Sewer and Water Infrustructure in Walsenburg

A lot of money, time, and effort was expended on the Northlands Sewer Project which is in the area north of the city.  About 20 landowners received the benefits of new water, gas, and sewer lines at a cost of several million dollars. 

At the time questions to the city council about the aging infrustructure in the city were met with assurances that a stategy of replacing pipes using a section by section approach.  The northeast section would be first.  Some were concerned that sewer service lines were blocks long to reach the nearest main line.  Oh, that would be addressed.  Of course, the new sewer line would go directly to the customer's house.  No problem with long service lines there.

The Northlands project is done.  It is complete with miles of line to reach the treatment plant and an expensive lift pump to push waste over the humpback.  How about the new sewer and water pipes for the city?  When are they going to be in place?

Kavanaugh Confirmations

What an incredible waste of time and energy!  This doesn't even address the amount of money spent on the hearings including security.  What happened to the idea of "what can I do for my country?"  The polarization of the population seems to be over the question of destroying our nation or building our nation.

A rational person would see what freedom brings to our society.  It even makes our country a magnet to people all over the world wanting to enjoy the freedoms we offer. Why would anyone want to destroy this great country? 

Self elevation is the only thing that would explain this.  If a person cannot sell his political ideas, he falls back on the free stuff theory.  If you tell people they will get free food and money for supporting you, it is a phishing scheme.  Socialism has never worked before, but sell the line that it is different this time.  Don't mention Venezuela. 

We are enjoying an economic revival not seen in years if ever.  Why would anyone want to deny this?  Maybe it doesn't fit the narrative.  The powers that have enjoyed free reign in government so many years do not want to step down.  They will do anything to keep power.  That is exactly why they must go.

News Update, Sunday, April 22, 2018

Immigrant Caravan

Federal use of Chemical weapon

New pizza cafe in Walsenburg

Sanctuary cities help increase crime

Liberal Death Wish

It is remarkable how the left continues to include everyone in their fantasies about how perfect the world would be without the 2nd amendment.  This supposition that government will protect citizens ignores the obvious fact that unborn children aren't protected by the government.  They are completely defenseless and slaughtered daily using taxpayer money.

Historically, dictators will confiscate firearms and execute their opposition. Why would there be an exception today when you are physically attacked for supporting a political candidate.

National borders trigger some who think that being overrun by foreign invaders is a desirable thing.  Most of these invaders only want free stuff which they receive from citizens of the host country.  In return they bring a belief in socialism and refuse to accept the culture of the host country.

Trampling the border of a country is an act of war similar to that of Germany invading Poland in WW2.  Many of these invaders will kill you for your money and rape your daughters and wives.  Why do you not understand the concept of self preservation. Just because you have nothing to live for doesn't mean others feel the same way.  Stop trying to force your desire for self destruction on others and seek a reason to live. If you can't think of a reason that you should live, think of protecting your family or someone you love.

The Full Circle Project

It's been a while since I have written a piece involving municipal politics.  Sometimes a story comes along that one cannot ignore.  I don't claim to know everything about this movement, but what I know is the philosophy is similar to socialist, communist propaganda that I have seen before. Here is a link where plans for Walsenburg are discussed by the organizers for UBUNTU: www.fullcircleproject.net/status/24268 .

The idea that capitalism is "doom and gloom" and the suggestion that abandoning national identity is a step towards salvation for the world is the same rhetoric heard on the national news.  Somehow globalism with all it entails is supposed to forge a new unity of the human spirit and cause people to share their labor and goods to make the world a better place.  The translation is that people who are willing to work will contribute so others don't have to.  Take a look at this link explaining the project:
https://youtu.be/u27aFBwEKkw?list=PLTkZq-YrguW0PVq-MGY1I2aYed63XfMiX .

It is difficult to express my degree of surprise to see this operation being promoted in Walsenburg.  A grassroots socialist movement seems to be something that would take place in Europe or the Middle East, but we somehow appeared on the target screen and the movement is being promoted.  The video states that it is necessary for the citizens, the mayor, and the city council to work together.

One of the goals is to shut down businesses by competing with the labor market.  When citizens give their time freely then businesses cannot compete.  Free labor?  Novel idea.  That will show the capitalists who is the real boss.

I welcome you to do more research on this group.  Other functions it is identified with are "The Transition House," and "UBUNTU." Acronyms associated with the group are "UAC,RBE,TZM,and TVP."

There are people who are promoting this movement nationally.  We should look at what it promotes.

The City Council Shell Game

Just when I thought I had seen everything, The Walsenburg City Council showed me a new trick on Tuesday. August 2.  The agenda item that caught my eye was the one about contracting police service out and closing down the city police department.

I support law enforcement and the police officers in our city, state and nation which is more than anyone can say for our current president.  My argument is that there is money spent on duplication of services that our city can not afford.  Another thing that has bothered me is that the majority of WPD officers receive a pay check from Walsenburg and spend it where they reside in Pueblo.

We need all the revenue we can get.  The discussion and resolution of the question about contracting police service through the Huerfano Sheriff's department was of interest to all those who went to the council meeting.  Imagine the surprise we got when we were escorted out of the room so the council could discuss this question in executive session after it was listed as an agenda item.

Because we were not allowed to attend the discussion of this important question, we do not know all that was said.  The best information I could garner was that the city attorney had announced earlier that there was not a conflict of interest for the council members to vote on the issue.  Suddenly on the night of the meeting, the source of legal advice said that it would be highly unethical for the law enforcement officers on the council to vote.  How this important revelation came to the attorney was not revealed.

I believe it was highly unethical for city council men to refrain from representing their constituencies on important questions such as this.  By shaming the city council members into abstaining from voting, the battle was over for those of us who wanted to contract services.  It was a great example of how to manipulate a council and win the vote. The vote was 2-2 after  three councilmen abstained.

City Budget Woes

Walsenburg sent a news letter out with the utility bills outlining a number of large expenses facing the city.  Most of us have heard of most of these before.  In the past years I have raised many questions about the amount of money and energy spent on the land speculation Northlands Sewer project.  It is a prime example of how easy it is to lose focus on important city issues while in pursuit of a project which primarily benefits a small number of residents.

The costs of upgrades to the gas line to Trinidad, the water storage tank, and the water supply dam were there all along, but they took a subordinate priority to the other project mentioned.  The news about the need to refurbish the sewer system sounds more recent. In the past the sewer system was considered state of the art with excess capacity because of the lack of prisoners at the prison facility.

It is shocking to see the amount of of money it takes to do a study for the gas line and the dam improvements.  Why is the sewer system inadequate?  Whose responsibility is it to check quality on infrastructure repairs and replacements?

The past mistakes keep repeating.  It seems that projects are approved for political reasons and when they fail new money is sought to compensate for lack of judgement.  The favored method of raising money is new taxes or seeking government loans and grants. These are valid sources, but our finances and credit are being stretched past their means.

A city government should provide service and protection to its citizens within its ability to pay.  It would seem that the cost of government here outweighs its reason for existence.  A county government without an additional city expense would seem to be logical in this case.

A recent event shows the inability of the municipal government to function effectively.  A suggestion to contract with the Huerfano Sheriff's Department for police service to promote savings by eliminating duplication of services was considered at a city council meeting.  Instead of resolving the problem, the council decided that all law officers must abstain from voting.  This resulted in a defeat of the contract idea.  If our council is not qualified to make decisions, they should not be on the council. Persons who are in a position to evoke conflict of interest problems should not be on the council.

It appears that to address the duplication of services issue, citizen are to do a petition and place a referendum on the ballot. So much for city service.