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C’dale gets transformed Drake Timroth was reportedly the youngest model in last weekend’s Green is the New Black fashion extravaganza at the Carbondale Recreation Center. He’s wearing the Genderfluid fashion line, by Olivia Pevec and Rochelle Norwood of Scavenger Industries.

This year’s fashion show theme was “transformation.” For more photos go to pages 14-15.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Because every town needs a park, a library and a newspaper

Sun

Volume 8, Number 6 | March 17, 2016

Carbondale Commentary The views and opinions expressed on the Commentary page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The Sopris Sun invites all members of the community to submit letters to the editor or guest columns. For more information, e-mail editor Lynn Burton at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.

Proposed City Market creates numerous concerns

By Patrick Hunter

Transportation

There is a big problem that ought to be on the minds of every “sentient” human being on the planet: Our planet is getting too warm.

Obviously, we in Carbondale cannot solve that problem on our own, but we should be doing as much as possible locally to prepare for the rising temperatures and the very negative effects that will follow.

Students of sustainability, like me, are trained to look at the world in three ways: the effects on the environment, the effects economically, and the effects on social equity (social justice). Additionally, we can look at the effects to various sectors of our society. Here are the areas that concern me the most about the proposed new City Market development.

A larger store, which will certainly appeal to a wider population than just Carbondale, will greatly increase the vehicle trips on our main roads. The currently three-lane Highway 133 will expand to four lanes. Additional roundabouts and/or traffic lights will be built. Traffic hold-ups at the Highway 133/82 intersection will become VERY long. (Another roundabout?) Expect something like the Glenwood and Aspen gridlocks.

OPINION

Air Quality There will be periods of a solid line of cars going both ways on Highway 133.

The exhaust fumes will increase. “Smog” will become a fact of life as it has at El Jebel

and the other Roaring Fork Valley communities. Don’t expect these chemicals to help your asthma or allergies; and they may do you a lot more harm.

Sincerest thanks to our

Honorary Publishers

Growth Every significant new business entity has a strong effect on the growth of the community. Some citizens welcome growth.

However, please bear in mind, a supermarket puts pressure on labor, housing, existing businesses, social services, police, fire and rescue, schools and of course the natural environment. The ever-present problem of growth is the “snowball effect.” Growth begets growth. As the community expands, the ever-present problems do not go away, they grow as well.

HUNTER page 18

for their generous, ongoing commitment of support.

Jim Calaway, Chair Kay Brunnier Bob Ferguson – Jaywalker Lodge Scott Gilbert: Habitat for Humanity - RFV Bob Young – Alpine Bank George Stranahan Peter Gilbert James Surls Umbrella Roofing, Inc.

Letters

The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400 words. Letters exceeding that length may be edited or returned for revisions. Include your name and residence (for publication) and a contact email and phone number. Submit letters via email to news@soprissun.com or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. The deadline to submit letters to the editor is noon on Monday.

Youth basketball thanks Dear Editor: Another year of Carbondale Recreation Youth Basketball is in the books! From December to March, 10 teams from Carbondale competed with teams from Glenwood Springs, Basalt and Aspen. Over the course of the season, the improvement of each team and individual players were incredible. I’m extremely proud of how much was learned and how much fun was had! Seeing as this was my first season overseeing the program, I have a lot of people to thank.

First, a giant thank you to my volunteer coaches. Each and every one of you were fantastic with the kids. You took the time to teach fundamentals while consistently providing a fun and safe environment. This program could not exist without your willingness to volunteer.

Next, I want to thank my officials. As we all know, officiating can be a thankless position. I am beyond grateful for your time and abilities to ensure a safe, fun and educational environment for all of our players. Thank you to Matt Kraemer, Deb Ottaviano, Matt Duffy and Jeff Wood.

Lastly, thanks to all the fans of our Carbondale players. I sincerely appreciate how you conducted yourselves as fans. Encouragement and positive reinforcement is the best way to cheer for our youth, and you guys were second to none! Thank you!

I would also like to thank our jersey sponsors: Casey Concrete and Colorado Pool+Spa Scapes. The jerseys looked great and the kids absolutely loved them! Your support of local youth sports is beyond appreciated. It was a great season filled with

great games and great moments. It was a joy getting to know all of our superstars and their parents.

Keep practicing, have fun and we’ll see you next season!

Jason Thraen Carbondale Recreation Coordinator

Responding to Rushton Dear Editor: I would like to respond briefly to Ms. Rushton’s letter in the March 10 Sopris Sun. I am all in favor of energy conservation, reduction of greenhouse gases, etc., but my objection to Ballot Issue 2A is that much of it is extremely vague and it is unclear how the funds will be spent. For instance: Who will decide which 400 homes to have their [energy] efficiency improved and which 400 low-income homes will benefit from energy upgrades? In all the articles and letters on 2A, I have yet to learn how the program will be managed.

If one of the objectives of the tax is “to reduce emissions from motor vehicles,’” why not implement emissions testing and increase the tax on gas, as I have previously suggested.

Ms. Rushton states that “the adoption of electric vehicles [will be encouraged].” The Federal government already supports the purchase of electric cars by granting generous tax credits; what the town plans to do is anyone’s guess.

There are many other aspects regarding 2A that I have not broached; Issue 2A should be rejected.

S. Wolff Carbondale

Tax needs more thought Dear Editor: The proposed Climate Action Excise Tax that is on the April ballot is something that needs a lot more thought and discussion before rushing to load another tax increase on us.

The proposal states that the proceeds in excess of $315,000 per year ($2,112,000 over six years) will be redistributed by the town trustees to existing nonprofit agencies, or possibly to other worthy, unnamed beneficiaries. For this kind of money, I think we, the citizens and taxpayers paying the bills, should get something more specific. We should ask and receive answers to what programs are going to be funded and what exactly are the projected results.

It is not enough to spend money to feel good. The money should be spent to really do good. And it should be spent in ways that have measureable outcomes that benefit all of the excise taxpayers. Unfortunately, this proposal appears to be very non-specific and could promote misdirection and misuse of public money.

Instead of rushing into another government sponsored redistribution program with no specific plan, why not spend some time thinking about what could be done with $2,112,000. That is, what could actually do something good for the taxpaying citizen, and have a positive effect on the environment? For example, why not use the proceeds from the climate action excise tax to fund a revenue bond issue for building a 1.5 to 2 megawatt windmill. Not a toy, but the real big deal with 100-foot blades that generate real clean power.

LETTERS page 10

Correction Last week’s candidate profile incorrectly quoted candidate Ben Bohmfalk. The quote should have read, “The one thing I like about the TABOR amendment is that all tax questions to go the people; the trustees can’t raise taxes.”

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

ank you to our SunScribers and community members for your support!

It truly takes a village to keep e Sun shining.

To inform, inspire and build community.

Donations accepted online or by mail. For information call 510-3003 Editor: Lynn Burton • 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Pam Rosenthal • 970-319-0108 adsales@soprissun.com Reporter: John Colson Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS board@soprissun.com Barbara Dills, President Debbie Bruell, Secretary Colin Laird • Cliff Colia Diana Alcantara • Matt Adeletti • Olivia Pevec The Sopris Sun Board meets regularly on the third Monday evening of each month at the Third Street Center. Check the calendar for details and occasional date changes.

Honorary Board Members Denise Barkhurst • Sue Gray David L. Johnson • Laura McCormick Jeannie Perry • Trina Ortega • Frank Zlogar Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell

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Merriott, Byars spat turns ugly at trustees meeting Both hurl insults at each other

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer At a meeting on March 9, what seemed to be ongoing enmity between two trustees — Frosty Merriott and Katrina Byars — erupted into a full-fledged argument that prompted Byars to leave the meeting early after indicating she may step down from her position on the Board of Trustees.

Merriott, reacting to Byars’ remarks about the need for housing among the town’s poorer residents, suggested that Byars was thinking more of her own needs rather than those of the broader community, and Byars accused Merriott of inappropriately attacking her personally at this meeting and on previous occasions.

The exchange boiled over at a point nearly three hours into the four-hour meeting, during a wide-ranging discussion about adopting the recently completed Unified Development Code’s (UDC) and its provisions concerning affordable housing.

At one point, Byars remarked that since she was first elected in 2014 she had been a consistent advocate for non-traditional affordable housing options such as what are known as “tiny houses” and other “alternative housing” concepts.

She maintained that there have been indications that town ordinances make it difficult for anyone to build a “modest and inexpensive development” that might offer housing

Happier times, at the 2014 candidates forum for the Carbondale Board of Trustees. Sitting trustees Frosty Merriott (far right) and Katrina Byars (second from the right) got into a spat over affordable housing and its place in the new uniform development code on Wednesday night. Far left is sitting trustee A.J. Hobbs and Wayne Horak. Sopris Sun file photo to people who could not afford to buy into the traditional housing market.

She said she had hoped the UDC would include provisions that would allow for creation of “a temporary dwelling” such as utility sheds, recreational vehicles or other structures on lots meant for more traditional housing.

Such regulations, she said, would mean that a local who “does not have the means to build” a larger, traditional home could still find a place to live, perhaps in a recreational vehicle, a temporary tiny house or even a utility shed or outbuilding while they work on ways to find more typical housing.

Byars termed her thinking as a need for

“some kind of flexible inclusion for emergency, transitional housing,” an avenue for the town to “test the waters” about relatively atypical housing concepts.

“I’m just trying to open up a little bit of space,” she said, to help with local problems such as homelessness or temporary housing crises brought about by, say, not being able to find a job.

Reacting to Byars’ statements, Mayor Stacey Bernot told the other trustees, “I think this is a topic that we need to address” as part of the ongoing debates over affordable housing, which the town has acknowledged as a dire need as home prices escalate during the

recovery from the recent Great Recession.

Town Manager Jay Harrington noted that the town has occupancy guidelines and regulations that would need to be revised to allow such things to happen, and that the town must guard against having people living in homes that are “substandard for health-safety issues.”

Byars agreed that the town should avoid endorsing substandard housing, but wanted the trustees to consider the needs of low-income residents rather than “pretending this (problem) doesn’t exist.”

That remark drew a sharp rebuke from Bernot, who said the trustees have been asked for specific ideas along these lines in the past and that “it didn’t happen.” Bernot added that it would be inappropriate for the trustees to insert something of this sort into the UDC at the last minute, since the revision of the town’s development codes has been in the works for two years.

