Cascadia anger dominates Greeley public comment as residents demand transparency and a public vote

Anger over the Cascadia and Catalyst project dominated public comment Tuesday, with multiple Greeley residents telling the City Council that secrecy and a one-sided process have broken public trust and should force leaders either to back away from the project or let voters decide it. Speaker after speaker returned to the same themes: transparency, communication, accountability and whether the city is still listening to residents.

Rachel Berdan urged council to "take the off-ramp," arguing that moving ahead could expose the city to far greater costs than walking away now. She said council appeared to have already decided the project's future and questioned whether decision-makers were relying on independent analysis. Rhonda Solis said her concerns had not changed since the start of the debate, calling the proposal too risky and arguing that a council-appointed commission was hearing only from the city and council, not from a balanced set of voices. Solis said residents had "lost trust" and asked council to include the public in any next steps.

Peggy Sue Squares said the project should be put "on the ballot and let the city vote for it," saying that even a loss at the polls would at least show that the community had spoken. Mary Metzger echoed the broader frustration, telling council that "trust is broken" and that residents keep showing up with ideas and concerns only to feel ignored. She said people spend hours preparing comments and attending meetings, but speaking to council can feel "like screaming into a void."

Bill Gillard also brought the discussion back to Cascadia while criticizing city spending more broadly. He said he was watching closely for the Colorado Supreme Court ruling tied to the petition effort and told council to "get back to the citizens." Steve Teets likewise warned that pushing forward would deepen distrust in the community.

Later in the meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Melissa McDonald said she and Council Member Johnny Olson had been "very vocal about the lack of communication" surrounding the Cascadia and Catalyst project. Reading a statement she said reflected the views of the full council, McDonald said the city is looking ahead under new leadership in its Communications and Engagement Department and wants to focus on "building trust, strengthening relationships, and fostering open, transparent communication."