News
Opinion
Big meeting tonight in Eagle
I would like to urge the citizens of Eagle to come to the financial meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at Eagle Town Hall. This is an important meeting regarding ERS 2.0.
I read the updated retail feasibility study done by Jeff Green Partners, and I found some interesting assumptions in their “Gap Analysis.” If I understood correctly, they didn't consider Avon, Wolcott or Gypsum competitors, while the primary trade area goes from Steamboat Springs, Vail, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Rifle, Silt, Carbondale and Basalt. The secondary area goes to the Utah border, almost to Grand Junction, Aspen, Leadville and Summit County. I was stunned to learn that Steamboat is 27 miles away and Basalt is 20 miles (actually, it's 80 and 55 miles). I am sure you think I am making that up, but go to page 13 on the updated feasibility study, which can be found at www.townofeagle.org, Eagle River Station Application, F. (It does take a while to upload.)
Also at this meeting are changes to the previously approved urban-renewal plan. Unfortunately, I have not read this full document and I don't understand the scope of the purpose of these changes. But from a layman's reading, the timing and substance of these changes seem curious, as they appear to benefit this developer's plan.
Please come to the meeting. Even if you are skiing in Steamboat on that day, you should be able to make it, since it is only a “27-mile” drive away!
Markus Mueller
Eagle
Shared sacrifice?
I don't think that the administration or the school board want to realize that a very big reason 3B did not pass was because of the administration's lack of shared sacrifice.
I don't think that there is one person out there who doesn't support the teaching staff. We are just tired of funding the administration when they do not make any cuts to their ranks and, as pointed out in the “By the numbers,” are paid much more than the state average while the teaching staff is paid below the state average.
The Eagle County School District has fewer than 6,000 students. Our superintendent salary is $184,124, which includes housing and a car allowance. She has, every year, accepted her bonus. I realize that this is in her contract and the school board wants to pay the superintendent a “competitive” wage to the Front Range schools. Most school districts on the Front Range have between 20,000 and 70,000 students.
Whenever cuts are brought to the table, it is always teachers and support staff that are cut. This greatly affects our students. You want performance, then support our teachers to do their job and treat them as professionals, not as scapegoats to be sacrificed every time there needs to be cuts.
A few weeks ago, David Cope pointed out some very valid areas for saving money. At this time when no teachers are getting bonuses or raises, why are we paying more money to the “mentor” and “master” teachers. These positions have a greatly reduced teaching schedule. Mentors receive a $5,000 stipend. Master teachers receive an $11,500 stipend.
We need to suspend these positions until we can afford to pay bonuses and raises and get these teachers back in the classrooms teaching a full class schedule, without the stipends.
Whenever the school district talks about student-teacher ratios, they include every position in that school. So when it says a 14.2-to-1 student-teacher ratio, they are counting the janitors, the cooks, anyone who works in the building who is not an administrator, whether or not they teach a class.
In reality, the teacher has more than 20 students, and many times closer to 30 students, and with a class that is less than one hour, it is very hard to differentiate for every student, deal with bad behavior and teach a meaningful class for all the students.
What is being threatened is a huge cut to those already struggling, trying their best to make a difference, to do an effective job and to make ends meet at home.
I think what we need is a shared sacrifice in these difficult times, even though the administrators' contract gives them a bonus and a raise every year. Maybe they can forgo that, take a reduction in pay and help keep our teaching force strong and encouraged that they are valued and aren't taking the blunt force of all the reductions.
Lynn Karre
Gypsum
Lot more than 100 feet
In an article that appeared in the Vail Daily on Jan. 18, “Miller Ranch open space now officially protected” there was a statement made that “100 feet of the Eagle River frontage” was part of this protected area.
While every bit of Eagle River frontage that can be protected is significant, this particular piece has more than 50 times the importance that is stated in the article. Instead of just 100 feet being protected, the conservation easement on this property actually protects over one mile of Eagle River frontage.
The residents of Edwards and Arrowhead, the Eagle County commissioners and the Eagle Valley Land Trust should all be commended for the work they have done to protect over a mile of the Eagle River that provides access for fishing, hiking and scenic viewing for all residents and visitors forever.
I hope everyone will take the opportunity to visit this property at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony that the county, Land Trust and residents are planning for this spring. And let's hope that more projects of this nature can proceed that provide access and protect the rivers in our county forever.
Tom Edwards
Gypsum
The 4H Club
His, Hip, Hype and Hope (the 4H club) met last week, and it was the president's party as usual, held pursuant to the strictures of Art. II, Sec. 3.1 of the Constitution. At least this is one provision to which Obama strictly adheres, since it does offer a photo-op platform from which to seek re-election to his high office. The other provisions of that restrictive charter are either ignored by him, unknown to him or simply disregarded for the sake of the social and fiscal change that he engineers via executive fiat.
