For me this scholar’s statement asks us to contemplate how one lives a life in which our personal needs and desires are held in balance with the needs and desires of the greater commmunity. To understand and articulate what are the things that support each of us and make life feel of value and to strive to bring those things into our personal life creates the necessary foundation for us to fulfill the what the next part of the quote implies.

My interpretation of “If I am only for myself, what am I?” creates the need to see myself as part of a larger community.   As part of a larger group than “me” I feel the obligation to act in a manner that is for the betterment of all members of the community, not just myself. His statement in a positive form could be, if I act as a part of the greater community how much greater is my potential for realizing my own desires and needs while aiding others in the larger community to do the same?  I  believe that  to see oneself as a part of the larger community is an extremely positive thing.  It helps us find the interdependence that is  present regardless of our religious, philosophical and political beliefs.  It forges alliances and understandings that cannot exist if we see ourselves isolated with the community as the enemy.

The entire quote tells us that we can do what we feel is right for ourselves and still do what is right for the greater good.  Simple examples abound to illustrate the ideal stated by this often quoted scholar.  When I pay taxes to support schools while my children attend them, it could be construed that those taxes are going to “myself”.  When I continue to pay school taxes long after my children have graduated, I am now paying to benefit a larger group than my own family.  While the action looks the same, the reality is quite different and the two examples can be viewed as having very different results.  The point might be that being for one self and acting for the good of the community are compatible and necessary.

The idea epitomized by the quote needs to be considered as we make decisions of how we should move into the future.  I believe the words, “If I am not for myself, who will be or me?  If I am only for myself, what am I?”,  can be used as a guide to determine if what we choose to do supports both the individual and the community.

Finally, when asked what of the Hebraic writings were the most important, Rabbi Hillel replied The Golden Rule and that all other writings were merely commentary on that rule.  How refreshing to imagine a world where the single principle we base our actions is: Do unto others as we would wish others to do unto us.

Thanks for reading.

Chuck Rose, Mayor of Salida Colorado

As in all the events that occur in Salida,  it is a small group of dedicated professionals and volunteers that make the day a success.  The support of our citizens and especially our businesses create the engine that drives these special days.

We all know the names of Greg Ralph of Monarch Ski Resort and April Prout of Chaffee County Visitors Bureau.  They were instrumental in putting Salida in contention as the start city for the first road stage.   Angela Damman, the Director of Salida’s Local Organizing Committee did an amazing job making the event happen.  It is not possible for me to describe her ability to keep all the various people and organizations working together towards a common goal.  Andy Riemenschnieder is the Local Organizing Committees Technical Director.  He is so good at that job the promoter Medalist Sports has tried to convince him to join their operation.  Robin Najime and Dana Porter organized and directed over 175 volunteers.

The Salida Police and Fire Departments, Colorado State Police, Department of Corrections Officers, Rescue and Fire Agencies from Outside Salida and outside Chaffee County all came together to make sure the race ran smoothly and to take care of any mishaps.  All the City of Salida departments did a wonderful job in helping the race come off without a glitch.

There are more groups and people that I should name but l hope everyone knows the Salida start could not have happened without all of you.  Thank you very much.

What I should write now is how the USA Pro Cycling Challenge  benefits our community economically.  I should remind you that the few minutes of national and international television exposure would cost more than our local economy can afford.  What impressed me more was  the sense of excitement that permeated our entire community.  Hours after the racers were gone the buzz was still palpable.  This event created a positive energy among our residents. I have never seen our population so high from an event.  Given the generally polarized and contentious dialogue that is everywhere at this time our positive reaction to the bike race was a breath of fresh air.

I will say that once again I am struck by the unique beauty and the difficult to quantify characteristics that make up our community.  We have been blessed by the luck of being in one of the most  visually striking places I know.  Salida has maintained its small town feel mostly by luck.  I am of the opinion we are the only remaining City in the Rockies of Colorado that is has not sold its soul for a buck.  Yes, our economic engine is cooler than the big Citys of the I 70 corridor.  Those of us that have chosen to live here have voted with our feet and we need to decide how how much is enough?  I wonder if we can be happy with what we have and be aware of the trade offs we might make in trying to increase the business of our area.  It is important to me to hold onto the quality of life we have here.  Let us remember “standard of living” is determined by how much stuff we have.  Quality of life states the ability of an individual to live in a satisfying way.  Simply, it returns us to the question of “how much is enough”?

Thanks again to everyone for aiding the success of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.   Let us try to hold onto the positive energy it created.