“This could have been fleshed out months ago,” Bernot declared.

Byars, however, said she has spoken about the matter many times at meetings and was not “bringing it up at the eleventh hour” She then offered proposed language for insertion into the UDC about “live-work” arrangements what would offer options to people “who don’t have a place to live.” “Like yourself,” remarked Merriott, prompting Byars to stand up and apparently get ready to leave.

Others at the meeting interceded, getting the discussion moving again and offering ideas about how the matter can be further addressed, as Byars stood by her chair.

TRUSTEES page 9

Flying Mallets The Flying Mallets marimba band mesmerized a standingroom only audience at the Carbondale Branch Library on Saturday. The band is composed of Carbondale Middle School students.

Photo by Lynn Burton

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 3

Town Briefs

Officials agree on Montessori speed zone Sopris Sun Staff Report As talks continue about extending a reduced speed zone along Highway 133 near Ross Montessori School, town official met with officials from the school, the Roaring Fork School District and the Colorado Department of Transportation, where all agreed on a recommendation to CDOT to reduce the speed from 40 miles per hour to 35 mph in the extended zone. Harrington wrote that the short 25 mph zone “will go away” under this plan, but that signs alerting motorists to the doubling of fines in the zone as well as flashing “school zone” signs will remain. An accompanying permanent designation of a “wildlife zone” also is being contemplated.

In other news from Town Manager Jay Harrington’s weekly memo, Carbondale continues to prepare for what appears will be an early summer season; and the town’s street crew has been working on utility service lines to the Historic Thompson House Museum, now under public ownership and tentatively scheduled to open to the public some time soon.

According to Harrington’s March 11 memo, the water service line to the house was scheduled to be “pulled through the foundation” on Monday, with other work to follow.

At the same time, holiday banners strung up over the winter months have been taken down from Main Street lamp poles, and new banners “will be installed shortly.” The holiday lighting on trees along Main Street also is coming down.

The parks department crew, meanwhile, has been replacing worn seats on swings in the town’s parks, and putting up cautionary construction fending around a broken ladder on the monkey bars at Orchard Park and other tasks. The parks supervisor, Harrington reported, has been interviewing candidates for the town’s seasonal parks crew, as that crew prepares for spring aeration and fertilizer of the park properties.

At the recreation department, work is underway on a summerprograms brochure, which is scheduled to be published in The Sopris Sun on April 7 and to be mailed out to local residents later in April. The brochure is to cover programs offered from May through September.

And at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center (CRCC), the adult volleyball league continues, along with the recently modified pickleball schedule (added playing times).

An audit of the town’s finances was to begin this week, by the firm, McMahan and Associates, which has been conducting the town’s annual audits for years.

The long-awaited adoption of a new Unified Development Code came at a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on March 9, Harrington reported, adding that town staffers are discussing follow-up steps “such as updating planning checklists, dissemination of the code, etc.”

In addition, according to Harrington’s memo, the planning staff is working on an updated zoning map that reflects the boundaries of current zone districts throughout “all areas of town.” That map is to be reviewed by the planning and zoning commission and the trustees for formal adoption.

Piping at the end of the Carbondale Ditch, which provides irrigation water to various parts of town, was monitored by video camera recently, showing that rocks are blocking a portion of the pipe. The town is seeking a proposal for removing the rocks, and the utility department is gearing up for its annual maintenance tasks concerning the town’s ditch network.

Additionally, town staff has been inspecting and upgrading aspects of the Roaring Fork water treatment plans and wells, and the work is expected to improve the lifespan of the filtering system, Harrington reported.

Cop Shop From March 3-10, Carbondale officers handled 227 calls for service. During this period, officers investigated the following cases of note: FRIDAY, March 4: at 1:35 pm. police received a report of a juvenile being struck by his mother several weeks ago in the Roaring Fork High School parking lot.

SATURDAY, March 5: At two minutes past midnight, police stopped a vehicle for alleged equipment violations. After investigating, the officers arrested the 28-year-old male driver on suspicion of driving drunk.

SATURDAY, March 5: At 3:21 a.m. police contacted a motorist for speeding and running a stop sign. After further investigation, the officer arrested the male driver on charges of driving under the influence of marijuana and/or alcohol.

SATURDAY, March 5: at 10:33 p.m. police were called to River Valley Ranch where they discovered an 18-year-old man and two juveniles in a maintenance shed.

All three were charged with trespassing and underage consumption of alcohol.

MONDAY, March 7: At 6:44 p.m. police arrested and jailed a 39-year-old Carbondale man on charges of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

THURSDAY, March 10: Police were called to the RFTA park and ride at Highway 133 and Village Road, concerning a transient in the bathroom. The man was ticketed for trespassing and littering, and released.

SPRING BREAK C AMPS at Rock Bottom Ranch Spring Ranchers

March 21 - 25 (difffer erent rentt themes dail daily) ly) y) 9:30AM - 3:30PM Ages 6 - 10 scholarships hips available a

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aspennatur e.org | 970.927.6760 aspennature.org 4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

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Original Town Mothers weigh in on City Market proposal e third time around …

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer The Carbondale Board of Trustees was expected on Wednesday night (after the Sopris Sun’s news deadline for this edition) to give the final approval to the subdivision and other actions granting development rights for the Carbondale Marketplace project.

While expected, the moment carries with it a certain amount of political drama, as it was the culmination of more than 16 years of debate, controversy and community turmoil concerning the development site — roughly 24 acres of ground formerly owned

by Colorado Rocky Mountain School, to the north and west of the intersection of Main Street and Highway 133.

It was at that site that developers tried and failed to win approval for two prior development plans, the Crystal River Marketplace (CRMP) in 2003 and the Village at Crystal River (VCR) in 2012, two large development proposals, both of which were opposed by members of a group known as the Town Mothers.

The amorphous group, many of whom were and remain women active in other ways in town affairs, was formed to oppose a decision by the town trustees to grant approvals for CRMP, which represented a plan to build more than 125,000 square feet of commercial space, including a new grocery store and

room for a “big box” retail establishment of some sort, some 15,000 feet of office space and up to 164 residential units.

The current project, by comparison, calls for a 59,000 square foot grocery store (contrasted with about 44,000 square feet in the old one). It also includes plans for a Starbucks coffee shop, about 7,000 square feet of retail space besides the grocery store, and a gas station adjacent to Highway 133.

After the trustees gave their approval to the CRMP project back in 2002, the Town Mothers and others in the community began agitating for an election to overturn the approval, and in 2003 voters did just that.

The same happened with the VCR — following approval of the project by the town board, the electorate voted to cancel that approval, although the Town Mothers as an entity did not play as public a role in that election fight.

The current project, however, involves a new development team headed by the Kroger grocery store chain, which owns the City Market stores in Colorado, and has not generated any real opposition among the town’s residents.

In interviews with The Sopris Sun, former members of the Town Mothers agreed with others that the scaled-back proposal is not a problem.

“I do think it’s really an acceptable plan,” said former Town Mother Shelle deBeque, 60 and a native of Carbondale. “It’s

kind of like what the Town Mothers were asking for … something in the scope and size of Carbondale.”

Even the architecture, she said, was designed to blend in better with the town in general than that of the previous projects.

The new store is to be more efficiently laid out and more modern than the old store, and about 15,000 square feet larger than the old store, according to a presentation to the trustees by the Kroger’s planning consultants.

Regarding the Starbucks, deBeque said, “I would rather not see this there. I’d rather not have a big national chain in there,” out of concern that it might harm the business of the town’s existing crop of locally-owned coffee venues.

But, she noted, the developers clearly compromised in their plans, foregoing some aspects of their typical corporate development ideas in order to gain acceptance in Carbondale.

And, she said, “I’m willing to compromise.”

Another founding member of the Town Mothers, long-time local community activist Laurie Loeb, noted that the group was named as an ironic take-off on a traditionally accepted description of the town’s elected trustees, whom some refer to as “the town fathers.”

The goal of the Town Mothers, said Loeb, who is 75, was “to preserve the small-town feel and the character of our town … to prevent us from being molded into something we’re not … we are not a shopping mecca.”

With the current project, Loeb remarked, “It sounds like the developers have been sensitive … to the preferences of the town.”

Plus, she said, the builders of the Carbondale Marketplace have paid attention to details such as energy efficiency and architectural designs that blend with the town’s existing energy conservation goals and its overall streetscape.

Loeb commented that she, too, could have done without the Starbucks, noting “we’ve prided ourselves on not having chain stores here. Since we already have coffee shops, it (the Starbucks) is redundant and probably unnecessary.”

She wondered why an owner of an existing, locally owned coffee business was not asked to take on the space in the Carbondale Marketplace.

“It would have been more aligned with the Carbondale way of doing things,” she maintained.

She also questioned the need for another gas station in town, particularly given Carbondale’s reputation as a bike-friendly, pedestrian-oriented community, but noted that her feelings on that point are not as definite as about the coffee shop.

Following the expected approval of the Carbondale Marketplace subdivision and other permits, the project still will need to go through certain other processes before construction can begin, such as the building permit application.

Carbondale fire board sticks with Wednesday night meetings

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer The Carbondale fire board will not be changing its meeting days from the traditional second Wednesday of every month, following a discussion at the most recent board meeting on March 9.

The matter was raised by Carl Smith, the newest member of the board of directors for the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District, who in a recent online discussion suggested that the meeting days should be changed to avoid conflict with certain towngovernment meetings.

“As we are all aware, the Carbondale Board of Trustees has changed their Board meetings to the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month,” Smith wrote. “In addition, the Carbondale Town Planning Commission meets the first and third Thursdays of every month. Both of these meetings consistently attract active citizens from the town and local area. I believe the Fire District Board wants to attract this same group of citizens to both the Fire District Board Meetings and the Master Plan Meetings that will be held this year.”

But at the March 9 fire board meeting, none of the other members felt a change in the meeting day was warranted.

“I think we should leave it where it is,” said board president Gene Schilling, who doubles as the chief of Carbondale’s police department.

Schilling acknowledged that when the town board of trustees voted last November to change its meeting day from Tuesdays to Wednesdays, he cautioned the trustees that the

resultant conflict might mean he would have to miss a meeting of either the trustees or the fire board, if items up for discussion required that he be present at one particular meeting and he could not be in two places at once.

But, he added at the fire board meeting, “almost every night there is a conflict” of one sort or another, for him and other fire board members, and that it has not yet led to problems.

