There is no doubt in most folks minds that it is long overdue for the City of Glenwood Springs City Council to come down off their high dais and work nicer with Garfield County Commissioners.
There is an obvious uptick to that happening since the folks put Todd Leahy in his seat....(yes, sometimes the best strategy is to leave a race with a much needed seat as uncontested. There was at least one more besides Dirk Myers who would have run if needed)...even if Todd is on the outer fringes of becoming a good 'ol boy's club member. Leahy's doing a great job and is perfect for the seat he's in. Let's all hope he has more terms in front of him.
There has been no doubt for many years... (remember back to the inception of DDA and then Downtown Market and then Downtown Partners and who knows how many private collaborations there are to help the disenfranchised promote downtown 81601)... that downtown merchants and numerous other small businesses in Garfield County... (remember back to the inception of Randi Lowenthal's enterprise and the more recent Rifle Economic Development Corp)...need a number of capital and infrastructure improvements alongside a lot more attention paid.. (thank goodness for the entrance of Leslie Bethel!)...to tourism promotion that hits everybody and not just a select few.
But here's a point that just keeps getting missed by our esteemed leaders.
You have to listen to everybody.
If they won't come to you for whatever reason? (..from the sound of things out here they have very valid concerns..) then it is your job not theirs, to get communication flowing in to you.
John Martin will likely lose his seat this time around. Not because he hasn't done a good job, he has. He will likely lose it due to the last two years of almost unbridled chest thumping from that infamous Garfield County 'good 'ol boys club'. The folks have given (even conservative folks) BOCC a full sweep of political power for two years now. Going deaf was not part of the deal.
There is a balance of sorts on council now, if Dave Sturges keeps on showing signs of remembering who he really is rather than taking the power at face value, there might be even more balance between now and the time 2013 council races hit.
What does all this have to do with alleys in downtown?
Jankovsky would be wise to cease the chest thumping and pushing of a tourism promotion agenda and sit back and listen to his county first. The next two posts today give some insight into the real world of the folks <less> the view from the Lion's den.
John Stroud:
"Glenwood Springs City Councilman Todd Leahy said it makes sense for the city, the DDA and the county to partner on some of the downtown projects.
“One of my main goals when I decided to run for council was to work on the relationship between the city and the county,” said Leahy, who is also city council's liaison to the DDA board.
“The more we can work together to enhance that area the better,” he said.
County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky agreed.
“The face of the downtown is changing, and we have an interest in what goes on there,” Jankovsky said, noting that the county's main government campus is also a major part of downtown Glenwood Springs.
The county is also increasing its stake in downtown. Earlier this week, it signed a $2.5 million contract to purchase a large portion of the 700 block of Colorado Avenue from local attorneys Stephen Worrell and Anthony Durrett. The deal, which is scheduled to close June 1, would include the law office building at the northeast corner of Eighth and Colorado, and a building that now houses an auto glass shop.
Though there are no immediate redevelopment plans, the county eventually may create more public parking and expand its government office facilities on the site....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. Show all posts
May 4, 2012
May 2, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Group says Vernal oil shale meeting was illegal"
If you have not already checked SandBox Utah out, scroll on over to the right sidebar and click on that gorgeous photo of Utah mountains and desert.
Amazing (stunning, even) how twisted oil and gas (especially oil shale) stories can get just traveling the few miles from Utah to Glenwood Springs...
Utahans, for the majority part, were thrilled that the summit of regional governors, commissioners and other various officials gathered in Utah recently to discuss everything from politics to oil shale to tourism.
Again:
Local democrats should probably not get too excited that they have made two good choices (Linman and Caloia) in their never ending search for political candidates. Good enough that for the offices in front of them those two candidates have some fairly decent conservative scrappers out here that are voting for them.
Why?
Because both your candidates are not women who will let anyone steamroll over balance, fairness and justice.
In other words, it's going to be a long, hot summer this political year so maybe distortion of facts isn't the best way to go.
just sayin.
If you would like to read up on the facts and a more balanced look at the recent summit in Vernal, hit google and keyword in. Shed some sunlight on the facts.
"Save a gas rig. Opt for fair representation. Vote Sonja Linman (D-Garfield County)"
John Stroud:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — A Colorado public watchdog group has filed an open records request with Garfield County and several other counties across three states that took part in a closed-door meeting in Utah in late March to discuss federal lands oil shale policy.
“Our local county commissioners shouldn't be traveling across state lines to meet in secret with industry lobbyists and attorneys,” Elena Nunez, executive director of Colorado Common Cause, said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday.
The meeting itself, which was hosted by the Uintah County, Utah, county commissioners in Vernal on March 27, may have been illegal per Utah's open meetings laws because it was held in executive session, Nunez said.