I will restate why the rates have gone up.  First,  the energy, chemicals and other necessary items to treat and transport water have gone up in price and will continue to go up.   Second, the High Zone Water Tank was paid for with a loan that was supposed to be covered by developments to the north and west of town.  As we all know the developments did not happen and so the users of the water system must now cover that loan.  Thirdly, the purchase of the Vandaveer water rights was paid in a lump sum when the rumor of a lawsuit regarding the lack of a TABOR saving clause in that deal was threatened.  There have been other costs associated with the maintenance of an aging water system.

The bottom line is without a rate increase the City would default on the High Zone Tank loan.  The long term problems a default would cause are serious, so the City Council opted for a rate increase.

To add to people’s confusion regarding the need for a rate increase is the lack of understanding of the nature of municipal funding.  The Water/Sewer Enterprise Fund must stand alone and maintain its ability to function solely on the fees it collects.  No sales taxes, grants or other municipal funds can be used to support the day to day operations of an enterprise fund or its enterprise fund status is lost.

You should have heard by now that the first quarter of Salida’s sales tax collections have been good.  Know that sales tax revenue cannot legally be used to support the enterprise fund.

The real point of this article is to use the water rate increase to explain  the difference between the City of Salida employees and the City Council members you have elected.  Regarding water and sewer service, it is  the City’s employees that run the water plant and our other two water sources.  They also maintain and replace the water and sewer lines and run the waste water treatment plant.  Other duties include the collection and accounting of all fees collected by the City.  They do not make the policy that determines how those funds are spent and what fee amounts shall be levied.   It is the City Council that makes the policy that determines your water rates.

It is inappropriate to take out your frustration regarding fee increases of any kind on the employees of City Government.  They are doing the job they were directed to do by the City Council.  There was a year for input regarding the rate increase you will see on your bill the first week of July.  Very few people showed up to express their opinions.   If you are angry now regarding the rate increase call or e-mail your public officials.  Anger and discourtesy to the City’s employees is misdirected.

Yes, past Councils thought development would pay for projects.  They believed, as many in this country believed, that the economy  would forever ride the wave of prosperity caused by the housing bubble.  They were wrong.   As I have said many times,  future Councils will have to deal with mistakes this City Council has made.   Such is the reality of citizen officials.

To repeat, treat everyone as you yourself would like to be treated.  That includes all local governmental employees.  If you have an issue contact your elected officials.  They are the ones who make the policy.

Mayor Chuck Rose

June 2011

I can only sympathize.  Before I give my perspective on the significant increase in water rates we will all experience at the next billing cycle let me offer a personal comment.   First it remains amazing to me that our costs continue to go up for everything while, in many cases, the quality has seemed to diminish.  When I finished college in the early 70’s and moved West, I paid $140.00 per year for health insurance.  My wife and I now pay over $10,000 per year with a $3,000 deductible.  Automobile gas in 1976 cost $.44 per gallon.  A pound of lean hamburger was $.89 per pound.  What cost $2.00 in 1968, costs $12.00 just before the sub prime mortgage crash.

The causes of these increased costs are varied.  An economist can better give us the explanations behind the devaluation of the dollar, inflation and the ramifications of private and public sector debt than I can.  However, we know that as we live longer more medical care for more people has become the norm.  We know that there has been an increased desire by the citizens for more governmental services.  And we know that wars are costly to the soldiers that fight them and the citizens that pay for them.

Simply, everything has gone up and will continue to go up.  It is my opinion that the 50% water rate increase we will see in the next quarter has been caused by a series of past decisions made by our elected officials that were based upon the wisdom of the day.  First, in reaction to the drought of 2002, the City Council chose to purchase Glenn Vandaveer’s ranch.  The first priority water rights gained by the city have been a major plus for the supply of water to our citizens.  However, the idea that a developer would buy the land and Salida would end up with the water without much investment failed to work in the aftermath of the sub prime mortgage blow up.  So the citizens will be paying for the water portion of that purchase in their water rates.

The High Zone Water Tank was to be paid for by developments such as Miramonte and other potential developments to the north and west of town.  The same popping of the real estate market bubble has made that tank now the financial responsibility of the current users of Salida’s water system.  The choice is to increase water fees to the current users of Salida’s water or forfeit on the loan.

The other major factor for the water rate increase is the need to refurbish the water treatment plant.  Remember this plant was built in 1957.  Depending on the degree of work that will be needed, cost estimates vary between $300,000 and two million dollars.  By paying  extra in water fees now we hope to build reserves to the point that the work can be paid for outright or a large down payment could be made, thereby saving Salidans the interest on borrowed funds.

