In response to the plans to improve the emergency preparedness status of the La Plata County Fairgrounds facilities (Herald, Jan. 12), the county taxpayers should take note of the following:
With the existing financial constraints placed upon the county budget, it would seem inappropriate to suggest a $291,000 upgrade to these facilities at this time.
This idea serves as an example of not utilizing what we already have and county officials wanting more than we can afford. To consider the costly purchase of brand new equipment when perfectly functioning equipment already exists is simply wrong.
Further, for the general services director to pat himself on the back for coming up with a solution – “... we will reuse the (existing) generator” – which should have been considered before all other options in the first place, is absurd.
One might conclude that this project was not thought through. It seems that for the time being, we could make due with what we already have until these improvements might become more feasible in the future.
With some minor upgrades and much lower costs, the existing generator could be adapted to power everything needed to provide adequate services in the event of an emergency.
The ill-conceived notion of this project reveals the inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars, and is another example of county officials wasting money we do not have. Those in charge of the budget need to prioritize the projects in need of immediate attention (roads and bridges), and fund those projects adequately.
The county administrators show a history of poor budget planning in the face of the foreseen decrease in revenues. Before asking the taxpayers for tax increases, perhaps this money would be better spent on a consultant to oversee and advise the administrators on more appropriate budgeting strategies.
Jeff Pratt
Durango
