Dear Action Line: I forgot the name of our new city manager, so I did a Google search for “Durango City Manager,” but the photo of Amber Blake showed up. Is this proof that there is a Deep State in control of Durango? Is Amber not conceding? – Who’s In Charge?
Dear Charge: Unlike the presidential race, the city manager position is not filled by popular vote, Electoral College, Deep State, Mental State, Altered State or Star Chamber. As far as you know.
City councilors, our elected representatives, hire the city manager. The name you are looking for is José Madrigal.
Google is just a bit confused because Amber was the interim city manager before José was hired. Had you searched for “Durango City Manager” a few months back, the result would have been accurate.
Your observation was forwarded to the city and they are working on fixing the glitch and ... shoot ... it’s fixed now.
Well this is awkward. I take it all back. Try it now.
Dear Action Line. In a recent edition of The Durango Herald,an officer was on the front page. I noticed his gun belt was loaded with a pistol and all sorts of other things. How much weight does an officer carry and does it lead to backaches and medical bills? – Pain in the Back
Dear Back: Today’s police officers carry a plethora of items needed to do their job: pistol, spare magazines of ammunition, a utility knife, two sets of handcuffs and key, latex gloves, Taser, Narcan (to counteract an overdose), tourniquet, bandage, pen, paper, flashlight, radio, hobble, baton, body camera, spare rifle magazine and rifle-grade plates for the ballistic vest, said Police Chief Bob Brammer.
“I am sure I am missing something,” he said. “Each officer has their own needs depending on the shift and assignment.”
Add it all up and a gear-filled belt can weigh more than 20 pounds, said Brammer.
“The belts are problematic since we continually need to carry more equipment on top of our traditional gear,” he said.
To carry this extra gear, the department authorized officers to wear an external, load-bearing vest.
“It keeps gear off of the back of the belt which presses into our backs and cause issues over time,” he said.
Dear Action Line: Crews cut down the solitary tree in the Town Plaza parking lot the other week, and then just paved over spot. It was depressing to watch. Doesn’t the city require landscaping? – R. Borist
Dear Borist: The city does require landscaping, but the rules do not apply to all parcels equally.
Landscaping is required for new construction and substantial redevelopment such as large additions or demolitions, said Nicol Killian, assistant director of the city’s Community Development Department.
“Town Plaza was built in the 1960s before the city had landscape requirements, and has not had any substantial redevelopment on the properties,” she said. “Therefore, they are grandfathered in without landscaping.
“If they were to redevelop in the future, the city’s landscape requirements will need to be met at that time.”
Dear Action Line: What should we call the Bridge to Nowhere when it goes somewhere? Now that construction has started, we only have a couple of years to figure this out (fingers crossed). – Unabridged
Dear Unabridged: Lisa Schwantes, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation, consulted her workers and together they found the answer for what to rename the Bridge to Nowhere.
They channeled Dr. Seuss, and specifically, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”
(Lights, please. Lisa has the floor. Everyone be quiet.)
“Attention! Look, Southwest Colorado!
The bridge is going SOMEWHERE – BRAVADO!
The Connection South project will realign U.S. 550,
right smack onto the bridge and U.S. 160.
The construction will surely improve mobility and yes, enhance safety.
Just what we need for economic vitality and increased connectivity!
So when it’s completed in 2023,
the new ‘Grandview Interchange’ will be the place to be!”
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Feel free to use anapestic tetrameter, iambic pentameter or any other meter you desire, Sam I am.
