PLEASE MAYOR SUTHERS, MAKE IT RIGHT

Hello, This is a copy of a communication I delivered in person to the Office of Mayor John Suthers this morning. Hello, This communication is for Mayor Suthers personally. Dear Mayor Suthers, It has come to my attention that the City of Manitou Springs has spent over $211,000 doing repairs on the section of the Barr Trail that our City now owns. This proves that the land we acquired was in need of over $500,000 worth of work when the public comment process for the land swap with the Broadmoor hotel was conducted. During the public comment process I asked the City to disclose the estimated cost of these repairs, and the City refused to answer my questions. I spoke at public meetings, before the City Council, and I sent emails to all members of the City Council, the City Attorney’s office, and your own office as well. Sara Bryarly mentioned the drainage issues and erosion damage at one meeting at Gold Camp Elementary School. I spoke in more detail about the needed repairs at that same meeting. After that night the City removed any mention of those issues from all subsequent presentations during the public comment process. It appears that the City was trying to hide the fact that the appraisal submitted by the Broadmoor was flawed. Did the City consult with Timberline Landscaping or anyone else about the cost of the needed repairs on that land during the public comment process? I have recently brought this matter to the attention of the City Council and the City Attorney’s Office. Why is the City pretending that they cannot hear me when I speak? Our City made a terrible mistake with the land swap and we are now in violation of the law. This issue will not go away. The public has an absolute right to know that the appraisal submitted by the Broadmoor was off by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even if the City were to claim that the Broadmoor’s appraisal is still valid, the City failed to disclose the fact that this land needs repairs that amount to half or more of its appraised value. Withholding such information from the public invalidates the public comment process. I am emailing a copy of this communication to the City Council, the City Attorney’s Office, our local media, and Save Cheyenne. The City must now either return all land to its original owners, or disclose these facts to the public. Thank you, Carl Strow