Well it looks like the Chamber will continue to hold the Town’s feet to the fire. Good for them. No one in recent history has tried so hard to hold the Town accountable for illegal actions. It appears that only one half of the lawsuit was really settled, and the portion of statutory rights of the Town was left as a question. The only logical thing to do was to appeal the decision and get some impartial parties (appeals court) to look at that issue.
If you’ve read the Town position, the court said they couldn’t charge out of town businesses, calling it a tax. If you read Pickering’s interpretation he says they will just call it something else. Let’s be clear about this: Pickering is an idiot! However, he is the mouthpiece for the Town and says whatever he is told. Following this to the end is the only way to make any difference in this town.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
CML
The only way to view the salary comparisons you are asking for is to have access to member only information on the CML website. That is how the information was researched and gathered. CML=Colorado Municipal League. So, in order to verify this information you would have to be a registered user. That has been done.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Hold On Pardner!
Don't misconstrue passion as being critical of blogger’s. It must be recognized that only the blogger’s have enough gumption to speak out on the issues. Blogger’s rule! Keep it real and keep commenting. You are the only voice for this community!
Road Map
We do read the comments and feed back.
The Estessparkian is not anti town government, we are pro truth pro accountability.
The Estesparkian has never altered the comments and feed back, it is what it is.
The Estesparkian is a brotherhood/sisterhood committed to the betterment of our community.
We are out and about in Estes Park constantly observing the tastes and tempo of our community, to expose you to the truth. The number one observation that we are in consensus with is how few people in Estes Park control the politics of the community.
Apathy is slow death, passions motivate creativity.
The Estesparkian is like your conscious that little angel on your left shoulder with the devil on the right shoulder. All we can do is say “NO” you cannot take that - it does not belong to you, now if you listen to the devil tugging on the other ear “hey there’s no one around take it who would ever know”? The choice is yours.
The Estesparkian is a set of values, and some things are just plain wrong. Here, there, anywhere, wrong is wrong.
Anonymous is on purpose; Patrick C. has for years brought you the truth and the town has personally beat him down, Estes Park would not listen to him or elect this honest man. It was entertaining to listen to him irritate some folks, but Estes Park would never support him and he ran out of energy. The leaders Estes Park have elected have been an embarrassment and have brought national/statewide attention to Estes Park for all the wrong and destructive reasons. DO WE REALLY NEED TO ITEMIZE THOSE EXAMPLES AGAIN?
The Estessparkian is not anti town government, we are pro truth pro accountability.
The Estesparkian has never altered the comments and feed back, it is what it is.
The Estesparkian is a brotherhood/sisterhood committed to the betterment of our community.
We are out and about in Estes Park constantly observing the tastes and tempo of our community, to expose you to the truth. The number one observation that we are in consensus with is how few people in Estes Park control the politics of the community.
Apathy is slow death, passions motivate creativity.
The Estesparkian is like your conscious that little angel on your left shoulder with the devil on the right shoulder. All we can do is say “NO” you cannot take that - it does not belong to you, now if you listen to the devil tugging on the other ear “hey there’s no one around take it who would ever know”? The choice is yours.
The Estesparkian is a set of values, and some things are just plain wrong. Here, there, anywhere, wrong is wrong.
Anonymous is on purpose; Patrick C. has for years brought you the truth and the town has personally beat him down, Estes Park would not listen to him or elect this honest man. It was entertaining to listen to him irritate some folks, but Estes Park would never support him and he ran out of energy. The leaders Estes Park have elected have been an embarrassment and have brought national/statewide attention to Estes Park for all the wrong and destructive reasons. DO WE REALLY NEED TO ITEMIZE THOSE EXAMPLES AGAIN?
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
data
In the last economic development advisory committee meeting Town administrator Randy Repolla admitted that the statistics that the town create are faulty in fact the word he used was... shit. Is this like a new revelation, like Holly Molly guys would you look at what I discovered ALL OUR DATA IS SHIT. You mean like... If its not broke don’t fix it Randy?
Why is this important? If you have to ask that question well you will not be reading this because you can’t read Bubba. You are to busy brushing that one remaining tooth to under stand what it is we been... splaining to ya.