It was his time to shine and did he ever in the eyes of most all of the fawning, feigning and fudging political elite gathered for the occasion. There were the bemedaled military brass sitting in unison, faithfully awaiting orders from their commander-in-chief. There was the robed priesthood of Supreme Court justices reposed in stolid silence, perhaps dreading another castigation for their conservative adjudications. And, of course, there were the senators and representatives in “Congress assembled,” paying homage to their respective parties and seeking recognition from the head honcho himself.
Conspicuously absent from this gala affair were the American people. They obviously were not invited to his party, they being of lesser fortunes.
The president was certainly hip from his elevated rostrum. He had the right moves and looks at the appropriate and orchestrated times during his speech. He wore his tailored clothes well for the occasion. Even the speaker from behind appreciated what he saw, if not what he heard.
The State of the Union speech has become more of a Broadway spectacle to showcase the current regime's perceived and supposed great and momentous deeds rather than for the purpose of imparting meaningful information about the current state of affairs for the nation as a whole, and understandably so, what with a bankrupt economy, an enslaved citizenry, an expunged free market and a world at war.
Again, we had the hype for change that was to carry us into the promised land from out of the “Bush.” We heard it all in 2007, yet we have been on a fool's errand with the one who would be king but for the constitutional constraints against nobility.
He hyped transparency, yet we got the Health Care Reform Act of 2010 that was the creature of unknown authors and unknowing legislators who approved it so they could there'ter read it, even though in no way could they understand it.
He hyped the end to class warfare and warfare in general, yet we are more divisive than ever and are not only at war with others but with each other over the role that America should play out in its waning days of empire.
This president hyped a marketplace of equal opportunity and fair wages for all, yet after three years, we have record unemployment and thousands of college grads occupying Wall Street with no job opportunities to liquidate a trillion dollars of student loans. They are bankrupts and not aspirants.
Again, Obama pushed an agenda of hope to dupe the youth of this nation into buying his snake oil and rutabaga rub for a rejuvenated society. The only hope that I discerned was his hope that somehow the miniscule forces of the marketplace might kick in and show signs of recovery before the election. Obama's hope is not in America's interests, for which he has repeatedly apologized. His hip, hype and hope are for power and self-indulgence alone!
Fredric Butler
I would like to urge the citizens of Eagle to come to the financial meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at Eagle Town Hall. This is an important meeting regarding ERS 2.0.
I read the updated retail feasibility study done by Jeff Green Partners, and I found some interesting assumptions in their “Gap Analysis.” If I understood correctly, they didn't consider Avon, Wolcott or Gypsum competitors, while the primary trade area goes from Steamboat Springs, Vail, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Rifle, Silt, Carbondale and Basalt. The secondary area goes to the Utah border, almost to Grand Junction, Aspen, Leadville and Summit County. I was stunned to learn that Steamboat is 27 miles away and Basalt is 20 miles (actually, it's 80 and 55 miles). I am sure you think I am making that up, but go to page 13 on the updated feasibility study, which can be found at www.townofeagle.org, Eagle River Station Application, F. (It does take a while to upload.)
Also at this meeting are changes to the previously approved urban-renewal plan. Unfortunately, I have not read this full document and I don't understand the scope of the purpose of these changes. But from a layman's reading, the timing and substance of these changes seem curious, as they appear to benefit this developer's plan.
Please come to the meeting. Even if you are skiing in Steamboat on that day, you should be able to make it, since it is only a “27-mile” drive away!
Markus Mueller
Eagle
Shared sacrifice?
I don't think that the administration or the school board want to realize that a very big reason 3B did not pass was because of the administration's lack of shared sacrifice.
I don't think that there is one person out there who doesn't support the teaching staff. We are just tired of funding the administration when they do not make any cuts to their ranks and, as pointed out in the “By the numbers,” are paid much more than the state average while the teaching staff is paid below the state average.
The Eagle County School District has fewer than 6,000 students. Our superintendent salary is $184,124, which includes housing and a car allowance. She has, every year, accepted her bonus. I realize that this is in her contract and the school board wants to pay the superintendent a “competitive” wage to the Front Range schools. Most school districts on the Front Range have between 20,000 and 70,000 students.
Whenever cuts are brought to the table, it is always teachers and support staff that are cut. This greatly affects our students. You want performance, then support our teachers to do their job and treat them as professionals, not as scapegoats to be sacrificed every time there needs to be cuts.
A few weeks ago, David Cope pointed out some very valid areas for saving money. At this time when no teachers are getting bonuses or raises, why are we paying more money to the “mentor” and “master” teachers. These positions have a greatly reduced teaching schedule. Mentors receive a $5,000 stipend. Master teachers receive an $11,500 stipend.
