Thanks from Meeker jr. high volleyball team
Dear Editor:
The Meeker junior high school volleyball team would like to thank the Sleeping Giant volleyball team for your incredible act of kindness you showed our team.
The individual gifts you gave to each girl and the beautiful flowers for each of the coaches to show your support and sympathy for all we have had to endure during the wildfires.
Thank you again for your kindness.
Meeker Jr. High Volleyball Team
Meeker
Thanks to WREA
Dear Editor:
This will be the first of several letters thanking those involved in heroic acts of service during the Lee Fire. With the exception of our buildings, our ranch suffered a near total loss.
Today we are focused on honoring White River Electric Association employees and the associated crews from around the West who sent people into harm’s way to replace downed power poles and lines in order to keep critically important water wells pumping. We personally witnessed electric crews working very close to flames as they replaced what the fire consumed.
Electricity also kept our Starlink satellite operational thus providing the ability to communicate with the outside world in areas where there is no cell service and the telephone landlines burned. Due to the difficult configuration of our canyon on Piceance, some fire fighters even used our Starlink to communicate. Electric power is always wonderful but it was critical during the Lee Fire crisis.
Thank you White River Electric!
Sam and Cheri Robinson
V/ Ranch
Meeker
Another Robinson letter
Dear Editor:
Thank you for accepting my letter about irrigation return flow for the Aug. 28 issue. Your willingness to print critical material is a welcome sign of transparency. It is, however, unfortunate that you chose to print the letter beneath a headline that is false, necessitating this letter to correct the record. The previous letter did not disagree with findings of the return flow study. Although the Summary of Findings presented by Dr. Bailey leaves room for improvement, what the letter disagreed with was the spin applied to study findings by Liz Chandler and the Herald Times. As you point out in your column, people are free to believe whatever they want. You should also acknowledge that such liberty is not violated by affirming facts. As example, the 42nd slide from Dr. Bailey’s presentation shows that reducing diversion by converting from flood irrigation to efficient sprinklers increases the amount of water in the river in summer, at time of great need, and reduces flow in autumn, when there is no need for the extra groundwater return flow. This finding of the study is not in dispute. The disagreement is about context and characterization of the information. Perhaps you could obtain permission from Dr. Bailey to print the referenced time series chart with this letter to empower readers to decide for themselves.
Thank you.
Samuel Collin Robinson
Professional Engineer
Grand Junction, Colorado
Questions for the RBC Board of Commissioners
Dear Editor:
There were a variety of meetings held last week throughout Rio Blanco County, where employees were asked by the Human Resources department what would be least impactful on them as they work through a budget shortfall. Unfortunately, the Commissioners were not in attendance at any of these meetings, which proved frustrating for most of us. Employees and voters alike have been asking the same questions, and I am asking that our Commissioners publicly provide answers in a clear way so that everyone can understand where we are, how we move forward, and why the Commissioners are exploring the option of the employees covering the shortfall with wages and/or another reduction in insurance coverage.
What projects have been turned down by the BOCC in recent years because they weren’t emergent or necessary?
Was there/is there a plan to reduce overall spending to reduce the chances that employees will have to fix the shortfall by reducing benefits or pay now and in the future?
What will happen to the hiring freeze that is now in effect when employees inevitably leave employment with the county because of personal budget concerns or on principle?
Is the BOCC aware of the fact that the choice to increase deductible/out of pocket amounts will likely cause employees and their families to forego medical care because of the cost?
Is any other portion of the budget flexible in a way that the Commissioners could spend more responsibly, and alleviate the issue without relying on employees to cover the shortfall?
What types of overhead, such as unused fleet vehicles and empty buildings, could be cut before placing the burden on employees?
Why weren’t the Commissioners in attendance at any of the meetings where this was being discussed?
Why is the county pursuing seemingly aesthetic projects in light of the looming budget crisis? For example, the BOCC has in recent months hired a company to oversee a GA ramp being built at the airport, the painting of the Fairfield Center, and decking for a bridge. The budget and votes for these projects are available to the public by request, and BOCC meetings are broadcast via YouTube.
Last year, the BOCC rented a home for $1,500 a month, seemingly as an “incentive” for an employee that has yet to be hired. Is this home sitting empty? Now that there is a hiring freeze, will they walk that back? Are they aware that in order to lease the home to the county for the course of one year, an employee’s lease of $950 wasn’t renewed and they had to vacate the home they had lived in for years?
The employees and the public deserve to know how our elected officials spend our dollars, and I look forward to having more clarity about our current situation.
Thank you,
Jessica Seelhoff
Meeker