It has come to my attention that the general services director of La Plata County has decided he is above the laws that govern our local building codes.
Approximately one year ago, under his direction, a remodel of a county facility was constructed from start to finish without a single permit application – no structural plans, no plumbing permit and no electrical permit.
Consequently, the state electrical inspector caught on and found several hazardous violations. He ordered the county to hire a local electrical contractor to correct the discrepancies.
To bring this structure into compliance cost us, the taxpayers, $3,600.
Somehow, the general services director, along with the assistant director, the crew leader and the risk manager all agreed they were not required to follow code.
Since when does being a public steward of the county allow one to abuse that authority and put the public at risk?
To date, the La Plata County commissioners have yet to offer an explanation for the unethical behavior of the general services director and his associates.
Why should the residents of this county be expected to meet code when those chosen to represent the public trust do not?
Unfortunately, the very people selected to represent the public trust obviously cannot be trusted.
These actions are inexcusable. Whatever happened to accountability, ethics and integrity?
By the way, that $3,600 could have been better used to help recoup some of the squandered $1 million they are still trying to recover.
Jeff Pratt
Durango