What else do town employees have to do but get the numbers right? Its public money fool. The town hires consultants they spend money based on what? Business is done behind closed Town Hall doors invisible to diligent citizen oversight and the data we do see is faulty. Town Hall has no counter point they have eliminated all political apposition, except the Estesparkian. The papers print anything they regurgitate they are the single and only expert. No one to blame because it is a one party political system, the democrats blame the republicans and visa versa but in Estes Park who is the counter point to the point? If the town is economically failing because eighty five percent of the businesses fail that’s alarming. Businesses keep coming here to fail? What gives a potential investor the impression that their endeavor will succeed when 85% fail. The town has been driving the bus and navigating the way for over fifteen years. If we are lost who is to blame? Yes, blame is relevant someone is passing bad information, was it a mistake or is it calculated? If businesses have come to Estes Park based on deceptive information generated by the town isn’t that fraud?
Town Hall refuses to float bonds to make necessary infrastructure upgrades because they couldn’t pass the accounting audits demanded by the top brokerage houses. True or false.
If you buy a business license and become a stake holder in the town department CVB are you entitled to buy into the employee benefit package that the tax you collect pays for? True or false?
The Estesparkian brought you the article from the National Geographic Traveler magazine that judged Estes Park as being a prime example of a negative gateway community as a matter of fact saying “do not emulate Estes Park”. The mayor made a statement on the record that the magazine retracted the story to him (it must have been in executive session because no one else in the world heard or saw this retraction) and you all swallowed it. Like a Rocky Mountain Green backed trout hook line and sinker, leader and all. Catch and release to be hooked over and over again. No fool like a desperate fool.
There has been one point source for information in Estes Park and that has been the town trustees and town staff. You would only use shit information for one of two possibilities (1) you are stupid (2) you are deliberately deceptive. (I suppose there is a third you are stupidly deceptive or deceptively stupid but you get the point).
Any real town would be outraged. But Estes Park is not a real town it is more like a movie set. The town that most people see is Elkhorn and Moraine which is a false front once you get past the façade to fake out the tourists there is no substance no community glue. No cultural cement that binds past to present nothing for new comers to adopt. Ski area... gone, ski jumping... gone. Pride in being Estesparkian, Coloradoian, for Gods sake you have a Corn Husker store. That in it’s self is some sort of sacrilege. How long would a Buffs store last in Lincoln, you still don’t get it do ya Bubba?
Fake data, Town Hall above the law… It all fits.
Why is this important? If you have to ask that question well you will not be reading this because you can’t read Bubba. You are to busy brushing that one remaining tooth to under stand what it is we been... splaining to ya.
What else do town employees have to do but get the numbers right? Its public money fool. The town hires consultants they spend money based on what? Business is done behind closed Town Hall doors invisible to diligent citizen oversight and the data we do see is faulty. Town Hall has no counter point they have eliminated all political apposition, except the Estesparkian. The papers print anything they regurgitate they are the single and only expert. No one to blame because it is a one party political system, the democrats blame the republicans and visa versa but in Estes Park who is the counter point to the point? If the town is economically failing because eighty five percent of the businesses fail that’s alarming. Businesses keep coming here to fail? What gives a potential investor the impression that their endeavor will succeed when 85% fail. The town has been driving the bus and navigating the way for over fifteen years. If we are lost who is to blame? Yes, blame is relevant someone is passing bad information, was it a mistake or is it calculated? If businesses have come to Estes Park based on deceptive information generated by the town isn’t that fraud?
Town Hall refuses to float bonds to make necessary infrastructure upgrades because they couldn’t pass the accounting audits demanded by the top brokerage houses. True or false.
If you buy a business license and become a stake holder in the town department CVB are you entitled to buy into the employee benefit package that the tax you collect pays for? True or false?
The Estesparkian brought you the article from the National Geographic Traveler magazine that judged Estes Park as being a prime example of a negative gateway community as a matter of fact saying “do not emulate Estes Park”. The mayor made a statement on the record that the magazine retracted the story to him (it must have been in executive session because no one else in the world heard or saw this retraction) and you all swallowed it. Like a Rocky Mountain Green backed trout hook line and sinker, leader and all. Catch and release to be hooked over and over again. No fool like a desperate fool.
