I am a new subscriber to your great newspaper. I just about fell off my earmark when I read the recent article about the Girdwood 2020 Annual Meeting. Senator Stevens explained at the meeting how a slip and fall motivated him to get federal money for the Winner Creek Trail. This means those of us who actually pay taxes got to shell out over a million dollars of our hard-earned money.
Wouldn’t it have been cheaper to just file a claim at his insurance company?
Whitham D. Reeve
Anchorage, AK
I think it is one of those “you have to walk a mile in another man’s shoes if you really want to know what it is they do” type of things with snow removal. There are always those that claim to know something about it or are quick to criticize, but the truth is it is not easy and can be a thankless and exhausting job. I have been operating snow removal equipment for the resort for the past ten years and have worked through some pretty major storms.There are times when it snows so hard here that just as you have finished clearing a given area it really needs to be cleared again, but you have to keep moving to keep up with everything equally. I was always impressed with the Redmond’s ability to keep up with their end of things while we at times struggled just to keep our limited parking lots and roads cleared. This winter has been easy—no major accumulations and some nice reprieves between storms. To draw any comparisons between this year and last does not make sense, there is no comparison.
In a big storm when it keeps snowing, snow removal crews have to keep going, keep working. You can’t exactly head home and take a nap and hope everything is better when you wake up. Sleeping in the cab of a piece of heavy equipment is sure not ideal and if that is what the Redmond boys had to do out of sheer exhaustion, then I feel bad for them. You can be sure they would have been much happier off the clock and in their own beds.
While it is important to save the community money, it is equally important to make sure that the job is getting done and the bottom line is that if it is snowing and guys are out there working around the clock to keep the snow cleared, you are going to have to pay them. The Redmond’s have done a great job not only with snow removal, but also in helping to build this community and we owe them our thanks.
And our streets this year? Passable, but, in fact, poorly maintained.
Perry Mollan
Girdwood
I would like to come to the aid of a Girdwood resident that seems to be under attack from some disgruntled citizens. Jim Henderson whom was elected to the GBOS seat he holds has done more for the taxpayers of Girdwood than anyone before. He got money back for the Girdwood Volunteer Fire Department that Bill Chadwick has been trying to get someone on the GBOS to help him for years. Jim has saved a huge sum of money on the out of control roads problem you have been subject to for many years. He has gotten the Municipality of Anchorage to give the city of Girdwood numerous supplies that no one had ever attempted to get before.
Mr. Henderson has taken his GBOS role to a higher level than most by creating new friendships with the MOA powers to be and spending many hours a week down at city hall fighting for Girdwood.
Now a few select people who are unhappy have decided to run a smear campaign against Mr. Henderson. I would love to name those people here, but I won’t. I have sat on the GBOS for the last three years and watched all this transpire. If my mother would not have died this winter, I would still be there as the GBOS Chair. The current board is doing a wonderful job under the watchful eyes of Tim Cabana. I think they have dealt with a lot of huge issues and drama caused by a few discontents that always want it their way. Girdwood is growing and growth brings about change and that in turn makes certain people unhappy and these people will have to get over it.
John Byrne, the owner of Alyeska Resort, is going to change the face of Girdwood as we know it and the old timers that think they have an entitlement are going to have a rude awakening.
So Girdwood needs to get ready to move on and leave Jim Henderson and others that are doing the right think alone. Remember St Matthew 7:1-2.
Nicholas Danger
former GBOS Chairman
General Foreman
Las Vegas Paving Inc.
In response to Eben Stone‘s letter in the last edition. He states, “So, keep your judgments regarding Girdwood Board of Supervisor Jim Henderson. None of us knows what happened at that meeting.”
When the Redmond’s accused Jim Henderson of making the worst kind of racial slurs. Mr. Stone, I guess since I was at that meeting, I don‘t need to keep my opinion to myself.
