Chiefs Allen Clay, Mike Dunaway and Noonan (along with his bird, Rojo) met regularly for years brainstorming a solution to better serve the whole community. When DFRA began in 2002, I observed a territorial relinquishing process occur among the city paid staff and volunteers (including board members) of Hermosa Cliff Fire and Animas Fire and Mercy Paramedics.

Though not working with DFRA currently, my hunch is the current resistance of the two former Animas board members is a carryover of these feelings. I also wonder at the validity of some information they printed in the paid ad I noticed in the Herald, which motivated me to share my viewpoints.

DFRA has made many adjustments to its original funding plan. This tug-of-war is costing DFRA money that should be spent on other life-saving priorities. Let’s let it move forward. I live in the city of Durango and am willing that this portion of my tax burden shift slightly to accommodate a streamlined, nonduplicating system (not perfect, but nothing is). I will vote “yes” and concentrate on weightier issues such as plastic bags and gay marriage.

I don’t have a dog in this fight unless I count my children, grandchildren and myself. We have a more efficient, streamlined service now. That I can state with certainty. I was there. And I don’t care if it is called Animas, Hermosa or DFRA.

Barbara Fleming

Durango