Source: https://www.akronnewsreporter.com/2018/01/17/letter-to-editor-2/
Timestamp: 2019-07-18 15:44:01
Document Index: 88470394

Matched Legal Cases: ['§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§ 30', '§ 30']

PUBLISHED: January 17, 2018 at 8:57 am | UPDATED: April 24, 2019 at 10:14 am
I am saddened when reading a notice from Washington County Commissioners that they are closing the County Medical Clinic. The Akron Clinic is a satellite office of the Yuma hospital, it could be closed if it fails to meet Yuma Hospital needs, not the needs of Washington County citizens. Washington County Commissioners are bound by duty to Washington County not Yuma County.
Let it be known what is stated herein is not a reflection upon the EMT and Fire crews of Washington County, the Akron Clinic or Yuma hospital but only the responsibility of County Commissioners’ duty to ensure medical clinics are provided for the health and safety of the general public and protect quality of life as defined by the “Washington County Comprehensive Land Use Plan”.
Washington County Commissioners are bound under Duty of Care, a legal obligation based on a standard of reasonable care while performing an act that could foreseeably harm others. Furthermore, a requirement that a person act toward others and the public with watchfulness, attention, caution and prudence that a reasonable person in the circumstances would. So, what is the Commissioner’s DUTY to Washington county citizens? It’s defined in accordance with the “Washington County Master Plan” also known as the “Washington County Comprehensive Land Use Plan (https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/washingtoncounty/planning-and-zoning-2”) hereafter noted as Plan. Colorado Counties are required per Colorado State Law C.R.S. §§30-28-106 to have a Master Plan, (http://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-30-government-county/co-rev-st-sect-30-28-106.html).
The Plan states; “….. it is merely the steps to guide orderly growth within the county as well as provide for the health and safety of the general publicand, in so doing, enhance the overall quality of life for the County’s citizens which have come to know and treasure”. Under the Plan’s”Office/Industrial (Light)” paragraph it states; “Typical uses include insurance, real estate, bank and contractors’ offices, medical clinics, office parks, etc. ….. “. It further disturbs me that in Plan paragraph “Open Space/Recreational/Flood Plain” that private parks, golf courses and hiking trails seem to take priority over the health care, quality of life, of any county citizen since none of them have been closed. Also, see the Plan’s definition of”Community-Identity” it references “….. to protect the lifestyles of existing residents”.
The Commissioners when closing the medical clinic have failed in their duty of care to Washington County citizens and should knowingly foresee possible increase risk of harm to county citizens. As defined in the Plan demonstrated above, Commissioners will fail to provide for growth within the county based on your health, safety, overall quality of life, to protect known lifestyle for all and treasured by all especially for the elderly and our county children. Quality of life is a lifestyle and lifestyle as an adjective is the treatment of medical conditions, problems which influences a person’s quality of life.
Growing up in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s in Washington County I had access to four(4) medical doctors (Dr. Keller, Dr. Davey, Dr. Tedrick and Dr. Waski, a dentist (Dr. Meerfeld) and a great hospital, this is what I came to know and treasure. Very soon only a dentist will be left. Below table stats demonstrate We the People of Washington County’s ability in support of Doctors per population.
This is my opinion which is based on the “Washington County Comprehensive Land Use Plan”. Also, per Colorado State Law C.R.S. §§30-28-106 and C.R.S. §§30-28-131 “Planning commission responsibilities in a common geographic area.”
Colorado State Law C.R.S. §§30-28-106 states; “It is the duty of a county planning commission to make and adopt a master plan for the physical development of the unincorporated territory of the county.” “In 2007, the Colorado General Assembly adopted the Predictability in Planning Act, which revised C.R.S. §§ 30-28-106 and 31-23-206 to specifically state that the master plan of a local government constitutes an advisory document to guide land development decisions, but that the plan (or any part of it) may be made binding by including it in the local government’s adopted subdivision, zoning, platting, planned unit development (PUD), or other similar land development regulations after satisfying notice, due process, and hearing requirements for legislative or quasi-judicial processes as appropriate.”
Colorado Revised Statutes Title 30 Government County § 30-28-131Planning commission responsibilities in a common geographic area; “The regional planning commission shall have primary responsibility for those broad plans described in section 30-28-106(3) and surveys and studies described in section 30-28-107 which clearly affect the physical development of two or more governmental units. The district, county, or municipalplanning commission shall have primary responsibility for all other plans, surveys, and studies and implementation thereof in zoning, subdivision, housing, recreation, transportation, public works, health and safety, and other similar subjects.”
Commissioners, when accepting the position of County Commissioner you accepted responsibility to help those in Washington County by providing Washington County citizens’ a quality of life which consists of health, safety and growth. You cannot hope to promote a better county without ensuring or enriching the health and lifestyle of each individual in the county. So do not attempt to escape your responsibilities of tomorrow by evading them today.
Washington County citizens, silence is not an idea of a happy ending nor is the avoidance of responsibility or commitment to the American Dream (Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness). So speak out and let the Commissioners know that your health and safety is very important in reaching your American Dream. Eleanor Roosevelt once said “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” So let the commissioners know about your dreams and the future.