I'm not even sure where to start on last night's Eagle Town Board of Trustees meeting. It does not really belong on this blog, but it kind of does. I hate the political rants on Facebook, so you get it here. I felt I should at least stop in and listen to the work session where no public comment would be permitted, and on the agenda was to be a discussion about the possible negative effects of one of the Trustees blogging, so I thought it would be interesting to perhaps learn some things. Eagle has a new recycling center coming to town which is cool. And if there is ever a vote to ban cats in Eagle, there was about an hours worth of discussion on that. There was some very troubling discussion as well, about where money is going to come from for a couple of future projects. The new Hay Meadow development, yes, 400 acres of more houses south of the ice rink, needs a water treatment plant. Cost of this project, PHASE ONE, is projected at $16,000,000, and then two more phases must be built. The cost to improve the proposed roundabouts at the I-70 interchange and Hwy6 for ERS is $17,000,000. Everyone of the trustees began staring at each other with blank looks when these numbers came up and the question was asked. "What if ERS never gets built?" EXACTLY you morons, this is what many have said all along. Guess what, if it does not get built, YOU are going to pay for it. And this was just the start of a very embarrassing evening. As I watched for three and half hours, behavior became very unprofessional between several members of the board. Scott Webster literally picked his nose for 30 minutes while Ed Sands, the town's attorney, explained the ramification of talking about banning cats in closed quarters with more than three seat members present. Papi fell asleep at least once in his chair. However the moment that took the cake was during discussion of how the Trustee's e-mails should be handled. This of course after the publicized e-mail correspondence between some trustees and others about their perspective on the appearance of one of the other trustee members who disagreed with them all on ERS. She was accidentally copied on this belittling and bullying e-mail, documented previously on this blog, and publicized the correspondence because these transmissions are a matter of public record. Well, to make a long story short, the person who accidentally copied her on this e-mail, Scott Turnipseed, along with Scott Webster, who acted like he was five years old all night, both chose to not participate in the new Town of Eagle Trustee e-mail program. What this means is the only way to contact your town trustees which you voted into place can only be contacted through their personal e-mail, and it will not be public record. This because they were involved in a scandal they started themselves with their less than adult behavior and correspondence. The entire addressing of these issues was truly embarrassing to sit through. You are both fired.
If you think I should stick to writing about cycling, skiing, rainbows and puppies on this blog, THEN DON'T READ IT ANYMORE. I'M ELGEE WITH A2B AND I'M OUT!
OH! And I forgot to mention that the rec path that is supposed to connect up valley with down valley was NEVER considered during the remodel phase of the Eagle roundabouts, town engineers now claim there is no room to add or build this into the project, to which several trustees exclaimed, "find the room and make it work". Never happen.
If you think I should stick to writing about cycling, skiing, rainbows and puppies on this blog, THEN DON'T READ IT ANYMORE. I'M ELGEE WITH A2B AND I'M OUT!
OH! And I forgot to mention that the rec path that is supposed to connect up valley with down valley was NEVER considered during the remodel phase of the Eagle roundabouts, town engineers now claim there is no room to add or build this into the project, to which several trustees exclaimed, "find the room and make it work". Never happen.
Elgee, You should put the ERS improvement costs and roundabout engineering into a vail daily letter. JMac
ReplyDeleteNice job, Larry. Now that town meetings are no longer being taped. We should have someone at every meeting to keep a look see on the BS going on in our presently, small town, Eagle CO. Yeah, let's keep it real and keep the TB in line.......so sad that it's come to this..really, really - sad. All we need is honesty, maturity, sincerity, and last, but certainly not least - integrity! Is that too much to ask for.......please boys n girls - I know you're all capable of it, so as Nike says "Just do it!"
ReplyDeleteThank you LG - Its sad that none of this is in the Daily. A.
ReplyDeleteThank you LG. I really appreciate your investigative journalism. Thank goodness I stumbled on your blog!!! Susan Ogilvie
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised at the lack of maturity you express in yesterday's comments, calling the Town Trustees "moron's". While I admire your attendance at the meeting & your desire to share what's going on, I'm appalled at the negativity that comes from your comments.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the behavior of the trustees at the meetings, it's too bad that there has been some "childish behavior" amongst the trustees but let's get over it. I believe everyone's learned there lessons; let's move on.
It's so much easier to point out other people's flaws; how about sharing some constructive ideas on how to solve some of these issues? That would be something to write about...
I'm appalled an e-mail calling a fellow trustee a person "who looks like she just crawled out of a culvert" showed us all the true nature, hatefulness, arrogance and immaturity of many who sit on the board in Eagle.
