Recently I heard that the Montezuma County commissioners refused to a request for a $4,000 donation to the nonprofit Montezuma-Inspire Coalition, which includes 18 groups seeking to help under-served children recreate in parks and outdoor settings. MIC received a state planning grant worth $75,000, and asked the country commissioners for $4,000 toward a $16,000 match. They refused to support kids who need help getting outdoors, apparently saying that it’s up to parents to get their children outdoors. The reality of Montezuma County is that some families have the money and time to encourage this, but many, many, many children are not so fortunate. Perhaps the commissioners do not know their neighbors. Furthermore Commissioner Keenan Ertel was quoted as saying MIC’s cause was noble but he wasn’t ready to fund yet another nonprofit. Then I am certain that Ertel will be consistent with his approach to not funding nonprofits, and stop funding the American Lands Council, a highly politicized nonprofit organization that lobbies for the transfer of federal lands to states. The Journal reported that in March 2015 that the Montezuma County commissioners voted to support the ALC at a $1,000 per year level. Personally, I would prefer that the commissioners use my tax money to support children and recreation, rather than their own political agendas. Hypocrites.
Josh Munson
Dolores