Letter sent in Nov. to Kurt Kastein and rest of council after an exchange on Ft Collins doing the Halligian reservoir alone. by David Wright

The council has decided, at least tentatively, to do it with partners. I don’t like this as it will give tremendous powers to the Tri District to control the growth--which means to let it run wild.

Kurt:

Thanks for the thoughtful response. Much of what you say has some truth. I do know of the complexities and it is easy to run through different scenarios and see problems with what I am suggesting. It is not that what I am saying is without its problems. As you stated, doing it alone (Halligan development) would create situations that would require difficult solutions. I don’t totally agree with you, but that is fine---I am not 100% right, I know that.

A little about my motivations and my willingness to look at a sole ownership. The mission of Citizen Planners is to look after the quality of life situations for the future generations. Unfortunately, what we presently see is the Front Range ultimately looking no different than southern California does now. We do have the same growth rate and the same population that S. California had in the late 80’s. Having just been in the S. California area, my wife and I concluded that the bulk of it is no longer inhabitable. It is grossly over populated and ravaged to a point that few of us living in Colorado would accept. Citizen Planners would like to preserve as much of our glorious state as possible for our grandchildren. With rapid, unplanned growth, it is simply not possible. What we are presently doing is selling our soul to the devil--the devil being material wealth, our soul is everything we love the most and it includes our quality of life, free of pollution, crime, congestion, disruption to normal family life, noise, and the list goes on and on.

Many of the problems we will have in  the future, will not be in, nor caused by, the  Ft. Collins community,  but rather in the out lying areas where we will have little or no control. There are many engines of this growth machine----many of them individuals, who have sold their souls for the mighty dollar. Many of them have also purchased their big ranches in Montana where they, and their families, will be able to escape the madness of just another over populated, ravaged community. Many of these same people have already left the California scene---and are now here trashing our great state.

Citizen Planners is actively looking for every tool we can find to prevent this disaster from happening. Water is a tool, or I should say, the manipulation of water is a tool. I know that we have been told repeatedly that we cannot use water this way, but it is becoming clear, even from the statements of Sec. of Interior Gale Norton in May, that it can be used, and will be used. The many small water districts around Ft Collins are a big engine for this run away growth, by denying them water they will eventually have to restrict handing out more taps, thus slowing growth. I know this seems like a tough and unfair game, but our children’s future is at stake. It may be time to get tough, to play hard ball, to have a large vision that takes into account what will happen if we fall into the California trap. Having spent 20 years in public office, I know it is not easy to play hard ball, particularly when there are some very big, nasty players on the other side. Believe me; I have been kicked around plenty.

I just would like the council to have a big, long term picture of the future. I would also like to be wealthy so I could buy everyone a ticket to southern California so they could see what we are in for. It is not pretty. Actually, by watching the Lou Dobbs on CNN one can get a pretty clear picture of their growing problems. Ft. Collins has done well, but they need to use their power and leadership to push a few, other not so ethical, entities around. Please don’t allow us to fall into the California trap. Thanks for the time and interest.

Regards,