Durango and La Plata County got honest with each other during Monday’s meeting to finalize a joint agreement on cooperative land-use planning.

Debate was productive but came to no resolution on two key issues: annexation and city water.

One county official said some residents thought the city was “greedy,” but city staff members emphasized its cost analysis, saying the city was being “practical.”

Annexation and water service are intertwined points of dispute in crafting a joint land-use agreement. The city wants the county to compel property owners in areas just outside of Durango’s boundaries to annex into the city, but the city won’t guarantee water service. The county wants property owners to have a choice to annex, especially if they have to pay to hook into the city’s water and sewer systems.

La Plata County Commissioners voiced concern that it was a property-rights issue.

“That’s a vestige of the old agreement and old map,” said Durango City Attorney David Smith.

A retreat in 2011 kicked off the process of developing a map and identifying areas where the city would be likely to annex and offer water and sewer service, Smith said.

Durango has a central system, the county doesn’t. The problem with community water systems in the county is that the city could lose valuable customers because county residents would lack an incentive to hook into the city system. The city’s concern is that it will want to annex parcels of land, but the property owners would say no. The county is concerned landowners will want water, but the city will say no.

“What I also recall from that meeting in 2011 is that the city is not interested in annexing what are just simply residential subdivisions,” said County Attorney Sheryl Rogers. “There’s no sales tax; there’s nothing that inures to the benefit of the city.”

City Manager Ron LeBlanc said whether Durango provides water and sewer service depends on economic benefits to the city. It’s a business and has to be run that way, he said.

“Residential does not pay its own way,” he said. “So, we have to look at that as a challenge.”

Residents of unincorporated La Plata use wells, septic tanks and community water systems.

Both parties appeared to agree that any development with a property line within 400 feet of existing central water and sewer lines should be obligated to connect.

Both sides plan to meet again next week, and they say they are close to a compromise.

smueller@durangoherald.com