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New council lands broadband grant
Southwest Colorado was an area lacking regional planning agent
Herald Staff Writer
The grant to the Southwest Colorado Council of Governments is part of $17 million to be distributed across the state through Senate Bill 232.
“Each county, each municipality has its own little project," said Bayfield Mayor Rick Smith. “But it gives us all the same opportunity."
In Bayfield, town officials want to lay a fiber-optic cable that would provide telephone, fax and data transmission for town offices, the water and sewer plant, schools, fire stations and library. If there is transmission capacity left over, it could allow Internet providers a more economical way to reach local residents with their services, Smith said.
Eric Pierson, information systems manager for the city of Durango, said the city and La Plata County partnered on nine funding requests.
“We don't know how the jurisdictions will share the funding," Pierson said. “I think we're going to have to prioritize."
The city and La Plata County sought $474,565, Pierson said. Their top priorities are extending fiber-optic cable from City Hall to the Transit Center, from the Qwest central office to Bodo Industrial Park and to Fort Lewis College and the city water-treatment plant in Hillcrest. They also would like to lay cable to the Durango-La Plata County Airport and to communication towers on Smelter Mountain.
The agreement that formed the council of governments, an idea broached in 2006, was signed Thursday. Southwest Colorado was missing out on technical assistance through the Department of Local Affairs as one of only two areas in the state without such a regional body.
Now, the strength inherent in regional cooperation will allow political entities the ability to focus on common interests.
The 14 signatories of the council of government's agreement are Archuleta, La Plata, San Juan and Dolores counties and the municipalities of Pagosa Springs, Bayfield, Durango, Ignacio, Mancos, Cortez, Dolores, Silverton, Dove Creek and Rico.
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe participated in talks but as sovereign nations aren't members of the council of governments. The chairman of the council is William Tookey, the administrator of San Juan County.
Senate Bill 232 also provided funding for highway projects in Mesa County and the towns of Parachute and Delta.
In Colorado, councils of government administer transportation, health, economic-development and air-quality projects.
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