There is no doubt that costs will increase.  We have commoditized necessities such as water, energy and health care and as a result the free market will continue to drive prices up.  I am not happy with that.  However, given the choice between having the Water and Sewer Enterprises go bankrupt or increasing rates, I choose increasing rates.

This summer various parades and celebrations will occur to honor our active soldier’s and veteran’s efforts that maintain and protect our democracy.  I ask all of us to consider the degree to which we, as citizens, do our part to maintain the democratic system we extoll.  If we refuse to be engaged in government, especially local government,  and if we refuse to run for office, I wonder if we are fulfilling the citizen side of the contract democracy demands?  In November there will be four seats contested on the Salida City Council.  It is your chance to stand up and do what a citizen is obligated to do in our United States.  Then you will have the opportunity to wrestle with the local issues of the day and find the solutions that are to the benefit of all of us.

Sunshine Week and all it stands for is a positive thing. Yet, I have found myself brought low by certain aspects of it. We have learned to expect lies and half truths in both the private and public sectors of our lives. I find the tension between marketing and truth painful. I wish we demanded more honesty.

The Chicago Tribune in the 70’s, speaking of preventative cancer measures, wrote something to the effect: It seems almost un-American to think of prevention. Prevention clearly states the problem is us. My point is that the problem is far more than transparency of government. A window is only transparent if you look through it, and a government is a direct reflection of the effort the citizens put forth in stating their needs and desires.

I would like to see Sunshine Week be the ideal we strive for in all our actions. I have been asked what I thought prepared me to become Mayor. In my fourth year I still do not have a complete answer. There are definite similarities to being the Salida Mayor and being a paramedic. In both cases we become witnesses to people at their best and worst moments. In both cases most of the really messy situations were completely preventable. Finally,  when something we dislike stares us in the face we want to take no personal responsibility for the negative occurrence so we look for someone else to blame.

As a ski patrolman and paramedic I have been a part of scenes that started as pure recreation and ended in death or near death. One moment everyone is having a great time and the next moment our greatest fear is occurring. The pain that the injured and their close ones feel when an extreme high is suddenly juxtaposed with the fragility and finality death represents is remarkable. In almost every case the death was preventable. I even speak of the death of the elderly. When I was most active as a medic I would see many patients at the premature end of their lives due to smoking. Every heroin overdose death  that occurred in the hospital I worked  for had alcohol on board as well. Every teenage suicide had been drinking.   90% of the emotional and physical pain I saw as a paramedic and as mayor is preventable.

We all have dark places in our lives. These dark places are often depicted as secrets we keep from others. The first truth is what hides in those spaces is something we are hiding from ourselves. The second truth is we are fooling no one. What is so hard to see within ourselves is blatantly obvious to those that bear witness. That is the beauty of letting the sunshine of truth and honesty into all aspects of life. It will keep the hatred based on unspoken fear from driving us into living a painful life of deceit.

Let’s put sunshine into all places in our life. You will be treated as you treat others. None of us are perfect but we rarely make our most lofty goals in life. If we aim for mediocrity we will have sold ourselves short. Demand Sunshine from your government while also demanding it from yourself.

When I first got on the Council, Councilman Tom Yerkey stated, “let us agree to disagree and then move on”.  This set the tone for active debate and whether we lost or won the vote, the desire to move to the next topic without holding grudges, while seeking solutions for the greater good remained the focus. Councilman Damman often starts his statements of dissent by using the lead in of, “With all due respect”.  While we often hear this in various venues, Mr. Damman means it and reinforces Mr. Yerkey’s desire to focus on getting things done.   There are other examples of how each Council person, even when in vehement disagreement with others, has maintained decorum and respect for others beliefs in the heat of the moment.

Brigadier General Henry Martyn Roberts was a career soldier and a graduate of West Point.  After the Civil War General Roberts became the Chairman of his church board and was appalled at the difficulty of getting things done in an amiable fashion.  His solution was to develop and publish “Roberts Rules of Order” a parliamentary procedure guide.  It has been the main guide for public meetings since 1876.  The most important concept stated in “Roberts” is that the meetings should deal with issues not personalities.  The major goal of “Roberts” is to have the majority prevail while protecting the rights of the minority.

