Every year is a mixed bag, and 2023 was no exception. On balance, though, life in Southwest Colorado has to be seen as pretty good. Moreover, there is reason to believe that will continue in 2024.
Part of that is the pleasure of watching local government against the backdrop of the increasingly dysfunctional situation at the national level. We all love to complain, but things around here really do work pretty well.
Not that we are immune to tragedy. Most notable for 2023 was the murder, just weeks ago, of Cortez Police Sgt. Michael Moran. It was a senseless and brutal act that touched everyone in the community and beyond. It was also a reminder for the rest of us that emergency responders – acting in our defense – face that sort of risk every day. There really is no such thing as a routine traffic stop.
But Southwest Colorado also has a lot of good going on. And those things are happening at all levels.
At the top of La Plata County’s list is the creation of a new health department and the dissolution of the old one. This is seen as a healthy step all around.
The county is also adopting new oil and gas regulations, which are projected to be the strongest on the Western Slope. The commissioners stress, however, that the new regulations will not kill the industry.
Then too, the county has budgeted for expanding broadband coverage, fire protection and mitigation, continued cleanup from the pandemic, mental health services and more. And of course there is the never-ending story of roads and bridges.
Montezuma County is likewise active. Two county commissioner seats will be before the voters in 2024. And the county is looking at the idea of adopting – for the first time – a countywide sales tax. That could be necessary to counter declining revenue from carbon dioxide production.
The city of Cortez is busy, too. Besides its regular City Council election coming in April, the city is putting together a new land use code.
But perhaps the best aspect of Cortez and Montezuma County is the strength and vibrancy of the local nonprofit community. That was demonstrated earlier this month with the Montezuma County Volunteer Showcase at which nonprofits shared information about their organizations with community members who could consider volunteering. The turnout of both groups and the public was said to be excellent.
Another example is the Community Christmas Dinner, a Cortez tradition for more than 30 years.
The city of Durango is, of course, very active – despite an increasing degree of dysfunction on the City Council. One of the biggest things this last year was the city closing on the Durango School District 9-R building some of us still call the Old High School. That building belongs in the public sphere.
Beyond that the city is working on open space, public involvement, the airport expansion, bear-proof trash cans and, of course, trails – and dozens of other things from solar panels to Tesla charging stations.
And everybody is working on housing. But since no one seems to be able to identify the problem, let alone a solution, that can wait.
Yes, there are causes for concern and reasons to grieve. But with all this from good people going into 2024, there is also reason for hope.
Happy New Year.
From 1990 to 2017, Bill Roberts was Opinion editor at The Durango Herald.
