Letters - April 15, 2010

Levy support

I am writing this letter to express my support for the special levy that will take place on April 27 for the Colfax School District.

I have always been proud to live in a community that valued the education of their children and realized the benefits that a quality school district brings to their community. I also have to admit I was very disappointed when the levy failed in February.

There is little to gain and much to lose if the voters fail to pass this levy again. There would have to be significant cuts to programs, staffing and services which would negatively impact our schools and community.

If you still have questions or concerns regarding the levy I encourage you to contact the District office or your school board director.

The voters of Colfax have one more opportunity to pass the special levy. Please join me in voting for our children, our schools and our community.

Marsha Binder,

Colfax

Helping the cause

A few weeks ago, in cooperation with the Citizens for Quality Schools, we accepted the task of contacting businesses and individuals in the Colfax School District to solicit donations for the school levy.

We thought it would be a simple matter of making a contact, giving a brief explanation, collecting a donation and moving on. After the first two or three visits, we realized that folks not only were generous with donations, but they were also eager to talk about the levy and other issues relating to education in general.

We decided to slow down, listen and learn. Instead of one or two days, we spent seven or eight days. Without exception people were patient, courteous, and displayed a good sense of humor. We were impressed by these unique characteristics and it brought home to us what a very special group of people who live and work in the Colfax School District and in Whitman County. The generosity that people showed toward the levy made our work easy and enjoyable. We learned a lot from our dialogue with people and we hope they learned something from us.

Our conclusions are that a majority of people will vote in favor of the levy. We certainly hope so, and trust that we all might have done something in a small way to help the cause.

Ed Morgan,

Duane Gottschalk,

Colfax

MUMS eye opener

Upon reading yet a second article that put the MUMS Sept. 8, 2009, meeting with the city as the reason for removing the vintage slides at city parks, we felt it necessary to set the record straight to the citizens of what our purpose of that meeting was about. We were accompanied by Jon Davis, Hospital Administrator at that time, and Bob Ingalls, who is the Jail Captain.

At that time we presented various photos of areas all over Colfax that had been lacking maintenance for quite some time.

Shown were pictures of the parks that had thistle patches growing around playground equipment most of the summer.

The volleyball pit at Schmuck Park that was over taken with weeds.

BBQ stands in the covered picnic area some of which were tipped over and most so rusted out that there are literally no bottoms left in them to place briquettes.

The cement barriers lining the entrance to the park that hadn’t seen a coat of paint for quite sometime, as well as the partitions entering the restrooms there.

Keep in mind that these photos, along with many not mentioned in this article, were all areas of concern.

As volunteers we wanted to know how we, along with other groups and organizations, could help the city in bringing these areas up to the integrity of what we felt Colfax should represent. We understand they can’t do it all, that’s why we were asking! A council person suggested making a list of various tasks to have available for those seeking volunteer and community service projects. That was a great idea! (Unsure if it has been completed to date.)

One main concern was the sidewalks and area leading up Fairview Street. The shrubs were overgrown, many areas of unsightly weeds growing and street litter. Sidewalks needed swept or hosed off and cleared of weeds. The sit down benches placed at the top of the hill were weathered to the point of little paint remaining on them. Weeds, debris, and gravel blown in behind them as well. This being a main arterial into Colfax and leading up to the new Whitman Hospital and Medical Center, we felt it needed attention. Mr. Davis graciously offered his maintenance people to help clean up areas directly across from the hospital.

Another concern were all the empty, unoccupied buildings on Main Street. We asked if the city could possibly issue a letter ‘requesting’ to all those building owners as well as business owners, for help towards a city wide effort, to keep their sidewalks and building fronts clean within reason. Even if done only monthly to keep “dog do,” weeds and street dirt at bay. We commend business people on Main Street who have been doing this all along.

The council didn’t feel that they were of the authority to ask this of owners. Consequently a few days later the president of the Chamber of Commerce received a letter from Mayor Becker suggesting that the Chamber be responsible in taking care of these matters from Ace Hardware to Cougar Mart. One councilman later stated that he was unaware that this letter had been sent and disagreed with it’s contents.

