It seems, as I read other letters and articles, that so many of you just do not or cannot understand the scope of the Reservoir Hill enhancement project. First of all, except for transporting and inspecting the "people moving" system (ski lift), the monies that will be used to develop anything on Reservoir Hill will come from private enterprise and Lodging Tax Dollars.
Lodging tax dollars are not FREE MONEY and they are not YOUR DOLLARS. Lodging tax dollars are the direct result of hard work and business expense of our local lodging community. These dollars are a pass through tax and are earmarked
only for the marketing, promoting and enhancing of Pagosa as a destination for our tourists. It is not up to YOU as to how these dollars are spent.
Town does not need your permission; they are generous in asking for your input.
Can you not be a little generous with all the folks who donate their time through the Town and the TTC board and its various committees to oversee these projects and expenditures? You are the benefactors!
 If you do not agree with or do not like some of the projects TTC is working on, then come to meetings and join one of the 13 or so committees. TTC is not a closed club or narrow-minded group of people, as some would say. They are your neighbors and town folks that you see everyday, doing business, going to church, having dinner or attending meetings. As a former TTC board member, I can tell you these folks love Pagosa and want to do an excellent job for their town and anyone who comes here to visit. Everything under consideration is First Class!
The upcoming Reservoir Hill meeting will be the 68th public meeting since this concept began to develop. This number does not even include Town Council discussions or any private meetings between locals or media. If you have questions or concerns, now is the time to make them known to TTC. This "group of geniuses" has spent almost two years pulling this project together and developing a business plan as Town Council requested.
For those paying attention, this project will have far reaching potential for locals as well as our visitors. And, since tourism is
the driving force of our economy at this time, it will bring in those valued tourism dollars, sales tax and more lodging tax. Thus, keeping folks in the area of downtown longer and providing more activity for all our families and visitors alike. More tax money coming into the community will help both Town and County with roads, maintenance, parks, salaries. All of things we expect from our local governments.
And, for local residents, tourism will keep our local businesses chugging along, more dining choices, more little shops and wages. Otherwise, they will have to close their doors as we have seen the past couple of years, and move away.
So, if the arguments are:
- Ruining Reservoir Hill for locals; Only a few of the 100+ acres will be modified in any way.
- Costs; Private enterprise and Lodging Tax Dollars will be spent.
- Tree Mortality and Thinning; Pine beetle infestation has already determined that issue and will be carefully supervised.
- Creating an amusement park; No ferris-wheel or merry-go-round. But, proven and popular, fun things to do that might provide a small business opportunity to someone with vision.
For more information and perhaps a better understanding, please attend tonight's January 25 meeting! Don't sit home and write negative letters to the editor. Come to the meeting, make sure you understand and know what you are talking about. Ask questions of those working so diligently to bring you into the picture. Please, do not just believe what you see in the paper or online reports. For some reason, they are not in favor of this particular effort (or any other that I
can recall) and have never had anything positive or even objective to publish in its regard.
As local business owners of a lodging facility, we certainly are grateful for the business we have had the past 3 years. It has been the busiest in our near 17 year history. I give most of the credit to the amazing job TTC has done to market Pagosa and all of our wonderful resources and keep us on national and international radar. Times are tough and it saddens me to see businesses close their doors and folks lose their jobs and homes. We have no idea of what the next few years
or even months will bring our way. We should remain open to every opportunity and hopeful of a better tomorrow. Won't you, please, try to look forward?
Walmart will change our community in far greater ways than developing Reservoir Hill. |