Schilling also pointed out that, in his years of service on the fire board, “there has been very little public participation” at fire board meetings, and he doubted if that would change if the meetings were shifted to another day.

Fire board member Mike Kennedy maintained that, in his opinion, the same is true at meetings of the town board of trustees.

For both boards — the trustees and the fire district — Kennedy said people only show up if they are upset about something or feel strongly about an issue the board is discussing.

“When they’re pissed off about something and they want to tell us how mad they are,” he said, people will show up, though it happens rarely.

He also agreed with Schilling that there are conflicts that would arise if the fire board’s meeting night were changed, particularly for board members who serve on other committees or boards.

But, he said, “I’m not opposed to changing the night, if we can find something that works for everybody.”

A general discussion led to the conclusion that there was not a night of the week that FIRE BOARD page 9

Rae Vickers and her friends at Waldkinder Adventure pre-school got to try their hands, and feet, at “yoga” at True Nature Healing Arts last week. The session was part of the school’s Y Week, whose activities included riding on their bikes to pick up “yucky” trash along the Rio Grande Trail (yay!) Photo by Jane Bachrach

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 5

Scuttlebutt

Send your scuttlebutt to news@SoprisSun.com.

No fishin’ (for a while)

hits town for an overnight stop on June 11. For details, call 963-1890 or go to Carbondale.com.

The Roaring Fork Fishing Guide Alliance, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife, recently replaced failing signs at spawning closure areas on the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers, according to a press release. The closures protect spawning trout on several tributaries to the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers, and extend 50 yards up and downstream from the mouth of each tributary, as well as a half-mile up each tributary, from March 15 to May 15, and Oct. 1 to Nov. 30. “We are excited that local guides and anglers formed the RFFGA and are concerned about protecting the river resources in the region,” said Kendall Bakich, an aquatic biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Said RFFGA Board President Kyle Holt, “The new look of these signs will be more effective in establishing the closures. Increased awareness amongst anglers, guides and local law enforcement will ensure the protection of the trout and promote their longevity in our rivers.” Formed in 2014, the Roaring Fork Fishing Guide Alliance is a group of professional fishing guides dedicated to the protection and conservation of the Roaring Fork region fisheries. Guides and anglers promoting awareness and stewardship for future generations.

For more information, go to the group’s Facebook page.

Ditch cleaning begins On March 14, town crews started cleaning and burning irrigation ditches throughout town, according to a press release.

The town asks residents to please keep access open, inspect their ditch’s condition and remove any debris and plant growth that has accumulated since last year. Ditches are scheduled to start flowing on April 15. The town also said in preparation for this year’s irrigation season, make appropriate adjustments to your pump intakes to allow for low flow conditions that appear toward the end of the season. “The low flow conditions in the Crystal River will pre-empt calls by the Colorado Water Conservation Board to reduce diversion amounts throughout the Crystal River basin as appropriate

ELEC

Railroad museum needs some volunteers The Glenwood Springs Railroad Museum needs more volunteers, according to a press release. A meeting for prospective volunteers is slated for April 23 at 3 p.m. For details, call 456-6593 or e-mail glenwoodrrmuseum@gmail.com. The museum is located in the Amtrak railroad station on the Colorado River.

SG goes Black to the future SourceGas is now Black Hills Energy, according to a press release. “There’s a new name, but the same trusted service with a commitment to improve our customers’ lives with energy,” said a spokeswoman. With the acquisition of SourceGas, Black Hills Energy now serves 429,000 customers in Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.

EIA seeks volunteers English in Action is looking for volunteers for the literacy program and has slated tutor orientation sessions on April 16, May 17 and June 8. For details, call 963-9200.

Art Ackerman (left) and Carol Klein (right) discuss issues of the day at The Sopris Sun’s seventh birthday party at the Pour House on March 10. Photo by Lynn Burton

911 calls

for minimum stream flow,” said a town spokesman. “These calls will reduce the depth of the irrigation ditches throughout town.” For more information on ditch rules see Municipal Code 13.44.020 on the Carbondale website (carbondalegov.org) or call 963-3140.

Here are the 911 calls for the Carbondale Fire District for the week of Feb. 28 through March 5.

• Medical emergencies (8); • Trauma emergencies (3); • Motor vehicle accidents (2); • Structure fire assignment/nothing found (1); • Fire alarm responses (4); • Smoke alarm responses (2); • Odor check response (1).

Chamber seeks volunteers

They say it’s your birthday

The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to help when the Denver Post’s Ride the Rockies

Folks celebrating their birthday this week include: John Foulkrod (March 17) and Terry Chacos (March 18).

T!

WAYNE

HORAK trustee I’M RUNNING TO ENSURE THE RIGHTS OF INTERRACIAL GAY MARRIED COUPLES TO PROTECT THEIR POT-GROWING BUSINESSES WITH GUNS.

COEXIST Business Building Critical thinking Infrastructure of Town Arts Dance Music Compassion Beautification of Town Paid for by “Bonedale for Wayne Horak Trustee”

6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

THIS COMMUNITY AD SPACE DONATED BY COOL BRICK STUDIOS.

RFSD takes new strategy to address leaky roofs

By Debbie Bruell Sopris Sun Correspondent As the Roaring Fork School District embarks on some major construction projects funded by the passage of the bond issue this past November, it will be approaching the construction of roofs differently than it did with the 2004 bond-funded projects.

In the past, when a new school was constructed, the architect for the school building would design the roof, the general contractor would oversee the construction of the roof, and the roof manufacturer’s warranty representative as well as the owner’s representative for the entire construction project would inspect the roof after it was installed to ensure that it was built according to the required specifications. On re-roof projects, typically the roof manufacturer would design, oversee and inspect the roof. Those processes have proved to be insufficient.

When RFSD Facilities Director Ken Melby started in his position about three years ago, he spent a great deal of time addressing problems related to leaking roofs, he told The Sopris Sun in an interview last week.

Melby pointed to the example of Carbondale Middle School, which had a new roof installed about six years ago. “That roof started leaking the day after it was put on,” Melby said.

Many of the leaky roofs that Melby had to address when he first began working at the district were still under warranty, so he was continuously contacting the manufacturers to

have them fix the leaks as part of their warranty work.

However, Melby explained, when a school roof leaks, fixing the leak itself is only a small part of the problem. “If I have to spend three days chasing down leaks every time it rains,” Melby pointed out, that is not an efficient use of his time. Also, the roof manufacturers are not responsible for “consequential damage” — the damage inside the school which was caused by the leak.

Division 7 Roofing “Now we’re doings differently,” Melby said. About two years ago the district began working with an independent roofing consultant, Division 7 Roofing, based in Grand Junction. Rather than waiting for the leaks to occur, Division 7 Roofing began reviewing the roof of every school building, identifying potential problems and ways in which the roofs were not constructed according to specifications, and getting the roof manufacturers to fix any problems they identified.

Division 7 also oversaw the construction of all new roofs. They typically check on the roofs every three to four days as they’re being installed, to ensure that they’re being constructed precisely as they should be. Melby said that during the construction of one new roof, Division 7 inspectors noticed a small amount of gravel under a section of roof that was supposed to be installed onto a completely clean surface. Division 7 had the roofing company tear off that section of roofing

Elect

MARTY SILVERSTEIN For TRUSTEE

The Roaring Fork School District installed a new roof at Carbondale Middle School about six years ago and it “ … started leaking the day after it was put on,” said the district’s Ken Melby. To prevent the bothersome drip, drip, drips that some schools experience, the district is taking a new look at preventing the leaks. Photo by Lynn Burton did not hold up through the frequent freezethaw cycles of the local climate. In other cases, the district used a TPO system in which the roof was not fully adhered to the membrane beneath the roof. With this type of system, if there is a leak in the outside surface, moisture from the leak can travel across the entire substrate of the roof, causing further damage and making it difficult to identify the initial source of the leak. The

and completely redo it.

Melby said there have been no problems with any of the roofs that have been constructed the past two years since the district has been working with Division 7 Roofing, and problems with the roofs that were built before they hired Division 7 have decreased dramatically.

Division 7 has recommended a different type of system for the roofs as well. In the past, the district used a hot-tar system, which

SCHOOL ROOFS page 18

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 7

Voters can address climate change, potholes and more

By Stacey Bernot Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed in this guest column are the writer’s own views and opinions. They do not reflect the views or opinions of The Sopris Sun. As a fifth generation Carbondale resident, I have seen our community grow and prosper in meaningful ways. I’ve seen us take on some tough issues over the years.

I’ve seen us unite in defense of our town, and as a result, we have worked to create a better Carbondale for current residents and future generations.

As an elected official for the past 12 years, I have heard from residents, visitors, business owners and neighbors on their desires, needs and expectations of service levels for our town. Our community has finite resources, dedicated staff and a desire to provide quality services for Carbondale.

The vast majority of people I’ve encountered over the years are well intentioned with their projects, programs and new ideas, but many fail to explain how we as a town can achieve those goals without increased funding resources.

This April, we have the opportunity to further enhance our economy, support our town and strengthen the community.

Our local economy — and the essence of our town — are predicated upon snowy winters, flowing rivers, fertile ranch land, and a healthy ecosystem. The impacts of climate change are already occurring, but we don’t have to stand by and watch. Carbondale doesn’t wait on others to solve our problems, we implement our own solutions, based on our community values. We also recognize we are part of the bigger picture, and doing our part means just that — doing our part.

During this upcoming election, we have an opportunity to strengthen our town with two important issues facing Carbondale: investing in clean energy and community infrastructure. When you receive your ballot in the mail this week you’ll find two ballot questions. I’m voting yes on both measures and I’m inviting you to do the same.

Yes on 2A The Town of Carbondale has made clean energy funding a priority for more than 10 years. And thanks to our past in-

vestments, our community has successfully reduced our carbon emissions 5.5 percent and collectively saved over $400,000 on our energy bills, since 2009. I am proud of the work we’ve done to become more energy independent, but if we don’t do more to support energy efficiency and renewable energy, we will fall short of achieving our collective climate goals by 2020.

Once approved, 2A will provide our town with dedicated funding necessary for clean energy investments and an opportunity to move forward on renewable energy projects that will save money and protect our natural environment for future generations. Over the last two years, the Technical and Finance Advisory Committee (TFAC) has completed extensive analysis on what programs could be implemented in order to reach our adopted emission reduction goals, evaluating greenhouse gas reduction potential, return on investment and community engagement.

