City Council Election Results Announced

City Council election results are in, along with a new contract that aims to help the City of Durango save $5.8 million in utility fees over the next 20 years. San Juan Basin Public Health is offering guidance on how to prevent animal-borne illness as the weather begins to warm up, and Earth Day Durango invites you to join in the fun at Buckley Park on April 22nd. You’re watching the Local News Roundup, brought to you by The Payroll Department and Kroegers Ace Hardware. I’m Connor Shreve. Results for the City Council election were announced on April 13th, after a mandatory recount was triggered due to the close margin of votes between candidates. Gilda Yazzie and Dave Woodruff were announced as the winners of the election, Yazzie with 2,748 votes and Woodruff with 2,435 votes. Harrison Wendt had 2,431 votes, followed by Carter Rogers with 592 and Douglas Snow with 253, according to the county clerk’s office. Yazzie and Woodruff will be sworn in and join the city council effective April 18th. Find more information on the elections and the recount process at the La Plata Clerk and Recorder’s office. The City of Durango adopted a new energy contract at the April 4th City Council meeting. The energy performance contract outlines energy upgrades for city facilities, with the potential to save the city $5.8 million over the next 20 years, with annual savings of $193,000 in utility fees. The plan progresses the city toward its renewable energy goal by 72%. As the weather warms up and people and pets are spending more time outside, San Juan Basin Public Health wants to remind people to take steps to prevent animal-borne illnesses. When cleaning out rodent droppings or nests, ventilate the space, wear a mask, and spray droppings with a bleach solution. Bat-proof your home by filling any exterior holes larger than a dime with caulk, ensure there are screens covering windows and other entrances to homes, and make sure to close doors firmly during hours when bats are most active. Make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies vaccination, and ask your vet about safe tick and flea prevention methods. Never touch or feed wild or stray animals, and contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife if you see an animal you believe to be sick or injured. Use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin to prevent mosquito and tick bites, and ensure there are no standing bodies of water on your property that could become mosquito breeding grounds. The local volunteer group Earth Day Durango has partnered with Sustainable Durango and Local First to create a series of events in Durango for Earth Day 2023. This year, Earth Day is Saturday, April 22nd. A parade presented by Sage and Zia restaurants will kick off the day at 10:00 a.m., ending in Buckley Park. From 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Buckley Park, there will be a series of free, family-friendly activities, workshops, and more. The event aims to be a zero-waste event, so make sure to pack reusable mugs, silverware, and plates and bowls. The event is made possible by the City of Durango, Table to Farm Compost and the BringIt! Campaign, along with Durango High School Green Team. Find more information about other Earth Day and Earth Month activities at Earth Day Durango’s website. Learn more about these and other stories online at durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the Local News Roundup. I’m Connor Shreve.