It wasn’t easy…between Eagle County’s cloud cover and inexperience with Solar Lens Filters….but the ECT folks manage to get a few interesting photos from last Sunday afternoons Solar Eclipse. 

The ECT’s favorite photo is below, just CLICK ON IT to enlarge it!

Below are a few more of the ECT’s Solar Eclipse photos that turned out mostly OK!

Solar Eclipse – from Eagle County, Colorado – Sunday, May 20th 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Our Eagle County Public School District’s Superintendent – Dr. Sandra Smyser (photo) – serves at the pleasure of your Elected School Board.  It is that Board that approves Dr. Smyser’s annual salary, benefits and contract.

Do you believe Dr. Smyser – is being compensated fairly at $192,384.74/yr. plus bonus? (Click Here)  Smyser’s salary number from last year – 2011.

The ECT thought our readers might like to see how other (close by) Public School Superintendents are compensated.

Case in point…the Roaring Fork School District (RE-1 includes Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Carbondale) recently hired their new Public School Superintendent – Dr. Rob Stein.

No doubt Dr. Stein’s contract includes a Bonus based on his performance in RE1.  Per below Dr. Stein’s salary is a $7,000/yr increase over the previous Superintendents.

ECT extends our “hat-tip” to Glenwood Spring’s Post Independent newspaper for bringing Dr. Stein’s public record salary numbers to light.  For a complete copy of that Article from the Post Independent (Click Here)

FACTOID:  For the overwhelming number of Eagle County Property Tax payers….our Eagle County Public School District (RE-50J) has the Highest Mill Levy (21.601) on your annual Property Tax bill…that assures our School District (RE-50J) the largest “itemized amount” on your bill goes to them.

FACTOID:  Because of our School District’s $233 Million dollars (Click Here) of outstanding School District Bond Debt – it also means our District can (they just did) automatically increase our Mill Levy number (because of dropping Property Tax values).  TABOR (read: voting) does not apply to the District’s legal obligation to pay the required debt service on that existing Bond Debt.

Eagle County Commissioner Candidate Johnie Rosenfeld is in a GOP Primary race/election with his opponent – Jeff Layman.  This GOP Primary Election is set for the last Tuesday in June – June 26th 2012.  The General County Commissioner election is set for November 6th 2012 – where two of the three Eagle County County Commissioner seats are up for grabs.

The ECT is strictly neutral in this Primary Election.

The ECT is happy to provide information to Primary Voters about each Candidate in that race, using the advantages of the technology our online News Publication provides.

Here in is own words is a video that Candidate Johnie Rosenfeld made to introduce himself to our Community – and ask for your support.

ECT readers that have a Facebook account (they’re free) can contact Johnie at his Facebook page by (Clicking Here)

Candidate Forum – All are Welcome!

When:  This Thursday, May 24th 6:30-8:30PM

Where:  Edwards – in the Auditorium at the (Ambulance Center) otherwise known as the Eagle County Health Services District – 1055 Edwards Village Blvd.

Commissioner and Congressional Candidates that will be Speaking (alphabetical order)

- Jeff Layman Candidate – Eagle County Commissioner

- Kevin Lundberg – Candidate Congressional District 2 (running against Jared Polis)

- Shayne Mitchell Candidate Eagle County Commissioner

- Johnie Rosenfeld – Candidate Eagle County Commissioner

- Eric Weissman – Candidate Congressional District 2 (running against Jared Polis)

For more information contact Ms. Vickie Deacon (W 970.290.7409) or via Vickie’s email -  VDeaconArt—at-—GMail.Com

Candidates Jeff Layman and Johnie Rosenfeld are competing for your Primary vote (GOP registered voters only) on Tuesday, June 26th 2012 as well as GOP Congressional Primary Candidates Lundberg v. Weissman.  After that June Primary – the General Election for Eagle County Commissioner and U.S. Congress is the same day as the Presidential Election – Tuesday, November 6th 2012.

