Rooney Valley News

Never a dull moment at the Green Mountain Water and Sanitation Board.  Thats for sure.

1. Plan B.

2. Board counsel Timmons “fires” counsel Gessler.

3. Jeff Baker will likely decide the fate of the District.

1. Plan B

The Rooney Valley developers, Big Sky (CDN), Cardel Homes and the Three Dinos have been working on “Plan B”, really since 2018.

Plan A – beat the board into submission.

Plan B – take over the board      

(and control the Green Mountain board just like the Rooney Valley developers controlled the board that signed the May 8, 2018 Big Sky IGA)

From the time the new board was elected May 8, 2018,  the Rooney Valley developers used the first attorney and manager  to undercut the brand new board members, Jeff Baker, Alex Plotkin and Adrienne Hanagan.

The new board was openly ridiculed by the former manager.  There are bcc emails between the former manager, Adam Paul and one of the former directors critical of the new board.

The former manager went on about how great Charles Norton (attorney for Big Sky) was – at the same time Mr. Norton was aggressively threatening the new board members with litigation.

Adam Paul went on facebook to openly criticize the new board members.

So it is no surprise that the Rooney Valley developers, Adam Paul, and others are orchestrating the impending recall campaign against  the embattled board members who . . . . by the way . . . just won the litigation eliminating Plan A.

And, to their credit, the new proposed “leadership” of the board – Christopher Arlen, and several of their anointed spokespersons, have made their mission clear: 

to provide sewer service outside the boundary of the district.

To provide Big Sky and the Rooney Valley developers with sewer service.

Even though the Board won the lawsuit, Mr. Arlen and his group argue that Green Mountain should still sign a new IGA with the Rooney Valley developers.  Say, what?

Why?  Because they believe, or are motivated to say, what is good for the Rooney Valley developers is good for Green Mountain.  

That has always been Adam Paul’s motto.  And look at how successful he has been, rising from his membership on the Green Mountain Board to Mayor of Lakewood.  The Rooney Valley developers have been very kind to him and his campaigns.  And the “powers that be” share the same goal.

One of those “powers that be” is a contingent of the local Democratic Party.  For some reason, several of the Democratic Party leaders are fervent advocates for aggressive development of Rooney Valley and limiting public input.  Adam Paul, Solterra resident and frequent spokesperson for the Solterra board, Devon Neil, and Christopher Arlen for example are all forceful advocates for developing as much and as quickly as they can.

And that may be what the public wants.

But, there is a right way to go about it and a wrong way.  Open debate about the substantive issues in the context of an election is the right way.  Slinking about in the shadows with false facts and false character assasinations the wrong way.

Christopher Arlen and others (Brenda Bronson, Mike Mueller, Imara and Kathe Odenweller) have not been shy about asserting their ambition to take over the Green Mountain board.

Nothing wrong with demanding resignations and initiating a recall.   Of course, its nice to have a good reason to do so.  But, they are entitled to do it for no reason at all if they want to – just because they don’t like someone.

The only substantive reason they have stated so far is:  “what is good for the Rooney Valley developers is good for the residents of Green Mountain Water and Sanitation District” .   They can run on their platform shouting it from the roof tops:  “what is good for the Rooney Valley developers is good for the residents of Green Mountain Water and Sanitation District“.

And the voters decide.

But resorting to false character assasinations  and false facts in order to gain some advantage is simply wrong.

Hopefully the residents can tell the difference.

2.  Timmons “fires” Gessler

In yet another reckless and apparently personality driven move, Board Counsel Timmons has “fired” Scott Gessler.  You might ask how she can “fire” counsel who has entered an appearance for the board, paid by the board and represented the board.

Isn’t that up to the board.

It is.  But what has been consistent throughout is that Counsel Timmons has essentially appointed herself as the leader of the District and continues to dominate the policy making decisions by the board.  She demands absolute control.   That is very different from what counsel are supposed to do.  Counsel are supposed to work for the board, not the other way around.

Recent examples include appearing with Director Hanagan at Director Hanagan’s “private” public meeting, against the direction of the board.

Along with Director Hanagan, openly bullying the board from reviewing her bills and supporting the position that reviewing her bills is somehow a personal attack against her.

Along with Director Hanagan, unilaterally setting up and attending a meeting with the plaintiffs to discuss settlement, against the direction of the board.

Along with Director Hanagan, brow beating the board to settle the litigation by entering into a new IGA with the Rooney Valley developers

Taking Director Hanagan’s side in the dispute with other board members for apparently personal reasons

And now unilaterally “firing” one of the District’s attorneys, without obtaining permission of the board.

3.  Jeff Baker will likely decide the future of the District

For those who have been closely following these issues the past 8 months or so, there are a couple of clear points.

First, Adrienne Hanagan is desperately trying to remain chairperson and run the meetings.  Two of the board members have openly stated it is time for a change.  If you have attended any of the meetings, you would likely agree.  Director Hanagan brings many talents and commitments to her work.  Running the meetings is not a strong point.

Second, Counsel Timmons has chosen sides in the debate over who should be chairperson and run the meetings.  She has completely alienated, openly attacked and undercut at least two members of the board – her own client – and often a third.   There is a complete breakdown in trust.  It is time for new counsel.  The board has options for new Title 32 counsel (I am not one of those options) and Mr. Gessler would likely be available to carry on with the litigation.

Third, Jeff Baker is the swing vote.  If he decides to support a change in the board leadership and if he decides to support a change in board counsel, it will happen.  If  he doesn’t, it won’t.

And with those two decisions likely rests the future of the District.

Christopher Arlen and the pro Rooney Valley development league are breaking down the doors and a contingent of the local Democratic Party led by Adam Paul and Devon Neil is planning to fund a recall campaign.

Director Hanagan and Counsel Timmons  fully support the resignation/recall campaign to “get rid” of the same directors – Jeff Baker, Alex Plotkin and Karen Morgan.  They are doing what they can to facilitate the pressure and harassment of the same embattled directors.

If two or three of these board members resign or lose a recall election, then it is likely Christoper Arlen and his group will be appointed to replace the exiting board members.

And, a safe prediction says, within 30 days Green Mountain will be in a new IGA with the Rooney Valley developers.

Plan B.

To the residents and voters of the Green Mountain Water and Sanitation District,  right now there are three or four people who are “speaking for the residents” (Brenda Bronson, Mike Mueller, Imara and Kathe Odenweller).  If you like what they are saying and agree, do nothing.

If you don’t like what they are saying and disagree, you need to engage and support Jeff, Alex and Karen.

Otherwise you may have won the litigation but you are about to completely reverse course and it was all a waste of time and money.

Your District.  Your choice.  But be clear.  Doing nothing is also a choice.

John Henderson