Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth

We are writing to commend you on your efforts to create a fair & reasonable tax ballot for funding our county government. We agree that infrastructure, law enforcement, and other important business demand attention. We are happy to see your indirect recognition of the CAUSE of our increased funding needs- which is GROWTH… by virtue of your acknowledgment of the necessity for impact fees from new developments. We believe that concept to be crucial in maintaining our citizens’ ability to afford to live in Montrose County. [On that subject, we would also ask that, separately, some consideration be given to “grandfathering”/ freezing citizens’ property tax assessments (as long as they live in their home as a primary residence), so as not to be forced to sell their homes because they cannot afford ever-increasing property taxes.)]

In recalling the previous, failed attempts to pass a tax increase- we believe that the recurring reason for failure was a citizens’ perception that - 1) the reasons for the increase were not sufficiently explained and justified, and 2) an itemized accounting of EXACTLY how the money would be spent was not provided. (we understand that precise collection amounts can only be estimated; so how about using percentages.) Understandably, folks want to KNOW how their taxes will be spent; they are very reluctant to sign “a blank check.”

While it is probably too late to include it in this upcoming proposal, we would hope that some serious consideration would be given to the creation of a fund- for the purpose of providing incentives for our farmers and ranchers to keep their land in agriculture. Properly structured and explained to the public, we believe that the majority of citizens would support such a measure. It has been
done in many other places… We don’t need to “re-invent the wheel.” Coupled with clear and fair density and zoning ordinances- derived from an updated Master Plan- we believe this would be a “win- win” for all concerned.

Again, thanks for your continued efforts to make Montrose County a place we can be proud to call home.

John Cossick & Mary Wood
Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth

Gentlemen -

Too often, folks only find the time to submit public comment when criticism and complaint are their motivation. We expect that you will find these comments to be a refreshing exception…

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to you- each one of you- for last evening’s decision to dissolve and reorganize the Montrose County Planning Commission. We realize that decision demanded careful deliberation…but more importantly, it required the character and courage to LEAD. That will not go unnoticed… (Contrary to Mr. Bruce Ray’s comment, your CREDIBILITY just went UP ten-fold… because you’ve ACTED to address a big problem.)

The record of this Planning Commission’s “performance” as dominated by 3 notorious members and their enabling chairman speaks for itself. Their demeanor and comments last evening confirmed that they remain defiant, arrogant, and clueless to the bitter end. Messrs. Eckerdt, B. Ray, Brown, & Fritz again publically demonstrated that they do not understand the basic mandates of public service- which you capably addressed with your discussion of “consensus.” Civil debate and differences are expected & healthy; but there must be an underlying and unquestionable commitment to reaching “consensus” and to implementing the will of the people- independent of one’s own personal preferences (for this gang of 4 it’s been “My way or the highway,” and “stall, stall, stall”). To us, that discussion was the crux of the matter, and the defining moment of the evening. Thank you, and AMEN!

We know that you are fully aware of the other Planning Commissioners’ recognition of these principles; and we trust that the implementation of a genuine “job description” and training regimen will reinforce these principles for members of the new Planning Commission. We look forward to your appointment of a new, balanced membership; and your continued involvement and leadership in the planning process - wherever that may take us…

Sincerely- John Cossick & Mary Wood, Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth

Saturday’s Daily Press article regarding the planning commission work session certainly presented a rosy outlook regarding what was accomplished – unanimous agreement to update the Master Plan. In contrast, this is what members of the peanut gallery witnessed:

• The majority of planning commission members wasted an inordinate amount of time whining about how the City mistreats the County.
• There was a 15% return on the master plan update survey. A 1% - 2% return rate is the norm for such surveys. Some commissioners decided that the 85% who did not respond must be just fine with the way things are. The consensus was to review the master plan, but not necessarily update it.
• Since the results from the survey were “all over the map,” they are unlikely to reference the survey in their decision-making. Information obtained from city residents is especially suspect and will likely be discarded, or “weighted.” Note to county residents: The survey that the planning commission requested cost us over $20,000.
• Steve White, Land Use Director, informed the commissioners that, while the master plan is a guiding document, zoning based upon the guidance of the master plan, will follow. Since zoning is regulatory, most of the commissioners concurred that it will not happen on their watch.
• While Steve White has a workable framework for the process of updating the master plan, the planning commission rejected his professional involvement. At this point, he is waiting (and waiting and waiting . . .) for guidance from this so-called “planning” commission.
• No follow-up meeting was scheduled to discuss a master plan update.

