10-31-09
Dear County Commissioner:
Thank you for coming to Marble and hearing us out last night. I know that it is a huge effort on the part of you and the other County Commissioners.
The purpose of this letter is to restate my request and show you the urgency of the situation.
The request: “Redistribute the money allocated for road maintenence and snowplowing in the greater Marble area.”
Why: The population has increased greatly in the last decade, and people are living along sections of unmaintained county roads, causing all types of problems. For example:
1.Private individuals take it upon themselves to plow the county roads, literally blocking others in with 4 ft. high piles of snow in the MIDDLE of the road.
2. Stuck vehicles are left stranded in the road, blocking the way for other people, and forcing them to walk home to their properties, often a great distance away.
3. Snowplowing “contractors” have taken out at least one telephone pedestal, and not repaired it, causing inconvenience and a safety hazard, for citizens using it.
4. Medical emergencies have occurred where the ambulance couldn’t make it to the houses in the wintertime. Alternative transportation was needed, and time delays were a potential life and death situation.
5. Neighborhood “hired” snowplow contractors are requesting $400 from me for snowplowing, yet they have not plowed within ½ mile of my property! This leads to unnecessary strife in the community.
6.Multiple school teachers, children, craftsmen, and productive individuals live along these roads, and need to access county road 3 on a daily basis. Passable community roads are one of the most basic services provided by the government of a civilized society.
7.Prospector Trail, and Serpentine Trail are county owned roads, not private roads. The private free-for-all that is quickly getting out of control is dangerous and inappropriate for a DENSLY POPULATED area.
8. The use of Gunnison County machinery and employees continues to be redundant, and in some cases unnecessary, in the Marble area. This occurs with complete disregard for pleas of help from needy and endangered citizens. This is unconscionable at the least, immoral at the middle, and illegal at the worst.
The number of stories of desperate individuals trying to travel on these unmaintained county roads, would take more of your time than you need to give.
Who: Gunnison County Commissioners are the government agents who can request Marleen Crosby to reallocate a portion of “Marble” road maintenence funds. Reallocated funds would expand to include currently unmaintained county roads in the greater Marble area. These include, but are not limited to, Prospector Trail, Serpentine Trail, and other highly populated roads.
Reallocation/redistribution of current funds is by far the least expensive option for satisfying the needs of the residents, citizens, and county government.
Reallocation/redistribution of current funds is the least complicated method for addressing the above stated problems from a legal standpoint.
Reallocation/redistribution of funds is fastest way to “fix the problem”, and will result in safer, more productive, and content constituents. Isn’t that what we all want?
I would like an answer as to whether or not you approve a redistribution of funds in the greater Marble area. Will you please address this issue at the Tuesday, November 3, 2009 County Commissioners Meeting? If not then, would you please put it on the docket for your next scheduled meeting, and let me know ?
Thanks again for your time. The winds of change are blowing in Marble, and we are counting on you to have a steady, firm, and compassionate hand on the wheel of government.
Sincerely,
Jerry Begly
400 Prospector Trail
Marble, CO 81623
email- coloradocartoons@yahoo.com