Ballot Question 2A states that the funds would be used for energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative transportation options. The trustees will work with an advisory committee and will invite public input to guide the decision making process. One proposal for managing the funds and investing in climate solutions is to improve the efficiency of 800 homes, including Carbondale’s 400 low-income households, 50 to 100 businesses, and adding another megawatt of solar by installing solar power on more than 200 homes. In addition, we’ll support climate friendly transportation programs and projects, including electric vehicle infrastructure. The measure also has a sunset so that the community can decide to continue on this path or revisit this funding mechanism.

As a former coal-mining town, Carbondale has experienced a boom-and-bust economy. Fortunately, we have been able to thrive on more stable industries such as recreation, ranching and tourism. Clean energy infra-

8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

structure would be a huge opportunity for our economy and an investment in our environment. If approved, 2A will help us build on past successes and transform our homes and businesses, expand our renewable energy portfolio, enhance alternative transportation options, and invest in a clean energy future for Carbondale.

If you are in support of this vision for our community, I encourage you to vote “yes” on 2A. Carbondale has unified around protecting the Thompson Divide to defend this beautiful area from energy development. We need to go one step further and take action to create solutions — use energy as efficiently as possible and expand local renewable energy resources. Ballot Question 2A will make that possibility a reality.

OPINION

Both ballot measures have something important in common, which is to invest in our community.

Yes on 2B

Carbondale is growing all the time. We have even more residents, more bikes and more cars moving within and through our town than ever before, but our capital improvement fund is not growing at the same pace.

If approved, the capital improvement property tax will provide funding to start addressing and saving for some major street upgrades we are going to have in the next two to ten years. The town’s 2017 Five Year Capital Improvement Plan has prioritized needed improvements for safety, maintenance and expansion. The Town has worked diligently on acquiring grants over the years to keep up on our infrastructure needs, and will continue to pursue grants, but the needs far outweigh the resources available.

Some of our projects outlined in the area of safety is to study and plan for needed improvements at Dolores Way and Highway 133, a 3rd Street rebuild, sidewalks on 8th and 4th streets, and a Colorado Avenue rebuild. As far as maintenance, we have an extensive list such as: drainage improvements, concrete street repairs, trail maintenance, a Crystal Bridge Drive settlement correction, and a rebuild of Meadowood Drive (which

is used by the Fire District/EMS and high school) that has greatly deteriorated.

Expansion is a category that dovetails into other community needs and priorities such as housing diversity. These expansion projects are development driven and are projects such as the proposed Senior Housing Project accessed off 2nd Street, an Industry Way connection that will allow access to and from downtown more efficiently; another possibility is affordable housing on RE-1 property triggering a roundabout at Weant and Highway 133.

As with most initiatives, we can’t predict every single project that will need funding, but having the resources available will put us in a stronger position to take advantage of opportunities. For our community to be successful in our other priorities, capital funding is crucial to seeing these projects completed.

The above-mentioned list is an initial smattering of projects that have been on the books for years, ones that are ripe for completing, or a few others that have been neglected for too long. Since Carbondale is heavily reliant on sales tax revenue, and despite making headway in that regard, our infrastructure needs are far outpacing the growth in our local economy. This modest property tax would add 3 mills and has a 10-year sunset. It would allow us to chip away at our list of needs.

Carbondale is known for our innovative, pioneering, independent and creative spirit. Both ballot measures have something important in common, which is to invest in our community. By joining together and pooling our resources we can achieve something that can’t be achieved on our own.

If you’re one of those handful of people that have told me over the years you’re alright with potholes and crumbling sidewalks, or if you’re uninterested in conserving energy or are unconvinced that our environment is rapidly declining, then don’t support these measures. If you’re part of the majority that wants Carbondale to thrive, maintain its infrastructure, enhance safety and sustain our strong recreational/ranching/tourism economy — while taking action for our future — I ask that you support these reasonable short-term measures that put our money where our collective mouths are.

Stacey Bernot is mayor of Carbondale.

Obituary

Trustees om page 3

Joan Bigelow Pomeroy Joan Bigelow Pomeroy, 83, passed peacefully at home on March 9. She had made Carbondale, Colorado, her home for the past 27 years. She enjoyed the peace and quiet of downvalley while staying connected with her friends in Aspen and throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.

Joan grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry Upham Bigelow and Yolande Anderson. She left the big city of St. Paul and was drawn to the beauty of the mountains to join the ranks of original Aspenites and ski bums alike in the late 1950s. She raised three children and opened Pomeroy Sports with her then husband, James Pomeroy. Joan later became a full-time bookkeeper, helping to keep many local businesses on track.

Very active in the communities she lived in, she was proud to volunteer and support many area organizations and events while spending time with friends and making more along the way. Some of these included: St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aspen, the Aspen Music Festival Lemonade Stand, Aspen Winternational, Carbondale Senior Housing, and St. Mary’s of the Crown in Carbondale.

She also enjoyed spending time with her friends at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles while in Aspen, and later the Red Hat Ladies and Hysterical Club in Carbondale.

Never one to turn down a good card

game, “Joannie” provided endless entertainment to her friends and family and certainly didn’t mind raking in a pot when she could.

She was blessed to have a circle of friends who loved her company and didn’t mind losing a hand or two to her from time to time.

To those who knew her, Joan was the kindest, warmest, most selfless person you could ever hope to meet. She would do just about anything for her friends and family, and she was infinitely devoted to her children and grandchildren. Joan was also one of the funniest people to grace the earth known for her trademark sardonic wit and love of a good laugh.

Somewhere in the great infinite, God took home a pure soul. Now she is at peace, and heaven is an even cooler place to be.

Joan is survived by a sister, Shirley Billiingsley (Bob) of Georgetown, Texas, and her three children: Jim Pomeroy (Jill) of Aspen, Colorado., Chris Pomeroy (Courtney) of Athens, Georgia, and Katie Pomeroy (Craig) of Carbondale, Colorado.

She also is survived by four grandchildren: Anders and Lars of Aspen, Colorado.; and Nicolas and Zachary of Athens, Georgia.

A celebration of Joan’s life is being planned for early June. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Advocate Safe House, PO Box 2036, Glenwood Springs, CO, 81602; telephone number 945-2632.

͞ ĂŶ ZŝĐŚĂƌĚƐŽŶ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶ ƚŽ ĞůĞĐƚ ĨŽƌ ĂƌďŽŶĚĂůĞ dŽǁŶ dƌƵƐƚĞĞ͘ ,ŝƐ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŝƐ ƐŬŝůůĞĚ͕ ƚŚŽƵŐŚƞƵů ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂƌƚ ĨĞůƚ͘ ,Ğ ůŝǀĞƐ ďLJ ŝŶƐƉŝƌŝŶŐ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌŬƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚĞĂůƚŚLJ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ͘ ĂŶ ǁŝůů ŐŽ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ŐŽǀĞƌŶĂŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶ ĞLJĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƌ ƐǁĞĞƚ ůŝƩůĞ ƚŽǁŶ͛Ɛ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͘ ,ŝƐ ƐƉŝƌŝƚ ŝƐ ŝŶĚŽŵŝƚĂďůĞ͘͟ Valery Kelly, President, Board of Trustees at the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork

Dan’s Relevant Experience ͻ ŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ůĞĂĚĞƌ ĨŽƌ ^'D͕ Ă ůŽĐĂů ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƌǀĞLJŝŶŐ Įƌŵ͘ DĂŝŶ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŝƐ ĐŽŶƐƵůƟŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ůŽĐĂů ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐ ŽŶ ŽƉƟŵŝnjŝŶŐ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ͘

Trustee Allyn Harvey suggested the town formally look into her ideas about “livework” housing and ways to provide temporary housing to those who need it.

When it came time for her to speak, Byars suggested that some trustees needed to be educated in non-violent communication and tearfully admitted to her fellow trustees, “I’m currently displaced, and I don’t have a place to go.”

She termed Merriott’s remarks as “an intentional jab,” which she termed “insulting” and “disempowering” toward her, indicating that this was not the first time and continuing, “I do not personally attack other members of this board, and you do.”

She said she was speaking up for those in town in dire financial straits, “not only for

myself, but for the other members of this community that aren’t rich white men already,” pointing at Merriott.

“I resent that,” Merriott responded.

“You know, if you got a job you could find a place to live.”

It was a that point that Byars gathered up her things and left the room, stating as she went that she would “keep the board advised if I’m able to maintain my service” as a trustee.

The mayor, without directly chastising Merriott for his remarks, noted that “we’re spiraling in a really bad spot.” She said the trustees all need to keep emotions and impatience in check, and “maybe be hard on an issue, and not on our colleague or a member of the public.”

The Sopris Sun’s attempts to reach Byars for an update on her statements on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Fire board om page 5 would work any better than Wednesdays, and Schilling made a motion to keep the fire board meetings on Wednesdays, which was approved unanimously.

The board also heard a report on March 9, from Fire Chief Ron Leach, that he and his staff have been holding weekly planning meetings to go over last year’s adopted district master plan and begin to implement some of the changes and improvements outlined in that plan.

Leach said the staff has been going over strategies, goals and objectives as outlined in the master plan, noting what has been

achieved already at this point, what is seen as achievable and when it reasonably can be expected that specific achievements can be made.

The master plan is available for public review on the district’s Web site, www.carbondalefire.org., as are upcoming meetings dates and times for review of the plan.

The next planning meeting of the fire board will be at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, at the district headquarters building, at the intersection of Meadowood Drive and Highway 133 (301 Meadowood Drive) at the south end of town.

Congratula C ations Congratulations DNK DN K News Ne News ws Team!

Team! eam!

KDNK For winningg tth he Colorado olorado Broadcasters Association Award of Excellence forr tthe he Best Regularly Scheduled Newscast in our market

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WĂŝĚ ĨŽƌ ďLJ ĂŶ ZŝĐŚĂƌĚƐŽŶ ĨŽƌ dƌƵƐƚĞĞ ŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ 'ĞŽƌŐŝĂ ŚĂŵďĞƌůĂŝŶ͕ dƌĞĂƐƵƌĞƌ

www.danrichardsonfortrustee.com THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 9

Letters continued om page 2 The six-year referendum is more than sufficient to cover the initial bond funding, and with a life cycle of at least 20 years, this kind of a project would make a major statement about our commitment to the planet. The proceeds from the Carbondale windmill could be redistributed proportionately to the payers/meters of the excise tax. That is fair.

