No trust left for elected officials

When the city of Clovis changes the zoning on the golf course in Colonial Park so they are able to serve liquor, the cost to the city for that liquor license will be minimal — less than $100.

If a local businessman tries to purchase a liquor license, the cost can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Each time a local municipality opens an establishment that serves liquor, it decreases the value of the local businessman’s license. It also makes it that much more difficult for the businessman to operate his establishment at a profit. But that’s not what bothers me.

When the city completes the purchase of the golf course, the golf course will be taken off the county tax roles. The golf course paid $10,000 in property taxes in 2010. The city will pay $2.8 million for the golf course. Taxes for a property of that value would be $24,000 in 2012.

The county will not receive anything in 2012 because the golf course will be exempt from property taxes. But that’s not what bothers me.

Sharna Johnson’s front page story in Friday’s CNJ indicates to me that a group of local residents felt that they had to contact an unelected group of activists (the High Plains Patriots) for help in bringing their concerns to city officials. I can only think of a few reasons why any citizen would not take his concerns directly to duly elected officials. They are afraid to raise the issue; they do not believe the city commission will listen to their concerns; they do not trust the city commission.

That’s what bothers me.