The groundbreaking for Dolores County’s long-awaited senior center and public service center took place Friday morning in Dove Creek.
The senior center, to be built first, will include a communal gathering space with a dining area. The service center will house the county’s road and bridge department as well as emergency services. County Commissioner Doug Stowe told the crowd of 150 that it seemed this day might never arrive. Plans and funding for the project were made in 2008 but fell through because of the recession. However, Stowe said, Dolores County never gave up. Commissioner Ernie Williams said the county worked hard to get the project funded without asking for new tax dollars or bonds and had succeeded, using severance-tax funds and a $2 million grant from the state Department of Local Affairs, the largest grant ever received by the county. Commissioner Julie Kibel said the current location on 10 acres north of town is “way better” than the original spot. She said the senior center is particularly needed, as seniors make up the biggest segment of the population in county. Ketter Project Management and Consulting of Durango, which oversaw the new Montezuma-Cortez High School, will be owner’s rep for the project, Tracy Reynolds is the architect and Nunn Construction is the contractor.
