City Council should set standards

As someone who has both led a city department and worked as a City internal auditor, I care deeply about how the city handles oversight. Right now, the process around the city auditor is raising serious concerns — and the public is right to be paying attention.

Council has said they’re worried that the scrutiny around the CPA requirement has cast doubt on how they are doing their job and the integrity of the person they chose as city auditor. That’s understandable — nobody wants their credibility questioned. And yes, some anonymous accusations have been out of bounds.

But let’s be clear: Many of the concerns are valid and deserve a stronger response than what we’ve seen so far.

I was encouraged by Council’s decision to shift from just eliminating the CPA requirement to now requiring a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). It’s a step in the right direction. But the current auditor has limited audit experience, and even pursuing a certification now doesn’t make up for what’s lacking. A better solution would have been to hire someone who already had the credentials, experience, and no ties to departments they might later need to audit.

Even more troubling is how the job requirements were changed — apparently with input from the person currently in the role. That’s not how oversight should work. The Council should be setting standards, not rubber-stamping what’s handed to them.

City Council seems to think they have hired a leader. But what leader makes a commitment and then reneges on it a few months later? Or has a quarter of their staff leave during that same time frame. Or answers an audit question with an apparent guess — which she did in the last audit committee meeting (fortunately city finance was there to provide a thorough and correct answer).

The city auditor is an at-will position. If the fit isn’t right—and it’s not—it’s okay to reset. The audit committee should independently review the job description and set real qualifications. Then the hiring process could be reopened.

This isn’t about politics or personalities. It’s about protecting one of the most important checks on city government.

If you’re concerned too, I encourage you to reach out to the Council at AllCouncil@coloradosprings.gov and let them know. Public trust only works when we demand accountability.

Carl Nehls

Colorado Springs

City’s bad roads

I’ve been wondering why our tax money, red light camera dollars, pot money, and other fees etc. don’t go to fixing roads? I thought roads would be repaired during the warm months but that never happened. Holes get patched over and over after enough people break their struts and shocks. But never repaved.

I feel sorry for motorcyclists whose lives are constantly in danger driving through the minefields of of ruts and holes.

Kevin Coleman

Colorado Springs

A needed return

For almost 200 years our nation acknowledged our Creator God, and honored His institutions designed for the welfare of mankind; sanctity of life, man and woman marriages, family producing children where parents develop good character in their children, personal responsibility, respect for the law, government that protects its citizens and provides justice, individual meritocracy and good work ethic. Integral in this are leaders of integrity, honesty, wisdom, respecters of God and the truths of his reality. The framers of our Constitution recognized the necessity of a virtuous citizenry. We had our flaws but worked to eliminate them. And God blessed our nation, making it the envy of the world, able to stand against the evils of the world.

Then, in the 1960s, we decided we did not need God anymore. We began tearing down all His institutions; traditional faithful marriages, family, personal responsibility, dignity of work, absolute moral truths. Our society became secular, no more God to bother or guilt us. Personal autonomy has become our new god. We worship Self. We can no longer recognize the truths of reality: only two genders; no transgenderism; life begins at conception; abortion kills innocent life; crime requires justice; marijuana is a gateway to hard drugs; vulgar profanity from dark hearts; man cannot save God’s planet; big bureaucratic government (Marxism) wants to control our lives. The result is violence, vulgarity, hatred, no personal responsibility, no respect for life, no moral absolute right or wrong. God’s wisdom creates order and blessing, humanity’s creates chaos and destruction.

The healing of our society begins in each individual heart by acknowledging and honoring God, turning from our current ways and returning to the biblical principles our ancestors once held. Almighty God will not bless a nation that does not honor Him and His designs (Psalm 2; Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 128:1; Job 28:28).

Ted Cox

Colorado Springs

Survival tips for Oregon

How to live in Portland, Ore.: With the ongoing anti-ICE violence in Portland, many still choose to live in that beautiful green-scaped city.

As a Portland native now living in the Springs, here are my survival suggestions: Live in the West Hills. Never go downtown unless you really need an aged steak at the Ringside West. Hang out at Cannon Beach, Mt. Hood, and Bend, over in the high desert part of Oregon. Ski Breckenridge in the winter and visit your condo in Hawaii year around. Select woke mayors and city councilmen who will turn their other cheeks on local crime. Send your children to Catlin Gabel school and then the hell out of town for college. Insulate yourself from war zones, change your lifestyle to be safe.

And so long as you follow these directions, cover your ears, and hang out with the right leftist friends, you should be fine. Oh yeah and bring an umbrella.

Karen Cacy

Colorado Springs