CREEDE – A petition to recall Creede City Mayor Jeffery Larson and Creede Board Trustee Lori Dooley was approved earlier this summer through due process and trustees approved the ballot during the meeting held on Aug. 5.

The ballot asks Creede residents to vote on whether or not to recall the mayor on grounds as follows, “Jeffrey Larson has run city meetings in a manner that seems intended to discourage public attendance and participation. He has supported recent significant water and sewer rate increases without substantial financial evidence to support such immediate increases causing financial distress to many residents.

The ballot language continues listing the reasons for the recall and also states the following in defense of Larson against the recall, “The BOT raised rates the least amount allowed after getting the results of a rate study by the city engineering firm. The recommended increase was several times higher than the rate implemented. Public Comment was added to the city meeting agenda after I was elected Mayor and Clyde Dooley, the former city manager, pointed out the previous mayor discouraged public participation.”

Regarding Creede Board Trustee Lori Dooley the ballot states that the grounds for recall are as follows, “Lori Dooley has supported recent significant water and sewer rate increases without substantial financial evidence to support such immediate increases causing financial distress to many residents. Lori Dooley has continued to support reappointment of Louis Fineberg as city manager who has actively pursued litigation using public funds against local businesses, individuals and property owners for over five years instead of negotiating matters in a civil and professional manner which has unnecessarily cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars putting the city financial stability at risk.”

In defense of the actions partially lined out on the ballot, it states, “Thank you in advance for your careful consideration of this ballot and for casting your vote based on factual information. The theories, rumors and mis statements about my record are untrue. Please reach out if you would like to discuss any issues. The petition wrongly states that I backed rate increases without financial evidence. In fact, all four Trustees unanimously commissioned a GMS Engineering study, which justified the increase. The approved rate hike was lower than recommended and passed with unanimous support.”

The petition for recall was approved by Creede Town Clerk Josie Bielenberg per state policy and requirements. “The recall petition for Mayor required a minimum of 25 valid signatures. 55 signatures were submitted, 18 were disqualified, leaving 37 valid signatures and rendering the recall petition initially sufficient. The recall petition for Trustee Dooley required a minimum of 32 valid signatures. 55 signatures were submitted, 14 were disqualified, leaving 41 valid signatures and rendering the recall petition initially sufficient.”

Each question and rebuttal on the ballot are accompanied by a choice on the recall and an option to vote in a replacement Mayor, Erica Roden and replacement Trustee Tom Roden.

The full and approved ballot can be viewed on the City of Creede website at www.cityofcreede.gov.