The Last Stand
Comments by BoulderGrad
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On Michael Turner: Staff irresponsible
November 6, 2007 at 6:57 a.m.
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This is what I expected you would do. No matter what I say, you attack it. You you will continue to pull quotes out of context, and ridicule.
On Our View: Vote ‘yes’ for rec center
November 5, 2007 at 9:07 p.m.
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Honesty…
On September 4, the Council finally decided to put this issue on the ballot, after more than two years of hard work and many, many Council meetings. At the very last minute, a couple of Council members decided that maybe the options should be split up and put all over town. That included giving Old Town Hot Springs $21 million of city dollars just to build the pool, build a stand-alone Youth/Teen Center at Howelsen, or just build one gym, possibly at the elementary school, once again with taxpayer dollars. That total would have been $48 million. Many felt these options to be fiscally irresponsible. My point is that up until Sept. 4, we had no idea what would be on the ballot, if anything. It is hard to go to individuals and businesses and ask them for substantial funds for something that we didn’t even know what it was. This all happened with the current Council, despite years of recommendations by the consultants and studies and surveys in the community. It was hard to fundraise for something that, at that time, was so nebulous.
As for the Letters of Intent, the donors wish to be anonymous. We will respect that request.
Also, the information about the Letters of Intent has been released. It was in each of four half-page newspaper ads in the Pilot, the week of October 19-23. It was also in a Letter to the Editor that the Pilot opted not to run.
Regarding the Curci-Turner site, the first consultants chose that option without a lot of research. The current consultants (Barker Rinker Seacat) explored 38 different sites in and around the city. They decided that the best one is the Ski Town site. There was organized neighborhood opposition to the Curci-Turner site, which many still feel is perfect. One would think every house in those neighborhoods around Curci-Turner would have a Rec Center yard sign in their yard, with each homeowner voting yes on 2B & 2C.
All of this information can be found at www.skitownrec.com
A very comprehensive, unbiased study was done by the Dialogue Before Decision class. Their information is at
http://www.steamboat-chamber.com/info/le…
On Michelle Lichtenfels: Support rec center
November 5, 2007 at 7:18 p.m.
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Honesty…
A few things for you to ponder. Until September 4, no one knew whether Council would put this issue on the ballot. Despite all consultants and studies, some of the Council members decided, at the very last minute, that split facilities might be a better option. That included the City giving the Old Town Hot Springs $21 million, putting a separate youth/teen facility at Howelsen, and adding a single-court gym, (or possibly building one for the school district at one school). Many felt that giving a private business (OTHS) that much money was not a government responsibility. Until the very last minute, no one knew what Council would do. It's hard to fundraise for something that nebulous.
As for disclosure, if you saw the half-page ads running in the Pilot the week of October 14-19 (there were four of them), you would have seen that Letters of Intent have raised a substantial amount of money. Also, one of our Letters to the Editor also disclosed this fact but the paper didn't choose to run this one. That's why it has been brought up in the blogs.
As for disclosing who has donated this money, the donors wish to remain anonymous. We’re respecting that request.
As for site location, the first consultants didn't examine all of the sites as thoroughly as Barker Rinker Seacat. Organized opposition to Curci Turner helped lean the new consultants to Ski Town. If the Curci Turner neighbors were smart, every one of them would have a yard sign out in their yard right now, and get this thing passed.
On Michael Turner: Staff irresponsible
November 4, 2007 at 7:44 a.m.
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Who will use a diving well?
Kayakers practicing their rolls.
Scuba divers getting their certification.
The diving team which has to travel to Craig to practice.
Kids who line up to do a cannonball off the high dive or low dive. Or who love the chance to just jump off a diving board in a pool that actually meets the legal depth restrictions, according to insurance regulations (unlike the current option at OTHS).
Water aerobics classes.
Water polo.
Winter Sports Club aerial team practicing their tricks and jumps.
Slap on a Speedo, Mr. Turner, and have some fun with the rest of us!
Vote yes on 2B & 2C. A Recreation Center for Steamboat. For you. For me. For Our Community.
On Michelle Lichtenfels: Support rec center
November 2, 2007 at 8:44 p.m.
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Private funds have been raised, in over six figures, but none of the Letters of Intent are from Intrawest.
Kielbasa, Curves moved to 5th & Yampa this week, so that makes all of the workout facilities downtown which even further strengthens your point.
It's a property tax per household, not a head count tax.
Thanks to the opponents for getting the soccer community on board.
$14 bucks a month gets you a heckuva a lot of wonderful amenities (based on a $500,000 home). 60% of the homes in Steamboat are less than $500,000. Second home owners will be paying for this as well, and they can't vote.
The price will go down every year as more homes and businesses are built.
Books, thanks for your continued support. You're knowledgable, educated and accurate.
On Kami Brockway: Rec center needed
October 24, 2007 at 7:57 a.m.
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With the way Council handled this, it would have been difficult to raise private funds before the issue was decided. For example, at the last minute, they presented new options, which included giving a private company in town $21 million to build a pool. Many thought that irresponsible. For three years, they micro-managed this and (some) didn't listen to consultants. Finally, it's on the ballot. Argue as much as you want, but Letters of Intent are in six figures. Donors have asked to be anonymous.
Once again, Elkeye, you've been told over and over, it's not about the pool!
If you took the time to learn about the issue, you might realize that it does make sense for our community and it is going to eventually happen. It's a wonderful amenity. The longer we wait the more it will cost. www.skitownrec.com
On Kami Brockway: Rec center needed
October 24, 2007 at 7:25 a.m.
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Yes, the fieldhouse would be an additional cost if those in the community thought it warranted in 5-10 years. Private funds could certainly be raised, similar to Roof the Rink. And yes, Intrawest could possibly be interested in contributing on such a facility that would be a benefit to them.
On Ben Tiffany: ‘No’ for rec
October 24, 2007 at 6:55 a.m.
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Privately raised funds to offset the cost of the rec center, should it pass, are currently at over six figures. So yes, money is being raised and more will come in. The skatepark folks have raised their money over several years. The rec center people have had several weeks.
The property tax will go down as more houses go up, just as birddog stated. It's a fixed dollar amount as opposed to a fixed mil levy. Second-home owners are also contributing to this.
Just trying to educate with information as opposed to inviting argument and dissension.
On Kami Brockway: Rec center needed
October 24, 2007 at 6:38 a.m.
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A grass field (repositioned) will go in at the Ski Town site, along with a smaller artificial turf field which can eventually be covered to be a fieldhouse. Two more fields have already been approved at Heritage and will go in as well. Fields are being gained.
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RSS
On Annual youth lacrosse tourney set for this weekend
May 23, 2008 at 8:28 a.m.
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RSSSCO, that is the funniest thing I've ever read on a blog. You are hysterical. Way to go!