Dear Editor:
My husband Wayne served Delta County as a commissioner for eight years.
He did what what he believed was the best for all those involved in
each situation he was required to decide upon. When faced with
opposition he stuck to his decisions. I believe that's called
integrity.
At the Republican State Convention this past Friday we received less
t han 30 per cent of the delegate votes. The only option left to
continue our bid for the Senate seat in District 5 was by petition to
get on the primary ballot. When this disappointing announcement was
made, Wayne asked if he could speak. Rather than resorting to anger and bitterness, he chose to graciously concede the race. He received a
standing ovation. I guess most people recognize character when they see
it.
Kristine Wolf
Cedaredge Colo.
Dear Editor:
RE: Surface Creek Community Services AKA Cedaredge Food Bank
To our community, Thank you. We are so blessed to live in a community like ours. In reading this letter, you will be happy to know just what your community is all about. And that is helping others.
Since starting the food bank several years ago in a very small 8X10 room, we have now grown to over three thousand square feet. With a board of nine and many volunteers, we are now feeding over fifty family names per week. Most of our families have children. We are located behind Town Hall in the old ambulance bays. We are open on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m; and on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. You’re welcome to visit us; you will be happy to see what you are doing to help fill a need in your community.
Thank you to the Town of Cedaredge and their employees, Wick Dairy, our churches and clubs, Cedaredge Foodtown, and Red Hat Foods. Most of all, to each and every citizen in our community. Without you we could not do this.
A special thanks to all our mail carries who did the food drive. What a blessing it was to receive over two small pickup truck loads. That was a lot of extra work for you.
Thank you.
Surface Creek Community Services, AKA Cedaredge Food Bank
Cedaredge, Colo.
Dear Editor and Cedaredge Board of Trustees:
Water rates - Interesting discussion in Cedaredge, but I did not see a basic consideration of the financial impact on low income individual.. A base rate increase affects everyone. Low Middle and Higher income people see the increase. To some this is a “nothing” while to others it is a “what do I have to give up?” to pay for this increase.
In my opinion, a far more equitable increase (if one is needed) would be to THE HIGHER VOLUME USERS. Put another way, to all, water is essential. To the volume user (someone with large lawns or users who neglect to turn off the water when not needed, having cheap water is a luxury that will continue to be abused if there is no financial impact to their wallet. So if a rate increase were applied to those gallons over the basic allotment, the low volume users would not be penalized for those who consume the large amounts of inexpensive water. This increase might even be applied on an escalating scale of rates that go up every so many gallons of usage.
I know water conservation can be achieved. My own piece of Cedaredge has been zeroscaped in part and the balance planted with grasses and other plants tolerant to our semi arid climate.
I implore the Town Board of Trustees to not take the seemingly easy path of raising the base rate and reducing the initial volume of water. I realize many of those high users are also the most affluent and seem to have the power to influence the government of our town. Look out for all the citizens.
John Loring
Cedaredge, Colo.
Dear Editor:
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had about all I can take of government expansion. It was bad enough before Obama. Now it’s insane.
I do not want the government telling food companies how much salt they can put in my food. I don’t want the government making restaurants pay for scientific research (and therefore having to raise the price of my meal) so they can prominently publish the nutritional information of my meals. I know a Big Mac and french fries are loaded with fat and calories, and anyone not smart enough to know that is probably not smart enough to make decisions by looking at a calorie-defined menu.
My health care is none of the government’s business. It is between me and my doctor. I do not want my health records in a government database. I do not want the government telling my doctor how much he can charge. If he can’t charge enough, he won’t be there when I need him.
What gives government the right to make these decisions? We do, by being silent! So speak up!
And I say “Hurray for Arizona!” At least one government is looking out for its citizens.
Angie Many
Eckert, CO
Dear Editor:
RE: Local Power and DMEA Elections
I talked to both Ed Marston and Mike Folkerth. Ed has been on the DMEA board forever, at least dating back into the 1990s and Mike has previously served as a director including being DMEA’s representative to their supplier, Tri_State
Both are advocates for local power generation to replace some of the $42 million a year (expected to double or triple) drained from the area to purchase electricity. Both understand the barriers and reasons. The main barrier being the contract with Tri-State that binds them and does not allow local purchase until the year 2040.
Being on the board for so long, Ed Marston has a wealth of knowledge, both technically and historically for DMEA. For many years Ed has been associated with the green movement. In Delta County we have so many options and resources. Ed favors recovering some of these, like mine methane that could potentially provide half our local energy needs, or hydro or biomass.
But there is one big elephant in the room that our area has in abundance locally and that is coal. A small coal-fired power plant or coal gasification plant could easily provide ALL of our electricity needs (108 megawatts) locally and at a very economical price. The cost of coal amounting to only about 2 cents per kilowatt hour. Since it would be generated locally outside transmission line costs are greatly reduced or eliminated. Presently, retail bills average about 10 cents per kilowatt hour for example. A bigger plant could supply the needs of DMEA and other surrounding electric coops.
Mike Folkerth seems open to coal and a coal fired power plant in Delta as well as being in favor of other sources mentioned above. Ed seems restrained when discussing coal for local generation.
However, the key is breaking the Tri-State monopoly. While baby steps have been taken like refusal to extend Tri-States monopoly contract, yet the present board has not been successful in freeing DMEA from Tri-States controlling clutches.
In these stressful economic times, local power generation and purchase might just be the biggest single thing that could turn around Delta’s economy as well as actually lowering electric bills, which if nothing is done, will shortly double and maybe triple. Lower electric bills has another benefit and that is it attracts new businesses to relocate here providing more jobs and a more prosperous lifestyle for us all.
Mike Mason
Cedaredge, Colo.
Dear Editor:
If it Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix it
As the DMEA election approaches one wonders “What are the issues facing our member owned electrical co-op?”
As a few individuals who have monitored the DMEA board since the mid 90’s, we have noticed the existing board has come 180 degrees. The board mentality has changed from a spend and build co-op, to a conserve and efficient driven mentality.
DMEA has been able to keep rates flat for the past 2 years even though wholesale rates have increased. This was accomplished by staff reductions and early retirements.
DMEA has teamed with Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association for a proposed Hydro-Electric Project east of Montrose to generate electricity locally. This will in turn keep JOBS and taxes in Montrose and Delta Counties. Why ship over 42 million dollars a year to a Denver wholesaler, Tri-State Generation?
The DMEA board also has a keen interest in generating electric power from waste wood produced by our local sawmills, from methane gas exhausted from local coal mines as well as other irrigation canals.
The DMEA Board will refund 1 ½ Million dollars in capital credits to co-op members in July of this year.
The DMEA Board is analyzing a possible merger with San Miguel Power Association that could save the region many more dollars by eliminating duplication of services.
Today the DMEA Board is leading the way in energy conservation, energy efficiency and innovation, as well as controlling Board Expenditures.
If you feel as we do, we urge you to retain the current board: Vote for Mike Sramek, Ed Marston, and Tony Prendergast.
John Harold
Paul Dow
Jim Renfrow
