And who doesn’t love Vail?

Going to seminars and having someone else pay for it is as American as that room service club sandwich. It’s traditional, too — it has been going on since 1789. (It’s in the new book, "Plain, Honest Men," by Richard Beeman; the Founding Fathers convened in Philadelphia, but for most part, the people back home picked up the tab.)

City officials joined 600 of their peers at the Colorado Municipal League meeting, its 87th annual last week. Its executive director defended it as a "quality conference." The noisy part: It was in Vail. The noisier part: the cost, $5,359.

County officials, too, attended a similar seminar hosted by Colorado Counties Inc. It was also in Vail, earlier in June. Their cost: $3,445.

We don't necessarily believe our city and county officials were down by the pool drinking pina coladas all day long, but when you mix "public officials" and "Vail resort" and include the "taxpayers' tab" in a news story, it's as unpalatable with the constituents back home like those anchovies on a Caesar salad.

Call it bad timing (the recession) or a bad draw (Vail is a member of the CML and the sites rotate). Still, you have to question the expense as so many are battening down the hatches.

It’s likely our officials came away with some useful contacts, or interesting points of study that’s applicable here in Montrose, where they serve the public. We don't disagree with the benefits of attending (a good investment, education-wise), but we do question the importance of sending so many. Particularly when considering how the city earlier this year put its employees on furloughs to meet a leaner budget.

Size matters. The city of Montrose sent seven to last week's conference. To put it in perspective, Denver sent five. Montrose County also sent seven officials to its conference two weeks ago. It's overkill. Couldn’t a few — at least for this year — handle the job of many? Couldn't fewer representatives report back to the larger group? Many seminars also follow up by posting the information online as an additional resource.

There is value in attending, but given the timing, as in times are tough, ouch.

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The Breakdown

Colorado Municipal League Conference

Location: Vail, Vail Marriott Resort & Spa

Who attended: (7) Mayor Jose Abeyta; City Council Members Kathy Ellis, Erica Lewis Kennedy and Gail Marvel; City Manager Mary Watt, City Attorney Russ Duree and part-time legal employee John Kappa. City council member Ed Ulibarri stayed home.

Expense Summary

Registration — $950

Lodging — $1,935

Meals/Tips — $296

Mileage — $703

Parking — $10

City Council Total (4): $3,894

Registration — $38

Lodging — $0

Meals/Tips — $0

Mileage — $0

Parking — $0

City Manager Total (1): $38

Registration — $418

Lodging — $954

Meals/Tips — $55

Mileage — $0

Parking — $0

City Attorney Total (2): $1,427

Total cost: $5,359

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Colorado Counties Inc. Conference

Location: Vail, Vail Cascade

Who attended: (7) County Commissioners David White, Ron Henderson and Gary Ellis; Public Affairs Director Ana Mostacerro; County Manager Joe Kerby; Health and Human Services Director Peg Mewes; and Environmental Health Manager Richard Thompson. Note: Mewes and Thompson joined the conference for just one day. Thompson did not attend the full conference or stay in the hotel.

Fees: Registration was $335 per person, including meals. Lodging was $100 per person, per day.

Total cost: $3,445

Sources: The city of Montrose and Montrose County