LovelandPolitics.com Blog

The idea of adorning the now dirt employee parking lot east of Dairy Queen with sculptures and benches for patrons to enjoy is definitely a move in the right direction for the owner of both the dirt lot and Dairy Queen, Craig Lindberg. see story

Whether it was a that familiar (I got your back) wink from Loveland City Manager Don Williams, the fact it was on the consent agenda already or any other reason, Lindberg’s failure to appear before council when requesting the city vacate a right-of-way last week was probably not advisable. The council went ahead and passed the request on first reading (it requires two readings before council and majority votes before it can pass) anyway. The council agreed to coordinate the next reading for a time convenient for the applicant to come and present and answer any questions. Many of the question centered on the drive through and traffic flow which staff admitted was confusing and difficult to explain.

Councilman Daryle Klassen, however, appeared especially angry about questions regarding the drive-through, traffic study and proposed traffic flows between Eisenhower and Jefferson. He launched into a lecture announcing Linberg’s plan but perhaps not in the tone or setting the owner of Dairy Queen or the artist Mark Lundeen would have preferred.

When the Mayor told Councilman Klassen the council was not “hindering” the project — Klassen interrupted in an angry tone, “I think you are.” Klassen’s cantankerous comments were quick to condemn any colleague who dared asked traffic questions as anti-business.

Finally, Mayor Pro Tem Larry Heckel explained to Klassen that he wouldn’t have supported the motion if he thought anyone was trying to hinder or delay the project.

Later in the same meeting Klassen apologized to his colleagues and staff for his previous outbursts in the meeting though it wasn’t clear he was referring to that specific incident.

We agree with Klassen’s enthusiasm for the plan but disagree with his red-bating approach of implying any questions at all constitute an attempt to hinder the project. It is this kind of intellectually empty political demagogue that contributes nothing of substance to the conversation and only adds to petty squabbles by public officials.

Any thoughts?

In a day to be remembered the Hilton Hotel staff of Ft. Collins scrambled last Saturday to find every available chair in the building to accommodate a crowd of over 1,000 Republicans for the Larimer County Republican Assembly. (read article about the event)

While the Sheriff race split the assembly 6 other county office seekers were approved to run on the party ticket by unanimous consent and no challenger. Other winners include Ken Buck while Jane Norton was away and Cory Gardner for Congress who said even current Republican congressmen, “were sent to drain the swamp [in Washington, D.C.] but are instead wallowing in it.”

Please take a moment to read our story and make any comments here.

Thanks

Don Williams began preparing for his retirement in July of 2008 when he proposed a special health benefits package to last only 5 years and coincidentally was only for senior level employees over the age of 60 who had worked at the city for longer than 20 years – oh yeah that must be Don. Now he can resign before the retirement age of 65 and have full medical benefits from the city for he and his family as if we was still working full time.

The mess he has left in his wake is wide and deep. Read the story by clicking here.

Please feel to post any comments, stories or most memorable interaction you may have had with Don Williams during his past 8 years as Loveland’s City Manager.