We need to suspend these positions until we can afford to pay bonuses and raises and get these teachers back in the classrooms teaching a full class schedule, without the stipends.
Whenever the school district talks about student-teacher ratios, they include every position in that school. So when it says a 14.2-to-1 student-teacher ratio, they are counting the janitors, the cooks, anyone who works in the building who is not an administrator, whether or not they teach a class.
In reality, the teacher has more than 20 students, and many times closer to 30 students, and with a class that is less than one hour, it is very hard to differentiate for every student, deal with bad behavior and teach a meaningful class for all the students.
What is being threatened is a huge cut to those already struggling, trying their best to make a difference, to do an effective job and to make ends meet at home.
I think what we need is a shared sacrifice in these difficult times, even though the administrators' contract gives them a bonus and a raise every year. Maybe they can forgo that, take a reduction in pay and help keep our teaching force strong and encouraged that they are valued and aren't taking the blunt force of all the reductions.
Lynn Karre
Gypsum
Lot more than 100 feet
In an article that appeared in the Vail Daily on Jan. 18, “Miller Ranch open space now officially protected” there was a statement made that “100 feet of the Eagle River frontage” was part of this protected area.
While every bit of Eagle River frontage that can be protected is significant, this particular piece has more than 50 times the importance that is stated in the article. Instead of just 100 feet being protected, the conservation easement on this property actually protects over one mile of Eagle River frontage.
The residents of Edwards and Arrowhead, the Eagle County commissioners and the Eagle Valley Land Trust should all be commended for the work they have done to protect over a mile of the Eagle River that provides access for fishing, hiking and scenic viewing for all residents and visitors forever.
I hope everyone will take the opportunity to visit this property at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony that the county, Land Trust and residents are planning for this spring. And let's hope that more projects of this nature can proceed that provide access and protect the rivers in our county forever.
Tom Edwards
Gypsum
The 4H Club
His, Hip, Hype and Hope (the 4H club) met last week, and it was the president's party as usual, held pursuant to the strictures of Art. II, Sec. 3.1 of the Constitution. At least this is one provision to which Obama strictly adheres, since it does offer a photo-op platform from which to seek re-election to his high office. The other provisions of that restrictive charter are either ignored by him, unknown to him or simply disregarded for the sake of the social and fiscal change that he engineers via executive fiat.
It was his time to shine and did he ever in the eyes of most all of the fawning, feigning and fudging political elite gathered for the occasion. There were the bemedaled military brass sitting in unison, faithfully awaiting orders from their commander-in-chief. There was the robed priesthood of Supreme Court justices reposed in stolid silence, perhaps dreading another castigation for their conservative adjudications. And, of course, there were the senators and representatives in “Congress assembled,” paying homage to their respective parties and seeking recognition from the head honcho himself.
Conspicuously absent from this gala affair were the American people. They obviously were not invited to his party, they being of lesser fortunes.
The president was certainly hip from his elevated rostrum. He had the right moves and looks at the appropriate and orchestrated times during his speech. He wore his tailored clothes well for the occasion. Even the speaker from behind appreciated what he saw, if not what he heard.
The State of the Union speech has become more of a Broadway spectacle to showcase the current regime's perceived and supposed great and momentous deeds rather than for the purpose of imparting meaningful information about the current state of affairs for the nation as a whole, and understandably so, what with a bankrupt economy, an enslaved citizenry, an expunged free market and a world at war.
Again, we had the hype for change that was to carry us into the promised land from out of the “Bush.” We heard it all in 2007, yet we have been on a fool's errand with the one who would be king but for the constitutional constraints against nobility.
He hyped transparency, yet we got the Health Care Reform Act of 2010 that was the creature of unknown authors and unknowing legislators who approved it so they could there'ter read it, even though in no way could they understand it.
He hyped the end to class warfare and warfare in general, yet we are more divisive than ever and are not only at war with others but with each other over the role that America should play out in its waning days of empire.
This president hyped a marketplace of equal opportunity and fair wages for all, yet after three years, we have record unemployment and thousands of college grads occupying Wall Street with no job opportunities to liquidate a trillion dollars of student loans. They are bankrupts and not aspirants.
Again, Obama pushed an agenda of hope to dupe the youth of this nation into buying his snake oil and rutabaga rub for a rejuvenated society. The only hope that I discerned was his hope that somehow the miniscule forces of the marketplace might kick in and show signs of recovery before the election. Obama's hope is not in America's interests, for which he has repeatedly apologized. His hip, hype and hope are for power and self-indulgence alone!
Fredric Butler
