Dear Editor:

I want to congratulate John Tighe and Mark Dowaliby on their victory in the Republican Primary. I would also like to thank my supporters and all the other well-informed and concerned citizens that voted for me.

Sincerely,

Doug Tamminga
Bailey,CO

To the Editor:

It is my great honor to write this letter of support for Lillian Wissel for Commissioner District #3. I have known Lillian for 28 years and have found her to be hard working, dedicated to her family and friends, and always ready to help out when the situation arises.

In both 2006 and 2008, she has stepped forward and helped out the county after the tragic deaths of two commissioners. She has worked in many of the county offices over the years, including Road & Bridge, Planning, Finance and the Commissioners. She has always given her best for Park County. Her knowledge of the Land Use Regulations is beyond compare. She understands the workings of county government and will be a great asset to the county.

Recently, uninformed citizens have questioned her residency status in District #3. Lillian has always lived in the Fairplay area and still does today. This past school year, the Wissel family had to arrange for their son Dominic, a special needs child, to attend school in Platte Canyon after South Park Schools could not provide for Dominic's special needs, and offered to either transport him to Platte Canyon or out of Park County to Buena Vista for school. After the district was unable to provide for Dominic's transportation, the Wissels had to scramble to make arrangements so that Dom could attend school. They first tried driving from their home in Fairplay to the school to drop Dom off, then return to work, then leave work early to pick Dom up when school was out at 2:30. This caused quite a disruption. Finally the Wissels rented an apartment in Shawnee where Dominic's adopted 'grandmother' Leona Nelson lives and could help in his care while Dave and Lillian continued to work in Fairplay. Dominic can ride the school bus to and from Shawnee to school, and stay with 'Grandma' after school until Dave or Lillian comes back to Shawnee for the evening. Lillian never missed any work, and Dominic has thrived in the Platte Canyon school. This is not a permanent solution, and the Wissels hope that the local South Park schools can come up with a better solution than to send Dominic away from home to attend school.

Lillian is dedicated to her family and to Park County. I know she will do her best for Park County. I urge you to vote for Lillian Wissel on August 12th.

Sincerely,

Mike Peterson
Fairplay, CO.

"We do not need competitive bids," is the message that two of your three current county commissioners are saying!

Since a series of meetings with the late Doc McKay in October of 2007, I have attempted on numerous occasions to solicit the protocol from the Park County Director of Human Resources with regards to Park County Employee Benefits bidding process. I initiated contact immediately in October 2007. I am licensed to sell insurance products in Colorado and would like to bid on the county's business for employee benefits. Like any other business owner, I am interested in winning business from the county. My firm offers options in employee benefits.

Several phone calls with voice messages were left with the HR Director non-returned. Several visits to her office in Fairplay resulted in me being greeted by the gate keeper informing me that the Director was "unavailable". I requested an in-person meeting each trip. No appointment was set.

It was not until late APRIL 2008, that the director FINALLY called my office to inform me that she would be in a position after MAY 15, 2008 to START looking at options for the upcoming AUGUST 01, 2008 plan year. When I appeared in person on MAY 16, I was FINALLY greeted by the director and was given a brief five minute lecture that Park County is very happy with "our" current broker and plan and will not be taking outside bids. It was reported to me that Park County has been using this broker (in Denver) for at least 10 years, uncontested.

After thanking her for her time (wasting mine), I proceeded to inquire if this was true by talking to the commissioners. I was able to speak to Commissioner Lillian Wissel and shared with her my disappointing results. Commissioner Wissel with genuine concern requested that I send a formal written communication that would force the commissioners to listen.

A letter was sent addressed to the commissioners. Only Commissioner Wissel displayed the courtesy in contacting me. The result: Commissioner Tighe and Commissioner Walker stated that they will continue with the current broker. When I inquired about competitive bidding, they stated that they discussed this with the county attorney and were told that they did not have to open the benefits package up for the competitive bidding process.

Conversations with Commissioner Tighe included his patronizing remarks that I could attend a "commissioner's workshop" and learn how to bid.

Commissioner Tighe, it is entirely TOO LATE to attend this workshop for 2008. If that was an option, why did I not hear about it last October?

I submit to the voters of Park County, if this is attitude of 2 of the 3 current commissioners, what other contracts are awarded without gaining competitive bids? Could this county potentially be saving millions of dollars across the aggregate budget to use in other valued service areas and keeping folks employed?

Is Commissioner Tighe a person that we want to re-elect for another four years of the same philosophy in budgeting OUR county resources? Fortunately, Commissioner Walker will be term-limited at the conclusion of this term.

Christopher Hopkins
Park County Resident and Business owner