BOCC Election Workshop: Reflections

“Bear in mind that brains and learning, like muscle and physical skill,
are articles of commerce. They are bought and sold. You can hire them by the year or by the hour. The only thing in the world
not for sale is character.”   ~ Antonin Scalia

by George Gramlich, Commentary
Last Monday’s (June 17) Custer County Board of County Commissioners’ second Election Integrity workshop was proposed and moderated by Commissioner Kevin Day. As we know, he brought in a bunch of election fraud deniers including a representative from the corrupt, leftist Colorado Secretary of State’s office. It was a total pro government dog and pony show. That’s what Day wanted.
Day set the workshop rules. Only written questions would be allowed, and they would be answered after all the speakers were done. (Day is not a big fan of public comment. He should have allowed questions after each speaker both in writing and orally. To have to wait three plus hours to answer a question about something 2.5 hours ago was ridiculous. But Day is not big on hearing from all the citizens. And that is how he rolls.)
About 60 people attended, the vast majority from the conservative side. (It is kind of amusing that the libs wouldn’t attend their own show.)
The Sentinel sent Fred Hernandez to report on it. I didn’t see it (although I later saw some clips from it). When Fred came in on Tuesday morning he was upset a bit. Fred commented that the presentations were very professional and well done (except for one guy who was a bit angry and aggressive) and that much of it was false or misleading. Plus they went totally political at various points attacking conservatives.
Fred said that several conservative attendees were rude and angrily interrupted the speakers by yelling out questions or comments during the speakers’ presentations. Fred said that they were visibly angry and rude, and their behavior was totally out of place. He also said a few had an outburst and then stormed out of the workshop in
a huff.
Also that morning, I had several other people who went to the workshop come in and state the same thing: that several audience members had interrupted the speakers. One guy said he was one of them.
Later that day, Fred and I sat down and talked about that. We agreed that interrupting the speakers, especially in a loud and angry manner was NOT what conservatives do. WE are the “free speech” people. And it made us conservatives look bad because we can’t control our temper. And, as noted below, showing anger is weakness.
We compiled some points that should be considered by our brothers and sisters going forward:

• Interrupting speakers because you don’t agree with them IS EXACTLY WHAT THE LEFT has been doing for years. Especially on our college campuses. And it is WRONG. Conservatives have condemned this speech suppression and now, in our own neighborhood, we DO THE EXACT SAME THING. This was flat out wrong and rude. And extremely immature.
• The attendees knew the rules coming in. Especially with regards to how questions were to be submitted (in writing). If you aren’t going to obey the rules, then don’t go. The speakers were guests of the BOCC (and us citizens) and should have been treated with respect. If you didn’t like what they were saying, just politely get up and leave. We all knew the speakers were bobble headed leftists spewing lies and twisting the truth. If you can’t take that and be polite, don’t go.
  We can ALWAYS learn from listening to the left. Always. Do not underestimate your opponent.
• The people who interrupted, according to several attendees, were ALL ANGRY. And their anger was visible and loud. ANGER IS WEAKNESS. Period. And SHOW-ING ANGER is even worse. When you hear somebody start speaking and showing anger, the vast majority of people simply tune them out, as they are not being rational. Even If you do have a good point, saying it in an angry tone destroys it and you look like a per-son who can’t control his emotions. We have seen this behavior at the BOCC meetings for years, from both the right and the left.
  Note that no lefties interrupted the conservative speakers in the first Election Integrity forum. There weren’t many there, but they remained polite. So why can’t our people do that?
  (I am not saying one can’t get angry over some valid reason. Mature people compartmentalize it and do not show it in public. Immature people let it take over their mind and soul. Displays of anger are always detrimental in a public forum.)
• You often see angry speakers, when they finally sit down and shut up, act like they just did something good. Like, “I told him!” etc. They sit down all smug and angry. Wrong. What you see is an immature child sitting there. They didn’t do anything good. They looked like fools. Day didn’t help the atmosphere with his completely over-the-top response to people interrupting. Totally out of place.

We know almost everyone who interrupted. Good people. But those actions are not who we are. We don’t want to be labeled as speech suppressors like the left is. We use reason, facts and logic to make our case. Not anger. Not yelling. Not being rude. Nor interrupting somebody because we disagree with them.Fellow conservatives: Logic, facts and reason are our weapons. Not an immature outburst of anger like the left. Don’t fall for that trap. Stand tall, look those fascists in the eye, and make your point in a calm, controlled manner. That is how we are going
to win this war being waged against our country.

3rd Street Gallery
Announces
People’s Choice Awards

Press Release,
Sangre Art Guild (SAG)
The latest art show at the 3rd Street Gallery is presented under the title of “June’s “Bustin’ Out”. The reception for this latest Gallery show was held Saturday June 1st. Those not able to attend the reception are invited to come and visit the Gallery during the month of June to enjoy almost 50 works of art created by Colorado artists for this show. Congratulations to the two People’s Choice winners selected during the reception:

First Place to Pattie Wall for her pastel entitled “Coyote Moon” and Second Place to Jill Westbrook for her watercolor entitled “Shadowfax”.