Any other county that had a quorum of its commissioners attending, which would include Garfield County, may also have been in violation of their state's open meetings laws, she said.
The meeting produced a draft version of a joint resolution urging the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to reinstate a Bush-era oil shale policy.
The 2008 plan allocated 2 million acres of public lands for oil shale research and development in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The BLM is now re-evaluating the policy, and has come up with a new preferred plan to reduce the acreage to about 462,000 acres. It would include roughly 35,000 acres in northwest Colorado, as opposed to 360,000 acres in the 2008 plan.
Garfield County commissioners, at an April 9 meeting, unanimously adopted a slightly revised version of the joint resolution. The statement served as the county's official comment to the BLM's environmental analysis.
The strongly worded resolution accused the BLM, under the Obama administration, of bowing to environmental and wilderness interests in revisiting the oil shale leasing policy.
Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky confirmed that he and commissioners John Martin and Mike Samson attended the Vernal meeting.
Their intentions to travel to the meeting were disclosed at a March 19 regular Board of County Commissioners meeting, Jankovsky said.
“For our part, we made a few comments, but we were mostly there to listen,” Jankovsky said, characterizing it as an “informational” meeting....." (Read more? Click here.)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Amazing (stunning, even) how twisted oil and gas (especially oil shale) stories can get just traveling the few miles from Utah to Glenwood Springs...
Utahans, for the majority part, were thrilled that the summit of regional governors, commissioners and other various officials gathered in Utah recently to discuss everything from politics to oil shale to tourism.
Again:
Local democrats should probably not get too excited that they have made two good choices (Linman and Caloia) in their never ending search for political candidates. Good enough that for the offices in front of them those two candidates have some fairly decent conservative scrappers out here that are voting for them.
Why?
Because both your candidates are not women who will let anyone steamroll over balance, fairness and justice.
In other words, it's going to be a long, hot summer this political year so maybe distortion of facts isn't the best way to go.
just sayin.
If you would like to read up on the facts and a more balanced look at the recent summit in Vernal, hit google and keyword in. Shed some sunlight on the facts.
"Save a gas rig. Opt for fair representation. Vote Sonja Linman (D-Garfield County)"
John Stroud:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — A Colorado public watchdog group has filed an open records request with Garfield County and several other counties across three states that took part in a closed-door meeting in Utah in late March to discuss federal lands oil shale policy.
“Our local county commissioners shouldn't be traveling across state lines to meet in secret with industry lobbyists and attorneys,” Elena Nunez, executive director of Colorado Common Cause, said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday.
The meeting itself, which was hosted by the Uintah County, Utah, county commissioners in Vernal on March 27, may have been illegal per Utah's open meetings laws because it was held in executive session, Nunez said.
Any other county that had a quorum of its commissioners attending, which would include Garfield County, may also have been in violation of their state's open meetings laws, she said.
The meeting produced a draft version of a joint resolution urging the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to reinstate a Bush-era oil shale policy.
The 2008 plan allocated 2 million acres of public lands for oil shale research and development in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The BLM is now re-evaluating the policy, and has come up with a new preferred plan to reduce the acreage to about 462,000 acres. It would include roughly 35,000 acres in northwest Colorado, as opposed to 360,000 acres in the 2008 plan.
Garfield County commissioners, at an April 9 meeting, unanimously adopted a slightly revised version of the joint resolution. The statement served as the county's official comment to the BLM's environmental analysis.
The strongly worded resolution accused the BLM, under the Obama administration, of bowing to environmental and wilderness interests in revisiting the oil shale leasing policy.
Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky confirmed that he and commissioners John Martin and Mike Samson attended the Vernal meeting.
Their intentions to travel to the meeting were disclosed at a March 19 regular Board of County Commissioners meeting, Jankovsky said.
“For our part, we made a few comments, but we were mostly there to listen,” Jankovsky said, characterizing it as an “informational” meeting....." (Read more? Click here.)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 21, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Jankovsky elected to Colorado Ski Hall of Fame"
"I would like to first say congratulations to Tom. The path of Sunlight and all it has represented to him personally over the years, is a journey that I believe will someday bring him the balance he privately seeks.
It does not matter, for the purposes of the award and what it means to Tom Jankovsky, who nominated him for it.
In the end of that journey of his, the gain will still be his alone and at his hand. No one else, no matter who they are and how they use methods to further their own desires has the power to control that.
Sunlight Ski Resort is one of our crown jewels in the Valley. Tom Jankovsky is directly responsible for that and deserves the honor of public acclaim.
My comment moves on to the real problem that exists in this article. One that unfortunately will now do exactly what the intent behind it likely wants it to. It will splatter out into public view through association by content and sources.
