The impact report on the new Glade Reservoir is out from the Army Corps of Engineers. The report is allegedly on their website, http://www.usace.army.mil, but if you can find it, you are better than I.

Guess we will just have to take what the local papers said about it as fact. NoCoPolitics.com has links to the local articles.

While I personally support the reservoir, and understand the need for more water in Northern Colorado, I can certainly respect the position of the people who want to preserve the river. What I cannot understand, or condone, are the individuals complaining about the population growth. If you think there are too many people in Northern Colorado, MOVE. If you live here, you are part of the problem. This is America, new people have as much right to move in here as you did a year ago, your family did twenty years ago, or my family did 150 years ago. Water conservation and stemming population growth are nice ideas, but none of us would live here now if our forefathers hadn’t had the foresight to build reservoirs.

Colorado Democrats are attempting to push through a de-facto tax by increasing car registration fees by $25/year. The money is supposed to be used for road maintenance, but this appears to just be an end run around TABOR.

The real problem with this is it’s a disproportionate tax on all the lower income people in Colorado. A purchaser of a new car pays hundreds of dollars a year in licensing fees. Those of us who can’t afford new cars, and drive something over 10 years old, only pay $25. That means our registration fees are going to increase by 100%. This is also going to be a penalty on all of us who have a second vehicle we use for better gas mileage when we can. Everyone who has a second commuter car or motorcycle is going to get dinged another $25.

Our lawmakers shouldn’t be trying to find creative ways to increase taxes, or increase taxes at all in a weak economy. We need to find a way to live within our means, not make life more difficult for millions of Coloradoans.

Greeley City Council has been throwing around ideas of privatizing the management of the Union Colony Civic Center, the Ice Haus, the Family FunPlex and Greeley city golf courses.

This is an interesting topic. On one hand, these facilities are costing the City a significant amount of money. On the other, our tax dollars have paid to create these valuable public services. Should a private firm be able to step in, manage the facilities, compete against other local health clubs and recreational facilities, all with the advantage of public buildings and existing customers.

If you have any comments, I would love to hear them.

Greeley speeding tickets carry $55 surcharge

Greeley has a $55 dollar surcharge on their traffic tickets. This means a ticket for 12mph over the speed limit carries a hefty cost of $185. This is done in the name of traffic calming, which is equal to hiring more traffic cops to give out more tickets.

For comparison:

In Loveland, a four-point ticket will cost you $100 with a surcharge of $10 if you pay the ticket before your court date. Loveland doesn’t have traffic calming surcharges or victim’s fees.

The same four point ticket in Fort Collins will cost you at least $135 because the city has a $100 fine for four-point tickets and a $35 traffic calming fee. If you go to court in Fort Collins and are found guilty, you will pay a $25 court cost as well.

Greeley City Manager, Ray Otto, has released the 2007 City Manager’s Work Program Update & Performance Measures Report.

A lot of interesting information in here. I recommend everyone read it, and if you have comments be sure to post them.

Greeley City Council has decided to sacrifice Economic Development and Charity funding in favor of five more police officer.

Perhaps not the best move as the country moves into a recession.

Mayor Ed Clark will be at The Buzz Coffee and Gelato tomorrow morning for an open forum.

Be sure to go out and ask him some questions.

Greeley City Council has decided to stop televising it’s work sessions

In another move to save money, the council will not televise its work sessions any longer on Greeley’s Channel 8.

Doesn’t really matter to me since I have satellite TV, not cable.

A scheduled rap concert for February 9, 2008 has been canceled after Mayor Ed Clark and Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck voiced their disapproval.

Both Buck and Clark were concerned that this concert would increase gang activity in Greeley.

“This is a matter of public safety,” Clark said. “(Mr. Capone-E) is a South Side gang member out of L.A. He has a criminal record…he was going to bring South Side gang members with him.”

Greeley to get more cops

After reducing funding for many area agencies and charities in the 2008 budget early in the year, Greeley may again cut their funding to pay for the five additional police Greeley City Council has said the city needs to address public safety concerns. The council will vote on the proposal in early February.

Looks like our new mayor is keeping his promise. Now if we could just get some assurances that these police officers will be used to stop gang activity and violent crime, rather than giving out ‘failure to use turn signal’ tickets.