Dear Action Line: A police officer came to my door recently and issued me a warning regarding the sunflowers along the sidewalk in front of my home. She explained that someone had filed a complaint through “SeeClickFix” regarding the sunflowers in our neighborhood and she was going door to door making sure that neighbors knew to trim them. So I ask, is sunflower mitigation and enforcement the responsibility of the Durango Police Department? And who complains about sunflowers? – Sunny But Puzzled
Dear Sunny: So Action Line asks: What happened to the good ol’ days when you could just leave your neighbor a nice note and ask if they could please trim the damned sunflowers? Now, we seem to need someone to do the dirty work for us.
Anonymous complaints lead to anonymous neighbors and a lack of trust among us all. Isn’t that in the Constitution? The Federalist Papers? One of FDR’s Fireside Chats? Confucius? Rousseau?
In any case, yes, it’s possible to complain about whatever tweaks you, by name or not, by social media or by “SeeClickFix.” It sounds so simple. “Drop a pin, and make a request!”
Anyway, yeah, why is a police officer discussing sunflowers? Well, it was technically not a Durango Police Department officer, per se. Not the kind who pulls you over or arrests you. From Steve Barkley, city code enforcement officer:
“Yes, this was Code Enforcement Officer (Vicki) Kling,” Barkley said. “We work in the police department as uniformed civilian officers.
“Overgrowth, obstructions of sidewalks and lines of sight are safety hazards that are enforced by code officers.”
For more than a year, the city of Durango has used this SeeClickFix “reporting tool” so citizens can report “quality-of-life issues around town and request city services,” according to a Jan. 11, 2023, city “News Flash.” You can provide city staff with locations, pictures and descriptions of problems or issues that need fixing.
A look at recent reports by Action Line shows that there’s a lot of sidewalk damage, graffiti and unsanctioned camping.
Just for fun, Action Line submitted a “request” – more of an observation really – to the effect that people are enjoying this new mode of whining about things a little too much. Action Line is also taking a few paragraphs here now to whine about the whiners, which is a much more honorable undertaking.
Right?
Barkley is a little more positive about this new system, and perhaps Action Line and Sunny will come around to this view. In time.
“The SeeClickFix online complaint system is a quick, efficient and easy way to file a reported problem with city staff,” Barkley said. “Many citizens consider it easier and safer than knocking on a door of an unknown occupant to voice their concerns.”
Action Line thinks that if you bring chocolate chip cookies or a tequila bottle to a neighbor’s house when complaining, it can lessen the tension.
Just a thought.
Dear Action Line: It appears a number of motorcycles thought it would be cute to peel out between town and the Cascade hairpin during their rally. Can you find out if the city, county, or highway department does anything to remedy this? Or does the public just tolerate the eyesores until they slowly fade? – Ro Damaged
Dear Ro D.: Ah, the ubiquitous rolling burnouts. They showed up during last year’s Four Corners Motorcycle Rally as well. Probably really fun to do, but they do leave a mark.
In the big picture, rally organizers and law enforcement are very happy with the Labor Day weekend event from a participation and public safety perspective, as per a Herald story last week.
As far as the peel-out marks, Action Line wrote about that a year ago, and rally organizers were adamant that they did not approve. They still don’t. It’s an eyesore and it’s dangerous on several levels.
“It’s illegal,” Chip Lile, co-owner and operations chief for the rally, reiterated Wednesday. “We’re not happy with it. … We see it as graffiti.”
The Colorado Department of Transportation has no easy way to remove the long black tire marks. They remain for weeks to years, a CDOT engineer said last year.
Anecdotally, Action Line hadn’t noticed last year’s skid marks for many months, so most of them apparently did fade away. Now they’re back, and if there’s going to be a large motorcycle rally here – this was the 33rd Four Corners rally – it appears it’s unfortunately an annual phenomenon we might have to live with for a while.
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Is it possible to take an eight-week nap and wake up Wednesday, Nov. 6, when all this election fuss is over?
