Printed letters, July 13, 2012

By Staff
Thursday, July 12, 2012

We are constantly being reminded by the news media and the water companies to conserve water during the drought this year.

But why is it that the city of Grand Junction Parks Department is watering the soccer fields at Canyon View Park during the middle of the day and during the hottest part of the day?

If this were an individual homeowner or even a business, I’m quite sure that the city would be out there giving warnings or maybe even tickets.

Is it that the Parks Department is exempt from the water restrictions?

JAMES OWEN

Fruita

Save community resources for homeless trying to improve

I just wanted to say that I agree 200 percent with The Daily Sentinel’s editorial comments on the homeless.

As a native of Grand Junction, I believe we are morally obligated to help those individuals who are mentally or physically disabled, as well as our fellow citizens who have temporarily lost their jobs and are trying desperately to find another job to get back on their feet.

I don’t think we should spend tax dollars or community resources on people who are too unmotivated to feed themselves or keep roofs over their heads.

Furthermore, these individuals should not be allowed to degrade private or public resources within the valley, nor should they be allowed to threaten public safety.

BONNIE BROWN

Delta

 

Call homeless people human beings with rights

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share our new mentoring program, One For One, with the people of Grand Junction. Since the article on July 3, Grand Valley Peace and Justice has received numerous contacts from candidates for the program, people interested in creating mentor teams and landlords willing to work with our clients.

In response to the question posed in The Daily Sentinel editorial of the same date, we suggest that all of our homeless be referred to as human beings having a right to food, clothing and a safe place to live. We would ask no less for anyone, whether or not we agreed with that person’s choice of lifestyle or point of view.

SHERRY COLE

Project Coordinator

JULIE MAMO

Executive Director

Grand Valley Peace & Justice  

Grand Junction

 

Grant’s column wrong about parties in lawsuit

Several factual errors were published in the July 10 column by Bill Grant, (“Commissioners should encourage county clerk to settle ballot lawsuit”).

Grant inaccurately stated that Marilyn Marks sued Pitkin County after her request to inspect voted ballots was denied, that Pitkin County appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court and that the “Pitkin County commissioners recently decided to ask the Supreme Court for reconsideration” of its decision.

While Aspen is the county seat of Pitkin County, the mayoral election referred to was a municipal election conducted by the city of Aspen, not Pitkin County. The litigation described in the article was between Marks and the city of Aspen. Pitkin County was not and is not a party to those proceedings.

All decisions relating to the manner in which the city of Aspen has conducted that litigation — including any motions for reconsideration recently filed with the Colorado Supreme Court — presumably were made by officials of the city of Aspen, not by the county clerk, county attorney or commissioners of Pitkin County.

The Pitkin County Elections Department strives to conduct fair, accurate and transparent elections and is not involved in litigation with Marks.

JANICE VOS

Pitkin County Clerk

and the Pitkin County

Elections Department

Aspen

 

Court’s trespassing decision may cause rural dust-ups

The Daily Sentinel’s July 10 editorial, “Trespassing in the 21st century,” should get people thinking.

Any farmer, rancher or other landowner needs to be very concerned about Judge Charles Greenacre’s trespass ruling in the Hopper case. It sets a very dangerous precedent.

What happens if a hay farmer has Olathe Spray Service spray for bugs, as he has for years, and his new neighbors claim to be allergic to the spray and demand he stop? Will it be trespassing?

What if the same farmer is in his field plowing and the dust drifts into his neighbor’s property? Or if he is burning ditches as he has to do in order to get the water through? Same question.

Or maybe a rancher has his cows in the corral calving or branding and the smell of smoke drifts across the neighbor’s fence. Is that to trespass?

These are questions we all need to ask and be very concerned about because so many people who are not familiar with the rural life want to move in because of the beauty and privacy. They are not concerned with the people who have lived there all their lives, trying to make a living and raise their families.

I don’t know the law, but I’m sure others will sue their neighbors because of this ruling. A higher court is going to have to make a decision on who is right, the working man or the newcomer.

JOHN A. HOTCHKISS

Hotchkiss