Decline to Sign!
We are all proud to call La Plata County our home. When we work together – heritage and hi tech, county and cities, old and new – we can all be a part of writing a better future for our communities.
La Plata County has had the same Land Use Code since 1987, and it’s time for an update. But the first draft was rolled out wrong – it had a lot of errors, as the entire Board of County Commissioners agrees. They are taking seriously public concerns and comments. A second and third draft – which will also allow for our input – are forthcoming over the coming many months.
The current recall against Commissioner Gwen Lachelt was actually begun by the oil and gas industry, not landowners, over their frustration with Gwen’s 30-year career of working locally for clean air, water, and landowner rights. The recall “just happened” to be timed perfectly to dovetail with the very real concerns emerging from the first draft Land Use Code. Blaming the unpopularity of this first draft land-use code on just one County Commissioner is misguided. All three County Commissioners – and their staff – are equally guilty of not vetting the initial draft.
It is rural landowners who are most fired up about this. Their concerns are being fueled by Americans for Prosperity, a Koch Brothers group that “just happened” to have opened an office in Durango with the intent to “take an active role to influence the outcome of La Plata County’s proposed land-use codes.” (DH 1/29)
We need an open citizen conversation to write a new land use code. This is our opportunity to plan for protection of our heritage, for preserving what we all love most about our County, and to attract the types of new jobs and industries to our county that will build an economy where working people can get ahead. The recall petition is a move to alienate us from each other, and to distract from the work at hand to create a future that protect our lands, our health, and our kids. Further, if it succeeds, the actual special election that results will cost taxpayers $60,000.
DECLINE to SIGN
the recall petition.
the recall petition.
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