Durango fire holds May 6 election

Local voters approved creation of the Durango Fire Protection District last November, and now they’re being asked to elect its board.

On May 6, the DFPD will be holding its first official election for three of seven at large seats on its Board of Directors. In an effort to save money, the election will not be mail in. Rather, eligible voters can vote via three ways:

- Show up in person on election day, Tues., May 6, from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. at either Station No. 1, 142 Sheppard Drive, Bodo, or Station No. 6, 31263 Hwy 550 N;

-  Go to the DFPD website at www.durangofirerescue .org, request a ballot to be mailed and return the ballot to either station either on election day or any week day;

-  Go to either station and fill out a ballot.

Stations are open during normal business hours. Those voting before election day must turn in their ballots prior to 5 p.m. on Fri., May 2.

The election is open to all registered voters living within the district (the former Animas and Hermosa fire protection districts). According to the La Plata County clerk, there were 11,761 active voters within the district in the last election.

Colorado residents who own property, as well their spouses, are also eligible to vote. City of Durango residents who do not own property in the district are not able to vote. As per an agreement between the City and the DFPD, the City pays the district for services out of the its General Fund and has no representation on the board.

DFPDChief Dan Noonan said the Board’s decision not to have a mail-in election was purely financial. Due to budget constraints, the DFPD is already tapping into $530,000 of its reserves for operating expenses this year. A mail-in election would have cost between $16,000-$20,000 whereas an election held at polling places runs less than $2,000. He added that in his nearly 40 years of being in Durango, he only remembers one fire board election that was mail-in.

“We are not trying to disenfranchise people but to be prudent with taxpayer’s money,” said Noonan.

Despite objections that the election hasn’t been publicized well enough, he said it has been publicized through the DFPD’s website as well as social media websites and in local publications. “We feel the Board has done a great job of educating the community,” he said.

Of the three outgoing Board members – Emil Wanatka, Kathy Morris and Phil Bryson – only Morris is seeking re-election. The seven other contenders include:

- Wayne Barger, co-owner of Season’s restaurant and former member of the Animas Fire Protection District Board
- Kitty Benzar, retired EMT and volunteer firefighter with Hermosa Cliffs
- Carrie Cline, north La Plata County resident, former editor of the Silverton Standard
- Claude “Bud” Deering, Hermosa resident and former member of the Animas Fire Protection District Board.
- Tony Whittle, former member of Animas Fire Protection District Board
- Patti Zink, Animas Valley resident and Hundred Club Board member

William “Bill” Meiers has withdrawn from the election, but still appears on the ballot. Votes for him will not count.

The three candidates garnering the most votes will serve a four-year term on the board which over sees the District. The District staffs four stations around the clock and operates 13 volunteer fire stations in a 325-square mile area serving more than 40,000 people.

It is funded by a 5.7 mill levy from property tax and a contract with the City of Durango. The board is responsible for, among other things, adopting the budget, appointing committees and hiring the district fire chief. The chief is responsible for carrying out the policies of the Board and overseeing day-to-day operations.

The district was created by combining three fire departments – Animas, Hermosa and Durango Fire & Rescue – as well as an ambulance service, in January 2014. Under the new structure, all the prior districts and authorities were dissolved.

Philanthropy Days comes to area

Area nonprofits will get a rare chance to bend the ear of potential Front Range funding sources when the 2014 Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days comes to Pagosa Springs on June 11-13.  Registration is under way for the conference, which allows grant seekers from the region to build partnerships with foundations based on the Front Range of Colorado. The conference is expected to sell out, and nonprofits are encouraged to sign up ahead of time.

“It’s one of the most unique opportunities available to regional and rural not for profits," Event Coordinator Kristi Smith said. "To be given a stage to some of the most significant and effective funders on the Front Range could mean an injection of support and resources that could change the immediate future for that organization.”

Besides access to funders, attendees will also have the opportunity to network with government leaders and other nonprofits, and attend workshops and presentations.

A pre-conference training is included with registration as a way for attendees to maximize their time at the conference. Scholarships are available to qualifying organizations. Scholarship application deadline is May 5. Details, applications and registration are at www.southwestrpd.org

– Missy Votel