As in all states, counties, and cities, different divisions head certain citizen services. In La Plata County, there are some items that are managed at a county level while others fall under the cities or towns within. In La Plata County, the main resources such as water, trash, sewer, electricity, and health services are divided between La Plata County, City of Durango, Town of Bayfield, and Town of Ignacio. Below is the general breakdown of services.
La Plata County Resources
La Plata County is responsible for services such as animal control, child & family services, economic development, election & voter registration, emergency management, health & human services, justice system, marriage & civil unions, motor vehicle registration, public safety, and senior & veterans’ services. There are some areas within the county that don’t fall under any cities or towns that provide additional services. For these, La Plata County also provides building inspections & permits, code enforcement, environmental services, licenses & permits, and road & bridge maintenance.
Some resources have sole providers that cover the entire county. This includes La Plata County Electric Association (LPEA) and La Plata County Public Health Department (LPCPHD) for their respective services. Other utility providers such as Atmos Energy and Black Hills Energy provide natural gas across the county and there are many propane companies to choose from.
City of Durango Resources
The City of Durango is the largest organization as Durango is the county seat in La Plata County. They provide water and sewer services, building inspection and permits, business development, code enforcement, garbage and recycling, licensing, municipal court, parks and recreation, street maintenance, and transportation for the city.
Town of Bayfield Resources
To the east, the Town of Bayfield offers their own water and sewer service, garbage and recycling, senior center, parks and recreation, and street maintenance. As previously mentioned, they share the same electric, public health, and main gas providers as the rest of the county.
Town of Ignacio Resources
Similar to Bayfield, the Town of Ignacio offers comparable water and sewer service, garbage and recycling, parks and recreation, and public safety.
First Responders & Health Care
Within La Plata County, there’s collaboration between law enforcement and first responders including: City of Durango Police Department, Bayfield Police Department, Ignacio Police Department, La Plata County Sheriff's Department, and Colorado State Troopers. Durango is also home to Southwest Colorado’s primary medical facility, Common Spirit - Mercy Hospital. They are an acute care facility offering specialties including orthopedic and spine surgery, cardiology, emergency, and trauma care, cancer care, and more.
Please let Max or Deven know if you have further questions about these entities or would like additional information about living in La Plata County.
