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Show A-19 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, October 25-27, 2017 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR District should reconsider fencing Editor: We love living in Park City and have had a wonderful experience with PCSD thus far. However, the proposition to fence-in Trailside, Parley’s and McPolin Elementary Schools is quite alarming. This comment from Petra Butler in the September 27th’s Park Record appears to be a complete farce: “This isn’t something the school district is going to roll out and say, ‘Ok, this is what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and we don’t want any input.’ We want to work with the community to make sure what we’re doing is acceptable to everyone.” Our home borders Trailside Elementary and just this morning I saw surveyors planting stakes along the proposed fence line. The community meetings are set for next week and they’re already planting stakes? I’m quickly getting the sense that community input is not being considered. These institutionalized fences are not what Park City is about. Aside from that, what purpose does a 5’ fence serve? If the areas are “protected” by open-access gates, what is the point? These fences will cut-off open spaces, trails, soccer fields, sledding hills, and so many other things that Parkites cherish. Park City is a progressive town; let’s get creative here. Surely we can do better than a chain-link fence as our leading security option. Let’s consider other options that are more aligned with our Park City values. Perhaps students having access key cards that record comings and goings from school grounds? Or what about purposeful land- scaping that serves as a barrier? These examples were offered by the lead surveyor I spoke with this morning that have been successful solutions in other school districts. Please, Dr. Conley and PCSD Board...do not put up these fences. We are better than this. Christy Froehlich Trailside Beerman’s climate record is crucial Editor: Two years ago, under Andy Beerman’s leadership, a determined group of citizens, a city council and a mayor created one of the world’s most ambitious clean energy goals; transitioning Park City to 100% clean energy by 2022 for the municipality and 2032 for the town. And today, this plan is being implemented and exceeding expectations. As of 2015, the city has purchased its last diesel bus and have bought 7 zero emission electric busses into the rotation, paid for mostly by a federal grant. An additional 7 zero emission electric buses are scheduled to arrive this Spring. Moreover, the city has been negotiating with Rocky Mountain Power to build new clean energy sources, like solar & wind, and implemented the popular e-bike program. And the success outside the city limits is even more exciting as Park City leads other counties, cities and states to transition to 100% clean energy, many of which have used Park City’s blueprint. In the beginning of October, Summit County, UT created a goal to be 100% clean energy and so did our neighbors in SLC & Moab who followed very similar plans. Currently, there are over 24 US cities committed to going 100%, 7 US cities already running on 100%, 27 US Cities working on going to 100%, 3 states, and at least 12 countries. This success story would not have been possible without Andy’s commitment to our environment and therefore his commitment to our local economy. We can not go back. We can not lose our momentum. Park City needs a healthy climate ($650m + in local tourism dollars), and the climate needs Park City leading the way. Andy Beerman becoming Mayor will keep this moving forward. Bryn & Jackie Carey Park City Beerman has taken firm action Editor: Readers of the Park Record undoubtedly know that over-development is a real concern in our town. One of the strongest tools we have in the fight against overdevelopment is the Land Management Code. The LMC defines, among other things, the size and scope of all development within Park City. Having applied the LMC as a Planning Commissioner for nearly ten years, and having watched Mr. Beerman review the Planning Commission’s decisions in his role as a City Councilperson for the last five, I can say with certainty that he and I share the same views on how the LMC is applied. In short, Mr. Beerman is not “pro-development” or “progrowth.” Instead, he accepts, as we all must, the growth that is inherently allowed under our laws, but nothing more. Moreover, his expansive actions to acquire open space and his firm opposition to converting the Rail Trail into a vehicular access corridor reaffirms that he uses the most powerful tools at his disposal to make sure over-development does not ruin us. For these reasons and many others, I support Andy Beerman for Mayor, and I respectfully ask readers to do the same. Adam Strachan Park City Planning Commissioner Williams set an important tone Editor: So, I’ve been reading the editorials and comments supporting both candidates. I’ve never written a letter to the editor, but I read them all diligently. For the first time I feel it’s time to weigh in. It appears others are trying to speak for me, telling my why I’m voting for a particular candidate, and they’re getting it wrong. I am voting for Dana Williams. Let me be clear. I am not voting for Dana out of nostalgia. Sentimentality is not my political statement. I am not voting for a mascot — I’ll take my sports on Sunday, thank you. I am not voting out of friendship, though I do consider Dana a friend, friendship doesn’t necessarily get the job done. I am voting for Dana because I have the opportunity to live here and watch how he defined leadership. He set a tone that had not been in play before, and was not maintained when he stepped back. And that tone matters. It’s how we realistically get to common ground. And solve problems. And work with and for those who don’t have the voice or power to do so. It’s not done by name calling, and bitter rebuttals, which is what I am seeing land on these editorial pages. That was never Dana’s game, nor Dana’s way. What I knew, and it was proven to me more than once, was that Dana had my back. Before Dana knew my name, he knew my profession — a construction worker, and he responded with respect, not dismissiveness. Sadly, I can’t say my experience with other leaders in this community has been the same. I’ve lived in Old Town for over 30 years, I work construction, I’m an avid newspaper reader, a skier, I keep up with the political landscape, and I vote. It is my deep belief this town needs Dana back! Matt Wolfe Park City Beerman is best prepared to guide Editor: I am writing this letter in support of electing Andy Beerman the next mayor of Park City. Having lived in here for almost 40 years and knowing both candidates well over the last 15 years, I see a clear distinction between the directions the two men will take. Both are honest, caring public officials, who have spent the better part of their adult lives selflessly serving the greater Park City community. Our duty is to decide which is best prepared to guide us. Andy and his family have been successful in operating a local lodging business which interacted with all the local governments, city departments and Main St. business owners until they sold it a few years ago. He has worked well with local city, county and state officials building relationships that have led to a newfound acknowledgement of the contributions that Park City makes to our region. He, as a city councilman, has earned endorsements of the current mayor, council members and works well with the city manager and her staff, which will lead to a continuation of the successful direction our government has taken. He has been an active uniter in building better relations with the school district and the county for future planning purposes. He has been involved in the community’s Latino outreach, college preparatory, mentoring and scholarship effort that has been touted region wide. Dana served as mayor from 2002 to 2014. He did his best, but many of our current problems, traffic, over building and lack of planning coordination between city, county and state were born during his watch. We can not afford to go backwards. That is not a viable option for our growing town. We need to face these challenges in a coordinated, sensible and cooperative manner. Andy is the best person in my opinion to lead us in that direction. Tommy Tanzer Park City Please see Letters, A-20 OCTOBER MADNESS SALE OCTOBER 27-29 WE HAVE A SKI BOOT FOR YOU Whether it’s your first time on the slopes or you are waist deep in freshies, Surefoot has the perfect boot for you and your skiing ability. Come into Surefoot's October Madness Sale October 27-29 for our only sale on 2018 model ski boots this year. It is the one and only time of the year that loyal locals get 20% off our latest and greatest new models of boots, liners and selected accessories which have just arrived in our store. Experience the comfort of a memory foam mattress in your ski boots with Surefoot Memory Foam. In addition to our custom ski boots we also offer standard ski boots from Tecnica, Nordica, Lange, Full Tilt, Dalbello, Salomon and Dynafit*. *Available at selected stores. PARK CITY Sale hours: 9AM-6PM 1355 Lowell Ave. • Resort Center • 435-649-6016 (Deer Valley and Canyons stores will not be open for this sale) |