Letters to the editor

Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 | midnight

Council needs clear direction on landfill

EDITOR:

In regard to the article, "Landfill sparks debate at council" (Sept. 4), Councilwoman Linda Strickland strikes again. The City Council can't seem to decide what they had said or decided upon in the motions they had passed.

The motion that was passed unanimously on Feb. 12 stated that the city would hire an outside consultant to examine the landfill operations. Then on Aug. 26, the council voted 3-2 to cancel the hiring of an outside consultant.

But, apparently the motion on record had actually stated that they intended to hire an outside consultant to assist the city in negotiating the landfill's contract. Now, according to Strickland, City Manager Vicki Mayes took it upon herself to decide for the city that an outside consultant wasn't needed to negotiate the landfill's contract.

Also, according to Strickland, the city can't handle an evaluation of Boulder Disposal's operation or handle the (re)negotiation of the contract with Boulder Disposal because of staff members' lack of expertise.

It was not so long ago that the city paid — wasted — $450,000 to an outside consultant firm to study the feasibility of piling the refuse higher, enlarging the existing pile horizontally, and/or moving to a new location, a decision that could have (and should have) easily been made by anyone with common sense in two minutes. Since the city cannot afford to relocate the landfill, this leaves the two other options. I fail to see the need for an "expert."

It is the city's responsibility to oversee operations at the landfill. It is also the city's responsibility to negotiate an acceptable contract between the city and Boulder Disposal. According to Strickland, the current contract is horrible. This begs these questions: Who negotiated this contract originally? Why has the city allowed contractors to dump refuse from the bridge project illegally? Why can't the city manage these issues properly?

I don't see the clear direction the city is taking that Chandler spoke of, and I agree with Mayes' statement, "It's a difference of opinion among you elected officials."

The contract extension with Boulder Disposal is due to be signed in October. Now is the time for clear direction and quality decision-making on these issues.

WAYNE MORRIS

'Can she do it?' is an unfair question

EDITOR:

Why are some people asking, "Can Sarah Palin continue to be a good wife and mother and hold a high political office?" Do they ever ask a male can he still be a good husband and father and hold such a high office?

We have experienced too many times when males flunk these obligations.

NITA ANDREWS

Police presence appreciated

EDITOR:

The men and women of our Police Department do not get enough accolades or appreciation for all of their hard work. No matter how cold, or how hot and humid our weather gets, for the past 33 years we have lived in this great little town, we have always seen officers of the Boulder City Police Department on patrol keeping us all safe.

Lately, as I drove around Boulder, running errands and such, I realized there was something that has been missing from our city streets: Officer Levi in his black police Durango! I was used to seeing it going down the highway catching a speeder or parked on the side of the road while he writes the driver a ticket or, even better, gets a drunk driver off the road.

It makes me feel safer seeing that police Durango, knowing that Officer Levi was out there keeping our families and our streets safe from crazy drivers.

I will admit there have been times when I have been in a hurry and on the lookout, hoping I see Officer Levi before he sees me. That plan did not always work out. Many times, I have driven right by him in his police Durango and never saw the Durango until it zipped by me with the police lights flashing, pulling over the driver who just ran the stop sign.

When I saw Officer Levi's black police Durango on patrol, I felt everything would be all right when I let my teenage drivers go hang out with their friends. Oh, the peace of mind it gave me as they walked out the door, because they knew he would be out there too.

As I talked to my friends, I found out they have wondered where Officer Levi and his Durango have been. No one has seen his police Durango for some time. What had happened to Officer Levi and his black police Durango?

I finally found Officer Levi, who was driving one of the white police Chargers, and asked him where his Durango was. I found out that after 143,000 miles of dedicated police patrol and pursuits, "the old girl" finally ran out of steam and had to be retired. She could run no more.

I felt sad about that, the fact that I wouldn't see that particular black Durango anymore. Don't get me wrong — seeing any of our police cars on the road is a great comfort and I truly appreciate each and every one of our Boulder City police officers. They are doing an awesome job keeping our little town safe.

It's just that one and only black Durango, the one you never wanted to see in your rearview mirror, much less with its lights on, will not be on patrol anymore. But rest assured Officer Levi is still out there.

SUSAN JAY