Kris Hess: Colorado outdoors: Help preserve it
For all who love the outdoors and wildlife of Colorado you can help preserve it and earn some cash at the same time.
The Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is offering a $500 reward for reports or information leading to a conviction of those responsible for illegal trail construction on public lands. Illegal trails destroy wildlife habitat by creating higher density recreation traffic and ultimately displace wildlife or alter natural patterns of the ecosystem.
Although “social trails” may be in our history of trail development it can no longer be in our future of trail development. Population and recreation growth ensure a growing negative impact from illegal trail construction. Land managers in Colorado (USFS, CPW, local governments) recognize the issue but they need your help to police our public lands.
This BHA reward program also applies to illegal off-highway vehicle use, e-bike use, and illegal dumping. Full details on the program can be found at www.backcountryhunters.org/bha_s_ohv_reward_fund. When you see illegal activity document it with your phone, a trail camera, etc. to help your local agency enforce the law. If your information leads to a conviction, follow the instructions on the BHA website to claim your reward!
Kris Hess
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
Boulder County Assistant Regional Director
Nederland
Rebecca Harris Sullivan: Wildland firefighters: Calling for fair pay
Many of us in South Boulder are slowly breathing a sigh of relief as the last curls of smoke rise from the ashes of the NCAR Fire.
My husband and I were among the 19,000 Boulderites who hastily packed our bags and evacuated our home. I firmly believed that we still had a home to return to thanks to the bravery and sacrifice of our wildland firefighters — as well as the year-round remediation work carried out by the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks team. We can never say “thank you” enough.
However, one way we can show our appreciation is by ensuring that these courageous men and women are paid a fair, livable wage.
The majority of federal wildland firefighters are employed by the U.S. Forest Service and risk their lives for an hourly wage of just $13.45. Contrast this with the average hourly wage of a Boulder, CO police officer, which according to ZipRecruiter, is $28 an hour.
We can advocate for our wildland firefighters by supporting Tim’s Act, sponsored by Rep. Joe Neguse. H.R.5631, the Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act, would raise the hourly wage of wildland firefighters to at least $20 an hour and would also expand health care and retirement benefits, as well as provide housing stipends and more.
As we look out to the Flatirons today and see their beauty, not flames, we must ensure that our wildland firefighters are compensated for their bravery and hard work. Supporting Tim’s Act is a good first step.
Rebecca Harris Sullivan
Boulder
Claire Kelley: Library District: Worth the investment
Look around and you’ll notice the cracks in the walls at the Carnegie Library, the reduced hours at your local branch, and paused literacy programs. We are a city that highly values education and culture. It’s time for us to put the Boulder Public Library on a reliable funding path before we lose even more.
This November, voters should get to decide whether the library should move to a property tax-based “library district” model, following the lead of nearly every other region in the state of Boulder’s size and population, including Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Lyons, Nederland, Estes Park, Greeley, and Pueblo.
Library districts allow library systems to be more resilient and to be able to plan ahead. For example, Fort Collins formed the Poudre Valley Library District in 2006, and in March 2020 they did not have to reduce hours or close buildings like Boulder did when the pandemic hit and our library system’s budget was cut.
The proposed property tax is $27 annually per $100,000 in the county-estimated value of your home. That means that if your “actual” home value on the Boulder County Assessor’s Office website is $500K, you’ll pay $11.25 per month for a district. In return, we will get:
Expanded library services for all community members and renewed print and digital collections.
More programming like storytime, workshops, and classes for families, underserved communities, and seniors.
Restored hours and staffing for all branches and updated facilities to address long-delayed maintenance.
There are 56 other library districts in Colorado for good reason. Establishing a library district via property taxes is the most equitable way to ensure that the library receives sustainable funding to continue to be a precious asset that strengthens our community. This is a historic opportunity to benefit our city for generations to come.
Claire Kelley
Boulder
Bill Kalafus: A new police academy: Yes, but at the state level
Regarding the Daily Camera’s Sunday March 27 editorial: Police staffing at crisis levels. A new Boulder academy will help:
The idea of a Police Academy would certainly be a step forward. However, it should be at the state level. Being at the state level would encourage uniform policing standards statewide to the benefit of all Colorado residents. The necessary funding would need to be worked out between the state, cities and counties.
Bill Kalafus
Boulder
Wallace Westfeldt: Fires: I want to know who is responsible
Who did it?
I want to know who did it. Calwood, Marshall, NCAR, Soul Shine … are our fire forensics that bad? Magwood was recently called accidental. What does that mean?
It doesn’t matter to me if the person(s) who started the fire did it on purpose or by accident, they deserve heavy fines, incarceration, and lawsuits. These fires are a serious matter and carelessness is not an excuse. I want the next hiker, target shooter, cult ceremony, balcony barbecuer, Education Center to be more careful knowing that severe consequences await the irresponsible.
Wallace Westfeldt
Boulder