Rendon steps up for LPEA seat
A familiar face in local politics is stepping back in the spot light.

On Monday, former Durango Mayor Michael Rendon announced his candidacy for the La Plata Electric Association Board of Directors in District 3. He made the declaration to a packed room at Carver Brewing Co., touting renewable and responsible energy use for the future.

Mayor Pro-tem Dick White introduced Rendon to more than 60 people, including current City Council members Dick White and Sweetie Marbury, County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt, and a host of community members.

“Michael Rendon has been an environmental, social and political leader in Durango for 20 years, and will advocate for smart energy policies that seek to minimize present and future environmental and health costs of power generation” said White in offering his endorsement.

Rendon cited his knowledge of the community and leadership as key qualifications.

“I am running for the LPEA Board of Directors because I think we can do more to secure a safe environment for ourselves and for future generations,” said Rendon. “I am running to hold true to LPEA’s mission of providing safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost while being environmentally responsible.”

Rendon’s platform includes increased local economic opportunities through renewable energy development, supporting programs that encourage energy efficiency, and continuing to provide reliable power at a low cost.

A Colorado native, he has lived in Durango for the last 20 years where he worked as coordinator for the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center, was on the Durango City Council from 2007-10, and served as mayor from 2010-11. Most recently, he was the Executive Director of Sexual Assault Services Organization and now is the Environmental Stewards Program Director for Southwest Conservation Corps.

He is running for the spot held by Harry Goff, who is not running again. So far, no one has stepped up to challenge Rendon. Petitions require 15 signatures and are due 45 days prior to the election, which will be May 11.


DMR makes environmental grade
The environmental grades are in, and Durango Mountain Resort is at the head of the class this year.

The ski area got an “A” in the recently released Ski Area Environmental Scorecard, compiled by the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition. Made up of the Sierra Nevada Alliance and Durango-based Rocky Mountain Wild, this marks the 11th year the coalition has released the scorecard, which grades ski areas on everything from habitat preservation to recycling efforts.

DMR, which scored a low “B” last year placed fourth among 21 Colorado resorts with an overall score of 84.3 percent, behind only Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain and Buttermilk (88.3 percent, 87.4 percent and 85.7 percent, respectively.) Wolf Creek was fifth, at 80.7 percent, and Telluride came in ninth with a score of 74.4 percent (“B.”)

Purg received high marks on habitat protection, watershed protection and environmental policies and practices. It faltered, however, when it came to addressing global climate change, scoring a “C” in such areas as conserving energy by avoiding new snowmaking; use of renewable energy; energy efficiency; and transportation.

“We hope the scorecard reminds ski resorts that people are watching, and people care about their environmental record,” said Josh Pollock, Senior Program Advisor for Rocky Mountain Wild. “If it gets them to think twice about what they can do on climate change, for example, then we’ve done our job.”

Despite Purg’s shining example, not all resorts fared as well, with nearly one-third of all 84 Western ski resorts that were surveyed expanded their buildings, ski runs or associated facilities, most of which intruded onto public lands with long-term impacts on wildlife and water resources, according to the coalition. In fact, there were three times more resorts expanding this season as compared to last, when only six resorts expanded their footprints. While the scorecard grades resorts on a variety of criteria, significant intrusion into new territory generally leads to a lower score, while expansion onto existing disturbed areas does not. “Not all resort expansions are the same,” noted Gavin Feiger of the Sierra Nevada Alliance. “Some resorts significantly expand their facilities in an environmentally friendly way.”

At the bottom of this year’s hill in Colorado were four “Ds” including: Eldora, 57 percent; Monarch, 56.5 percent; Steamboat, 55.9 percent; and Breckenridge, 50.3 percent.

Breckenridge also made this year’s “Worst 11 List” by proposing to construct seven below-treeline trails, totaling approximately 68 aces, and increasing above-timberline lift-served terrain by approximately 339 acres.

As in past years, the Ski Area Scorecard highlights the Top 10 and Worst 10 resorts throughout the West for the year. Utah’s Park City topped this year’s list, receiving a score of 93 percent. At the other end of the spectrum was Arizona’s Snowbowl, with less than 50 percent, or a low “D.”
There were no “Fs” issued this year.

Courthouse employs new security
As of March 4, there’s only one way in and one way out. The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office is implementing new security procedures at the County Courthouse, and visitors are going to have to go through a screening process similar to airport security checks.

Assistant County Manager Joanne Spina said it wasn’t a specific incident or situation that inspired the idea of a single, secure entrance. “We’ve been talking about this for a number of months,” she added.

According to the county’s Q & A statement, the change is happening now because “safety is a proactive, preventative process … With the heightened awareness of security measures for courthouses and public buildings nationwide, the Sheriff’s Office has determined that the time is right.”

Anyone entering or exiting the building, including those making deliveries, must do so via the southwest entrance under the clock tower. They’ll be asked to empty their pockets and walk through a metal detector, but shoes and belts don’t have to be removed. Bags and purses will be put through an x-ray machine.

Essentially, the screening devices once housed on the second floor and used for the courtrooms are being moved downstairs. Minimal remodeling is needed to make the change, and funding for an additional officer to staff the screening area was procured during budget talks last year.
Cell phones and other electronic devices are allowed past security, but they have to be turned off while inside the second floor courtrooms. Some of the items that won’t be allowed in the building: knives, mace, guns and other items that could be used as weapons. A limited number of lockers will be available to store items securely if needed.

Anyone heading to the administration offices, Finance Department, County Assessor’s Office, Weed Department, Planning and Building departments, Human Services or Probation will have to go through the new screening process. This also applies to all courthouse meeting rooms, including the Anasazi Room where the Board of County Commissioners’ meetings are held.

“We recognize that it’s important to achieve a balance between public convenience and public safety, and we believe we have done this with our new single, secured entrance plan,” said Captain Garrett Valencia with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office in a press statement.

For more information about the new procedures, visit www.co.laplata.co.us or call 382-6200.

– Missy Votel and Tracy Chamberlin