This fall will be very interesting politically, everybody has projects, they need more money, don’t we all.
Checking my score card I see the town behind two initiatives in November, one for a fire district and the other for a performing arts complex.
Then there is the school district initiative they need money to up grade the schools.
I can’t believe we have heard the last from the parks and recreation district, the swimming hole needs more money to operate and if they do not get a hand out from town hall the pool will close.
Somebody out there please explain to me why it is the responsibility of the town trustees to bail out the Parks and Recreation District and the School District to keep the swimming pool open. This is a lot like the Convention Center; tens of thousands of dollars per month go to operating and maintaining this facility as well, nice deal for the Holiday Inn and Forever Resorts. How many other motel owners get this kind of on going public subsidy?
Why would the citizens of Estes Park want to raise their property taxes to build the Arts community their own private club house? They should do what other arts communities around the country have done, raise the money to build a substantial project privately, and then go to the public sector for assistance in acquiring a spot and brokering breaks on taxes or utilities. A cooperative arrangement with the school district on a multiple use facility seems like a more practical and logical approach. How about a Town – School District – Arts Council, cooperative project?
Here’s a brain storm, move town hall and library into the soon to be abandoned elementary school where local citizens could easily access the facility and then turn the current town hall and library into a mega arts complex?
Senate bill 169 expired during this last session (the bill intended to modify the urban renewal authorities “blight” powers) and Will Smith exalted that he has a future. Hold your horses Will, if you paid attention our State law makers politically focused on immigration laws to the exclusion of all else. The bill will most assuredly be reintroduced when our law makers reconvene, rocky road a head buddy. Keep your eyes focused on EPURA’s new and improved plans for the West corridor of The Downtown business district. A new plan is in the works (we do have an approved plan but this has been ignored for twenty years) if you are a business owner or property owner you would be well served to attend all meeting concerning this new scam. What is agreed on publicly never flies, town staff has their own agenda, probably something like the EPURA acquiring the Church Shops?
