Lots of scary catch phrases but little else

Reading Sky Quartos’ letter regarding the new library board member I was amazed  how she was able to include all of the scary catch phrases for anybody that doesn’t think like she does. I wonder if she ever uses the library and would she please document any of the awful things the trustees have done. Also, it’s nice that she was able to mention God.

Stanley Trulock, Glenwood Springs

Kudos to Glenwood Springs council for hitting brakes on zoning changes

You might have noticed that our city has been experiencing some growing pains lately. So too are many cities and towns in Colorado and across the country. Many of our growing pains are similar to what other places are experiencing. Our pains are our pains and the fixes from other places don’t quite fit here. The expert solutions generated by consultants from those other places don’t work here, no matter how much we pay them or how bad we want a solution.

The growing pains we are experiencing in our city present unique problems. Some of the attempts at solutions and the apparent absence of attempts to arrive at solutions to those pains have caused strife in our community. In some instances they have exacerbated a growing mistrust between citizens and their government officials. Indeed there are local examples to support that mistrust. In all fairness we have to recognize that a great deal of effort, personal sacrifice and honorable dedication to solve our local problems locally go unseen by most of us. Fortunately we have a City Council and city staff that are genuinely devoted to the best interest of our community. And while that is not a universal truth, I believe it is overwhelmingly true.

At the regular May 16 city council meeting our city representatives took a giant step toward restoring faith and trust between the council and their constituency. At considerable risk of consequence, the council voted to remove the agenda item and table indefinitely the recommendation by outside consultants, city staff and the planning and zoning commission to reform the municipal code to make duplexes a use by right in single family residential neighborhoods. They also tabled the consideration of the proposed reduction in minimum lot size standards until further study and public outreach describing the process and potential specific consequences of the proposed change could be publically vetted.

The next step is up to us fellow citizens. It has been my experience that problems are most effectively resolved closest to the source by the directly vested parties. But it takes all of us to devote our best efforts toward solutions. We have all failed to some degree in getting to where we are. Let’s put those failures behind us and move forward in our best efforts to manage the inevitable changes that will befall our town while, maintaining the best intentions to maintain our small town character.

Ray Schmahl, Glenwood Springs

Still available to treat patients

To all my patients that I had the pleasure of serving while at Mountain Family Health Centers. I apologize for the abrupt departure from the organization and not being able to effectively close out the therapeutic relationship.

Unbeknownst to me, due to the dire financial situation that Mountain Family is experiencing, it was felt that the organization would be better off financially if they did not have to pay for my position any longer. My position was cut, along with many others, so as to firm up their financial stability. Moreover, I was told that “they” wanted to go in a “different direction.”

Since this was a sudden and surprising development, I was not allowed by the organization to close out any of my patients. So, if any of you would like to continue with my professional services, you can find me on the Sondermind website where I am conducting just virtual sessions for now. I am still able to take most insurances except (unfortunately) Medicaid.

I hope this finds you all doing well, and again, I apologize for the sudden departure.

Gary Schreiner, Parachute