Command Center…One More Time
Luis Reyes once told me that whatever Kit Carson Electric wants, it gets. He wanted the town E911/dispatch center and its members, Taos County, Questa, the Taos Ski Valley, and the Taos Pueblo, to occupy what he refers to as the “state-of-the-art” command center off Gusdorf Road. I’m sure he helped bait the hook that all except Commissioner Joe Mike Duran swallowed.
The hook was a “verbal offer” to the Commissioners by the Mayor. The Commissioners went into an executive session and returned, proposing eight conditions to the town. Essentially the County will move into the new building and take over responsibilities for the dispatch operations and fix a dysfunctional system.
One County Commissioner cannot see beyond cost savings. He has no concept of the psychology of space (amazingly enough neither do many architects). Saving dollars is important but so is the environment in which an employee works. The space needs to be inviting, human in scale, while offering a sense of security—all qualities that are missing in the new facility.
A poorly designed space leads to impaired productivity, stress, depression, and an increase in the number of sick days. The dispatch employees have expressed a desire to remain in the existing facility. It works and they feel safe there. They will not feel safe at the new facility. (One local talk show host visited the space and said it felt like being in the belly of an airplane. She indicated she would not want to work there. )
Mr. Reyes once said a dispatch center could be run out of a cardboard box. True, but a cardboard box has a greater insulation value then his concrete and glass building. If the town had not issued the contractor with a building permit, the state, by law, would not have issued one–due to a building which will experience excessive heat loss. This building is all electric. Why is that?
And liability insurance is going to skyrocket since the only exits from this semi- basement space are an elevator (which by law cannot be used in the event of a fire) or by way of stairs. The old location allowed employees to exit at grade level.
The existing dispatch center on Civic Plaza Drive needs to remain in use in order for the concrete and glass box center to operate. This means another electric bill and a gas bill to energize the broadcasting equipment and the duplicate generator that must remain operational at the Civic Plaza Driva location.
The town is laying off people and departments are being stripped. The new planning director has no personnel to direct. Look what happened with the library: county residents over 16 must pay $10 a year for a library card. Streets and sidewalks are in deplorable condition.
But the town has the funds to commit itself to what will soon amount to about $5000 per month to occupy a concrete and glass box that is smaller and less secure than the current facility. Go figure.
The question I have asked since 2011 is: why abandon a perfectly good building? I have never been able to get an answer. What I get is “for health, safety, and welfare.” If you believe that, contact me about some swamp property I own.
Gene Sanchez