Weekly Bulletin (Feb 28, 2019)

Shellie Peterson

Click to send email.

(970) 507-0500

The Pagosa Springs Rotary Club is a diverse group of engaged individuals participating through friendship and camaraderie in opportunities to serve our community and other communities around the world.

Ronnie Maez - Providing a Jail Facility

Posted by Shellie Peterson

Ronnie Maez, Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners, was our speaker last week. Mr. Maez indicated that the Commissioners had reached the decision to utilize a financing instrument known as Certificates of Participation to provide the means to construct a jail facility on property donated by the Harman family in Harman Park.

Mr. Maez went on to report that currently the County is spending between $800,000 to $850,000 to house inmates and those awaiting trial in the La Plata County jail facility. A Sales Tax Increase was voted down by the people in November so there will be no new funds to pay for the project, Mr. Maez indicated that it would have to be paid for by cutting other services. He suggested that after a period of time, it may be possible to go back to the voters, perhaps in harmony with the Town, to ask for an increase in Sales Taxes to provide funding. He also added that currently the County is spending about $30,00 to rent space for the Health and Human Services Department from the Town of Pagosa Springs and the town has already indicated that they will need that space in the not to distant future. Which presents an additional challenge as well as additional space needed by the Treasurer, Clerk and Assessor.

Mr. Maez also indicated that a grant to study the existing Archuleta County Court building had been obtained from the State Court System. The study will hopefully determine if the building is sound enough to warrant further investment. Also to be determined is if the building may be sound enough for other commercial purposes but not meet the standards required for a court facility.

There were a number of questions and comments regarding the November election and the process by which the Commissioners put the jail issue to a vote. Mr. Maez reiterated that there are constraints to the type and timing of the kind of advertising the Commissioners are allowed to do after a resolution to place an issue on the ballot has been passed.

DATES TO REMEMBER

March 7 - 9:00 Hatcher Lake Ice Melt Barrel Launch

March 7 - Loaves & Fishes

April 20 - Gary Morris Concert

April 27 - 9Health Fair

May 17 - Los Vegas Casino Night

May 21 or 22 - CDC Economic Development Luncheon

June 27 - Installation Banquet

July 4 - Parade

News & Happenings

Posted by Shellie Peterson

Meg Wempe got us all started with a beautiful thought about children and how we influence their young spirit as well as a rousing song about getting together.

We welcomed Kenny Rogers and he reported about the urgent situation that has befallen their solar power project for an Elementary School in Puerto Rico. Dobson Solar had approached the Mountain Rotary Club and proposed the project and last summer the Club had formed a 501(c) (3) to provide funding. They were able to raise $4,500 toward a $25,000 project when an offer to fund the remaining funds came in from an un-named donor. Unfortunately, that offer has since dried up. They are looking for donations to try to continue the efforts on a smaller scale perhaps over a longer period of time. Later in the meeting, Kenny announced that he had just received word of an additional $365 donation from a Rotary Club. Please contact Kenny to support this effort individually.

Georgette Baumgardner announced the date for the Gary Morris Concert! It will be held on April 20, 2019, at 7:00 at the High School Auditorium. Tickets will be $45. This will be a great performance and a real treat for Pagosa Springs! More details will continue to develop but for now - put it on your calendar!

Allen Roth gave us the update on the Hatcher Lake Ice Melt Contest and the grand barrel launching! Next Thursday, March 7th at 9:00 AM the barrel will be placed on the lake! We would like as many folks there as possible as we will have a photographer to document the event. If you would like to meet at the PLPOA Administration Building at 8:15, we could car-pool to Lake Hatcher Water Treatment Plant where the barrel will be drug out onto the lake.

Kim Moore reported about the sponsorships received to date and encouraged everyone to get out and approach our existing sponsors and solicit new ones! Remember, we are only doing this one time this year so its got to generate a meaningful amount of money for our scholarships! We would like all the forms and money by March 15th.

Shellie reported the passing of Wally Miller, Rotary District 5470 Governor 2013-2014. Mr. Miller served the world for more than 40 years through his involvement in Rotary.

An opportunity to support the Community Development Corporation Economic Development Luncheon was considered. After a brief outline of our limited commitment, it was agreed to partner in this effort. More details on that will follow. Reserve the date now for May 21 or May 22.

While certainly no one could possibly take the place of Betty!! Jeff did a good job as her stand in on Thursday. During Sunshine and Showers Cody Wilson shared that both the boys and girls high school basketball teams continue to impress and the regional competitions are Friday and Saturday.

Bill Hubbard was very serious explaining about something to NEVER EVER EVER DO! Never do let your dog play with a bag of flour! So now that we know that, none of us will suffer the unfortunate fate of having to clean up flour from every nook and cranny of our house!

Birthday cake was enjoyed by all as we celebrated Cata's birthday which is coming up on Sunday, March 3. Cata shared that she had lettered in swimming and now it was on to play soccer. Well, at least when the snow melts I suppose.

Remember - next week is the Hatcher Lake Barrel launching at 9:00 AM (Meet at the PLPOA Admin Bldg. at 8:15 to car pool. Loaves & Fishes afterwards.

March is Water and Sanitation Month

Clean water and sanitation is a human right, but not everyone is afforded that right. Rotary members are providing communities with sustainable access to safe water, improved sanitation, hygiene management training. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, improved sanitation facilitates, and better hygiene habits, they lead

healthier and more successful lives.

During March, Rotary Water and Sanitation Month, we encourage members to work towards Rotary’s goal of providing everyone with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030. Here are just a few examples of club service projects that are working towards that goal:

In Nepal, the Rotary Club of Durbarmarg collaborated with their twin club and the Rotaract Clubs of Phulbari and Eco-Himal Nepal, to provide access to safe drinking water for students at a government school. Students were drinking visibly contaminated, untreated water directly from the water source. Rotary members installed 14 low-cost colloidal silver-enhanced ceramic water filters with strong filtration systems. These filters were manufactured locally, and are a traditional practice in availing safe drinking water to those lacking access.