[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING STEVE RIPPY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Steve Rippy for 
helping to build a successful assessor's office in Garfield County, 
Colorado, and to wish him luck on his next endeavor as New Castle Town 
Administrator.
  Steve served as Garfield County assessor for almost seven years, and 
his total time in the office amounts to twenty years. In addition, he 
served as New Castle Mayor for seven years and as Councilman for eight 
years. Steve was also a member of the Town Planning and Zoning 
Commission for fifteen years.
  Steve reflected on his time as Garfield County assessor, telling Mike 
McKibbin of The Daily Sentinel, ``I think I'm proudest of a well-
organized and efficient office with appraisals of property.'' Steve's 
satisfaction is certainly well founded, as the ``significant reduction 
in the number of appeals (of reappraisals)'' during his time there 
reflects. Certainly related, too, are Steve's communication skills. 
``We're very willing to listen to people,'' he said.
  In addition, Steve demonstrated his ability to overcome adversity. 
While the assessor's office employed sixteen people when Steve began 
working in 1981, they lost nearly one third of their workers when the 
oil shale bust forced the office to lose five employees. However, under 
Steve's direction, the assessor's office bounced back nicely. ``Now 
we're almost back to where we were and I think we're able to handle so 
many more new subdivisions,'' he said.
  Certainly, Mr. Speaker, Steve Rippy is an excellent community servant 
and a skilled leader. I would like to congratulate him for a job well 
done, and to wish him well on his new career.

                          ____________________