There has been one point source for information in Estes Park and that has been the town trustees and town staff. You would only use shit information for one of two possibilities (1) you are stupid (2) you are deliberately deceptive. (I suppose there is a third you are stupidly deceptive or deceptively stupid but you get the point).
Any real town would be outraged. But Estes Park is not a real town it is more like a movie set. The town that most people see is Elkhorn and Moraine which is a false front once you get past the façade to fake out the tourists there is no substance no community glue. No cultural cement that binds past to present nothing for new comers to adopt. Ski area... gone, ski jumping... gone. Pride in being Estesparkian, Coloradoian, for Gods sake you have a Corn Husker store. That in it’s self is some sort of sacrilege. How long would a Buffs store last in Lincoln, you still don’t get it do ya Bubba?
Fake data, Town Hall above the law… It all fits.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
What Will We Become?
Boise, Naples, Green Valley, Scottsdale, Temecula, Charleston, Corpus Christi, Bremerton and hundreds of additional communities are thriving. As the baby boomers part with their retirement funds they are buying new primary or second homes in areas they want to live and play. Communities all over America are seeing huge increases in property values as scarcity is driving the market. Community leaders are scrambling to keep up with the growth and the much needed services these newcomers require. Newfound communities (55 and above) that are attracting these retirees are providing great services such as performing arts centers, a multitude of activities, parks and recreation areas. The “young” retirees are an asset to the communities and act as real ambassadors to them. In other words, what we see in each of the communities, as reported by “Where to Retire” magazine, is a sense of belonging. Because each of the communities mentioned have seen huge increases in home values there have been many successful projects to insure affordable housing to the service industries; in this case applying to police, fire, teachers, etc.
Then we see Estes Park. The local government controls about $33 million as an annual budget (Repola isn’t sure what it really is saying their numbers are “shit”). But let’s assume that number he has used as somewhat accurate. In reality, our government has failed to meet the needs of the community which would make it more attractive to this new population and more beneficial to those that already live here. No performing arts, no parking downtown, no parkways in residential areas, no sense of community. Our government stifles growth because they have no vision. So, what are we left with? A community that has their home state groups because they don’t feel a part of Estes Park. No unifying sense of pride in who we are because we are nobody. Constant bickering between groups because we don’t have a clear vision of community because there is none.
Over the next few weeks be sure to look at the empty store fronts downtown, with particular focus on the building that houses Starbucks. That beautiful building is losing tenants because they can’t make it here. Our government insists on controlling all aspects of marketing and they are a complete failure. They don’t have anything to sell either visitors or potential residents. If there is any dissention they send one of their paid slugs like Pickering or Repola around to suck up to that individual and invite them to serve on a committee to shut them up. Individuals that appear to have promise, such as Homier, get elected as Trustee and almost immediately join the fraternity and become complete failures as servants of the public.
Note to Trustees: Listen up- you are supposed to serve the public. You are not elected to be a Gold Team member and shuffle off over some department. Get your collective heads out of you butts and begin service to the people.
What should we expect in a community like Estes Park?
A Performing arts center.
Ample Parking – 2,500 spaces based on national standards and our own Town development code.
Affordable housing – at least 100 new units, not 10.
A solution to the downtown traffic problem. Countless studies have been done, but nothing done with them.
Internet access throughout the Estes Valley. It isn’t that hard.
Hire a marketing company to expand our vision for the town and to market to visitors.
Perhaps Mayor Baudek could promote these things with a sky diving exhibition over Stanley Park (sans parachute).
Look around you people, we are in what is possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth and yet dozens of business fail each year and proclaim-
Get me out of this puke hole!
Then we see Estes Park. The local government controls about $33 million as an annual budget (Repola isn’t sure what it really is saying their numbers are “shit”). But let’s assume that number he has used as somewhat accurate. In reality, our government has failed to meet the needs of the community which would make it more attractive to this new population and more beneficial to those that already live here. No performing arts, no parking downtown, no parkways in residential areas, no sense of community. Our government stifles growth because they have no vision. So, what are we left with? A community that has their home state groups because they don’t feel a part of Estes Park. No unifying sense of pride in who we are because we are nobody. Constant bickering between groups because we don’t have a clear vision of community because there is none.
