Silverton Colorado City Hall Photograph by Janice Pariza

Silverton Colorado City Hall

by Janice Pariza

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Tapestry

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Throw Pillow

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Fleece Blanket

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Bath Towel

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Ornament

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Jigsaw Puzzle

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Weekender Tote Bag

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Zip Pouch

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Portable Battery Charger

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Yoga Mat

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Sticker

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iPhone Case

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Beach Towel

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Round Beach Towel

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Weekender Tote Bag

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Coffee Mug

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Men's Clothing

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Women's Clothing

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Youth Clothing

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Toddler Clothing

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Baby Clothing

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Title

Silverton Colorado City Hall

Artist

Janice Pariza

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The art of Silverton, Colorado. Kendall Mountain behind...
While searching for a description I found this to be of interest,
Sometimes the 'Old west' remains the same;
The message on the front door of Silverton's locked town hall is a sign of the times � unprecedented nasty, name-calling, political-feuding times.

The "Town Hall will be closed until further notice" poster went up Tuesday afternoon after two Silverton residents showed up there and yelled at two Silverton officials about a town-wide dispute. The officials called the sheriff. The irate citizens were ejected. And the fill-in town administrator abruptly shut down the 108-year-old town hall.

Silverton Standard & the Miner publisher Mark Esper said the closure marks an absurd low in the cabin fever-prone atmosphere of a town isolated by high mountain passes and distinguished by a highly opinionated citizenry.

"It's so embarrassing. This whole thing is just ridiculous," Esper said. "I see it as a Hatfield and McCoys thing."

Silverton, a historic mining town of 629 year-round residents, has been in the throes of a political potboiler for just over a year. It began when the town's longtime former public works director, Gilbert Archuleta, drew fire from some residents who accused him, among other things, of vindictively plowing walls of snow around their parked vehicles.

Residents split into pro-Gilbert and anti-Gilbert factions.

Archuleta, who is also the fire chief, was fired in June after he allegedly made some disparaging barroom comments about the then-town administrator. Archuleta denies insulting his boss. He also denies he ever buried cars.

The administrator was booted along with Archuleta, but the housecleaning only fanned the controversy.

"I've lived here all my life. I've seen this town divided before, but this time, I just don't know. It's terrible. It's not even funny," said Silverton postmistress Rebecca Rhoades.

The town has set a recall election Feb. 10 for a town board member who supported Archuleta's firing.

Another board member resigned recently. But efforts to replace her have been stymied by disagreement on the board. Six candidates for the vacant seat came before the board this week asking to be appointed, but the board deadlocked 3-3 on each candidate. That boiled the anger that exploded in the town hall this week.

Interim Silverton administrator Rick Garcia said the building shutdown doesn't mean that local government has ground to a halt. He said he is working behind the locked doors; citizens just aren't allowed in.

In the meantime, Archuleta is considering a lawsuit. He has also applied for his old job back. He said if he can't work in the town where he was born and has lived 57 years, he will have to move. He doesn't believe even that would stop the feuding that now makes it hard to socially navigate the three downtown blocks of Greene Street.

"This has smoldered until it exploded," Archuleta said. "And now it's a fire out of control. In my lifetime, I have never seen anything like it."

Garcia said he doesn't expect to reopen the town hall until some time this week when tempers simmer down and when some of the vacant town jobs can be filled. Half of the town's 13 full-time positions are currently vacant.

Esper said one of his distant readers opined this week that maybe a lack of oxygen in a town that sits at 9,318 feet has led to the current political nonsense. He said, if that is the case, there may be relief in sight.

"Our liquor store has begun selling bottled oxygen," Esper said.

Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957, nlofholm@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/nlofholm

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