It’s the Environment, Colorado!

The debate over CDOT’s NI25 DEIS is focused on costs to the taxpayer. Advocates of Package A (Mass Transit) or Package B (I-25 expansion) are throwing around numbers that create a partisan wedge: Should transportation costs be paid by individuals or by the government? It’s politics as usual.

But the “EIS” in NI25 DEIS stands for Environmental Impact Statement. Step away from the partisan math for a moment, and think about how we on the North Front Range cherish a common definition of that word, environment. We all love Colorado’s sunny skies, mountain views, wildlife, and small town living. If it were just about money, I suppose we could just as well live with the “brown cloud” in Denver or, worse, with the smog alerts in L.A. True, many of us still need to get to Denver for work or for play, but let’s remember that costs to get there don’t just come out of our wallets.

Today we can choose to live in Colorado tomorrow, or to be swallowed up by a sprawling urban megalopolis like those on the coasts. Isn’t it worth remembering what we’re really trying to save here?

Tim Kubik

Finding Relief From Water Bills

Everyone knows that Berthoud water and sewer rates are too high. Apparently, you will not get any relief from the Town Board, but you can help yourself. How: Your sewer fee is a flat fee that is adjusted each year in March. The fee for sewer service is based on your average monthly water usage in January and February in thousands of gallons. The less water you use in those two months, the lower your sewer bill will be for each of the following 12 months. So take shorter showers, use water saving showerheads and don’t run any water unnecessarily, deven for a few seconds.

On a related note, the proposal to write a $7,000 check to builders, in the form of reduced tap fees, is a slap in the face to those of us who paid our full tap fees and are now paying off the Town’s debt through exorbitant water and sewer fees. Robbing Peter Homeowner to pay Paul Builder is a bad idea and one that should be dropped. Tell the Board to find relief for you and me – the existing revenue sources for the Berthoud Water and Sewer Department.

Royce Morrison
Berthoud

Thank You from a BMX Family

It seems to me that this is the best time to look back at the year that has gone by and to take the time to acknowledge all who have played a very important role to the success of the year. At this time we would like to extend our sincere and warmest thanks to all who have made the Berthoud BMX track a reality for all the young and maybe not-so-young riders who have come out to the track to compete or who have just come to see what all the fuss was about.

A special thanks to the DiPentino family for all your hard work and energy; RMR for your inspiration; the Good Lord for watching over our son; the Berthoud Police Department; the Fire Department; the Town of Berthoud for allowing the track; the Spears family for all the work you have done; Bernice Weber (we love you); the entire Berthoud Recorder staff, especially Mr. Gary Wamsley, the ABA BMX – without you there would be nothing; Roadhouse Bikes for the parts you keep in stock, and the tools you allow the local riders to borrow and return; Bike N Hike of Longmont for your help to a mom who didn’t know a darn thing about BMX bikes, bike parts, gear, etc.; and finally, to all, and I mean ALL the families who have allowed their children to experience a challenge that can be painful at times, but most rewarding for these athletes as they realize this is an individual sport that they can do.

Our best wishes to Patrick DiPentino, who without his time and patience at the clinics he provided early on, our son may have never come to realize that dreams can come true no matter how big or small. Good luck Patrick as you head off to serve our country in the Air Force. A warm and special thanks to P.J. DiPentino for your support that has been most deeply appreciated by us as well as our son. If I have forgotten anyone please forgive me, for there are many folks who have provided wonderful support and their precious time. We thank all of you! Looking forward to the 2009 ABA BMX racing season!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
May God bless all of you!
The Grenda Family

LWV of Larimer County supports Commuter Rail and Transit

The League of Women Voters of Larimer County would like to express its support for major components of Package A in the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) North I-25 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (I-25 DEIS). We believe the Northern Front Range would benefit immensely from the economic growth that would result from infrastructure investments of (a) commuter rail connecting cities along Highway 287 (b) bus transit connecting Greeley and Denver and (c) feeder and local bus transit that facilitate access to commuter rail.

The National League of Women Voters and the League of Women Voters of Colorado support the addition of mass transit to connect our communities, support internal development, minimize air pollution and sprawl and give residents and workers a safe and economical means to travel regardless their age, physical ability or income. League’s policy is to ‘promote social and economic justice, and the health and safety of all Americans’ and so we value access to transportation, transportation systems that afford better access to housing and jobs, and energy-efficient and environmentally sound transportation. Taken together, these contribute to the health, well-being and self-sufficiency for individuals and families – a future that LWV of Larimer County would wish for everyone in the Northern Front Range.

We feel that components of Package A listed above best meets these goals. Residents of the North Front Range are encouraged to express their views to CDOT between now and Dec. 31 at www.dot.state.co.us/northI25eis/contact.cfm ^[1] and by contacting City Council members and County Commissioners during the next few days when these groups will be making decisions about the transportation plans.

Carol Rush, Spokesperson
League of Women Voters of Larimer County

Rail NOT Roads!

The Northern Colorado Front Range needs commuter rail and not more crammed highway lanes. Period.

Because we’ve all seen new highway lanes fill to capacity as soon as they are finished, you can appreciate the running joke among some planners “building more roads is like addressing obesity by loosening your belt.” And let’s not forget the additional cost effects of toll roads: Drivers who wish to avoid the toll will use alternative routes, adding to the deterioration of those roadways.  

CDOT’s North I-25 Environmental Impact Study provides two transportation solutions: Package A includes commuter rail along the Highway 287 corridor and is projected to take approximately 500 cars off I-25, and connecting roads, each hour during peak commute times. Once the commuter rail system is in place, we can control congestion. Without rail, northern Front Range residents are destined to gaze at a rear bumper through our windshields forever.

Support putting the northern Front Range on track. Go to www.cdot.info/northi25eis ^[2] by December 30, 2008, and voice your support for Package A. And send your comments to your elected officials at the local, state and federal level. Let your voice be heard.

Carla Massaro
Loveland