Printed letters, June 10, 2012

By Staff
Sunday, June 10, 2012

So Redlands Water and Power thinks we panicked. With a little warning we could’ve planned for it. People whose watering schedule normally runs over the end of the week and the weekend got to see a front-page article on the same day their water was cut off.

I hadn’t run my water for a week, so things were really dry after an additional 3½ days of not having water. I suspect everyone with ponds (including Tiara Rado Golf Course) were both watering and filling ponds. Maybe the golf course got prior warning, but no one else I’ve encountered did.

So, yeah, my whole place is getting watered. That way I can begin a new schedule to accommodate the restrictions. But people wonder about the lack of explanation or planning. What? They can’t write a letter to the residents who own Redlands Water & Power? Redlands residents own the oldest water right on the Gunnison River and low-water years usually result in a call on the river.

I can deal with restrictions, but the Redlands has never had restrictions other than voluntary. A call by senior water rights usually means Blue Mesa needs to release water. It’s understandable if the Redlands board made a deal with the Bureau of Reclamation over Blue Mesa. I would rather see food production farmland get what water it needs. But there are still some farm operations on the Redlands, and people need to be informed in a timely manner.

EILEEN O’TOOLE

Grand Junction

CMU is integral in effort to attract businesses here

As a founding board member, I would like to commend the Grand Junction Economic Partnership for unanimously supporting Colorado Mesa University’s request to the city of Grand Junction and Mesa County for additional funds to build a new classroom building.

As businesses look to relocate or expand, they first look to see the educational opportunities that are available and whether there is a university to help supply an educated workforce. They also ask how a community is investing in itself. Why would I invest in a community that will not invest in its future? Thankfully, Grand Junction Economic Partnership can point to a city and county that invest heavily in CMU.

We have a truly unique partnership in our valley. Our local governments have been investing directly into CMU since the 1970s. Combined with the state of Colorado and CMU’s revenues, these unprecedented investments in quality faculty, facilities, technology and students have allowed CMU to grow at an annual average rate of 14.5 percent to reach its current enrollment of more than 9,000 students studying in 72 different academic programs.

CMU is reaching capacity. Its current priority is a new 56,000-square-foot classroom building, which will allow CMU to grow to 12,000 students.

It is easy to see how 3,000 additional students will contribute to the local government’s general funds through sales tax. What is harder to see is the message such investments send to relocating and expanding businesses. We are proud of the opportunities CMU has afforded our young people. We will invest in our community. You should, too.

DENNY GRANUM

GJEP Board Member

Grand Junction

Walcher hurts his campaign with attacks on Pugliese

When hearing the attacks against Rose Pugliese and the Mesa County Republican Party by county commissioner write-in candidate Woody Walcher, at first I started to feel bad for the guy for not winning enough votes at the county assembly held this spring. He apparently really wanted to be a county commissioner. But after hearing the attacks against Pugliese, it is obvious he must be a sore loser.

Pugliese won enough delegate votes at the county assembly to be the only person on the primary ballot for that seat. Walcher could have petitioned on to the primary ballot, but either decided not to or could not get enough signatures.

The attacks against Pugliese are unfair and uncalled for. Pugliese has worked tirelessly over the past several years for Mesa County and the conservative movement, and she will make a great county commissioner.

GARY BAILEY

Grand Junction

Woody Walcher’s claims are filled with contradictions

While doing some research on the county commissioner candidates, I have found that the write-in candidate seems to be full of contradictions. 

I read a Daily Sentinel article in which he said he owned seven businesses, saw a news story on KJCT in which he said he owned five businesses and then heard him say on his radio ad that he owned nine businesses. Which is it?

In that same newspaper article, he said all but one of his businesses were successful, but in the TV news story he said that most of his businesses were not successful. Again, which is it?

In the Sentinel article written after he lost at the Republican assembly, it said that the convention was made up of party activists elected at neighborhood caucuses, who in turn elected the candidates. His radio ad says the establishment party bosses chose the Republican candidate. Once again, which is it?  

I am not very active in politics, but I am wary of a candidate who cannot keep his own stories straight and will say anything to win. It sounds like he is just another politician, the kind of which we are all growing sick and tired.

BRANDON CUPP

Fruita