of Home Rule. Had they done so the Town would be in the driver’s seat. They could have written a charter exactly as they wanted. They outsmarted themselves and will surely pay the price. What a hoot. John Baudek must feel gut shot at this moment. All that power so very close. Hand grenades and horseshoes John Boy. The good news is that Pickering and Marsh will soon be gone, adios. They will not be missed.

So, how does the Town continue their marketing operations? How do they build the CVB building when they have no way to justify it and no way to change the rules to make it legal? How can they create a marketing district or charge a tourist tax? They can't. It is all too funny. Sorry boys. Better luck next time.

Election Prediction - Before the Polls Close

This just in. Estes Park votes against Home Rule! Light turnout, lack of interest, not understanding the issues because of laziness in educating onesself and the Town dictating how their employees should vote caused this outcome. Such things as "...hell, I'm retired, why should I vote?""If it ain't broke don't fix it.""I don't even get it so I guess I don't really care."

If this is the case, just remember that it was the Town that supposedly wanted Home Rule. They passed the ordinance in it's favor then didn't support it. If it does go down in flames it would be just another Town failure.
Can’t vote because you can’t find a parking spot? Why do you think it was planned for this time of year?

Can't wait. News at 10:00

Why Home Rule?

The number one compelling reason communities convert to Home Rule status in this day and age is;…….corruption. Yes ladies and gentlemen the big C. With no oversights sooner or later your public employees and elected officials start noticing you do not pay attention. When this happened in Estes Park is not clear but it did evolve and we have a mess on our hands.
Yes this Estes Parkian is willing to come out of the closest and make a public omission: yes I believe Town Hall is corrupt!
Tom Pickering stood in front of the town trustees and vomited an hours worth of pure gibberish at the last trustee meeting Tuesday. With a straight face he was relating current traffic counts and RMNP entrance numbers and a nonrelated report from 2002. The trustees buy off on that hog wash. Regardless what shade of rose colored eye wear you use nothing Tom Pickering and his posse presented made sense let alone resemble a professional advertising and marketing plan. Please at least lie to me that there is a strategy. No town in Colorado, not even the City and County of Denver, has its own advertising–marketing department. There are communities that have formed legal marketing districts and call them CVB’s, but they hire Madison Ave. firms to develop professional campaigns that include built in and ongoing conversion devices, marketing, promotions, advertising and they work. There is no excuse for Mr. Pinkham to not blow a gasket last Tuesday night. Mr. Pinkham claims to have a corporate business back ground. If you allowed that kind of shady work for your corporate employers it would have been a short career, you are the representative of the electorate Mr. Pinkham you did not join the “town team” or did you? You can excuse Sue Doylan because she is a local bred junk yard dog who doesn’t know anything beyond how to bite; being the bully is not representing your electorate Susie. (And what the hell is it with the South east Texas accent of trustee Newsome).
Anyone that spends that much effort hiding their activities has a lot to hide. What are you hiding?
Truthfully Home Rule status is not required to mandate a system where town employees spend monies in a responsible and professional manner, only responsible elected officials. By that I mean competitive public bids with public bid openings not the politically driven ATM cash machine we now use. A competent public employee would not want to be negotiating services in the back room; the personal liabilities are just too great. All the in-breeding that has gone on developing in house administrative personnel is necessary to maintain “the system”.
Is that Tom Pickering’s son, off spring, fruit of his loins, on the town roster too, by golly it is!! Tom’s family were failures in business here in Estes but they have become the masters of the fleecing of its citizens, it’s a family tradition.
People do not trust Town Hall and they should not, how often have you heard this, “the Town has the money and people will gravitate to the gold”. Before it is all said and done there will be some perp-walks. What will they do next to embarrass us all to the rest of the world?

Why Would People Vote Against Home Rule?

People that have become passionate about Home Rule don’t see any other way to model a government. Town government won’t change to become a voice for the people, so we change the government.

Will we have Home Rule at the end of the evening tomorrow night? Time will tell, but if Home Rule is voted down it isn’t because it is wrong, it is because we have apathetic people that fear change.

If you are passionate about this issue it’s time to call your friends and neighbors and urge them to trust in this vote and let citizens put forth the effort to write an acceptable charter for this Town. Remember, every vote counts.

Survey Results to Date

Well folks, here’s what we have so far in the survey. It isn’t too late to ad your thoughts. The Survey link has been added to this message to make it real easy to register your thoughts.

Are you in favor of Home Rule?

92% Yes

8% No

Do you feel Home Rule will be approved?

30% Yes

70% No

Do you feel Estes Park will be improved by Home Rule?

92% Yes

8% No

Want to participate? Click on the link to take the survey.

http://surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=895281239672