What are we to conclude? As long as the current planning commission membership remains, there will be no master plan update, no zoning, no planning, no management of growth and development in Montrose County. Our quality of life will suffer, our infrastructure will be strained, and our county budget will be anemic.

Looks like the planning commission, the majority of whom have ties to a few land owners and vested interests in real estate and development, are in charge of the Montrose County land use policy. And, what is that land use policy? It is to maximize short-term financial gain for a few players in this county and let the rest of us, and the future of this county, be damned.

Exactly who is in charge here? Is it our elected BOCC? Or, is it their appointees who show no inclination to exercise good stewardship over our county lands and resources?

Linda Orcutt
Montrose

Gentlemen:

In November of 2006, we presented you with the results (as well as a description of methodology) of a scientific survey which we had performed (at no cost to the county) by a professional, independent, Colorado-based, nationally-recognized polling organization to determine the sentiment of county residents on our Master Plan. Unlike our Planning Commission, we consulted with our county Land Use Dept. professionals to determine what kind of information would be useful in their work, and incorporated their input into the design of the 5 questions asked of randomly selected, likely Montrose county voters. The results (with a 95% confidence level) clearly demonstrated that a significant number of our citizens were unfamiliar with our Master Plan; but, of those who were- two thirds were in favor of updating it (as mandated in the document itself) and using it (as a basis for density and zoning ordinances) to manage growth in our county. We also published the results in the Montrose Daily Press.

Since that time, we have observed the 3 dominant members of our Planning Commission frustrate the will of the citizens- as expressed in the results of its own subsequent survey- by inventing a plethora of lame excuses- to delay, protract, and stonewall any efforts to move forward on this matter. Furthermore, the PUBLIC RECORD REPEATEDLY DOCUMENTS their undeniable pattern of treating their “customersâ€? (the public) with contempt, their co-workers (other Planning Commissioners & professional land use staff) with insult and disdain, and their superiors (you- the BOCC) with acrimony and insolence. They have regularly embarrassed, disgraced, and dishonored themselves by demonstrating an egregious ignorance of basic democratic principles, and by violating the public trust while serving in their official public capacity - placing their own agenda (consistent with their development and real estate backgrounds) above that of their constituents’… THAT- not their personal views- is their failure.
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Dear Commissioner Patterson-

We were dismayed - but not surprised - to read about the effort to recall you…

We would like to state herein our unconditional support for you as well as our “thanks” for your efforts to professionally address the long-term and ongoing incompetence and conflicts of interest in our county government.

We are conservative Republican long-term Montrose residents who, frankly, are sick and tired of the way that these entrenched special interest groups have denied that we have significant growth issues, resisted any civil discussion to address them, and attack and attempt to intimidate others who do. This is obviously more of the same “shoot-the-messenger” mentality, because these folks cannot support their positions in open, civil debate, based on merit.

We appreciate your courage to confront these and other issues, which unfortunately stand in stark contrast to many others in positions of responsibility; and we stand ready to defend and support your efforts.

Please let us know if we can assist you in any way.

Thank you for your service to our county.
John Cossick & Mary Wood

Ladies & Gentlemen - We would like to remind everyone of the importance of promptly completing and returning the Montrose County Growth & Master Plan survey that was recently mailed out to all county residents.

We are not in the business of telling folks how to vote… on anything. We believe that most county residents are more than capable of formulating their own opinions; so, we are confining our comments to the encouragement of “informed participation” with an eye to how you want our county to look and feel for our grandchildren…

Please take a moment to reflect on the values which make this place our special home, and complete and return your survey.

Thanks,
John Cossick & Mary Wood
Montrose Citizens for Responsible Growth