Another Year, Another Budget

Walsenburg is facing a deadline for submitting an annual budget for the new year.  It is a difficult operation.  A number of calculations are done and the choices are presented to the city council.  Most of the time the choices are between two evils - do without something to have something else.
It appears this year will be no different.  A couple of budgets will be considered on November 11th. One choice will be to restore city employee pay cuts, and the other is to leave them intact.  There are arguments for either decision, but the facts don't change.

Walsenburg is struggling with a deficit in the general fund.  What caused it is only useful as a reminder of mistakes to avoid in the future.  To ignore the past and act as if the deficit doesn't exist, would be to refuse to learn from the past.

When money is needed for funding for a huge project like the  Northlands Sewer Project, and the city needs new money to keep it going forward, money is always found.  If money is needed to refurbish infrastructure of sewer and water lines in the city, there is no money available.  A pattern has emerged.

Now the city has come to admit that funds have been spent to advance the Northlands project.  These funds will be lost if the project doesn't go forward.  The alternative is to be liable for several millions of dollars instead of $400,000 to $500,000 which has been spent.  This formula looks similar to the kinds of decisions made in the past which have resulted in our present dilemma.

The bond pledge for an over-sized sewer plant was based on a trust that the prison would pay for it. The present project in the Northlands has a pledge for loan payments that only the city can guarantee.

Another loser from the past is the city water park.  A decision was made to spend a large sum on a water park that is expensive to operate and can only stay open two to three months a year.  Despite the obvious problem, no one has the courage to say, "enough."

A denial that there is a problem which can be solved is a sure decision that nothing will be done. Operating within a reasonable budget is not impossible.  When almost every project the city plans, involves a grant or a loan from the government, it is an admission that there is no money available for it.  When there is no money and there is a large deficit, it means you slow spending.  Repay the deficit first and think about large projects when the city is solvent.

Walsenburg Citizen's Forum

After reading an article by Eric Mullens from the Huerfano Journal's Facebook page about the last Walsenburg City Council meeting, I felt compelled to discuss the citizen's forum which is the segment of the City Council meetings where citizens are allowed to speak if they sign in prior to the Council meeting.

I have used the forum on a few occasions to express my concern about some issue that I thought needed addressing.  I have also attended council meetings when other citizens have spoken.  Most of the people who speak are not professional entertainers; therefore, they don't give particularly entertaining performances.  Of course, this is not the purpose of the forum, but the fact that there is a place for ordinary citizens to voice concerns is very important.

If a person chooses to speak on a topic that is inappropriate, this can be addressed after viewing his subject on the sign in sheet.  To decide after one incident to reduce the forum time allowance by half is an over reaction.  I have stated to the City Council on more than one occasion how important I thought the forum was to the citizens.

To be honest there are times I would like to place a limit on the Council's speaking time.  I hope the Council won't limit this forum. It is one of the only ways that citizens can voice concerns. The only other forum for expressing opinions is the "letters to the editor" in local papers.  This is limited by who the paper chooses to publish and whether the editor agrees with the point of view of the writer.

The American Pendulum

Election day is approaching and it will effect our future.  Political parties aside, we are all going to feel the effects of this election.  One of my history teachers used to say that American politics was like a pendulum.  When it swung to one extreme, it would balance out in time by going the other way.  I really hope this is true.

Our basic freedoms and rights as Americans have never been under such attacks. Our constitution is being criticized as being outdated.  Family values and freedom of religion are also under constant bombardment from those with special agendas to promote.

Separation of powers is a concept which was adopted by our forefathers to prevent tyranny and to control the different government branches so that any one of them could be kept in check by the other entities.  The current president is attempting to govern as a dictator and go around these checks and balances.  Sadly the other branches of our current system are content to sit on the sidelines while this is happening.

It is past time to rid our government of self-promoting, greedy politicians who are only interested in their own wealth.  When the nation is in peril of terrorists and internal destruction by those who would destroy our fiber as a nation, it is time for a coalition of citizens to demand that our representatives listen to us.

The extreme ideas which are so obvious in D.C. are also evident in our state and local government. Colorado has seen attacks on family values, religious freedom, education systems, and constitutional rights.  Many of these attacks are funded by billionaires from Hollywood and the Eastern political establishment.  These individuals have no business in Colorado politics.

Even local government can become influenced by the same ideas that are pervasive in Washington. Redistribution of wealth seems to be one popular theme.  It is considered politically incorrect to earn a living by working.  Just take what someone else has earned and use it.  Taxes are imposed to redistribute income. (Obamacare is a case in point.) .

In Walsenburg, we have a pending ballot issue to increase the sales tax.  This tax is purported to help prevent an increase in utility rates, but the city can raise utilities anytime it wants to.  A sales tax is meant to raise money for the general fund, and the general fund is separate from the utility funds. This sales tax is to help cover the $500,000 plus in spending deficits that the city has created.  More money is not the answer.  Getting rid of the individuals who spent more than the city could afford is the answer,  Handing over more money to those who created a massive deficit won't cure the problem.

As citizens, we have problems to solve at every level of government.  The results of the last election show that not voting has consequences.  Many stayed home to protest a lack of choice.  Let's vote for the best choices to turn our country back to democracy and deal with thinning the herd later.