A July show, “July’s a Poppin’”, will feature all new artwork. Intake for the July show will be June 30th and July 1st and artists of all skill levels, styles and mediums are encouraged to submit their work. Judging the July’s a Poppin’ show will be well known Colorado artist and art instructor Joe Cawlfield. These shows and others during the summer season are sponsored by the Sangres Art Guild, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The 3rd Street Gallery is located at 59000 N. Highway 69, Westcliffe (719-315-6045). For more show information please visit sangresartguild.org

BOCC: Day Brings the Deep State
to Happy Valley,
Public Health Director Resigns

by George Gramlich,
News and Commentary
Man, when a local politician around here goes bad, they usually go real bad. And we have had a TON of experience with that here in Happy Valley over the last eight years or so. Sadly, Commissioner Kevin Day is following the same “bad” script as some of our ex Commissioners have done. It is sad, we had high hopes for Day. See below for the details.
The June 12, 2024 Custer County Board of County Commissioners regular Wednesday meeting started at 9 a.m. All three Commissioners were present: Bill Canda, Lucas Epp and Kevin Day. It was held in their throne room in the building across from the courthouse. Continue reading BOCC: Day Brings the Deep State to Happy Valley, Public Health Director Resigns →

Westcliffe Town Meeting: Another Trustee
Resignation, Facade Grant Recipients Approved, Round Mountain Water Update

The Westcliffe
Board of Trustees Meeting
Tuesday, May 21, 2024,
5:30 p.m.
by Laura Vass
After the Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call was taken. With Mayor Wenke absent and Loree Lund having resigned, there was still a quorum. The Pro Tem is currently Trustee George Mallory.
Under Old Business, the board approved Ordinance 2-2024 amending Title 10, Chapter 4, Section 3 Outdoor Lighting, adding paragraph H. The addition creates exemptions for 1) Holiday lighting, 2) Official government lighting maintained by the town for public health, safety, and welfare. 3) Special Events with outdoor lights with a special permit provision for such.
Next on the agenda was considering Westcliffe as a non-sanctuary town. The board decided that it’s not necessary since the county has made the declaration and the declaration carries no weight.
Mike with US Solar, who presented at the April meeting, was back. He noted that for those signing on to the life-time agreement, the estimated lifetime savings are $1,400. The Town of Westcliffe agreed to partner with US Solar which was interpreted to mean that they would promote information about signing up with US Solar. When asked, Mike explained that the relationship with Black Hills Energy (BHE) is that BHE partners in the plan to build Solar “Gardens” and work with customers who sign up to give them discounts on their electric plan. (US Solar has a Solar Garden about 40 miles east of Pueblo that folks in our area can sign up to participate in. See https://www.us-solar.com/)
Adding the new Chapter 6 Tiny Homes to the Town’s Land Use ordinances was approved unanimously with Ordinance 3 -2024. The new chapter addresses the building structure, increasing the allowed maximum size to 500 square feet and does not seem to deviate from the State definition and building code for tiny homes.
The Conservation Easement with the Town of Westcliffe and Colorado Open Lands to transfer property from Westcliffe to
United Business Bank was finalized. The land easement was approved followed by Resolution No. 4-2024 approving the transfer of property.
Under New Business, the trustees approved a Special Event
Liquor Permit for Veterans Ranch Rescue at 410 Main St.
A building variance for a new garage was approved for a homeowner.
Round Mountain Water and Sanitation (RMWSD) report was
next. Operations Manager Dave Schneider has quite a bit of good news considering the hurdles over the past three years. Dave reported that the new well is pumping 270 gallons a minute. CDPHE is requiring that they run an eight-month test to see if it affects the ground water that goes to the creek. That will be complete in October. The test was done in 2017 at the shallower well so it seems redundant. The new well is deeper and 80 feet farther east of Grape Creek.  Red tape…
They are required to build a reservoir as part of the agreement with a ranch RMWSD bought 20 years ago. Some of the plans were rejected which dropped the amount of water the reservoir can hold by 30%. They are working with the adjacent rancher to buy another 100 ft. strip so they can enlarge the reservoir. RMW was able to sell as dry land, the 230 acres, for 1.5 million dollars, so that helps some of the expense of the 4-million-dollar reservoir project. Round Mountain just finished a 2.1 million dollar project for the meter replacement and well. Between the meter replacements, the solar array, and the grant, they do not need to raise rates again to cover the project.
RMW has to utilize the Upper Ark augmentation rules in order to use the full 270 gpm they are pumping. CDEPHE is requiring Round Mountain to hire an engineering firm to help design the plan for the wastewater treatment plant. They are still punching for grants, but the good news is that DOLA is allowing them to apply for a 400K grant. The new proposed configuration is creating quite a bit of interest in the state and nationally as it would be an effective solution and would cost about a third of what traditional treatment systems cost.
RMWSD is going to de-sludge the current holding pond and will use it as part of their demonstration project. Dave is hoping for a build in the spring of 2025. Dave reexplained how they obtained access to the new technology they plan to use. The system they’ll use for the project trials was designed as a demonstration trailer for wastewater in the Canadian Tar Sands. Canada closed the door on the project during Covid and the creators had put 1.5 million into it. So they allowed Round Mountain to use the trailer for this project. It can’t be hooked up until the design gets approved, but it is still being stored here.
Dave also noted that augmentation of snow has taken them up to almost 100%.
Under New Business, the Façade Grant applications were accepted. Recipients this year are Mountain Music Instruments, JH Westcliffe LLC, Boutique on Main, Rocky Carr (Old Town Hall), Westcliffe Center for Performing Arts, Western Star Center, Native Woods, and Wet Mountain Rustics LLC.
Other items under consideration: A request to move forward with heating the Memorial Park rest-rooms. A planning workshop was scheduled for (WPAC) and scheduling Affordable Housing and Housing Easements. (That workshop was held Friday the 31st
at 1 p.m.)
Under Board Adjustments, based on a letter to the board from Mr. Zawacki, the board considered the request to keep the Ace Hardware lights on the agenda each month until it is resolved. This did not sit well with the town lawyer. The town lawyer suggested that the town not address the request for the agenda item or address either party. He suggested the board wait and address it when it comes up as a code enforcement issue.
Manager Jeremy Handy was there to represent Ace Hard-ware. Mr. Zawacki was not in attendance. Jeremy offered an update: The timers are shut off in one area. They are set for a few hours usage in another area. Caleb Patterson went up with Jeremy in a lift to look at the higher lights and discovered they have three angle options. They can be turned directly downward.
Staff & Committee Reports
The town will run a Notice / Ad to solicit interest in the board opening left by Lorie Lund’s resignation. If they don’t receive any letters, they’ll have to have a special election.
The town lawyer, Clay Buchner, said if they have to run an election, it would be a good idea to propose on the same ballot, the ability to have a 5-person board. (It is currently a 7-person board.)
The Town Manager, Caleb Patterson, gave an update on the lots behind Jess Price Park, which are finished in time for the Farmer’s Market to set up. He also mentioned that the crosswalks and flashing lights still need to be approved and completed. One will go across Hwy 69 near Hermit Ln. The other will go across Hermit Ln. to the park.
With no public comment, the meeting adjourned.