Over the next few weeks be sure to look at the empty store fronts downtown, with particular focus on the building that houses Starbucks. That beautiful building is losing tenants because they can’t make it here. Our government insists on controlling all aspects of marketing and they are a complete failure. They don’t have anything to sell either visitors or potential residents. If there is any dissention they send one of their paid slugs like Pickering or Repola around to suck up to that individual and invite them to serve on a committee to shut them up. Individuals that appear to have promise, such as Homier, get elected as Trustee and almost immediately join the fraternity and become complete failures as servants of the public.
Note to Trustees: Listen up- you are supposed to serve the public. You are not elected to be a Gold Team member and shuffle off over some department. Get your collective heads out of you butts and begin service to the people.
What should we expect in a community like Estes Park?
A Performing arts center.
Ample Parking – 2,500 spaces based on national standards and our own Town development code.
Affordable housing – at least 100 new units, not 10.
A solution to the downtown traffic problem. Countless studies have been done, but nothing done with them.
Internet access throughout the Estes Valley. It isn’t that hard.
Hire a marketing company to expand our vision for the town and to market to visitors.
Perhaps Mayor Baudek could promote these things with a sky diving exhibition over Stanley Park (sans parachute).
Look around you people, we are in what is possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth and yet dozens of business fail each year and proclaim-
Get me out of this puke hole!
Saturday, October 15, 2005
HOLE IN THE LAW GANG
“Political corruption” is an ever expanding pile accumulating atop the Estes Parkian in basket. There is a chasm between local political spin, ethics and what is legal. The everyday citizen is responsible for establishing and maintaining standards expectable in your community if you except questionable ethics and deceptive spin politics that cloud legal precepts, you are what you eat. To complicate it further every community is an agglomeration of individuals the sum of the parts equal the community physique. When you hire an attorney that spends half his time in Harmony House, being censured for ethics issues and administrators advanced for their ability within the “system”. You function like any computer – crap in= crap out.
Look back through the history books to a community know as the Robbers Roost and the Hole in the Wall gang for an appropriate analogy. This was a community of thieves, killers, hijackers, bushwhackers of the worst sort, on the run from the law. Robbers Roost and the Hole in the Wall was ideal for the those that accumulated there, isolated, hidden, a choke point where a lookout could see the law coming from miles away and if necessary one could loose pursuers in the maze of Utah canyons - so many rats which trail do you follow? In a community like the Robbers Roost the commonality being everyone was an outlaw and everyone was armed with a six gun. One would never venture there unless one was armed and dangerous and on the lamb. In that society if someone annoyed you or you desire some thing you simply shoot first and take what you want that’s the expectable “local politics”. The laws of the United States say you can’t kill people, the laws of Utah say you can’t shoot people but in the Robbers Roost it was done every day, like changing your socks. In a den of thieves the rule of civil law is useless the local politics in the Robbers Roost say dead men tell no tails you cannot enforce the law amongst the lawless. If a person in the Robbers Roost stood up and said “you can’t just shoot someone and take his stuff – “it’s against the law”. Everyone would shoot you many times and you the do-gooder would be “terminally correct”.
Back to Estes Park; November 1999 the town went to the citizens to ask permission to build an Information Center complex at the confluence of Highway 34 and 36. The citizens went to the polls and said “NO we the citizens do not want this”. In 2005 it is being built. Town Hall’s way of telling you the citizens who runs this damn town and it isn’t you. So much for why people do not vote around here - retired or not.
Currently the town is going through the budgeting process, as they shotgun line items 5% over here 2% over there ultimately intended for the “community reinvestment fund”. The town spends 2.5 million plus on an advertising program no matter how creative the math that is not 6.8% of the general funds - a lawful cap.
2004, the community development commission created a schedule of tax/fees for their newly created CVB to charge intown/out of town business. Greg White, town attorney, assured everyone that he studied this in depth and those tax/fees were legal. The Chamber of Commerce challenged this on behalf of its members and the law ruled the tax/fees were illegal and must be returned. Tom Pickering a town employee was quoted in the Trail Gazette that this ruling means nothing town staff will just find a new way to break the law. On and on and on and on.