Common Sense is not Politically Correct

The term "politically correct" is relatively new to me.  In recent years it has become incorrect to disagree with the establishment.  To disagree with authority is considered to be critical and disagreeable in a negative way.  This is inconsistent with what America is about.

To remove a person's right to disagree is to tolerate tyranny. Our forefathers sacrificed themselves by fighting tyrants who would limit their freedoms.  The fight is not over.  Some people think that any disagreement with an elected or appointed politician is treasonous.  They also think that it should be illegal for anyone to speak their opinion if it is different from the status quo.

Today common sense is not mentioned much.  I hope it is not considered a crime.  Examples of common sense include seeking shelter from the rain, avoiding poverty by not spending everything you have, working for money to pay bills, defending your country by guarding the borders, and recognizing a higher power than government.

The democratic process involves disagreement and debate.  Disagreement is part of the process.  The press used to understand their responsibility to report the news whether they agreed with it or not. Citizens need good information to make well informed decisions. Common sense is not a requirement to be a citizen or a politician or news reporter.

Just as we should be tolerant of those with no common sense, the politically correct should reciprocate. Being politically correct is to ignore morality and other factors to remain in the favor of the popular purveyor of a trend or political idea..Anyone who disagrees with the politically correct is considered a terrorist who should be silenced or imprisoned or executed.  These views are expressed by talk show hosts, news hosts, and politicians today.

The MSM or main stream media is considered by many as the propaganda arm of the government. Increasingly, the news is being reported on the internet by people who have a thirst for truth.  Many of these individuals do not receive compensation for their efforts.  I applaud them and hope that more will join the effort.

The reason America is seriously in danger of losing sovereignty and freedom is that many of us have been asleep to the political process for too long. While some folks advocate political correctness and equate that to always being positive and never exposing wrongdoing; the wrongdoing and corruption in government is still there.  Whether we vote and express our opinion or turn our back on the process, we are participating in  decisions that effect our future.

Will Walsenburg Bet the Ranch on Marijuana?

It has come to my attention that a party has approached the City of Walsenburg about leasing property owned by the city for marijuana grow operations. This property known as the "ranch" also has water rights and gravel reserves.

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The common consensus is that marijuana is lucrative and legal; therefore, why not go for a piece of the pie as soon as possible.  Unfortunately there are ambiguities in the federal laws concerning this issue.  Coupled with that are many governmental regulations on the state and local level.  The question of a property owner's liability for adherence to these laws comes into play.  There are laws which allow governmental agencies to seize property when non-compliance of drug laws is a factor.

The business of growing marijuana legally is relatively new to the states which are involved.  This is not a venture to enter into without researching state and federal laws.

Any municipal entity should also consider the will of its citizens to be a part of such an operation.  The opportunity to make some fast money is not a good reason to jump into this kind of deal.  There should be community input and realization that without proper planning, there is a lot to lose.

Walsenburg Street Improvements

Lately there have been a lot of streets closed in town.  This is a positive thing.  Several streets are getting repaved. Also, a sewer repair is being done on Stout Street.  The only down side to this is that it indicates there are no plans in the near future for replacing water or sewer infrastructure

A problem which has been discussed recently is a dam structural problem at City Lake.  Officials are thinking of spending most of the infrastructure capital improvement fund to do a study of the dam.  This strikes me as being an inappropriate use of the money set aside for water and sewer replacement use.  If you agree, maybe you could voice this to the appropriate officials.

There has been some positive inquiries about business interest in the city.  Any of these which come to fruition will be welcomed.

I am doing a video series introducing the Walsenburg City Council on "walsenburgconews" facebook page.  Please check these out.  So far we have uploaded a video for Mayor Eccher and for Nick Vigil. Hopefully, I will have some more of these soon.

Thanks to those who have "liked" the "walsenburgconews" facebook page.  It is about the community.  If you need to make an announcement or want to contribute a photo or story, please do.

Democracy or Communism

Serious issues involving our country are numerous at this time and will continue to multiply as the November election approaches.  There has never been a time in my life that has seemed as threatening to freedom and individual rights as the present.

The abuse of federal power and attacks on personal religion and belief systems is unbelievable.  Never has a president been so condescending and careless of his duty to protect and serve.  The amnesty issue is just one of a long list of personal laws that circumvent the U.S. Constitution.  Separation of powers is important to our system.  The patriots who founded our country thought it was important to set up a check and balance system to prevent the kind of tyranny that England exerted over the colonies.  I believe they were correct in doing this.

I'm not sure anyone would believe our country has become so anti-Christian, anti-family, anti-second amendment and anti-American.  When a government ignores the law and sets out to pervert its meaning, something is basically wrong.  When states are forced to acknowledge sodomy as a protected form of marriage, and our borders are left open and unprotected from our enemies, it makes you wonder who is the real enemy.  When U.S. Veterans are left to die without medical treatment, it causes you to wonder where we would be now if they hadn't fought for our country.

We must stand together to protect the freedoms we have left or lose them.  Immigrants came to this country for religious freedom and a chance to earn a living.  The idea of coming to America for welfare is a recent enticement to appeal to those who want something for nothing.  We can't take care of the whole world.  We will go broke if we try.  Why would we want to go broke?  Is that what the government wants?  We could come to them and beg for our food?  It doesn't appeal to me or anyone who wants to live in a free country and pursue life, liberty, and happiness.