The City of Durango announced on February 28 that the City Council will be discussing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Archuleta County at their March 4 regular meeting. The IGA regards the housing of City of Durango sentenced offenders at the Archuleta County Detention Center.
Citing the City of Durango’s announcement, City Attorney Mark Morgan stated, “It was clear from the first conversation that the officials in Archuleta County wanted to work with the City of Durango. This was a large part of why the city withdrew its lawsuit to force La Plata County to give the City access to their jail. The new agreement with Archuleta County and its sheriff is reasonable for all parties.”
Durango had been housing an average of 3-4 inmates per year in the La Plata County jail, but this arrangement ended on December 26 of last year. Staff attempted to reach a new agreement with La Plata County but could not achieve this. While the proposed agreement costs $110 per day, the rate offered by La Plata County was significantly higher, at $198.08 per day.
The new agreement with Archuleta County, which appears unsigned by Archuleta County Commissioner Chair Veronica Medina and Sheriff Mike Le Roux as part of the Agenda Packet for Durango Council’s Tuesday meeting, states explicitly that, “Under no circumstances will a sentenced Durango Offender be released from Archuleta Jail into the general populous of Archuleta County.”
You can download the agenda information and the proposed IGA here.
The criteria to accept an inmate in the agreement is outlined, including that the inmate must be sentenced and there must be room in the Jail to accept an inmate. The Jail may house a maximum of 6 inmates from Durango at any one time. The services provided will be in accordance with other inmates and include security, housing, and control, meals, and access to and participation in Archuleta Jail training and treatment programs. A variety of other services are outlined, including in the case of the need for the inmate to be hospitalized.
The City of Durango may utilize the benefits of the agreement as they deem necessary, but are not required to have a minimum number of inmates housed in the Archuleta Jail. Archuleta Sheriff Mike Le Roux may reject any inmate upon review. The rate offered is at $110/day and may be changed yearly.
Durango City Manager Jose Madrigal stated, “It was a very expedient process working with Archuleta County and it’s good to have these partnerships and great working relationships.”