WRBM asks voters to decide

RANGELY I “It’s for the kids and the future of their education,” Tim Webber, executive director of the Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District (WRBM), said of Question A on the May 8 special district ballot.
In addition to electing four board members, the WRBM is asking voters to approve a mill levy increase of .75, with generated funds to be dedicated to cover athletic and other extracurricular activities for the Rangely School District. The increase is expected to generate $320,518 in the first year.
“If passed, it would free up that money for the school district to reinvest it into teachers and educational materials for the classroom,” Webber said.
The tax collection would begin in 2012 and end in the year 2016.
The ERBM ballot, recently mailed, will also allow voters to choose four new board members, three for four-year terms and one two-year term.
Current chairperson Linda Gordon and Joyce Key have served two terms and will not be on the ballot but current board members George Fortunato (who was appointed to fill a term) and Dennis Medina, current vice chairperson, are on the ballot as incumbents. Janet Mackay, the WRBM secretary, is not up for reelection and will remain on the board.
In addition to Fortunato and Medina, Rick Brady and Jennifer Noel are also on the ballot for one of the three four-year seats. Jeff LeBleu is the only candidate on the ballot for the two-year term.
“We’ll have a couple new faces on the board but for the past seven years, they have been wonderful to work with and they have a great vision for the recreational opportunities in our district,” Webber said. “I’ll miss Linda and Joyce, they brought different tools to the table and were wonderful to have around.”