In 1990, I first led my own research group in a government laboratory that was constantly struggling with budget problems. The head of the agency told me, “I’ll help, but don’t come to me unless you can show what you’ve done to solve the problem.”

He was a true leader; tough, respected, and admired. The exact opposite of the CCOB “leadership,” including the Council, Mayor, and senior city staff who are now collectively demanding that we fix their “ad naysayers” water and sewer negligence. With no public dialogue, the CCOB is pushing through a 50% increase in water and sewer rates. Ward 1 Councilmember Marsh-Holschen, in a rant on NextDoor, first apologizes: “I was asleep at the switch.” No, sir, the entire Council, manager, and senior city staff at the CCOB are negligent.

Former Mayor Quinn speaks of the good old days of Manager DiCiero (Enterprise, August 11, 2024); as a City Commission member from 1986 to 1996, I share his nostalgia. I was at a meeting when DiCiero first considered enabling legislation for the City/County. His motivation was the reliability of water supply and transportation! Unlike the current Manager, DiCiero always had the problems under control.

Now the CCOB is planning “educational events” to explain why, in addition to unprecedented property tax increases and ever-increasing fees, it must now impose a 50% increase in water and sewer rates. I have no doubt that we are not going anywhere with this bill, but I believe three changes are needed going forward.

First, the Mayor, the entire City Council, the City Manager and Deputies must resign and move on. Your collective negligence is unprecedented; there is no sugarcoating, no apology, no mea culpa that can mitigate your failure. “Run to fail” was not the policy of the previous CCOB leadership; rather, it is a very recent breach of professionalism. A special election will be required, and an interim director must be appointed. The process will be difficult, but it is necessary; we simply cannot trust any of you to run the City.

Second, despite Marsh-Holshen’s claim that it is not possible to supplement the water enterprise fund from the general budget fund, it is imperative that the (outgoing) council and staff figure out how to do it: one last good deed to make up for the debacle their carelessness caused. How? I really don’t care; I have to figure it out.

Third, going forward, it is critical that future councils and senior staff focus only on essential services and stay away from individual freedom and ownership. This includes not socializing garbage collection; that is something we can decide for ourselves. Don’t build and subsidize arenas (one final event I would buy a ticket to is the demolition). Don’t waste our time blathering on about a local minimum wage; California is a good example of how to lose jobs. Stop blathering on about “affordable housing” while enforcing higher housing costs through cash-payment fees for developers, mandated electric car outlets and sprinkler systems, and advocating for all-electric residential use. Stop subsidizing charities selected by CCOB. Broomfield FISH, Refuge, Precious Child, Imagine etc. (15 subsidised charities!) may be worthy causes, but don’t force me to support them through taxation. That is my choice. And stop telling me that councillors deserve higher salaries!

Yes, we will come together and resolve this debacle, but never think that there are no consequences. There must be change, and that begins with your collective departure.

Dr. Bruno, a scientist who retired after more than 40 years of research, enjoys writing books and editing scientific journals, as well as working with wood and metal.