Locating the windmill in a central leased location (parking lot, industrial park) would provide a visible statement and promote community pride.

To make this happen, we need to take time to think about making something good happen. We need to vote NO on the energy tax until it can be restructured into a specific energy program that is defined and dedicated to something that will benefit all of the people, and not just a select few.

Bill Grant Carbondale

We need stable environment Dear Editor: I support the new Climate Action Tax, and believe other Carbondale voters should too, for these reasons: First, the Paris climate agreement gave countries and municipalities huge leverage to lead our own emissions reductions plans. In 2015, Carbondale formally called on Congress to enact a federal carbon fee and dividend by signing a resolution in support of this proposal (see www.citizensclimatelobby.org for information). The Climate Action Tax is a way to keep moving forward, without our more sluggish federal government. Local carbon pricing plans are a powerful signal to our leaders, and could provide a template for other communities to follow suit.

Next, winters are getting pretty depressing around here. I teach third grade at Glenwood Springs Elementary, and our winter “Expedi-

tion” was an in-depth study of the history of skiing in the Roaring Fork Valley, with a case examination of states-of-matter through close examination of snow. Students learned how to ski for the first time, thanks to the generosity of Sunlight and Aspen/Snowmass. I would cringe to think we taught them a sport without a local future. Moreover, I would hate to think I didn’t do everything I could, including tax myself, to protect this beautiful place for their enjoyment and safety.

Finally, for some residents who have already taken significant measures to reduce their fossil fuel use, the monthly financial impact will be minimal. The less you use, the less you pay. For most homes, the increase on utility payments will be approximately $5-7 per month. I’ll gladly pay $5 for a livable world. Yes, please.

Carbondale is the thriving community it is due to our snowy winters, full rivers and beautiful mountain ecosystem. Let’s do what we can, while we can to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and invest in clean energy instead. To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau: “What’s the use of an affordable house in Carbondale if you haven’t gotten a stable climate to put it in?”

Amelia Potvin Carbondale

No to TD, yes to tax Dear Editor: Last week at the Carbondale Chamber Forum on the proposed Climate Action Tax, the panelists were asked: “Why Carbondale?

Can our little town really expect to make a difference?” I am confident that we can make a difference, and one answer is obvious to me — Thompson Divide. We cannot authentically say “No” to oil and gas drilling in Thompson Divide unless we are willing to say “Yes” to creating alternatives to meet our

energy needs.

Without clear commitments to meaningful solutions, our opposition to drilling in Thompson Divide can make us look like just another bunch of NIMBYs. As a pledge to reduce our fossil fuel consumption, the Climate Action Tax allows Carbondale to demonstrate that we are sincere in our efforts to protect our pristine back yard, Thompson Divide, and dedicated to protecting such places everywhere.

Please, vote yes on Ballot Question 2A. Pat Kiernan Carbondale

No on 2A Dear Editor: I attended the panel discussion of Carbondale Ballot Issue 2A on March 11 at the Third Street Center. Thanks to Andrea Stewart and the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce for arranging this. The discussion gave me more food for thought about this excise tax. I’m now even more against the idea than before I attended.

Why? First, I like to consider things like this by asking others and myself the following three questions: What is it that we would like to accomplish (what is the outcome we seek)?

What method will we use?

How will we know if we’re making progress?

It is admirable to increase use of renewable forms of energy like solar and wind, promote conservation and use local resources; yet it is important to do so effectively. The ballot proposal does not satisfactorily answer how this tax will do that. Rather, it merely increases local taxes, penalizes those of us who are now using alternative sources and conserving energy, and

imposes an additional administrative burden on our town staff and the utilities.

Accordingly, I believe that the proposal is not a wise use of town resources. During the panel discussion I learned that we in Carbondale are not using the options currently offered to us by Xcel, Blackhills Energy (formerly SourceGas) and Holy Cross. For example, Kelly Flenniken of Xcel, reported that only about 9 percent of Carbondale residential customers utilize their Wind Source program, and none of the town’s businesses do. Further, only about 3 percent are using the solar program and no one uses their non-solar rewards programs.

As an alternative to proposed tax, I suggest a much greater emphasis on encouraging participation in the available options like those noted above, with results regularly reported during trustees’ meetings and our local papers. In this way we reap the benefits of the fees we already pay without increasing our costs locally, and any resulting work can be performed by local people bringing those dollars into our economy.

Sounds like a win-win!

Roy Davidson Carbondale

Question left unanswered Dear Editor: Thank you to the Carbondale Chamber for hosting the climate action (tax) forum last Monday evening. There were some interesting questions and a rich dialogue. However, I felt that there was one question that was left unanswered, and that was in regards to the rebates offered through the utility companies. An audience member asked why the rebates offered through our electric and natural gas companies were not enough.

LETTERS page 19

Crystal River Elementary School dads and male relatives of students showed up in record numbers for pizza, and to sign up for the Watch D.O.G.S. program on Jan. 21.

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

Carbondale trustee forum packs Calaway Room

By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer In many regards, Tuesday night’s Board of Trustees candidate forum at the Third Street Center was typical Carbondale: • Just like two years ago, candidate Doc Philip showed up in his chicken hat and clutched a stuffed cat; • Early in the proceedings, 91-year-old Art Ackerman got up and announced that he had to leave for KDNK to do an entire show dedicated to Frank Sinatra; • One audience member chuckled and agreed with this reporter that yes, it might be funny if the night included a dedicated heckler (ala the talent shows from long, long ago); • None of the men wore a coat and tie, or coat, or tie; Patricia Warman sported some dazzling footwear – blue sneakers with pink shoestrings; • The forum was well covered by the local electronic media and press; • And the room was packed with more than 100 residents and presumed voters.

An Aspen-style Squirm Night it wasn’t, as many of the questions from the chamber of commerce trended to the predictable; some of the answers can be found in this week’s letters to the editor (candidate letters, page 17). The closest that members of the audience got to boisterous behavior came three times when they applauded candidates who said they are against or questioned the Climate Action Excise Tax. There was no fourth round of applause after moderator Frank Zlogar asked the audience to hold it, which they did.

A pair of issues came up more than once: affordable housing and the Climate Action Excise Tax. Most of the candidates agreed that the lack of affordable housing is a problem in Carbondale, and one pointed out the town currently has no way to fund it. About the Climate Action Excise tax — ballot Question 2A, which proponents say the town needs in order to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals set in 2009 – candidate Marty Silverstein said that he doesn’t know anyone “in their right mind” who is against sustainable energy, “But I don’t know that this tax is the way to go.”

Doc Philip got the laugh of the night when he sug-

The Carbondale Board of Trustees candidate forum a few minutes before it started on March 15. The candidates, from left to right, are: Marty Silverstein, Allyn Harvey, Ben Bohmfalk, Doc Philip, Dan Richardson, Patricia Warman (not shown), Michael Durant and Wayne Horak. Photo by Lynn Burton

gested that residents could install stationary bikes in their homes to create a day’s worth of energy with less than an hour of pedaling.

A total of eight candidates are running for three board of trustees seats: Marty Silverstein, Allyn Harvey (the only incumbent), Ben Bohmfalk, Dan Richardson, Michael Durant, Wayne Horak, Patricia Warman and Doc Philip.

Carbondale Town Clerk Cathy Derby mailed out bal-

lots on March 14 and they must be returned to Town Hall by 7 p.m. on April 5.

KDNK experienced technical difficulties and was unable to broadcast the forum, although it was recorded and is available at KDNK.org. The forum is also available on GrassRoots TV. The forum was presented by the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, The Sopris Sun and KDNK.

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 11

Community Calendar THURSDAY March 17 BIG EVENT • The Carbondale Community School’s 18th annual Big Event, called “Into the Mythicâ€? this year, will be performed at the school at 6:30 p.m. The theme is mythology; the play is directed by the students and teachers of CCS. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, and are available at CCS and the Carbondale Recreation Center.

Info: 963-9647.

LIVE MUSIC • Marble Distilling Co. presents the Dave Notor Band from 7 to 10 p.m. No cover.

To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted. For up-to-the-minute valley-wide event listings, check out the Community Calendar online at soprissun.com. View events online at soprissun.com/calendar.

explain rebate programs; experts will lead eight training workshops. To register, visit 2016-contractor-expo.eventbrite.com.

Other organizers include GarďŹ eld Clean Energy and Energy Smart Colorado at CORE. MEET THE CHIEFS • Carbondale Police Chief Gene Schilling, and Carbondale Fire District Chief Ron Leach, meet the public over coffee from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Village Smithy on the third Thursday of the month.

ROTARY • The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at Mi Casita at noon every Thursday.

FRIDAY March 18

LIVE MUSIC • Sunlight Mountain Resort kicks off its spring music series with Meaghan Owens at 2:30 p.m. The series continues March 19 and 26, and April 3 (closing day).

ENERGY EXPO • CLEER and others present the 2016 Energy Smart Contractor Expo from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Colorado Mountain College (1402 Blake Ave.) in Glenwood Springs. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door, which covers the workshops, morning refreshments and lunch. Building and mechanical contractors, architects, real estate professionals and materials suppliers can learn about trends in energy efďŹ ciency.

Expo booths will display clean energy products, services and information; utilities will

SEED WORKSHOPS • Kim Doyle Wille holds a seed workshop at the Carbondale Branch Library from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Those who help sort seeds receive free organic heirloom non-GMO seeds. “This is a fun and educational event,â€? said Wille. “There’ll be a community discussion on what things you’d like to see Carbondale doing via gardens. Children are welcome to attend. The Pitkin County LandďŹ ll’s Jack Johnson will also be on hand to discuss composting. Info: 704-9535 or Carbondale Growing Empowerment on Facebook.

MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre presents “Raceâ€? (PG-13) at 7:30 p.m. Mar. 18-24; “The Danish Girlâ€? (R) at 5 p.m. Mar. 18 and “Spotlightâ€? (R) at 5 p.m. on Mar. 19-20.

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12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

LIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars in the old part of the Dinkel Building presents live music every Friday night. Info: 963-3340.

920-5770. His repertoire includes “A Kind of Magic,� “We Will Rock You,� “Under Pressure,� “Bohemian Rhapsody� and more.