A reasonable community would be very concerned about this level of lack of judgment in its elected officials and employees, but not Estes Park. A reasonable town would question elected officials that spit in the eye of the people that elect them, but not Estes Park. They hug the pedophile and ostracize the molested child’s family. Count the roster, the convicted, that were leaders from the Rotary, town hall, school board who were the enablers and how did they profit?
Look at the roster of names, who allowed the school districts money to walk out the back door, what’s going out the town’s back door? There is commonality between the town and the old school district, who does the accounting, who works for the town and the district do not insult me by suggesting that they crossed the street and found ethics.
In a den of thieves, the law of the land means nothing, the local politicians throw so much fertilizer at the wall sooner or latter something sticks. The Estes Parkian concedes to the Hole in the Law Gang. Estes Park you are ethically challenged. It is impossible to dictate a code of ethics, you are a law abiding respecting community or you are not, by choice. We think you are a silly bunch, the new spin is “care” in other words if you do not agree with us you are not “caring” that’s crap politics.
All we can do is steady the mirror so you can look at the problem.
Look back through the history books to a community know as the Robbers Roost and the Hole in the Wall gang for an appropriate analogy. This was a community of thieves, killers, hijackers, bushwhackers of the worst sort, on the run from the law. Robbers Roost and the Hole in the Wall was ideal for the those that accumulated there, isolated, hidden, a choke point where a lookout could see the law coming from miles away and if necessary one could loose pursuers in the maze of Utah canyons - so many rats which trail do you follow? In a community like the Robbers Roost the commonality being everyone was an outlaw and everyone was armed with a six gun. One would never venture there unless one was armed and dangerous and on the lamb. In that society if someone annoyed you or you desire some thing you simply shoot first and take what you want that’s the expectable “local politics”. The laws of the United States say you can’t kill people, the laws of Utah say you can’t shoot people but in the Robbers Roost it was done every day, like changing your socks. In a den of thieves the rule of civil law is useless the local politics in the Robbers Roost say dead men tell no tails you cannot enforce the law amongst the lawless. If a person in the Robbers Roost stood up and said “you can’t just shoot someone and take his stuff – “it’s against the law”. Everyone would shoot you many times and you the do-gooder would be “terminally correct”.
Back to Estes Park; November 1999 the town went to the citizens to ask permission to build an Information Center complex at the confluence of Highway 34 and 36. The citizens went to the polls and said “NO we the citizens do not want this”. In 2005 it is being built. Town Hall’s way of telling you the citizens who runs this damn town and it isn’t you. So much for why people do not vote around here - retired or not.
Currently the town is going through the budgeting process, as they shotgun line items 5% over here 2% over there ultimately intended for the “community reinvestment fund”. The town spends 2.5 million plus on an advertising program no matter how creative the math that is not 6.8% of the general funds - a lawful cap.
2004, the community development commission created a schedule of tax/fees for their newly created CVB to charge intown/out of town business. Greg White, town attorney, assured everyone that he studied this in depth and those tax/fees were legal. The Chamber of Commerce challenged this on behalf of its members and the law ruled the tax/fees were illegal and must be returned. Tom Pickering a town employee was quoted in the Trail Gazette that this ruling means nothing town staff will just find a new way to break the law. On and on and on and on.
A reasonable community would be very concerned about this level of lack of judgment in its elected officials and employees, but not Estes Park. A reasonable town would question elected officials that spit in the eye of the people that elect them, but not Estes Park. They hug the pedophile and ostracize the molested child’s family. Count the roster, the convicted, that were leaders from the Rotary, town hall, school board who were the enablers and how did they profit?
Look at the roster of names, who allowed the school districts money to walk out the back door, what’s going out the town’s back door? There is commonality between the town and the old school district, who does the accounting, who works for the town and the district do not insult me by suggesting that they crossed the street and found ethics.
In a den of thieves, the law of the land means nothing, the local politicians throw so much fertilizer at the wall sooner or latter something sticks. The Estes Parkian concedes to the Hole in the Law Gang. Estes Park you are ethically challenged. It is impossible to dictate a code of ethics, you are a law abiding respecting community or you are not, by choice. We think you are a silly bunch, the new spin is “care” in other words if you do not agree with us you are not “caring” that’s crap politics.
All we can do is steady the mirror so you can look at the problem.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Where's the Chamber?