DeleteMy lack of maturity reflects what I sat through for over three hours watching on Tuesday, you are welcome to post anything anytime on this blog and if you do not understand the nature of the writing here get used to it, it's bringing thousands of readers here for many years. With that said, I've been an opinionated voice in Eagle for many years, just like you, most know where I stand, I will NEVER hide behind an anonymous tag, which is what I ask of anyone who posts comments here. Tuesday was and embarrassment to sit through. I've done PLENTY to try and bring people to Eagle and experience what we have, through race promotion and awareness of the great things Eagle has to offer right here on this blog that has over 200,000 hits from readers all over the world. I had a person come from New Zealand to ride here, with me, after reading about our trail system here on A2B. Go back and read through the four years of posts here, you will see that. Get your focus off of one post which speaks the TRUTH, loosen up your belt, take a deep breath, and serve the people. Tuesday was pitiful, and I'll stand behind my words with my name attached, which is Larry Grossman. Put this can of worms behind you or it will grow bigger. Welcome to the wonderful world of A2B. Here's an idea for you, let's get the town to give me some money to promote a big ACA event and bring the people to Eagle for a great day of fun on bikes and racing, I've got the connections to get it done, if Eagle wants to help, which they never have before it would be appreciated, otherwise let's continue to rot down the current path we are traveling. And stuff your mall, I'll have nothing to do with it. You will have to live with the term "morons" until I see a change in the behavior upon the mantle where you sit in town meetings. Snickering, joking, laughing, staring me down, acting arrogant in the face of a fellow trustee you have belittled in your little "good ol boys" network and gang is no way to soften me up. RESPECT everyone who sits on that board and in the seats where the people who elected you watch every move you make, at least the ones who care, and you may get a positive response one day Anonymous.....cheers.
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason that nothing from this blog will make to the Vail Daily and that is for the simple reason that almost none of it is true. As the town engineer, Tom Gosiorowski, stated and the Public Works Director, Dusty Walls, verified, the Town of Eagle has all but reached it water treatment capacity now. We need a new water treatment plant regardless of any new development. There are more than 350 approved but not built lots in Eagle Ranch, nearly 400 total throughout the town that will require water to be available before they can be built. The total cost of all three phases of a water treatment plant is $16 million and it will be paid for either by raising everyone's water rates sky-high or by upfront impact fees paid by development. ERS will have to pay $3.7 million upfront for the water treatment plant, Hay Meadow, depending on what is approved, would have to pay more, because it is all residential. Hay Meadow is 660 acres. Larry, get on your bike and go hang out at the Eby Creek roundabout any week day between 7:30 and 8:00 and you will see why we need the Eby Creek roundabout project. Those projects have been in the pipeline for over six years and have nothing to do with ERS. The funding is almost in place and is waiting for Congress to pass the year long delayed transportation bill, which has money in it for this project. The alignment of the ECO trails system through Eagle hasn't been determined yet because the commissioners and some directors would prefer the trail to go through the fairgrounds, there isn't enough right of way on highway 6 from the roundabout to Brooks lane, and Eagle County doesn't have enough money to purchase right of ways let alone built this portion of the trail through Eagle.
ReplyDeleteActually, your lack of maturity has been evident for many years. Bringing the former mayors wife and family into a discussion about ERS, and the things you said about them a few years ago, makes the email that Scott T. forwarded (he never said anything about the email nor wrote it) seem fairly innocuous. The tapes of the meeting are available at the town hall.
Kraige Kinney
"Bringing the former mayors wife and family into a discussion about ERS, and the things you said about them a few years ago"
DeleteThis is a false statement. The statement actually was this if I have to bring it up again. "The Mayor of Eagle is a Dick", this after he personally took out a full page ad in the Vail Daily personally promoting ERS and telling everyone they needed to vote yes for it.
this just in, the $16,000,000 is for the first phase, moron, then you have to staff it. Signed, Larry Grossman
DeleteWant help pulling your foot out of your mouth?
Per The Town engineer, it is confirmed that the first Phase alone is $16 million and the additional phases are approximately $5 million combined. At some point there will be a new plant needed but the timing question of when is huge. Not only because of the cost of building one but each year the project is delayed, we earn another $1 million or so to be used towards this as the revenue exceeds the expenses of the annual water revenue (Note - this additional revenue can't be used for anything in Town as there are rules with municipalities...). It was also stated by the Town manager last evening that the operating costs of the new plant will be quite a bit higher than that of the old plant because of the technology, etc....so ongoing operating costs should also be a concern. There may be no question as to the eventual need of the new plant but there is definitely a question as to the timing of when to build the same plant. The Town engineer's full post is available on my blog.
DeleteBrandi Resa
http://brandionboard.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/16-million-to-water-a-lawn/
The tape of the meeting is inaudible, FYI. I already have a copy.
ReplyDelete"nothing from this blog will make to the Vail Daily and that is for the simple reason that almost none of it is true."
The point of the post is to communicate the behavior of individuals who have been appointed to the town board. And it is all true.
Let's face one fact, EVERYONE knew what I said about Mayor Woodland, it was not passed around in a secret e-mail, his family was NEVER mentioned, let's get that straight, the majority of Eagle apparently agreed with me when they gave him the boot and brought in a new Mayor, that is it's purpose, not everyone in Eagle thinks your opinion is correct Mr. Kinney which is why you sit out in the seats with us now. In the meantime, read the description which is the FIRST thing you see on this page when you open it. Get over yourselves and deal with the fact that you were on the forwarded e-mail which was passed around like a piss poor party joke at the expense of another. Let's get back on point, and THAT is the point.
If Eby Creek is such a priority in Eagle matters, why were they not allowed to vote? This can go on and on Mr. Kinney. Justify it however you want. The behavior of some trustees, as well as yours on Tuesday night was inappropriate often. I'm not the only person who believes all the snickering and whispering in a public forum was rude and unprofessional.
Eby Creek should petition to annex into Eagle to get a vote. Oh, but then they would be taxed, too. You can't have it both ways.
DeleteThis is best bike blog EVER!!
ReplyDelete