County government is one of the oldest forms of government in the country, dating back to 1634. As we celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, a review of county government responsibilities is a valuable exercise. Our job as commissioners, working with 18 departments, 453 employees and six other elected officials, is to show up, in small ways and in big ways, to serve you, the public. You are at the top of our organizational chart.
Showing up means that we are both accessible and available to solve problems. Hundreds of times each year, residents contact us with concerns. This year alone, staff members have logged 114 emails to the commissioners’ email portal. Although we cannot solve every problem, it is our collective job to provide excellent customer service, practice good listening, and prioritize actions wherever possible within reason and the law.
The commissioners host monthly office hours with residents and do four “On the Road” community meetings every summer. The next one in the series is 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Ignacio Community Library. At each of these community meetings, we invite you to tell us what’s on your mind. If speaking in front of a crowd isn’t your thing, you can always connect with us one-on-one.
Showing up also means doing good things even if they are not content for a media story or Facebook post. You know the adage: We want to be the kind of government that does good things when no one is looking. For example, there are times when a county-delivered meal is the only home-cooked food a senior may get that entire week. Last year, the Durango-La Plata Senior Center prepared 49,372 meals serving elders across the county and 13,020 in-person meals at centers in Durango and Bayfield.
Showing up means often being there in residents’ worst times of need. Last year, the county coroner responded to 178 calls, and sometimes their job is offering a listening ear, a shoulder for support. Law enforcement shows up daily, demonstrating public benefit in terms of security and safety. In 2025, there were 2,151 bookings at the La Plata County Detention Facility, with an average inmate population of 149. Sheriff’s deputies out on patrol responded to 30,528 calls last year, dealing with a wide range of human behavior and circumstances. Through a mental health co-responder program with Axis Health System, they link thousands of residents each year to behavioral health when possible and safe to do so. Road workers are out there 24/7 in rain, snow and heat, taking care of 653 miles of roads. The General Services crews manage 24 properties. The list of how the county shows up, well, goes on and on.
Our commitment to working for residents must result in tangible outcomes. So the commissioners track progress over five strategic goals: safety and well-being, sustainable growth, economic vitality, excellent stewardship, and thriving and inclusive communities. As our country celebrates such a significant birthday, and given the long history of counties in this nation, we ask: How do you want us to show up? Your input and voices matter, so please be in touch by phone at 382-6219; by email at [email protected]; or you can always do the old-fashioned thing and write us a letter: La Plata County Board of Commissioners, 1101 E. Second Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
Matt Salka is chair, Elizabeth Philbrick is vice chair and Marsha Porter-Norton is a member of the La Plata County Board of Commissioners.