We will disagree.  How we make our views known is very important.  Since the letter has become an antiquated form of communication our methods of communication have become less and less personal.  Unfortunately, whether it is someone giving the finger as they drive by in the fortress of their vehicle or the anonymity of voicemail and e-mail, we act as if there are no witnesses to our anger and no ramifications of the unrestrained expression of it.   Believe me, little positive results from name calling.  You actually harm your viewpoint by expressing any sentiment in a negative fashion.  It might sell newspapers or make people tune in to a show, but it does nothing to create solutions to the current challenges.

I have gained greatly in communicating with those that hold opposite viewpoints from me.  I still will disagree with their views but will not denigrate who they are or what they stand for.  Getting to know those who  hold a different perspective than me has always left me with a sense of respect for those I disagree with and makes it easier to discuss the problem while not straying into character assassination.

The First Amendment right guaranteeing freedom of speech is key to our viability as a nation.  However, using restraint and fostering a sense of mutual respect is how we keep all voices heard and engaged in the constant evolution of our country.  The majority wins in a democracy but not by trammeling on the rights of the minority nor by drowning out dissident views with angry, irrelevant rhetoric.  We find answers to our problems by  not acting in anger towards the opposition, but by being inclusive as we seek those answers.

THE NOTE BELOW IS FROM THE CAIC:

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

A ski patroller was killed at Wolf Creek Ski Area before opening on Monday 11/22 while conducting avalanche hazard reduction.

Our thoughts and condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and community.
Since 1950, avalanches have killed 19 ski patrollers in the US. Eight of those fatalities occurred in Colorado:
April 8, 1993. Mt Crested Butte
March 31, 1984. Aspen Highlands
December 18. 1983. Copper Mountain
March 31, 1981. Snowmass
November 23, 1974. Arapahoe Basin
November 27, 1967. Arapahoe Basin

Happy T-day,
Chuck Rose

I thought I would offer Thomas Jefferson’s personal ten commandments. They are as relevant now as they were when written in 1825. I remind myself that Jefferson’s suggestions are for each of us to personally pursue. While it is easy to see in others their failings, to focus on our own improvement is truly the most effective way to create positive societal change.

Jefferson’s “A Decalogue of Canons”:

1. Never put off till to-morrow what you can do today.

2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.

3. Never spend money before you have it.

4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.

5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.

6. We never repent of having eaten too little.

7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.

8. How much pain have cost us the evils which has never happened.

9. Take things always by their smooth handle.

10. When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.

These ten rules where written to a boy that had been named after Thomas Jefferson in a letter to aid the youngster in living a good life. As we give thanks we might consider how we can make our world a better place by observing these same rules written almost 200 years ago.

This list was taken from a book written by Clay Jenkinson called, “Becoming Jefferson’s People: Re-inventing the American Republic in the Twenty-first Century”. It is available at our local library and is a highly entertaining and valuable read.

Happy Thanksgiving. Remember, both John F. Kennedy and John Lennon were right!

Chuck Rose,
Mayor, the City of Salida

Juxtaposed with the viewing of election ads is the opportunity we have in Salida to see letters of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln’s walking stick and a violin the Thomas Jefferson played.  These and other items are on display at the Pueblo Bank and Trust in Salida.  Each one of the of the Presidents previously mentioned are looked upon as ideal United State’s citizens and major contributors to our country during extremely difficult moments in history.  Their accomplishments are held as examples of what a citizen should be.  Yet every one of these men has some blemish on their personal story.  Each one has made major mistakes, suffered failure and angered others by what they had said or with their actions.

We are at the end of an election cycle.  The content of the ads and the coverage have little to do with what the candidates vision is for our county, state and country.  The commercials rarely provide a coherent statement from their candidate.  Rather they focus on what their competitor’s flaws are.  I wonder if it was as easy to distribute a message at the times of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln if they would have had the opportunity to serve.

I look at the information offered by the advocates of most contestants and ballot initiatives  during the election and see certain characteristics that are worth noting.

I wonder who would promote any idea or candidate and not want their name attached?   I question my actions as a responsible citizen if I vote for someone or something that someone is unwilling to publicly make a stand for.

I question if our process has become a parody of Saturday Night Live when both sides floods the airways with gaffes and misquotes rather than valuable content.  I can tell you that when your job is to speak in public you will make mistakes.  Some errors of speech can be telling.  Most are simply accidents that are not representative of what that person feels.   These misquotes or quotes from someone’s distant past, that do not accurately depict what the now believe,  do a disservice to a serious process and create ridiculous foci that distract from the important issues of the day.

