From the Courier:

A thank you to Carrol Harvey

I was saddened to hear about Carrol Harvey’s resignation from City Council following the collection of signatures for her recall. During her time on council, I admired Carrol’s professionalism and her knowledge and respect for policies and processes. I appreciate that her actions on council were consistently non-partisan and that she actively sought community input on difficult issues.

I am also saddened that the recall petitioners solicited signatures by asking citizens to “support Woodland Park schools,” insinuating that the council members did not support our schools. I think it should be clarified that the responsibility of the repeal of the “school sales tax,” though executed by city council, falls squarely on the shoulders of our WPSD Board of Education and former superintendent Ken Witt.

Council voted to keep the tax in place, and then two notable things happened: a damning school district audit report was released as was a document revealing the district’s intentions to enter a real estate deal that attempted to use the terms of sale of the former middle school as a threat against any changes in the school tax for the next 30 years. This left the council little choice. I would appreciate the school board owning their part in this and would like to see them pursuing new avenues for additional funding.

The resignation of Carrol Harvey (and earlier, Teri Baldwin) over this issue is a loss for the City of Woodland Park. Thank you both for your heart to serve our community.

Khurshid Rogers, Woodland Park