As our community faces the decision on whether or not to support Ballot Question 2B requesting permission to finance improvements to the city’s wastewater system, we would like to educate the voters on the facts of this issue as well as the impacts and potential consequences of a yes or no vote.
The Durango Chamber of Commerce wants you to know details about Ballot Question 2B:
This initiative is asking the voters permission to finance improvements required to comply with state regulations, in order to maintain the current and future wastewater needs of city of Durango customers.
A yes on Ballot Question 2B would authorize the city to incur debt to improve our wastewater system, most significantly to upgrade and expand the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant.
If voters choose no to Ballot Question 2B, the funds needed to do the required improvements will be taken from monthly sewer usage fees. It will not, however, allow for future relocation of the facility. It simply means the required improvements will not be financed.
Regardless of whether the plant is moved or not, the pumping station will remain at the Santa Rita Park location.
Failure to pass Question 2B would impose at least a one-year permitting delay. The delay of improvement carries potentially very costly risks associated with the impending expiration of the plant’s operating permit in February 2018. Although construction at Santa Rita likely would continue into 2019, progress on the upgrade to meet new standards would encourage regulatory flexibility. Choosing any other alternative site would waste this investment.
Further restrictions could be imposed including the potential to prompt state regulators to enforce a moratorium on future building permits.
We encourage you to educate yourself on the issues that impact your family, career, and lifestyle in Durango in order to ensure our communities vibrancy and sustainability. To learn more about this issue, please visit http://durangogov.org/utilities
Jack Llewellyn, executive director, Durango Chamber of Commerce
Durango