It is both sad and troubling to watch John Stroud turn acclaim for Tom Jankovsky, into a canned press release spotlighting Marianne and using Tom's acclaim to do so. Tom Jankovsky's worth and achievements are enough to fill many pages of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. There can be no excuse for filling over 50% of this piece with spotlight press on another when the honoree is Tom.
One only has to look at all other award organizations and celebrations in the region and see that no one else touts the one doing the nominating. Rarely are they mentioned by more than just name, possibly that is something known as the virtue of humility.
This is a pattern of news reporting that is blatantly transparent as being self-serving to the publication and an individual. In this case of Jankovsky, as likely to spark similar outrage as other recent press and awards have recently done.
All human life has vulnerability. We each find the answer within ourselves on how to deal when those vulnerabilities are preyed on by another.
Maybe this one more straw of a comment, spoken in defense of a very deserving man who had a long, long personal journey of self to get to this point in his life; will be the straw that reminds John Stroud that the focus is on the subject of the story and verified, proven, substantiated facts.
That is a standard in journalism that he and his employer have forgotten.
It doesn't matter if one has metaphysical beliefs or orthodox beliefs. Again and as I have publicly stated once before where Tom is concerned; epiphany can come in as easily on a solitary ride, in the dark of night on a chair lift in Telluride (or) in a seemingly coincidental event in daily life. It is what we do when forced to make a choice on the next stage that is what ultimately matters.
Congratulations to Tom and Nancy. The honor is richly deserved."
Comment ability on this post will be closely monitored as to keeping with the spirit and tone of this post.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 21, 2012
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Adventure Park expansion plan goes before Garfield County commissioners today"
(Update to this story on February 22, 2012:
"The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports this morning that the request by Steve Beckley and his Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park received unanimous approval from the Garfield County Commissioners yesterday.............
"The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports this morning that the request by Steve Beckley and his Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park received unanimous approval from the Garfield County Commissioners yesterday.............
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
January 28, 2012
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Pro-VCR forces out raise, spend opponents"
The best stories to come out of this entire political saga of the Village at Crystal River ballot issue are the two expose' pieces from John Colson on how much money the proponents for the project have raised, where that money came from and how they've spent the funds during the campaign.
Very enlightening to see what developer Rich Schierburg considers 'above board' in pushing his agenda.
Another interesting news piece in today's Post Independent is a letter to the editor written in by Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky in support of the development. Quite an enigma when it comes to business philosophy is Commissioner Jankovsky. Setting aside all the controversy over Sunlight Ski Resort over the years with various land deals and business enterprises. Set aside all the controversy over tourism promotion and the old tourism board that Jankovsky co-founded. Set aside all of his fairly constant stumping to keep money local. Set aside the obviously selective reasoning he's shown since taking his seat on BOCC with budget line items and now the Silt grocery store and Urban Renewal efforts. Set all those things aside and take a look at an endorsement for a major money developer out of Denver to come in locally and put up a vanilla flavor, cinder block mall right on the Highway 82 all in the name of the 'loose' numbers VCR projects for sales tax revenues. Those thoughts are a little uncomfortable given the path GarCo is currently on politically and another very tight year or two ahead of us on the economic front. SandBox bets that the folks are going to be likely to put very little, if any, stock in Jankovsky's endorsement on VCR. His endorsement simply rings false.
This letter to the editor from highly respected businessman Scott Ely "VCR lacks the quirky Carbondale funk factor", also in today's Post Independent, is a powerful statement opposing the VCR development. Our bet? All the 'Cherry Garcia' folks who spent a fraction of what Rich Schierburg's group did will landslide defeat VCR at the ballot box.
Scott Ely:
"As a long-time local business owner with clients and friends on both sides of the Village at Crystal River debate, I have held my tongue to this point. I do, however, have a couple of questions for the developer and electorate.
I believe (most) everyone can agree that any further large-scale development in Carbondale will likely take place on the VCR property. This makes good sense. As the de facto entrance to Carbondale, there should be something attractive that greets visitors, tourists and yes, shoppers, to town. I believe we can also (mostly) agree that the existing entrance to Carbondale could use some love.
More important, however, I believe that (most) people were drawn to Carbondale for the small town feel and the quirky nature of the community, among other things. Therefore, my question to the developer is, “Where's the funk?” Perhaps the PIF should stand for “Put In (the) Funk.”
What is funk, you ask? How about a contest to dress the center of the roundabout(s)? Why not park benches, picnic tables, murals or really creative landscaping? A cool bicycle parking area? Electric vehicle charging station(s)? Solar sign lighting? How about brick facades, barn wood siding, metal or corrugated roofing?
The bottom line for me is demanding more of the developer and steering away from the generic, Anywhere, USA shopping center. This thing appears to be quite vanilla, when what we really need is some Cherry Garcia!