One can only wonder what the Chamber is currently thinking about the ruling in their suit against the Town. Now the way this Estesparkian sees it, the Town got their hand slapped a bit and things go on as usual. Of course the Chamber did a great job of protecting member businesses that are out of Town; what a windfall they got. The Town was quick to point out that they will continue to do what they are doing, after giving back a few thousand dollars to out of town businesses. We are all waiting to see what the Chamber will be doing, if anything. Whatever it is, they will have to find some support in the community, as the last count showed few active members and not much promise for their future. We’ll all learn how much support there is for the Chamber after they comment on the current ruling and announce their long range plan. If anyone knows what’s going on with them, please report.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Most of Estes Park believes the following:
Local business owners have no moxey.
Local business owners are rude.
Local business owners provide cheap goods no one wants.
Local business = taffy, tees and ice cream.
Local business owners attract inconvenient crowds.
Locals do their shopping down valley.
Local business owners have no moxey.
Local business owners are rude.
Local business owners provide cheap goods no one wants.
Local business = taffy, tees and ice cream.
Local business owners attract inconvenient crowds.
Locals do their shopping down valley.
The window sticker seen around town on a locals jeep, If it is tourist season why can't we shoot them?
Town Hall is corrupted.
EPURA is corrupted.
Estes Park; answer the following questions for the Estesparkian, because I am confused.
The locals shop down valley - why do the local businessmen advertise in the local papers, are you stupid?
Who supports the local business man and why should they continue to invest in your town? In fifty words or less why should a businessman consider moving his/her business to your community?
If you own a local business why should you stay in Estes Park?
Every time there is a fund raiser for the schools, cheerleaders, Rotary, football team, fire department, Quota, boy scouts, girl scouts, duck race, Lions, fireworks, the locals go door to door in the business community asking for donations. Next time you need a donation go to the Loveland Walmart/Sams Club and beg for their sponsorship that’s where you spend your money.
Town Hall is corrupted.
EPURA is corrupted.
Estes Park; answer the following questions for the Estesparkian, because I am confused.
The locals shop down valley - why do the local businessmen advertise in the local papers, are you stupid?
Who supports the local business man and why should they continue to invest in your town? In fifty words or less why should a businessman consider moving his/her business to your community?
If you own a local business why should you stay in Estes Park?
Every time there is a fund raiser for the schools, cheerleaders, Rotary, football team, fire department, Quota, boy scouts, girl scouts, duck race, Lions, fireworks, the locals go door to door in the business community asking for donations. Next time you need a donation go to the Loveland Walmart/Sams Club and beg for their sponsorship that’s where you spend your money.
Why do the local retired people - filling there idle time involved with some insignificant four member non-profit - believe the local business man should support the endless list of clubs in this town?
Isn’t it time the Estes Park businessmen who do not necessarily live in the town limits, circle their wagons and flex their collective financial muscle or move your business where you are wanted and appreciated?
Fact: The business community brings money into your town, it is the only way wealth is generated for Estes Park. Town Hall does not generate money; they only spend the money generated by the business community.
Fact: Have you noticed the exodus of businesses yet? Fewer businesses to generate wealth, more and more town employees to support, the town staff grew by 15% last year.
Fact: Your water bill, electric bill, gas bill, are all going up and up and up.
Fact: Since 1991 the average cost of living in Colorado Mountain Resort Communities escalates 17.1% annually, translated that means if your economy is not growing by 17.2% every year, you are going broke.
The last one out please turn off the lights.
Isn’t it time the Estes Park businessmen who do not necessarily live in the town limits, circle their wagons and flex their collective financial muscle or move your business where you are wanted and appreciated?
Fact: The business community brings money into your town, it is the only way wealth is generated for Estes Park. Town Hall does not generate money; they only spend the money generated by the business community.
Fact: Have you noticed the exodus of businesses yet? Fewer businesses to generate wealth, more and more town employees to support, the town staff grew by 15% last year.
Fact: Your water bill, electric bill, gas bill, are all going up and up and up.
Fact: Since 1991 the average cost of living in Colorado Mountain Resort Communities escalates 17.1% annually, translated that means if your economy is not growing by 17.2% every year, you are going broke.
The last one out please turn off the lights.