Addressing an error

I wish to address a quote that was erroneously attributed to me in an article in the July 8 edition of the Pikes Peak Courier.

The quote states: “(Salvato) was the best administrator Cripple Creek has ever had.” While I believe Frank was an excellent city administrator and I am very grateful for the knowledge I gained as a result of working with him, I have only resided in Cripple Creek since 2013. I do not have any knowledge of city administrators prior to moving to Cripple Creek, and therefore could not make such a claim. I respectfully requested that this correction be published as I did not make this statement when interviewed for this article.

Annie Durham, Mayor, Cripple Creek

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Committing to fire mitigation, forest health

El Tesoro de Los Ángeles, located near the Tranquil Acres subdivision in Teller County, has recently made a major commitment to fire mitigation and forest health. This decision reflects remarkable leadership and a strong dedication to its mission, the safety of the surrounding community and the long-term health of a significant forested property within Teller County.

By investing in wildfire risk reduction and responsible forest stewardship, El Tesoro de Los Ángeles is helping protect lives, property, wildlife habitat and natural resources. Their efforts serve as an excellent example of how proactive land management can benefit both individual property owners and the broader community.

For the mission of the organization, the increased beauty of the forest, enhanced serenity of the retreat environment and improved wildlife habitat are sure to inspire generations of visitors. These efforts represent an important step toward strengthening the retreat center’s long-term resilience and insurability while preserving the natural character that makes the property so special.

Just as importantly, this work can serve as a springboard for broader community wildfire preparedness. By reducing risk on a large, forested parcel, El Tesoro de Los Ángeles is helping create safer conditions for neighboring properties and demonstrating the value of proactive stewardship.

Great work, El Tesoro de Los Ángeles. Your commitment to the land, the community and future generations deserves recognition and appreciation. I hope many people will pray for the increased healing of our land and for recovery of the health of our forests.

Toni Moore, Florissant

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In response to R. Taylor’s July 1 letter to the editor

Before making public statements about individuals or important community issues, it’s important to verify the facts.

First, her name is Mary Sekowski.

Second, Teller County has not been free of short-term rentals. STRs have operated throughout the county for at least a decade. The vote being referenced took place in Woodland Park, not Teller County. To my knowledge, STR owners in Woodland Park have generally respected the outcome of that vote by making the required modifications to their properties. 

Teller County has not held a public vote on this issue. Instead, the Board of County Commissioners is currently gathering information to develop thoughtful regulations and operating standards for short-term rentals. Whether someone agrees with that approach or not, operating an STR in Teller County is neither illegal nor unethical under the current regulations.

It’s also worth recognizing that short-term rentals contribute more than $100 million in total economic impact to the local economy.

Reasonable people can disagree on the role of short-term rentals in our community, but those discussions should be based on accurate information rather than misinformation. Public conversations are far more productive when we focus on facts instead of personal opinions presented as fact.

Caitlin Pelliccia, Woodland Park

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See for yourself

If you’ve followed discussions about Woodland Park School District, Merit Academy or the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), you’ve likely heard competing claims from every side. Rather than relying on social media, rumors, or someone else’s interpretation, including mine, I encourage you to review the records for yourself.

Colorado’s Open Records Act (CORA) gives every citizen the right to request public records from CDE. When submitting your request, be sure to ask for records through the present so you receive the most current information available.

To keep your request focused, consider asking for emails and documents involving Glen Gustafson, CDE’s financial contact, Merit Academy and WPSD. While the response may still be substantial, you’ll be reviewing the original correspondence and documents instead of selected excerpts or summaries.

An informed community depends on transparency. Public records allow citizens to better understand how decisions are made and to ask informed questions based on original source documents.

If this issue matters to you, take advantage of your right to access public records and draw your own conclusions.

The Colorado Department of Education’s CORA request form is available at https://ed.cde.state.co.us/newsbureau/corapolicy.

Jeralee Gonzalez, Woodland Park

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Wrong again!

Same person who claimed the Iran war was going great near the start and would end soon, which was obviously wrong, now claims the Constitution was based on a “Judeo-Christian philosophy.” Wrong again!

The Constitution is based on Enlightenment philosophy: 

1. Reason and empiricism: Positing that human reason and rigorous observation are the essential sources of truth.
2. Individual liberty: Individuals possess innate, unalienable rights. 
3. Social contract: Governments exist by the will of the governed to protect their rights.
4. Religious tolerance: Strongly advocating for strict separation of church and state; vigorously opposed to religious persecution.
5. Separation of powers: Government power should be divided to prevent tyranny.

While founders used the term “creator” in the Declaration of Independence, they were skeptical of orthodox religious doctrines — they DID NOT use that term in the Constitution — which is the law of the nation!

I never said anywhere all religions are equal, but having taught world religions for the University of Wyoming, each religion deserves to be respected for its own theological perspective, and none valued more than any other within the government, which is exactly why Amendment I states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” — which precisely follows enlightenment thinking and has absolutely nothing to do with some claimed “left’s perverted interpretation” of their reasoning. It is the founders’ reasoning, period, Q.E.D. and underlined!

I am a follower of the love and grace teachings of Jesus, not of perverted leftism.

Rodney Noel Saunders, Florissant

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In response to Dion’s July 8 column

Every few weeks a letter or column appears in the Courier lamenting the dire financial straits of WPSD and typically directing blame at the current school board. Such is the case with the July 8 column by Jameson Dion.

Mr. Dion is correct that the district faces serious financial issues but neglects to note that these stem largely from the well-documented fiscal mess left by the previous two boards and their administrations. He also calls the City Council’s repeal of the sales tax intended to help fund WPSD “short‑sighted,” but omits the reason: WPSD was unable to report how the revenue was spent. Council members are accountable for taxes they levy; most taxpayers would say their decision was not only warranted but their sworn duty.

The writer further asserts the prior board moved the middle school into the high school facility and relocated Merit Academy to optimize facility use. Whether that was the true motive or an effort to support a struggling charter school is beside the point. The fact remains the previous board created the situation the current board now inherits, including its precarious finances.

The current board has served barely six months, yet letters like Mr. Dion’s attempt to tar the board with predecessors’ sins. It smacks of someone carrying water for political interests who prefer division to constructive collaboration. The community should unite behind the current board to ensure WPSD works for all students and focus on transparent, responsible stewardship moving forward together now.

Pat Miller, Woodland Park