Demanding funk, mandating the use of local talent for design and construction and fully vetting the repercussions over the life of the project would likely get more folks to agree. The result could be a fantastic project that accomplishes many of our common goals..."
(Learn more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
Very enlightening to see what developer Rich Schierburg considers 'above board' in pushing his agenda.
Another interesting news piece in today's Post Independent is a letter to the editor written in by Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky in support of the development. Quite an enigma when it comes to business philosophy is Commissioner Jankovsky. Setting aside all the controversy over Sunlight Ski Resort over the years with various land deals and business enterprises. Set aside all the controversy over tourism promotion and the old tourism board that Jankovsky co-founded. Set aside all of his fairly constant stumping to keep money local. Set aside the obviously selective reasoning he's shown since taking his seat on BOCC with budget line items and now the Silt grocery store and Urban Renewal efforts. Set all those things aside and take a look at an endorsement for a major money developer out of Denver to come in locally and put up a vanilla flavor, cinder block mall right on the Highway 82 all in the name of the 'loose' numbers VCR projects for sales tax revenues. Those thoughts are a little uncomfortable given the path GarCo is currently on politically and another very tight year or two ahead of us on the economic front. SandBox bets that the folks are going to be likely to put very little, if any, stock in Jankovsky's endorsement on VCR. His endorsement simply rings false.
This letter to the editor from highly respected businessman Scott Ely "VCR lacks the quirky Carbondale funk factor", also in today's Post Independent, is a powerful statement opposing the VCR development. Our bet? All the 'Cherry Garcia' folks who spent a fraction of what Rich Schierburg's group did will landslide defeat VCR at the ballot box.
Scott Ely:
"As a long-time local business owner with clients and friends on both sides of the Village at Crystal River debate, I have held my tongue to this point. I do, however, have a couple of questions for the developer and electorate.
I believe (most) everyone can agree that any further large-scale development in Carbondale will likely take place on the VCR property. This makes good sense. As the de facto entrance to Carbondale, there should be something attractive that greets visitors, tourists and yes, shoppers, to town. I believe we can also (mostly) agree that the existing entrance to Carbondale could use some love.
More important, however, I believe that (most) people were drawn to Carbondale for the small town feel and the quirky nature of the community, among other things. Therefore, my question to the developer is, “Where's the funk?” Perhaps the PIF should stand for “Put In (the) Funk.”
What is funk, you ask? How about a contest to dress the center of the roundabout(s)? Why not park benches, picnic tables, murals or really creative landscaping? A cool bicycle parking area? Electric vehicle charging station(s)? Solar sign lighting? How about brick facades, barn wood siding, metal or corrugated roofing?
The bottom line for me is demanding more of the developer and steering away from the generic, Anywhere, USA shopping center. This thing appears to be quite vanilla, when what we really need is some Cherry Garcia!
Demanding funk, mandating the use of local talent for design and construction and fully vetting the repercussions over the life of the project would likely get more folks to agree. The result could be a fantastic project that accomplishes many of our common goals..."
(Learn more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
November 7, 2011
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Oil and gas industry has Garfield County flush with cash"
"The fund balances, which reached a peak of more than $112 million in 2010, according to Dawson's report, are intended to provide a financial buffer against difficult economic times, such as the current recession.
“Our county is often complimented for having that foresight,” Dawson said of the fund balances..."
(John Colson)
(Read more? Click title. Tell us what you think by commenting to start a discussion)
“Our county is often complimented for having that foresight,” Dawson said of the fund balances..."
(John Colson)
(Read more? Click title. Tell us what you think by commenting to start a discussion)
October 4, 2011
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Garfield County commissioners, Vallario debate proposed 2012 sheriff's budget"
(sigh..rolls eyes...)
Ok, 'kids'.
You haven't had homework in some time.
Nanny senses some passive-aggressive angst seeping out from the PI in this news article on Sheriff Lou.
How about, before it gets out-of-hand again, 'Ace Investigative Reporters, American Patriots!', gets to the bottom of this news on Sheriff Lou's budget?
Bring back the real story of what happened to put this routine annual budget evaluation into headline news over at the PI.
Ready? Set? Go!
(Learn more? Click title or comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
Ok, 'kids'.
You haven't had homework in some time.
Nanny senses some passive-aggressive angst seeping out from the PI in this news article on Sheriff Lou.
How about, before it gets out-of-hand again, 'Ace Investigative Reporters, American Patriots!', gets to the bottom of this news on Sheriff Lou's budget?
Bring back the real story of what happened to put this routine annual budget evaluation into headline news over at the PI.
Ready? Set? Go!
(Learn more? Click title or comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
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