Saddened, angered by Samson's vote

I expected John Martin to vote in favor of the oil and gas companies and exempt them from the Clean Water Act, but I was saddened and angered that our new commissioner, Mike Samson, ignored literally thousands of Garfield County residents who cast a trusting vote for him and ignorantly put his vote in against the FRAC Act.

I challenge him to do some soul searching and reverse his stand. Without knowing what foul chemicals these companies are using on a daily basis, people who are experiencing serious health problems from living near wells can't even know what they are being poisoned by to get the proper treatment.

The first thing the Poison Control Hotline will ask anyone is what poison they came into contact with. If you can't tell them, they can't possibly help!

That is why the citizens of this county want to know what chemicals are being used. This is the least you can do for us, Mr. Samson. You really should be trying to eliminate these chemicals altogether. At least give us the means to identify the poisons in our soil.

I'd like to know why the oil companies would get exempt status. Why would you knowingly put Garfield County at risk? Do you know what havoc these companies are causing in states across the country? Do you know that some of us value our health more than the money these companies bring to our state?

Have you sat down at the same table with the people who are seriously sick from these wells to talk with them? Are you able to think on your own instead of being bamboozled by John Martin?

I really want to know.

Mary Blichmann

Silt

Happy to see South Bridge work halted

Well deserved congratulations to the Garfield County commissioners and Glenwood Springs City Council for discontinuing work on the misdirected and off-track so-called “South Bridge” project.

That major diversion of precious public money to study a structure that would harm our community, and is not affordable, needed to be stopped. Our leaders were able to see that good money already poured into a bad project does not justify pouring more. Theirs is an important example of public policy wisdom and insight.

The Coal Seam Fire alerted us all to the importance of good planning and strategic travelway improvements, in anticipation of future emergencies. The recent study has demonstrated that this public safety priority can be accomplished through better use of existing routes.

Trying to transform smart safety planning into a new by-pass highway, splitting our community and wrecking neighborhood quiet, was the recent study's downfall, and appropriately so.

If we have $40 million to spend on public improvement projects, there are so many available investments better than a boondoggle bridge that saves a mere three minutes travel time between Four Mile Road and Buffalo Valley.

In these economic times, of all times, public spending must be responsible and strategic. The South Bridge distraction was neither.

Again, thanks to our leaders for seeing the wise path and for focusing again on true community needs.

Steve Smith

Glenwood Springs

Choice for county road paving raises questions

There is a County Road (CR 251) below Rifle Gap Reservoir that recently had asphalt laid down. The road could have been chipped and sealed, or better yet, left alone. It was fine just the way it was.

I would like to ask the commissioners why was the asphalt laid down all the way to the Road and Bridge director's barn? There are no houses on that stretch of road for approximately a quarter mile.

Our property taxes were raised through the roof and the Road and Bridge director was allowed to get the road to his property paved.

It doesn't make sense to have our taxes spent this way. Maybe you, as our elected commissioners, can tell us hard-working people of the county why our money is squandered away on such nonsense?

Wake up! There are roads in this county that could have used the money more appropriately than the Road to Nowhere.

Earl Clifford

Rifle

God made all of us different for a reason

I read the letters a few days ago, one about the cross and when it is lit and why and for donations if someone wanted to send. Then I read the letter stating that there should not be the cross or any symbol of any religion around. And thank God we have the amendments: No. 1 is freedom of speech. So when there is a cross on someone's property, it is their “freedom of speech.” If you do not like to look at the cross that is only lit a few days a year, then do not look at it. It is not hurting anyone. People need to get over this selfishness they have, and the all-about-me attitude.

I have never been in a place where people you do not know will wave at you, but criticize you or put you down for what you believe, just because they do not see it the same as you do. God made us all different for a reason. It does not matter if you are from back East or the Midwest or the West Coast. We all bleed the same. People need to start remembering it is not about them but all of us. And with how our nation is going we all need to unite as one or we will divide as individual. Stop with petty things and just be there for one another, because in the end that is all we will have is each other.

Alane Larison

Rifle

Commissioners failed to uphold oaths of office

It was a sad day to witness the failure of two elected officials to uphold their oaths of office.

John Martin and Mike Samson chose not to protect and serve the public. John and Mike did not support legislation that would disallow the “Halliburton Loophole,” leaving every man, woman and child exposed to health and safety risks. You should be in an uproar!

John and Mike do not have agendas for the protection of the people, as was demonstrated (yet again) at Monday's (Nov. 9) commissioners meeting. John and Mike have betrayed the public trust. They place corporate profits above your health and safety. Fact, not an anecdote.

The SDWA (federal Safe Drinking Water Act) came about when an American river caught fire 30-plus years ago. Officials were alarmed when all efforts failed to put the flaming river out. Thus the SDWA was born. Fact, not anecdote. It was a brilliant idea.

Now, John Martin and Mike Samson come along proclaiming, with their votes, water that catches fire is a better idea.

Some questions: Recall the flaming creek water by Lisa Bracken's? Recall the flaming tap water from Weld County? These are visual facts, not anecdotes! How do the actions of these men protect your health and safety? How does this satisfy the oath to protect and serve? How many times have you heard, “Without your health, you have nothing?”

Well, this is exactly what these men offer to you — nothing.

It saddens me that a man who has acquired his lifelong dream isn't more of a leader. Mr. Samson decided to go along with the 13 out of 22 counties that voted against DeGette's legislation. Mr. Samson has forgotten that not one of those counties have endured the exact same impacts or the severity that Garfield County has endured. Most of those 13 counties are riding the wave and sharing in the economic glow, in the wake of our hardships. Mr. Samson, “Even dead fish can go with the flow.”

Welcome to the fry pan.

Recall sounds like an equally brilliant idea. These guys are killing us!

James E. Golden

Rifle

FRAC Act would have taken away state's rights

First I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Garfield County commissioners for supporting the opposition against the FRAC Act bill.

This would have taken the state's rights away and added unnecessary levels of governmental bureaucracy to the costly and already time-consuming process for permitting that is always in place.

I would also like to thank Gov. Ritter and Dave Neslin with the COGCC for not supporting this bill. This bill would be bad for the country, the surrounding counties and our state.

Thank you for working together to get our economy back on track.

Kip Costanzo

Rifle