Once again the Fruita city administration chooses to take the lazy route and request more taxes in the worst economic crisis in most of our lifetimes.

On May 18 of this year, I wrote Mayor Ken Henry and the City Council members and showed them how they could achieve most of their recreation goals by forming a joint effort with School District 51. Suffice it to say that it has been successfully done in other areas of Colorado and other states without a doubling the taxes and duplication of facilities. For those who are interested, please ask the Fruita Administration for copy of my letter.

What Mayor Henry’s administration did is to decide that we are going to have a recreation center, and we will keep voting on it until we decide that they are right. I know enough about politics to know that when 50 percent of your voters are against something, then you either leave it alone or find a more palatable approach for your project.

My proposal would have allowed maximum use of government facilities with minimal taxes. Yes it would have taken more effort and some intergovernmental coordination, but it would have been millions of dollars cheaper for the Fruita taxpayers. As an added bonus, it would have helped School District 51 get some of their bonds passed easier.

Has anyone stopped to think about who decided to place the two statistically worst driving groups together? I am referring to placing teenage drivers and senior drivers together at the same facility. Hey, I know, let’s add in pre-school children visiting the new library and that will make it safer. No, it is not the least bit funny is it.

I keep hearing the recreation center is so our children and grandchildren have something to do! Here’s a clue, buy them a ball and send them to the myriad of sports facilities we already have. If your children have time to use a recreation center after participating in school, school activities, sports, church, and household chores then it is time for you as parents to examine your family life. Walk outside and look around. You are living in one of the best recreation areas God ever made. Use it and spend your money on something your family really needs.

The bottom line is that if Mayor Henry and City Council members want a senior citizen center, then we will build you a nice one (you had one paid for once). If you want a new library, then justify the costs to us, and we will build you a nice one. What we will never vote for is a boondoggle project that duplicates facilities, interferes with private enterprise, and is a waste of tax money in hard economic times.

DAN MOORE
Fruita

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 at 11:00 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.