By Joe Keck, Mayor

Year 2000 was a year of considerable challenge, significant community accomplishments as well as devastating area-wide setbacks. The Mesa Verde National Park Fires and the severe draught conditions which helped to spawn them were the most threatening occurrence our area had experienced in many years. The plume of ash which covered the Montezuma and Mancos valleys brought the severity of the fires directly to our doorsteps.

The response of the local volunteer fire districts, Mesa Verde National Park personnel, Montezuma County and local law-enforcement personnel, and the federal fire teams gave me another reminder of how fortunate we are to live in this great country. The response by the Montezuma County Economic Development Council, Umbrella Tourism Organization, Chamber of Commerce, Mesa Verde Company/Aramark, Cortez Cultural Center, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and many others to mitigate the negative business and community impact, were first rate. Colorado Governor Bill Owens, Rep. Mark Larson and State Sen. Jim Dyer were helpful in providing emergency marketing funds from several sources for approximately $100,000. Overall, while I’m sure there are some important lessons to be learned from each fire, I’m extremely pleased and proud of our overall community’s response.

With regard to city accomplishments during 2000, I’d like to highlight a few. A million-dollar expansion of the service center in the Industrial Park was completed and appears to be working well in meeting the needs of the city’s General Services and Public Works Departments. Continued improvements at Parque de Vida saw the completion of a much-awaited skateboard park, new soccer fields, tennis courts, etc. The new park and building signs, which can be seen throughout town were installed and add greatly to the image of our community. They also serve the important function of letting citizens and visitors know where departments and public functions are located, what is a public park, etc.

The library expansion project was initiated and will include adding approximately 10,000 square feet to the 8,000 square feet of existing space. This project should be completed in Spring 2001. The expansion of the Cortez Welcome Center was initiated and should be completed before next summer. A $2 million expansion and upgrade of the Cortez/Montezuma County Airport taxiway (90 percent from federal grant funds) was completed. These community accomplishments could not have been realized without the support of our citizen taxpayers, council direction, and excellent city staff.

Major projects under consideration for the near future include the development of Seventh Street east from Madison to Sligo; a government net fiber-optic project to string and operate fiber within the city; the city’s participation in the Colorado Main Street Program as a Colorado Main Street Community; completion of the Denny Lake project; feasibility of and development plan for a community recreation center (including a vote by the citizens of Cortez). Economic development including business recruitment and retention continue to be high priorities for the community.