First of all, I am not an employee of H. R. Redmond Company. I was asked to sit in at the meeting as a non bias observer and because of my 40 years experience with operating heavy equipment and snow removal. I observed that if anyone even had a different opinion than Mr. Henderson, he would respond by raising his voice so loud, almost to a scream, that on at least three occasions he was asked, in a normal voice, by Bob Redmond to stop yelling and lower his voice. At no time did I ever see anyone at that meeting but Mr. Henderson act aggressive?
Mr. Henderson walked out of the meeting yelling racial slurs which were brought up to John Gallup, GBOS Chair at the time, who approached him a few days later, not a year later, as you stated Mr. Stone.
You also state that Bob Redmond brought up the racial slurs after they lost the bid for the current road contract, which is not true. They did not even bid this contract, so how could they lose it?
I’ve known Bob Redmond since he was born, and I’ve never known him to be anything but honest and ethical.I for one, think that the vindictive, bigoted actions of Mr. Henderson are completely unacceptable and he should be removed from the GBOS immediately.
As an elected official Mr. Henderson should be held accountable for his actions. Do you really want a bigot and a liar representing Girdwood?
Andrew Hibbs
Girdwood, AK
In regards to the letter from Eben Stone published in the Feb. 21, 2008 Turnagain Times, I would like to take this opportunity to rebut the following statements: Firstly, the meeting Mr. Stone refers to with Mr. Henderson and H.R. Redmond Co., Inc. to address the December 2006 snowplow invoice may have had some heated debate; there was never any cause for Mr. Henderson to fear for his physical safety.
Secondly, to imply H.R. Redmond Co., Inc. charged the Municipality of Anchorage for time spent repairing machinery is unfounded and incorrect. All maintenance hours for equipment has always been paid by H.R. Redmond Co., Inc. and has never been part of any invoice submitted to the municipality. We firmly stand by the hours submitted. It was an unusual winter and all our employees worked long and hard. To be accused of “bilking” our community by overcharging for hours worked is reprehensible.
Thirdly, in reference to Mr. Stone’s statement that H.R. Redmond Co., Inc. caused unnecessary inconvenience to Girdwood residents due to their practice of “floating the blade when plowing the streets“, he should know that we have never used this plow technique in the seven years of plowing snow in Girdwood.
We would also like to ask Mr. Stone why he thinks we would be using Portage gravel for sanding? All sanding product for the winter have always been purchased from Anchorage Sand & Gravel. The fact we purchased this product from A.S. & G. is to adhere to the contract. However, because of delays in approving the contract, we were not able to purchase the aggregate at the summer rates.
H.R. Redmond Co., Inc. was awarded a three year contract in late October of 2006. At the end of the first year of the contract, we were allowed the option to renew. At this time we are allowed to make increases in the line items of the contract, which we did. These increases were denied and the contract was put up for bid once again. While we were given the opportunity to submit a bid for the new contract, we decided to not bid any further for Girdwood road maintenance. This can be documented through the municipality purchasing department. In closing H.R. Redmond Co., Inc. would like to say thank you to the community of Girdwood. It has been a privilege to serve you for so many years. We would hope the negativity played out in the local news would come to an end. We have strived hard in Girdwood for many years to establish a company based on good honest work.
Jean S. Redmond
Girdwood, AK
In the Feb. 7 and Feb. 21 editions of the Turnagain Times, there was a main article and a lengthy letter to the editor concerning issues between the former roads contractor, Bob Redmond and Girdwood Board of Supervisor Roads Supervisor Jim Henderson.
The initial lead story had a headline on the back page of the Feb. 7 article “Former roads maintenance contractor berates GBOS members.” Berate, as defined in Webster’s Dictionary follows: “to scold or condemn vehemently and at length.”
Bob Redmond’s presentation to the GBOS Jan. 21 was to inform them why they did not care to renew their road contract bid. Mr. Redmond’s concerns were laid out to the GBOS and the Girdwood community—not fitting with the description “berating.”
In my 30 plus years of interactions with Bob Redmond, he has consistently acted in a calm, thoughtful and honest manner.
Robert Hammel
Girdwood, AK