Three notable topics were covered in The Durango Herald Weekend Edition, April 3-4: An increase in the lodgers tax and the vision to develop a world class bike park were supported by a collaboration of stakeholders for each initiative.

This spirit of “can-do” collaboration among stakeholders is sadly missing in the third story.

In September 2020, a surprise announcement said a site had been selected for a badly needed Four Corners weather radar station in La Plata County. Fortunately, local experienced experts from the area have drawn attention to this faulty choice and county commissioners will revisit this decision. There is an obvious best location but it has some challenges, including existing infrastructure.

The radar station, if properly located, will potentially save lives and property and provide much needed weather information for farmers and others dealing with drought conditions caused by climate change and cyclical weather events. An inadequate choice will result in severe limitations in effectiveness of the system and the waste of taxpayer dollars.

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs has already granted $1.7 million for this important project. Hopefully, the current county commissioners will heed the advice of local and national experts to create the kind of collaboration among local communities required to get the radar system built on Bridge Timber Mountain, sooner rather than later.

Myriam PalmerHermosa