Mayor Becker stated that all the pictures presented were worth a thousand words and admitted that we get so accustomed to driving past these things that over time you no longer see them. This is true, but the point trying to be made was, those who come to Colfax DO see these things. Our questions were, why was it allowed to get to this point, who is responsible and how could it be resolved. (To date some of the Fairview issues have been attended to.)

However, in regards to the slide at Schmuck Park, it looked as though it only needed to be sanded and a new coat of paint applied to seal the wood to avoid a possible sliver problem.

We were quoted as saying that the city had received complaints about sliver issues concerning the slides but that was not true.

We never said that at all! The other slide at Hamilton Park was the worst of the two because the metal slide part itself was so badly rusted and the wood sides were split.

Our intentions were never to have the slides removed, only repaired.

They were just one of many items of overall concern.

We were shocked to hear from a council member the next day that both slides had been removed entirely.

He stated that he felt it was done as a act of retaliation.

Someone who remained at the meeting suggested that we may be interested in hearing what happened after we left. With reluctance we finally obtained a tape of the meeting.

Remarks were made by the Public Works Director, who is in charge of city parks, about our concerns that in our opinion were catty, unprofessional and most certainly undeserving.

Mayor Becker later, after noting media people were no longer present, openly expressed her personal disappointment in the Chamber of Commerce for what she felt was “their total lack of any betterment towards the Colfax community for years.”

We went to this meeting to offer help and it was never intended to be directed as criticism towards anyone. It certainly has been a eye opener. Undoubtedly concerned at this point, we recently went back to a meeting to follow up on the progress of the vintage slides to see what could be done. We brought intents of goodwill from McGregor Co. who offered their repair expertise. Joe Fox and Jim Lemon from McGregor Co. agreed that it wouldn’t be feasible to repair for use due to many new liability standards. We commend McGregor’s for taking an interest in helping in any way they can.

If funding can be acquired to install a $45,000 -$50,000 new playground unit, why not at least give the community a chance to donate money, time, or whatever needs to save the slide. Someone might have a great idea if only given an opportunity. The slide is a unique piece of history in Colfax. If it cannot be used due to liability reasons, perhaps it could be restored to it’s original state and retired at it’s spot, and fenced. Make it a decorative historic marker in Schmuck Park with a plaque that tells its story. We shouldn’t be so quick to give up on it.

Anyone looking to do a worthwhile Senior Project or Community Service project? Any suggestions welcome!

We appreciate those council people that “got” what we were trying to say and do Sept. 8th. At this time we find our ‘volunteering’ enthusiasm to continue our projects has sorely diminished. Not to say that we won’t again at some point, but until attitudes and mindsets change somewhere, we feel our efforts seem futile. We will certainly miss, but have enjoyed doing, the flower pots on Main for the past seven years along with Fireman’s Park the past two years. Our sincere thanks all those who have contributed in one way or another towards our MUMS projects. We needed to tell our side, and we apologize for the turmoil, but stand firm in our convictions as volunteers!

‘MUMS’ (Matrons Undertaking Mainstreet)

Elaine McClintock,

Cherry Alice Van Tine

& many

dedicated volunteers

Garfield Cemetery

The commissioners for the Garfield Cemetery District No. 2 would like to extend a most grateful appreciation to all of you who have responded to our appeal for donations. Through your generosity, we will be able to proceed to groom the cemetery, repair the broken water main, and prepare for Memorial Weekend.

As you learned when you received your ballot for the April 27 special election, we have filed our levy for operating funds for the Garfield Cemetery for the fiscal year 2011.

The funds from this levy, if passed, will be available to us starting in 2011.

If, with your support, this levy passes, we will be able to borrow against the established revenue for the remainder of the operating expenses for 2010.

This borrowed money will be paid back before we will receive tax monies from this election.

To cover the election fees, pay back a loan for 2010 operating funds and to meet increasing operating expenses for the year 2011, we have deemed necessary an increase in the amount of the requested levy from previous years.

Your support is needed and will be greatly appreciated.

Donald Joe Kreibel, chairman

Dixie Roach, commissioner

Roger Pennell, commissioner

James G. Storms, secretary