La Plata County has moved forward into a new technological age with the opening of its new administration building.

County commissioners and staff held an open house at the newly renovated building on Wednesday, July 29.

Instead of having to move a projector around to rooms for meetings, there are Internet connections and white boards in the meeting rooms.

The commissioners’ meeting room holds 200-plus people. A nearby training room seats 32 people, and it can be used for overflow seating if needed, with an Internet connection to the main room so viewers can watch the meetings.

Lights turn on and off automatically as staff enter or leave a room. Indoor water use has been reduced, and there is a bicycle parking rack and showers for employees who want to cycle to work.

The new building, located at 1101 E. Second Ave. in Durango, houses a staff of 35 from the county’s administration, finance and procurement offices, as well as the assessor’s office.

During the renovation, the commissioners, staff and contractors tried to be cognizant of what could be reused, explained Commissioner Gwen Lachelt as she gave tours of the facility.

Formerly a bank building, 91 percent of the floors and walls were reused for the new county facility, she said. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems were replaced, and a fire sprinkler system added, along with an elevator.

There are some new furnishings, but much of the furniture was brought in from the old courthouse offices. A solid wooden meeting table and chairs were found in the old county courthouse basement, refinished, and now grace one of the meeting rooms.

The existing building, constructed in 1969, was completely remodeled and 3,486 square feet of new construction was added, for a total of 16,143 square feet. The total construction budget was $3.9 million. The county received a $1.5 million Energy Impact Assistance Fund grant for the construction from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

Remaining offices at the La Plata County Courthouse include human services and planning and building, and there is now more room to expand the courtrooms and judicial offices.

The sixth judicial district has increased its caseload 30 percent in the past decade, said Joanne Spina, the assistant county manager, and two judges currently have to share chambers. The U.S. federal court, currently in Bodo Park, and the county attorney will move to the courthouse. Also in the works are a remodeled entrance for the courhouse with better security and better access for people with disabilities, Spina added.

The new administration building is bigger, more accomodating and has more natural light for the public and can hold larger groups, she said.

“There are more opportunities for civic engagement,” she said. “We take great pride that it’s practical and efficient, but not over the top. We want to represent all La Plata County taxpayers.”

Also during the open house, county staff sought input on a planned redesign of the county webpage, www.co.laplata.co.us.

“It’s just time,” said Susan Hakanson, a county administrative analyst, noting that it has been six years since the county updated its website.

The new website will be more interactive, with users able to apply for permits, schedule inspections and look up code enforcement on a cell phone. There also will be links from property parcels to water permits and the San Juan Basin Health Department.

County resident Bruce Whitehead said he appreciates the maps and land parcel information he can access online.

County staff are asking for input on the website by emailing [email protected] or calling 382-6200.

“We’d like to know what you like or don’t like,” Hakanson said.