Obituary for Marilyn K. Eastwood

Marilyn K Eastwood, age 77, passed away on Friday June 7, 2024 at Memorial Central Hospital in Colorado Springs after a short illness. She was born in Kansas City, MO on December 10, 1946. Marilyn grew up in Amarillo, Texas, with her parents Fred and Kathrine Cox, brothers Fred and Larry. She graduated from Amarillo High School in 1964 and after some college entered the insurance field as a secretary, worked her way up to an executive assistant and finished her career as a licensed agent.

She met her husband Gary in Colorado Springs in 1981 and were married in August 1983. They then moved to the Denver area where they lived until retiring in 2000. They moved to Westcliffe in November, 2001 to the Bull Domingo Ranch where they had purchased property in 1987, built their retirement home in which they were currently living.

Marilyn is survived by her husband Gary, daughter Julie (Joshua) Hester, grandchildren Emily, Cade and Samantha Hester, step son Andrew (Trey) Eastwood, grandchildren Avery, Ethan and Owen Eastwood, brother Fred (Quenna) Cox,  sister in law Judith Abbott, Joyce (Bryce) Ruschhaupt, Patricia Sasser, numerous nieces and nephews,  many friends and parishioners in the Westcliffe area.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Holt Family Funeral Home in Canon City, Services will be held at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Westcliffe at 9:30AM on June 18, 2024.

Burial will be at the Assumption cemetery and then lunch at the parish hall provided by the Altar Society. Marilyn had requested that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation for the new Tabernacle in the church. Contact Diane in the church office @ 719-783-3507.

Press Release
The 2024 Silver Cliff Tractor Pull will be held on Saturday June 8th and Sunday the 9th, at the Silver Cliff Park. The pull starts at 11a.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. on Sunday, and is free to spectators.
For those wanting to participate, registration is
from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday and 8 to 9 a.m. on Sunday. Insurance is required to participate, and the fee is $20. If you’d like to join the Arkansas Valley Flywheelers, a yearly mem-
bership is $15 per house-hold.(Membership is not
required if this is the only pull you’d like to participate in.)
The Arkansas Valley Fly-wheelers join together to restore and preserve for posterity machinery that accompanied the machine age of the 19th and 20th centuries. Such machines may include animal powered, external, and internal combustion, farm equipment, military equipment, autos, trucks, tractors, toys, crafts, and other complementary equipment, materials and collections.
For the Silver Cliff Tractor Pull, there are six different weight classes ranging from 0 to 7501 and up. Tractors can be as new as 1990 with a maximum of 100 horsepower.
Please visit our website at avflywheelers.com for more information and the pull form which explains the years, classes, etc. Be sure to check out the great video from a past pull at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds.
We hope you’ll join us for this year’s Silver Cliff Pull!

graphic: https://clipart-library.com/clipart/BcaKn9GXi.htm