LIVE MUSIC • Rivers restaurant in Glenwood Springs presents Whiskey Stomp from 8:30 to 11 p.m. No cover. On March 24, it’s Valle Musico.

ASC • A Spiritual Center in the Third Street Center meets at 10 a.m. sharp (social time starts at 9:45 a.m.). All are welcome. Here is March’s schedule: March 20, Tanai Starrs (“Gifts of Living on Top of Soprisâ€?); March 27, Carmen Iacino (“Give It Up. It is Not about Being Rebornâ€?). Info: 963-5516.

SATURDAY March 19 LIVE MUSIC • Marble Distilling Co. presents Aspen 440 (David Harding, Amy Hawes and Lisa Sarver) from 7 to 10 p.m. This trio plays blues, classic rock and more. No cover.

MOUNTAIN MINYANS • The Aspen Jewish Congregation holds its ďŹ nal Mountain Minyan at Elk Camp restaurant on Snowmass Mountain. There’ll be 20 minutes of community, song and inspiration starting at 11 a.m. After that, stay for lunch or hit the slopes with old friends and new. Info: aspenjewish.org or 925-8245.

SUNDAY March 20 SPRING EQUINOX WORKSHOPS • Harmony Scott Jewelry Design (199 Main St.) holds free spring equinox workshops from 2:45 to 5 p.m. The opening event is singing bowls and breath meditation with Diane Madigan, followed by a practice to cultivate feminine energy called “qigongâ€? led by Chloe Conger. The day concludes with a ritual cup of tea and infused honey with Harmony Scott and Crystal Colantio. RSVP at 963-7190.

LIVE MUSIC • The Wheeler Opera House Gary Mullen and “One Night of Queenâ€? at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 at aspenshowtix.com or

WEDNESDAY March 23 ROTARY • The Rotary Club of Carbondale meets at the Carbondale ďŹ re station on Meadowood Drive Wednesday mornings at 6:45 a.m. Info: rccarlson@gmail.com.

FIRE DISTRICT • The staff of the Carbondale Fire District will hold its monthly strategic planning meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the ďŹ re station on Meadowood Dr. The public is welcome to attend. Info: 963-2491.

Further Out MONDAY March 28 TAI CHI • The Eagle County Public Health Department offers tai chi classes for seniors at the Eagle County Community Center in El Jebel (0020 Eagle County Dr.) from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays through May 16. The cost is $2 per class, with each session building on previous classes. “Health beneďŹ ts of tai chi include greater balance, increased exibility and stress reduction,â€? said Healthy Aging Program Coordinator Christy Doyon. For details, call 328-7682.

CALENDAR page 13

Community Calendar

continued from page 12

Ongoing OPENINGS • The Art Base in Basalt continues Philip Hone Williams show “Recent Works,” which presents his oil paintings. The Art Base Annex continues “Supporting Artistic Excellence: The Dee and Charles J. Wyly Collection.” Info: 927-4123 or theartbase.org.

MAYOR’S COFFEE HOUR • Chat with Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Village Smithy.

CCC • The Carbondale Clay Center presents 19 years of work from the non-profit’s visiting artists, teachers and students in the show “Our Collection.” Info: 963-2529 and info@carbondaleclay.org.

LIVE MUSIC • Lyn Byars hosts open mic nights at Carbondale Beer Works the first and third Monday of each month. Sign up begins at 7 p.m. Info: 948-8228.

LIVE MUSIC • Dan Rosenthal hosts an open mic night at Rivers restaurant in Glenwood Springs from 8 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday.

PHOTOGRAPHY • The CMC ArtShare Gallery in downtown Glenwood Springs presents professional photography students’ work. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Info: 947-8367 or cmcartshare.com.

REDSTONE CASTLE • Guided tours of the historic Redstone Castle take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. through the winter. Info: 963-9656.

MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS • Dr. Greg Feinsinger offers free heart, diabetes and stroke

counseling on Monday mornings at the Davi Nikent office in the Third Street Center (Suite 24D). For an appointment, call 379-5718. If you have recent lab test results, bring them.

HEALTHY HEART • Healthy Heart Meals meet-ups are held at the Third Street Center every Monday at 7 p.m. Greg Feinsinger, M.D. speaks on the first Monday of the month; the last Monday of the month features a pot-luck gathering at 6:30 p.m.

RUN AROUND • Independence Run & Hike hosts a run around town Saturdays at 8 a.m. Meet at the store in La Fontana Plaza and run various distances, with different routes each week. Info: 704-0909.

MINDFULNESS • Mindful Life Program holds a group meditiation followed by an offering of mindful practices at the Third Street Center at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays. Admission is by donation and everyone is welcome. Info: mindfullifeprogram.org, laura@mindfullife.org or 970-633-0163.

MEDITATION/DHARMA TALKS • Every Wednesday, the Way of Compassion Dharma Center in the Third Street Center offers a short meditation (24 minutes) and dharma talk led by John (Chophel) Bruna) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The teachings are offered freely; donations are tax deductible. Also, Way of Compassion offers weekly support for those wishing to establish a Buddhist practice with the focus of Chenrezig. The practice incorporates meditation, purification, contemplation and lojong (mind training). It’s held at the Third Street Center from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on

Saturdays. All are welcome.

LINX • The Linx Business Network meets Tuesdays at 7:15 a.m. at the Sotheby’s International real estate office (201 Midland Ave.) in Basalt. Linx is a networking organization whose members work together to grow and promote their businesses, according to a press release. All dues not used for administration are given to local non-profits each December. Info: Keith at 970-390-8401 or kedquist@usa.net.

IMMUNIZATION CLINICS • Garfield County Public Health offers immunization clinics at the Carbondale Family Resource Center (400 Sopris Ave.) the second and fourth Thursday of the month. To schedule an appointment, call 945-6614 ext. 2030.

CARBONDALE LIBRARY • The Carbondale Branch Library offers bilingual help with computers on a first-come/first served basis from 4 to 6 p.m. on Mondays. Info: 963-2289 or gcpld.org. Reservations are appreciated.

Please be prepared with all appropriate passwords and other account information.

CARBONDALE LIBRARY • Kids and teens are invited to snack and play iPad and Wii games from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. The program is offered in partnership with Food Bank of the Rockies as part of the After School Snack Program. Info: 963-2889 and gcpld.org.

CARBONDALE LIBRARY • The Carbondale Branch Library offers elementary-schoolaged kids a different program each week starting at 4 p.m. The first Tuesday of the

month is Story Art with the Aspen Art Museum; second Tuesday is Book Buddies; third Tuesday is Legos at the Library; fourth Tuesday is The Good, the Bad, and the Gross; and the fifth Tuesday is Librarian’s Choice. Info: 963-2889 or gcpld.org.

PATHFINDERS • The grief and loss support group Pathfinders meets at Core Healing Arts 1101 Village Road, Suite 2D) from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Monday of the month. Pathfinders is a non-profit, psychosocial support program for people dealing with chronic illness, disability, bereavement. Info: pathfindersforcancer.org or 319-6854 or 925-1226.

LUNCH • Crystal Meadows senior housing hosts a lunch followed by Bingo every Wednesday.

TAI CHI • Senior Matters offers tai chi classes at the Third Street Center on Mondays and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Classes are $48 per month or $8 for drop ins. Info: John Norton at 379-1375.

TAI CHI • Senior Matters presents Simple Tai Chi in room 33 of the Third Street Center from 11 a.m. to noon on Fridays. Info: 379-1375.

ART AROUND TOWN • CPAC’S 2015 Art aRound town sculpture exhibition runs through May 2016. The juried show features 14 sculptors from across the U.S., including Carbondale’s very own Joe Burleigh and Mark Cesark. Maps that show sculpture locations are available at town hall.

These Local Business and Community Leaders Support

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Charlie Chacos: Owner, Village Smithy and Bonfire Coffee Joe Scofield: President, Alpine Bank Trevor Canon: Owner, Umbrella Roofing Darren Broom: Co-Owner, Aloha Mountain Cyclery Nate Simmons: Partner, Backbone Media Jeff Dahl: Owner, Carbondale Beer Works Laura Kirk and Dave Carpenter: Principals, DHM Design Michael Hassig and Brad Zeigel: Partners, A4 Architects Tyler Stableford: Owner, Stableford Studios Gavin Brooke and Andrea Korber: Principals, Land+Shelter Carey Shanks: Partner, Marble Distilling Co. Scott Ely: Owner, Sunsense Solar Craig Wheeless: Creative Director, Rainy Day Designs Patrick Johnson: Owner, Solar Flair Thermal Systems Amy Kimberly: Director, CCAH Francisco ‘Paco’ Nevarez: Director, Ballet Folklórico Skye Skinner: Executive Director, Compass (Community Schools) Rob Stein: Chief Academic Officer, Roaring Fork School District Alice Laird: Executive Director, CLEER Drew Adams: Principal, Roaring Fork High School Tom Penzel: Principal, Carbondale Community School Matt Hamilton: Board Member, RFSD Board of Education

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Ben Bohmfalk for Town Trustee

www.benbohmfalk.com THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 13

Fabulous fashion and fun “Transformation” was the theme for the 2016 Green Is The New Black fashion extravaganza and the theme was evident throughout the night on many levels, from beginning to end. From the exotic to the playful, and from the hilarious to the dramatic and whimsical, the performance was saucy, sassy, sexy, sophisticated, silly and at moments —shocking.

With the creative collaboration between the designers and models, the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities’ staff and the audio and video crew, the Carbondale Recreation Center was transformed into a theater where audiences experienced the sometimes unimaginable. Between the dancing and aerial ballet, and with the clothes, models and volunteers, plus make-up and hair, it was all there. By the end of the show not only were the models and dancers transformed but so was the audience in one way or another.

Counterclockwise from upper right: dancers Deborah Colley and Meagan Londy Shapiro; all models before dress rehearsal; Matte Curry and Andrew Mann; Carrie Vickers; Alex Salgado; Katie Parr and Bella Bailey; Katie Grey Walker and Karen Grey (center).

Photos and text by Jane Bachrach 14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

Clockwise from top: mime Renee Prince; dancer Chloe Burton; Melanie Finan and Blake McDonald; Slutty Baby Playtime line modeled from left to right by Michael Gorman, Laura Stover, Deborah Colley and Hattie Johnson; Katie Alderson; Eva Jankovsky; one of the many beautiful waitresses; aerial silks performer Stacey Everson.

