La Plata County commissioners will appoint Matt Salka as chair for 2022.
In a largely ceremonial move, the commissioners will elect Salka chair and Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton vice chair at Tuesday’s meeting, flipping the positions the two held in 2021.
“It’s been traditional to switch every year,” Salka said.
“With chair, you’re running the meetings. You kind of take lead as a commissioner,” he said.
The chair also attends additional meetings with county staff members and serves as a point of contact for media and other organizations.
The vice chair fills in for the chair if that person is unable to attend meetings or events or fulfill his role.
Salka and Porter-Norton’s switch will not influence the county’s priorities and policies.
“Chair is great. I look forward to it if approved, but there’s two other commissioners,” Salka said.
The county commissioners will continue to work on the issues that are important to La Plata County residents and that they have worked on in the past, Salka said.
At Tuesday’s board meeting, commissioners will also set their assignments for the year.
Salka, who has been involved in the county’s broadband, affordable housing, substance use and economic development efforts, will serve on the Lodging Tax Panel for the county; act as liaison to the sheriff, coroner and district attorney; and sit on the boards of the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance, Housing Solutions for the Southwest, the Durango Area Tourism Office and the Durango-La Plata County Airport Commission in 2022.
Commissioner Porter-Norton, who represents Durango and District 2, will serve on the CSU Extension Advisory Committee; act as liaison to the Clerk and Recorder’s Office and the Surveyor’s Office; and sit on the boards of San Juan Basin Public Health, the Regional Housing Alliance, Southwest Colorado Council of Governments and the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs.
Commissioner Clyde Church, who represents District 1 and the western half of La Plata County, will serve on the Undesirable Plant and Rodent Advisory Commission and the Durango Public Library Board; act as liaison to the treasurer’s and assessor’s offices; and sit on the boards of the fair, San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging, Southwest Workforce Development Board, Region 9 Economic Development District and Southwest Regional Transportation Board.
While the appointment of a new chair is an annual formality, Salka said he’s excited and prepared to assume the role.
“I look forward to helping push for what our residents and community members have been wanting,” he said.
ahannon@durangoherald.com
