Top stories of 2009

The biggest story of the year is arguably the national recession and its local impacts. Everything from downtown store closures to increasing numbers of people surrendering animals to Ark-Valley Humane Society can be traced back to the economic slowdown.

And while we don’t want to minimize the truly awful effects of the crisis, the downturn has encouraged many families to take a closer look at their needs and values, sparking increased interest in conversations about community, sustainability and self-reliance.

We look forward to a recovery in 2010 along with everyone else, but we hope that people continue to think and talk about many of the issues that have been raised and, importantly, actively participate in the public sphere and local decision-making. Government is another word for what we do together, it’s been said.

We’ve picked just a few — certainly not all — of the stories that captured our attention in 2009.

2B

It’s not every day that an initiative so transparently invites a literary interpretation and for that reason alone we’re predisposed to regard 2B with affection.

Start with an impolitic approach on the part of elected officials, add a mistake by the City attorney and shake well with a decidedly uncharitable and adversarial response by the local lodging community to create a noxious, explosive brew of an occupational lodging tax.

2B money has been collected since March and has been funding improvements to local trails and renovations to the hot springs pool, amenities used and appreciated by visitors and residents alike.

There’s an outside chance that the City could still lose the court case filed by lodgers as part of their scorched-earth political strategy, in which case the ordinance might be overturned. For the moment, though, it looks like 2B is here to stay.

Buena Vista annexes the Meadows, again

You’d think with all the poor examples of development in the valley, a project that implements all that John Cogswell promises — open space, a senior center, smart planning — would find calm seas, fair skies and consistent winds.

Not so in Buena Vista, where opponents for the second time in as many years are attempting to force a referendum on the Town’s annexation of the subdivision. Opponents point to a perceived lack of specificity in development plans and raise questions about water. Proponents point to enduring protection for Weathervane Farm as well as unambiguous support by the planning commission, Board of Trustees and Town Administrator.

As of now, it appears that the issue will be on the ballot in April, giving voters another chance to weigh in.

Pat Alderton resigns, sort of

In what was one of the oddest political moves of the year, the Poncha Springs Town Administrator didn’t actually resign, she leaked a memo to the press saying that she would resign if her salary demands weren’t met. We’re tempted to side with those who argue that this can’t possibly have been primarily a salary dispute, since her action immediately eroded much of her support, but we’ve overestimated people before.

Regardless, the real story here isn’t the salary issue or even the resignation, it’s that the Poncha Springs Board of Trustees allowed Ms. Alderton to serve as administrator while her husband served as Town Attorney. We’re not saying that the wastewater dispute between Poncha and Salida, which has lasted years, would have been resolved any sooner if the Aldertons weren’t benefiting financially from its perpetuation, because there’s no evidence that we know of to suggest this. (Also, we understand that Bill Alderton is an attorney.)

Nonetheless, the arrangement projected an appearance of impropriety from day one. We’re glad to see it pass.

Salida Mountain Trails

One of the unmitigated success stories of the year has been the ongoing development of trails on Tenderfoot Mountain, championed by Salida Mountain Trails. Under the leadership of Tom Purvis a remarkably dedicated crew of volunteers have constructed a slew of new trails for non-motorized use on and around Tenderfoot. Supported by Absolute Bikes, the City and Arrowhead Trails, among others, this largely-grassroots effort is creating a practical amenity for use by residents and visitors alike. Well done.

Local agriculture takes root

While the days when we shipped “Buena-Kist” lettuce to Chicago are decidedly gone, relative newcomers like Weathervane Farm, Cottonwood Creek Dairy, and Jumpin Good Goats have helped to create a renaissance of local agriculture not seen since the 1930′s according to amateur historian Ann Ewing.

The Central Colorado Foodshed Alliance produces a guide to our “foodshed” and organizes the Salida Farmers Market and Shedfest. Eric Belsey’s Backyard CSA is an innovative approach to growing food. And Guidestone’s Land Link initiative, matching young farmers with arable land and experienced mentors, is a promising new development.

Nestlé Waters obtains County approval

Doing anything with water in the West is guaranteed to piss someone off, but this chapter brought a new, and in some ways audacious, twist to the chronicle of local water wars. Nestlé Waters proposed to pump 65 million gallons of water annually from an aquifer below a property adjacent to the Arkansas River, pipe it to a facility at Johnson Village and ship it to Denver for bottling. Lee Hart provided exemplary coverage of the issue.

For proponents, this was a story about private property rights and entrepreneurial spirit meeting for drinks and dancing. For opponents, this was a story of a multinational corporation performing the moral equivalent of a bank heist, or worse, aided by local elected officials.

Frankly, we weren’t surprised by the outcome. But the process raised problematic questions about the nature and exercise of power in the valley and the ability of residents to play a meaningful role in shaping local development.

Without question, our collective future has more controversies like this one in store.