I question those I meet when they write a candidate off because they disagree with one stance of that person’s.  No one will agree on everything.  The single issue hot buttons stop dialogue and do not foster solutions.  You might find that people of opposing views are good people and might even offer a perspective that could be of value to you.

Finally, I am frustrated by a process that is reported as a horse race.  I want to know what the candidate believes and how they plan to get us there.  Not who is ahead in campaign contributions or ahead in the polls.

Our process is supposed to move us toward solutions.  One candidate or another winning is a worthless exercise if their winning is the only end.  Voting is the least we can do.  We are so lucky to be in this country.   Look beyond the white noise before you act on your voting privilege.

To me the approval of 3A is similar to a barn raising or a cattle round up.  In all three cases, a group of people get together to create something that would be unaffordable or impossible for one family to accomplish.  The passage of 3A shows a community that is willing to make a small personal investment in the future of a lot of people. It is a real way to follow the Golden Rule. How important is it to educate the kids who will eventually be the decision makers for our community?  With the School Bond Issue passage we can all build something that is important to the entire community.  It is time to step up and pass 3A.

3A builds something for our children and our community.  Three state ballot issues will reduce the services that all the governments in our state provide.  Please become educated regarding Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101.  We know what we get for our money when we vote in favor of 3A.  Make sure you know what you will give up if 60, 61 and 101 pass.

I would like to focus on Proposition 101.  Proposition 101 would reduce state income tax, lessen or eliminate fees and taxes on vehicle purchases, leases and rentals and end telecommunication fees, except for 911 communication funding.  According to the Pueblo Chieftain, in a September 14th article written by Patrick Malone, a “family with an average income of $35,000 that owns a 10-year-old car and pays about $60 a month for phone service would be spared an estimated $135 in taxes the first year of the proposition’s implementation, and about $300 when it is fully implemented in 15 to 20 years, according to the Legislative Council”.

But what do we no longer receive if Proposition 101 passes?  A partial list includes reduced maintenance of roads, school budgets will be reduced, tuition for colleges would increase and services to the neediest of Colorado’s residents including the disabled would suffer.  So for a $135 saving a lot of the services the various governments provide would be reduced.  It reminds us of how taxes, by allowing voters to pool our individual resources, allow us to create a large amount of money to get really big things done.  Most of these big things are not affordable to most of us as individuals.  Proposition 101 will save you a few bucks, but the impact to our communities and the state is much, much larger.

Government is not perfect.  Neither is any enterprise that is made up of humans.  Mistakes are made in both the public and private sectors.  What government does correctly becomes invisible.  We only miss services after they are gone. I urge you to consider that the R 32 J School Bond Issue is a new High School and, as importantly, a community builder.  Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101 are service reducers and will reduce what we have come to expect from our governments.

The proponents of 60, 61 and 101 have not made their identities known to this point.  They do have a strong organization that responds quickly to any public statements made against 60, 61 and 101.  Their line is any opponent to their ballot issues is just using fear.  That is too glib for me.  The real question I ask myself before voting this November is do  3A, 60,  61 and 101 offer me an opportunity to act towards others in a way I would like others to act towards me?

Stew Brown in a Mountain Mail letter to the editor wrote,  (Do) “Not just stand back and constantly criticize current leadership.  Working shoulder to shoulder, there’s nothing this county, state and country can’t accomplish”.  It is not possible to work  “shoulder to shoulder” with someone who treats you differently than they would desire to be treated.  In how  we choose to discuss issues we determine our ability to actually create something of which to be proud.

To facilitate a true discussion based upon real fact, not trumped up fears, I would like to compliment Merle Baranczyk when he denied the request for a moratorium on “Over the River” letters.  It is not the media’s responsibility to demand the courtesy so necessary in our world while we converse through letters to the editor.  It is ours.  If you want to anger the opposition and further polarize everyone’s views continue to communicate in a way that disrespects those who hold a different view.  If you want to put the long term good of the community  first  do unto others as you want others to do onto you.  There is no excuse for discourtesy while disagreeing!

It is worth noting that many of my previous City of Salida, Mayor articles have quoted famous names in American history.  It pleases me that I can quote local citizens that obviously understand their responsibilities as citizens of our democracy.  It is the many small acts of true citizenship, which do not make the history books, that make this country great.

In the meantime, when I have had about enough of the negative and angry comments I stop and look up.  In that moment, I realize how lucky I am to be alive at this time and this place.  Chaffee County is God’s Country.  I hope we act worthy of its grandeur.