Following is the text of messages sent to our County commissioners and to Mayor Pierce.
To: Mayor Shari Pierce
Commissioner Warren Brown
Commissioner Ronny Maez
Commissioner Alvin Schaaf
[Note: Mayor Pierce was contacted under separate cover]
Dear Madam Mayor and County Commissioners,
We write to insist that you all visit La Plata County together and, with a posture of genuine contrition, implore their county commissioners and their board of health not to withdraw from San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH).
While there have been alleged problems with the present joint-venture SJBPH, we have never been convinced that said problems justify dissolution of the organization.
Moreover, we feel that while the present services provided by SJBPH may not be optimal for Archuleta County, overall the services are a bargain compared with the differential cost to create our own public-health board. Has anyone estimated what costs would be incurred? A building? Employees? A governing board? And of course a director! How might we cover these costs? More taxes? Borrowing?
It seems to us that we are beset with far more pressing financial issues.
We feel it imperative that you all visit our neighbors in La Plata County immediately and do whatever is necessary to prevent the dissolution of SJBPH. To do otherwise would not be in the best interests of the citizens you represent.
Respectfully,
Joanne and Vic Lucariello
Archuleta County