ECT’s good friend – Darrel Weigert was in a very serious automobile accident this past Sunday (20MAY) morning.  Reports received at the ECT indicated Darrel was riding alone in Darryl’s beautifully maintained – British Racing Green, Triumph Spitfire (photo below) when it was hit on Rte. 6 (driving inbound to Minturn) by a truck making a U-Turn near the Forest Ranger Station at Dowd Junction.  Reports continued that Darrel’s injuries included…several broken bones (leg, back, facial).  More reports received at the ECT Sunday afternoon stated that…Darrel was on his way into Surgery at the Vail Valley Medical Center/Hospital when the Hospital’s Elevator system went “inoperative” due to the Hospital’s water fire sprinkler system – inadvertently set off during scheduled maintenance rendering the Hospitals elevators unusable/unsafe – Sunday afternoon…more details when the ECT gets them.  Thank goodness Darrel is still with us!  That was a close one!

ECT encourages “maximum safety awareness” when operating your vehicle in Eagle County – on Sunday mornings.  And every other times driving as well.

Happy News this week!

Our Eagle River Fire Protection District had two new Firefighters sworn in last week!  When you see Jared Baughn and Luke Goss around town this week be sure to congratulate them on completing their Fire Protection training!  ERFPD Chief Karl Bauer swore in the newest members to our Eagle River Fire Protection team.

Also this week – at the Eagle River Fire Protection District – outgoing Chairman of the Board Ed O’Brien was succeeded by new Board Chairman (and current Board member – Jennifer Cartmell-Hays.  These Board members are Elected positions from the voters who reside in the Eagle River Fire Protection District.  Congratulations form the ECT to Ms. Jennifer and outgoing Chairman Ed O’Brien for a job well done by Ed since Ed completed his Elected term!

7PM, this Tuesday, May 22 can’t get here fast enough for the ECT gang.  ECT knows others in Eagle County’s indigenous populace feel that way too.

The most interesting thing the ECT learned last week – is that by Thursday (17MAY), last week MORE TOTAL VOTES had been cast on the issue of ERS v2.0 – than in the entire Eagle Town Board election last month.

Sorry Brandi.  Seems folks in Eagle are more charged up about voting on “issues” than for any particular candidate.

While the ECT remains neutral on the ERS issue – the ECT will predict that the total votes cast will have a least a (2-1) “total votes cast margin” over their Town Board election from last month.

The election outcome?  Yes vs. No?  Too close to call for the ECT.

Election Tip:  No doubt the official Eagle vote counters are very nice folks – they have never been known for their “speed” at counting votes.  Given that last months Eagle Election results weren’t posted online till ~3AM – and this election will no doubt have approximately twice as many votes to count…the ECT recommends you got to bed and not bother checking online election results till the “dawn’s early light” Wednesday morning.

Dateline:  AM, Friday, May 18th 2012 – this just into the EagleCountyTimes.Com

Re:  Eagle River Fire Protection District (area served – Tennessee Pass to Wolcott, Colorado)

From: Michael Warmuth,   ERFPD Battalion Chief

Date: May 17, 2012 11:04:32 PM CDT
To: Notification for station 5 close and open >
Subject: Intermittent Station Closure

As you know, Eagle River Fire Protection District is no longer able to afford to keep all of its five Fire and Emergency Response Stations open 24 hours/day, 365 days/year. This decision is a result of the loss of approximately 25% of its property tax revenue beginning in 2012.

Consequently today, Friday, May 18th, 2012, the District will be forced to TEMPORARILY close for approximately 2 days the Minturn Fire Station, which serves the Community of Minturn and the Cordillera Fire Station which serves the Community of Cordillera.

Our goal remains to arrive as quickly as possible to fires and other emergencies. However, anytime we are forced to temporarily close a Fire and Emergency Response Station, no matter where it is located, that closure places an additional burden on the rest of our response system, from TennesseePass to Wolcott, potentially resulting in longer response times.

We regret having to take these measures but simply have no choice. We want to keep you informed of how the District’s budgetary constraints affect the services you receive and will update you regarding future intermittent station closures as they may have to occur.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Fire Chief, Karl Bauer at his email address    kbauer -at- eagleriverfire.org

Eagle River Fire Protection District

Service Before Self

Michael Warmuth, Battalion Chief

970 977-1019  EMail:  MWarmuth –at-  eagleriverfire.org