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Candidates split on capital projects

Views differ on financial concerns from airport to science park
Four candidates for Durango City Council met Tuesday for a forum sponsored by the Durango Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Sweetie Marbury, from left, Dave McHenry, Sean Waddell and Councilor Dick White answered questions at the DoubleTree Hotel.

Four candidates for Durango City Council outlined Tuesday afternoon their positions on some of the biggest issues facing the community during the first forum of the election.

The Durango-La Plata County Airport, potential STEAM Park, a lodgers tax increase and the city’s long-term financial priorities helped define the candidates’ positions.

Incumbents Sweetie Marbury and Dick White and newcomers Sean Waddell and Dave McHenry are competing for two at-large seats in the April 7 election.

Each expressed vastly different opinions on expanding the airport terminal. The multi-million dollar project would have to go to the voters for approval, but the City Council and La Plata County Commissioners must decide on what proposal to bring before the voters.

White and McHenry expressed support for moving the terminal to the east side of the runway because it would allow the airport to expand as necessary in future years.

But Marbury said she supports remodeling the existing terminal and wants more details on financing the project.

“I don’t think this airport issue is going to be settled in 2015,” she said.

Waddell said he had not seen enough of the financial details to support moving the airport, but some action needs to be taken.

A proposal to build STEAM (science, theatre, education, art and music) Park on the city’s riverfront property where River City Hall and the downtown fire station currently sit also didn’t draw universal support.

Candidates were asked whether the city should financially support the park, and the moderator requested each answer with a simple thumbs up or thumbs down. But only McHenry and Waddell played along with a definite thumbs down, and both followed up saying the project would have to be cost neutral.

The incumbents instead referred to a formal review of the city’s facilities that needs to be completed. The facilities plan might identify options for moving River City Hall.

The Durango Fire Protection District is independent from the city, and the fire chief would make the decision to move the station, Marbury said.

A proposed increase to the lodgers tax and the allocation of that money also helped to highlight differences.

White and Marbury both said they could support a tax increase. Although White said his support would depend on the support from the lodging community.

Waddell also said the hotels and motels should be consulted. He supports more of the lodgers tax being used by the Durango Area Tourism Office.

McHenry said voters should be able to decide whether lodgers taxes should be raised. But he would like to see the trolley be a free service once again.

All but Marbury identified the city’s infrastructure and other financial responsibilities as the biggest challenges facing the city in the coming years.

McHenry and Waddell said the city needed to cut costs, while White and Marbury defended the city’s budgeting process.

But White agreed balancing all the city’s needs will be tough.

“The biggest single challenge of the next five years will definitely be fiscal,” White said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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