Our city government is out of control. The city manager is allowing Parks & Recreation Director Cathy Metz to push the start of construction of the $12 million northern trail extension in difficult winter conditions. This will cost more and likely cause budget overruns.
This costly project lacks merit. It is poorly designed and needs reevaluation. It includes an expensive and dangerous railroad crossing and an expensive wall adjacent to wetlands, both of which can be avoided with realignment, saving millions.
It includes an unnecessary 32nd Street overpass costing $3.4 million.
At the same time, the city manager’s office and Parks & Recreation seem to have a gag order in place, refusing to talk to affected property owners about broken promises regarding landscaping and fencing.
This push to start construction is also being done despite not having required approval of the railroad crossing by the Colorado Public Utility Commission, which may be rejected. And there is still potential litigating regarding the taking of private property for the trail.
Demand reevaluation of this boondoggle northern trail extension.
Meanwhile, the current city council, with the exception of Melissa Youssef, has refused to allow voters to decide whether or not to reallocate a portion of parks and recreation funds that are being hoarded, to be used for desperately needed police facilities and street repairs.
We need new city council thinking and new leadership in parks and recreation and city management that won’t perpetrate personal agendas on the community.
Perhaps we should demand new leadership.
Tim Wolf
Durango
