The Water Information Program

“You have to come out and participate. No one has come to our board meetings and yet we are making significant decisions,” Fred Schmidt, President of the San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD), lamented as he encouraged and chastised one hundred local business people three weeks ago at a public meeting called to discuss the declining local economy. “We have to listen to you and you have to listen to us.” Schmidt issued an invitation, “Come to our board meetings and listen to how we are going through the analysis.” Carrie Weiss, Manager of the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD), added, “I wish we had this kind of a turnout, even a fraction, at our board meetings.” She seconded Schmidt’s invitation. “It would be great. I really encourage you.” But curiously, when PAWSD and SJWCD convened their boards ten days later, on April 2 — for a "work session" to discuss how the Water Resource Fees (WRF) for their proposed Dry Gulch Reservoir ($7000 for a new home and upwards of $50,000 for a new restaurant) were impacting the local economy — not one of those hundred business people attended.

To view the full article, visit the Pagosa Daily Post. For a copy of the original article contact the WIP at (970) 247-1302 or stop by the office at 841 East Second Avenue in Durango.