Dear Editor,

 I read Christopher Kelley’s interesting and telling piece in the February 12 Mountain-Ear weekly. Kelley’s a very good writer.  I like reading him, in part because he has the ability to lure the reader to the place where you have no choice but to start tugging lightly at the threads. The story begins to unfold.

My interest in reading minutiae and machinations of local governments is probably best described as those same interests of most other citizens—nothing interesting unless you find out that raising taxes is being bandied about by County Treasurer’s office folks. My academic background is law. My graduate work in Public Administration and Public Policy also serves to draw me to “the light.” Training and education have often served me well in matters of public policy.  This is a story/project I wish to follow.

The story that Mr. Kelley writes is about the scrutiny facing Nederland’s acquisition of Eldora Mountain Resort—a very telling story with no published end because this mystery will continue. In almost any other similar situation, I would not have read a story about a community in which I don’t live—a resort I haven’t visited in over 30 years. Nor do I usually have an interest in local government public policy that does not affect me.

Mr. Kelley may have “poked-the-bear” (I hate that overused metaphor, but it is accurate in this case). Many of those folks directly involved in this project will certainly ask if the ship that sailed two years ago is rudderless. His piece may not bring about throngs of angry or curious citizens but it will certainly disrupt any comfort heretofore enjoyed by relevant policymakers, contractors, investors and other who may be legally bound to the project.

I had previously read or heard about Nederland’s interest in Eldora, but this is my first foray into the minutiae—Nederland purchasing properties and appurtenances. Significant purchases by public entities interest me because the citizenry is entitled and legally required to be informed about how “their” money is being spent.

I am always curious about the methods used to keep the citizenry informed. I am not a citizen of Nederland—simply interest from afar. I’m curious about many things. I seem to have a  morbid curiosity about surrounding properties being bought and sold and their planned use.

This is episode one for me—episode one in a story that began long ago. Like all stories, this one had a beginning and it will have an end. My paper won’t reach me until Saturday noon, but I’ll read Kelley online on Thursday night.

Rudy V. Garcia

Dory Lakes