Photos by Jane Bachrach

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 15

EAT. SHOP. PLAY. CONFLUENCE OF RIVERS, RECREATION & CULTURE

Art Base named as a beneficiary at RFCC Sopris Sun Staff Report

Save the date

Classes

The town of Basalt and the Basalt Education Foundation has named the Art Base as beneficiary in the 2016 Roaring Fork Charity Classic golf tournament, according to a press release. The classic is slated for May 10. For sponsorship details, contact Genna Moe at genna@theartbase.org.

Basalt Arts About Town returns on April 8 with two new shows at the Art Base and Art Base Annex. The Art Base will feature nationally exhibited artist and art teacher Jennifer Ghormley in the show “Flow,” which opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. “Flow is a site-specific installation composed of more than 300 handmade geometric shapes.“The pieces gently move with air currents to create a sensory experience and physical connection between the viewer and the artwork,” said Moe. The Art Base Annex opens the show “Mechanical Love Stories” featuring Roaring Fork Valley artist Glenn Smith on April 8, starting at 5 p.m. “Mechanical Love Stories” is a collection of sculptures and photographs utilizing vintage and modern “tools of the trade,” beckoning the viewer to come closer and investigate. “Glenn’s work tells the unspoken stories of machines and hand tools by highlighting the hidden details that we all take for granted,” said Moe. On April 14 at 5:30 p.m., Moe and Smith discuss his work.

Art Base Camp III returns from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 13 and continues on Wednesdays through May 4. This four-week camp focuses on the elements of printmaking: monoprint, linocut, transfers, and chine-collé. Each fourweek camp session includes supplies: $100 for members/$150 non-members.

On April 15-17, Summers Moore shows students how to shoot better pictures with their iPhones. She will explain her five favorite apps, which are used to organize, create, edit and print. The cost is $145 for members/$195 non-members. Teens are welcome.

Painter Bayard Hollins returns from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 21-22. Bayard demystifies the painting practice and shows students of all artistic abilities how to create a painting well beyond their expectations.

Students will be encouraged to try new techniques, and embrace new perceptions to apply to their own work. Class will include basics of palette organization, mixing col-

Shows continue

Register for all classes by phone, 970-9274123, online at theartbase.org, or walk-in at the Art Base, 99 Midland Spur, Basalt.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

The Art Base continues the exhibition “Recent Works by Philip Hone Williams.”

Williams’ oil paintings — rocks blended or embedded with artifacts — explore the relationship between natural versus artificial. The show runs through April 2. The Art Base Annex continues “Supporting Artistic Excellence: The Dee and Charles J. Wyly Collection” through April 1. The show features the works of artists affiliated with Anderson Ranch Arts Center and the Roaring Fork Valley, “and reflects the Wyly’s deep commitment to supporting artistic excellence,” said Moe.

ors, composition and the painting of several finished pieces. “Students who have taken Bayard’s classes previously can expect a few new surprises,” said Moe. The cost is $175 for members/$225 non-members.

Students will journey from collage to the world of mixed media in “From the Inside Out “with instructors Lisa Singer and Pam Porter from April 30 through May 1. The cost is $100 for members/$150 for non-members.

“Transfers and Mixed Media” with Mary Morrison is offered on May 7. The cost is $75 for members/$125 for non-members.

The Art Base will once again be offering summer art camps. The lineup will be unveiled soon.

For more information, call 927-4123, go to theartbase.org, or drop in downtown at 99 Midland Spur.

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16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623

Letters from the candidates (Editor’s note: The Sopris Sun invited trustee candidates to submit short letters to the editor explaining why they are running. The Sun has received the following letters to far; we’ll publish the others when they arrive. You can read the candidate profiles on The Sopris Sun website at soprissun.com).

Why I’m running – Bohmfalk Dear Editor: Thanks to all the local business owners, community leaders and residents who have opened your doors to talk with me about our town over the past few weeks. When I asked you what is most important in this election, the most resounding response has been your desire to elect trustees who bring a reasonable, informed, professional approach to the public process. That’s exactly why I’m in this race for a seat on the Carbondale Board of Trustees, and I ask for your support in the election on April 5.

My 10 years as a teacher at Roaring Fork and Basalt high schools gave me deep connections to people from every part of our diverse community. My six years on the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission gave me a deep understanding of our land use planning process and the perspectives of property owners, developers and concerned citizens. As your trustee, I will draw on these experiences to make decisions that are truly in the best interest of the community as a whole.

As for specific issues, my number-one priority is to pro-actively address our affordable housing crisis, which we must approach with an “all of the above� strategy involving every viable solution. It will take a lot of creativity and energy to make meaningful progress on

this huge challenge, but creativity and energy are Carbondale’s strengths. I look forward to working with you to ensure that the artists, teachers, immigrants, families, seniors, workers, and others who make Carbondale so great can continue to live here even as we grow and change in the future.

Please visit benbohmfalk.com for more information, and please join Dan Richardson and me for a chat at Bonfire Coffee from 8-10 a.m. this Saturday. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Ben Bohmfalk Carbondale

Why I’m running – Silverstein Dear Editor: My name is Marty Silverstein and I am running for Carbondale town trustee. I moved to this valley and Carbondale in particular over 25 years ago. We have a vibrant mix of people from all walks of life that make this a special community that is one of the things making Carbondale unique.

Socially I am liberal with a live-and-let-live attitude about most everything that does not affect children or animals. When it comes to town finances I am very conservative.

Our most important goal going forward should be to create more affordable housing.

The whole community gains when there are more places for our seniors, teachers, police and other town employees to live. This also cuts down on the use of fossil fuels, as they do not have to drive 20 miles or more to get to town.

I do not like us spending more than we have to. I believe that when taxing is necessary it should be for a specific purpose. That purpose should be clearly stated. For example, the town

Free Community Meal

needs to do the following three projects and we request these funds for the next five years to do them, then the tax will sunset. The monies from the tax should be kept in a separate fund for that specific purpose and not just put in the general fund.

I would appreciate your vote to help keep Carbondale the great town it is and look forward to our future together.

Marty Silverstein Carbondale

Why I’m running – Harvey Dear Editor: I am asking voters to re-elect me as trustee.

Over four years as your trustee, I have worked hard to represent the broad interests of our community on a wide variety of issues and policy matters. These range from working to adopt Carbondale’s Green Commercial Building Code that helps our community achieve its climate goals, to writing the retail and medical marijuana regulations that honor the 70 percent support for Amendment 64 while also mitigating the negative effects of legalized marijuana.

As your trustee, I have also been responsive to neighborhood-specific issues. I worked to make RFTA bring the Carbondale bus barn into compliance with our lighting code, providing significant relief for residents along Wheel Drive and Wheel Circle. In the River Valley Ranch neighborhood, I advocated for the new traffic light that allows children to cross safely to our elementary and middle schools. On Main Street, I am a strong supporter for the outdoor seating in front of restaurants. I have also been mindful of the effects of regulations and careful to

protect our small businesses.

In short, I’ve worked hard to represent this wonderful place we all live, and would like to continue.

Allyn Harvey Carbondale

Why I’m running – Durant Dear Editor: I am Michael Durant, a candidate for town trustee, a local small businessman and a sixyear member of the P&Z Commission in Carbondale.

My vision for Carbondale is for a healthy community by way of a healthy economy. The messy vitality of Carbondale results in many different expressions of a healthy community but from a town government perspective we must remember that the town runs on sales tax. An environment where business can thrive increases our tax base an enable us to provide the essential services you expect without raising taxes.

We can leverage existing opportunities and events to create opportunity for the whole town, and we can incubate economic growth from what we’ve learned. But we need to achieve this through common sense and reason. We need to look at every project and each budget line item and ask, “What is the taxpayer’s payback?� As trustee I will explore all options to increase affordable housing and watch out for the environment. But more importantly, I will be a prudent investor of your tax dollars. Please attend or listen to the debate, see my specific position on Facebook @ Michael Durant 4 Trustee, and vote for me.

Michael Durant Carbondale

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 17

School roofs om page 7 district now uses an EPDM type roof, which is fully adhered to the non-soluble surface beneath it.

New construction

“Down in the river … I saw this track hoe …”. Folks noticed some work going on at the Crystal River bridge earlier this month near CRMS and wondered what’s the deal. Turns out, according to Garfield County officials, Con-Sy Construction was installing sand bags and large rip-rap around the piers, abutments and footers, where scouring has occurred. “This will alleviate the scouring in the future and protect the footers from movement due to scour and undermining,” said Garfield County spokeswoman Renelle Lott. Bridges on County Roads 311, and 300 (near Battlement Mesa) are also receiving scour protection. The projects will run through October. The construction costs are estimated at $288,000 for all three projects. Photo by Julie Albrecht

Hunter om page 2

Taxes

More energy is required to operate a larger facility. That is not just for the construction of the building, or the operation of the building, or the maintenance of the building, but also for the increased traffic and for all of the external effects such as growth. The market is proposing off-site solar electric panels. They propose a huge, flat, roof — but no solar on the roof. That should be unacceptable.

Our Town Fathers (and Mothers), are looking forward to additional sales tax revenues. First, sales tax is regressive. Most of what is bought in supermarkets is necessary for peoples’ lives. Those who have the least, can least afford the sales tax. Second, the increased property tax revenue provides very little to the town. Third, as already mentioned, any increased revenue is soon eaten up by the external costs to the community. The town finds itself on a treadmill and becomes forced to grow to keep up.

Food

Community self-image

Oddly enough, while this market will have food for sale, it produces nothing. In fact, together with the parking areas, much agricultural land will be lost. This portion of the old farm once produced potatoes and beef. Unfortunately, our valley relies on the import of virtually everything we use; especially food. I was shocked to see that Colorado actually imports 95 percent of the food we eat statewide. The highest and best use for farmland like this would be a publicly operated food production. At the very least, the south-facing wall of this new building ought to be a vertical greenhouse.

If the roof is not solar it should be “green”; it should be growing edible plants.

Carbondale is “coming of age.” The “creative” and “vibrancy” is palpable. The days of the question “You live where?” are over. We are “everything to everyone.” We are “happening” and “amazing.”

River Valley Ranch changed Carbondale forever. River Valley Ranch led to Aspen Glen, which bumped us up another notch.

We got an influx of people with disposable income that wanted to live in safe and beautiful surroundings; yet they wanted to have all the conveniences of the places they left. They call those places “cities.”

It won’t be long before Carbondale’s trailer parks go the way of Basalt’s Pan and Fork. Brad Hendricks had a point when he said leave the junk cars down on the west end of Main Street. I remember when, except for a couple of Volkswagen bugs or campers you, couldn’t find a foreign car in Carbondale. Be careful what you ask for, you can bring on all the things you left behind.

Energy

Social equity Where will the employees of this business live? How will they travel to and from work? As usual, this large corporation does not feel an obligation to this community to cover the costs of these externalities. I believe this is unacceptable. I believe that no commercial building ought to be allowed that does not actually house its employees.

Having living space on site means no transportation is necessary. This principal is as old as civilization.

Affordable housing So-called “affordable” housing is the great liberal rallying cry. Aspen has been building it for years. Gee, there never seems to be enough. We had a little bit of a break after the Great Recession when building came to

18 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • MARCH 17-23, 2016

New construction in the district has continued to use flat roofs. According to Melby, schools have such a large footprint and so much equipment that needs to be located on the roof itself — including cooling fans, fresh-air intake fans, exhaust fans — that schools, like most commercial buildings, typically require flat roofs. However, Melby explained, flat roofs are not completely horizontal surfaces. They are always slightly tapered toward a drain so that there should never be standing water puddled on the surface of a flat roof.

According to Melby, flat roofs are not a problem as long as they are installed properly. “If you installed a shingled roof, that would leak too,” Melby said. “No matter what type of roof you put on, there’s always some form of maintenance needed when you’re talking about that wide of a building.”

The two largest 2015 bond-funded projects that will require the construction of roofs are the new Eastbank School and Glenwood Springs Elementary School. The architects for these projects are being required to follow the district’s new guidelines regarding roof construction: they must hire an independent roof consultant to both oversee the installation of the roof and inspect the roof after it is installed, and they must have a 30-year warranty on the roof.

a stop. Funny thing is, Aspen wages hardly go up at all. People are still working three jobs to make ends meet. As always, more cheap housing means wages stay low. It is not that Carbondale doesn’t have affordable housing, there’s a ton of it. It just happens to be occupied. This is what happens when people keep promoting this town, and then invite all their friends. It’s not just Carbondale; it is all the resort towns.

More housing is more growth. With more growth comes increased need for all the social programs, even more so because the housing takes in low-income people who have greater needs.

Land use Building commercial on the west side of Highway 133 is a mistake. That idea first occurred to me in 1994 when I was on the Carbondale Board of Trustees. The others said I was crazy and to shut up. Instead of a beautiful highway you get a congested city street, a la Glenwood Springs. You get sprawl. At the very least there should have been a frontage road to limit the access points. I said at the time that Colorado Rocky Mountain School would sell off the land for its endowment. The others said that it would never happen.

When the City Market property was proposed with big-box stores, I said this was the wrong location. Carbondale should have learned from Basalt. Basalt did a “flag pole” annexation and the market was built on Highway 82 instead of their little town site.

They got the sales tax revenue and El Jebel got the headaches.

Big-box stores are regional in nature.

They should be located on the largest roads.

Therefore City Market, and any other large traffic requiring business, should be on Highway 82. There are sites both upvalley and downvalley from Highway 133 on

Highway 82. The gravel pit is towards Aspen, and the empty fields are across from Aspen Glen. Both could be annexed. You can also think of the Meadows shopping area in Glenwood. It has access from Interstate 70, the largest road in the area. And remember, City Market had been thinking of a site closer to Glenwood.

Keeping the development outside the town and off Highway 133 keeps the original townsite a much more attractive place for small business and residential.

The future The main problem with business interests in general is they want to maximize profit now and do not generally consider long-term impacts and ramifications. The nation’s stock markets are famous for judging everything on three-month intervals.

Business interests have an inordinate influence over community decisions because they have the resources and the time, and because their bottom line is always at stake.

Every community, small and large, creates a government to try to balance the interests of all the members of the community.

It is an imperfect process, at best.

The stockholders of Kroger don’t give a rat’s patootie about any community. Kroger just wants to make more money. Their other incentive is that a guy named Kroenke, who is married to a Walmart heir, has bought their existing City Market location, and Kroenke may not be the best landlord.

A livable future is the goal of sustainability. That is my only goal.

Patrick Hunter is a Colorado Mountain College sustainability studies student, an Outreach and Education member of the Carbondale Environmental Board, and a member of the local Citizens’ Climate Lobby. He lives outside of Carbondale.

Letters continued om page 10 Well, frankly the rebates are sparse, the application process is arduous and Xcel Energy (an investor owned utility company) has little incentive to make significant progress towards helping customers reduce their energy use and bills when their main objective is to make money for its shareholders.

Perhaps utilities’ rebates could help if we wanted to become more efficient over the next few decades. But unfortunately, we can’t wait that long. Climate change is happening and we must act now. Our town has adopted emission reduction goals by 2020 and if we want to achieve the goals the utility rebate programs by themselves are simply inadequate. We need this funding source to leverage the utility programs (to increase participation) and make significant progress towards transitioning from fossil fuels to a clean energy economy.

The economic imperative is clear. A healthy economy is dependent on a healthy climate and the money generated by the Climate Action Tax will stay right here in our local economy. I applaud Xcel for offering Wind Source, a program where customers pay an additional 2.5 cents per kWh on their bills to invest in wind generation somewhere else, but we must make an important distinction: the environment might benefit

from Wind Source, but our community doesn’t.

That is why I am supporting ballot measure 2A. Not only will it benefit the environment, it will benefit our community. be inThe money will stay in Carbondale to vested in clean energy here and it will strengthen our economy and create jobs.

So Carbondale, it is up to us. Do we want to continue to power our homes with coal and natural gas? Or do we want to act now to invest in

energy independence for our town? To me, the answer couldn’t be easier. Vote “yes” on 2A for a clean energy transition for Carbondale.

Steven Haines Carbondale

No on 2A Dear Editor: To the town of Carbondale: This letter is protesting the carbon tax proposal.

I have gone the route of the new windows. I have gone the route of the siding. I have put in solar. I have done everything imaginable to reduce our carbon footprint.

Like I said, no matter how much you try and work with Xcel Energy, they don’t want you to save any money.

They keep raising the rates on your electricity. In January, I had a check for the solar for $4.25 back from the solar. My bill for electricity was $150. No savings there. Last month’s check was for $1.25 and my bill was $101.

So I am asking the town council to stop trying to make it sound like this is going to be a paying proposition.

We were told at the time we put in solar that it wouldn’t ever pay back enough money

to even make a dent in the bill for at least 10

years. So if you want to believe that Xcel Energy is going to be your friends and help out, don’t bother.

Their stockholders are chomping at the bit for every cent on their investment. Unless you have at least a half of an acre in solar, it’s not going to help you out enough to make any difference.

I am sorry that I bothered to put it in.

My rebates will only come to maybe $33 in the summer. Solar doesn’t work in Col

Legal Notice

orado very well.

Audrey Jane Spaulding Carbondale

NOTICE OF CANCELLATION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS

§1-13.5-513(6), 32-1-104, 1-11-103(3) C.R.S.

Harvey’s a listener Dear Editor: “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”

— Stephen R. Covey Allyn Harvey is a listener, a judge of fact and character, and an articulate voice. These traits lend themselves to his career as a journalist, but more so, they lend themselves to a fair and objective town trustee.

When I attend town council meetings, I find Allyn Harvey to be an authentic listener, open to presentations by his fellow citizens and organizations. Admirably, I believe his intention is to listen to understand, rather than reply; this is an authentic and invaluable form of leadership based upon reason rather than impulse.

While championing causes such as highway safety, small businesses and reducing light pollution, Allyn has made decisions that benefit our unique community and members.

During town council meetings, I have witnessed Allyn’s commitment and stand for local businesses where corporate players dominated.

First hand, I have felt relief for my cause, and family-owned business EverGreen Events, to continue serving our community due in part to Allyn’s insightful evaluations. If ever the need arises for you to present to town council on a topic that you are passionate about, you will want Allyn on that board. On April 5, vote for Allyn Harvey.

Alyssa Reindel Carbondale

Unclassifieds

The following candidates are hereby declared elected:

Tom Adgate: 4 year term, until May, 2020 Louis Eller: 4 year term, until May, 2020

_____________________________ /s/ Ron Leach

Ron Leach (DEO)

Ron Leach 970-963-2491 300 Meadowood Drive, Carbondale Facsimile:970-963-0569 office@carbondalefire.org

Published in The Sopris Sun on March 17, 2016.

TOWN OF CARBONDALE ORDINANCE NO. 4 SERIES OF 2016

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE, COLORADO, REPEALING IN ITS ENTIRETY TITLES 17 AND TITLE 18 OF THE CARBONDALE MUNICIPAL CODE AND ENACTING AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE “UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE” DATED MARCH 9, 2016 AS CHAPTER 17 OF THE CARBONDALE MUNICIPAL CODE RE-CODIFIED PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NO. 8, SERIES OF 2015

NOTICE: This Ordinance was introduced, read, and adopted at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Carbondale, Colorado, on March 9, 2016.

This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication of this notice. The full text of said Ordinance is available to the public at www.carbondalegov.org or at the office of the Town Clerk, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, Colorado, during normal business hours.

THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE _________________________ By: s/s Stacey Bernot, Mayor Pro-tem

Submit to unclassifieds@soprissun.com by Friday 12 p.m. Rates: $15 for 30 words, $20 for up to 50 words. Payment due before publication.*

CASH REGISTER ATTENDANT needed for the Carbondale Com munity Food Cooperative. Entry level wage, 30 hours/week.

Monday - Friday. Stop by the Co-op on Main Street for an application.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District, Garfield, Gunnison and Pitkin Counties, Colorado, that at the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election, there were not more candidates for director than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates; therefore, the election to be held on May 3, 2016 is hereby canceled pursuant to section 1-13.5-513(6) C.R.S.

GET THE WORD OUT IN UNCLASSIFIEDS! Rates start at $15.

Email unclassifieds@soprissun.com.

ATTEST: __________________________ s/s Cathy Derby, Town Clerk

Published in The Sopris Sun on March 17, 2016.

*Credit card payment information should be emailed to unclassifieds@soprissun.com or call 948-6563. Checks may be dropped off at our office at the Third Street Center or mailed to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. Call 510-3003 for more info.

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • MARCH 17-23, 2016 • 19

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