Liza Shares Her Views
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Recycling in Colorado
I am proud to be serving on the state advisory board for the recycling program currently being rolled out in Colorado due to HB22-1355. This recycling will be paid for entirely by the producers of packaging doing business in our state. At this time, almost 3,000 producers are paying dues into the program. Recycling should be free at our landfill this year, and free at curbside by 2030. Circular Action Alliance will roll out the program for Colorado. Watch their video to learn more.
"Legacy" Film Showed at Rio Grande Basin Roundtable
Yesterday we didn't have a BOCC meeting, so I got to attend the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable. They showed the "Legacy" film brought to us by the Colorado Farm Bureau, CSU Extension, and the Colorado Dept. Of Ag and VWHS. The film and panel included fellow County Commissioner Tony Haas from Las Animas County. It really struck home. With megadrought, fuel prices, tariffs, USAID sales gone, isolation, financial stress, and the unpredictability of what one hail storm can do - the often very prideful and private people of the land do not share their despair with others. They normalize it, but the problems don't go away.
I learned you can't make matters worse if you ask if someone is contemplating suicide. We need to normalize our neighborly instinct to check in on each other.
It is an unprecedented time, and we shouldn't feel like we have to have all the answers. It is not a character defect to ask for help or need help.
This has been on my mind since Hew Hallock brought the Kirk Hanna film "Hanna Ranch" to the SLV for a showing years ago ...
You can watch both films on the internet.
Please know about CSU Extension's COMET program (free training this Friday at RGWCD in Alamosa), and the ag partnership that provides 6 free telehealth sessions through campforhealth.org.
Range View - Fair Housing in Saguache
Recently, the Commissioners and Project Manager Ann Cunningham toured the Range View Fair Housing Project with Deisslen Structures Inc. General Contractor John Diesslin, Parker Ward with NorthWest Real Estate Capital Corporation, who is managing the financing, and plumbing/HVAC subcontractor Wolking Bros.
This important affordable housing project is coming along beautifully. Beginning September 1, there will be 32 affordable housing units available for families and individuals earning between 30% and 60% of Area Median Income. Those interested can contact the Saguache County Housing Authority to get on the waiting list.
Thanks to hard-won cost savings achieved by DSI and NWRECC, we were able to add washers and dryers in every unit and increase the ceiling heights to 9 feet — creating brighter, more comfortable homes for future residents. The space originally planned for a laundry room will now become a resident computer room.
We are also excited that Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper secured $1.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to construct solar carports for the project. The units will be individually metered, and the solar system is estimated to offset approximately 70% of residents’ utility costs.
We are deeply grateful to be standing on the shoulders of Evan Samora, whose vision and hard work created the capital stack that made this project possible during his time as Housing Director.
This project represents great contractors, collaboration, persistence, and a commitment to creating attainable housing for the people of Saguache County.
Fair Housing is an important issue for me as I run for re-election as your county commissioner.
Glad to talk to people about their ideas.
April 23rd, 2026
The operations committee of the Closed Basin project had a hard decision on their hands on Monday...how much to pump into the Rio Grande to support agriculture and aquatic life, so the river doesn't get too hot and too low. Their hydrologist
Nate Reynolds put together a comprehensive data set for review before the decision. Our obligation to outer Southern neighbors is low this year due to conditions and a bit of a credit. Everyone is working so hard to do more with less. The reservoirs will be releasing early, but the transit loss to get water to where it needs to go could be up to 50%. Patt McDermott Div. Of Water Resources shared that La Garita Creek flow is already below 2002 levels. Chris Ivers of the RGWCD said that farmers are showing heavy interest in fallow programs.
Proud of Saguache Creek Water Users and Subdistrict 5 for having good results as evidenced in the blue concentric areas in the NW of the 1st graph showing aquifer rise.
The fact is that we must keep roots in the ground of some kind - to prevent a dust bowl here. Hope everyone is considering a little water for that purpose in their use and fallow plans.
It doesn't help that the Bureau of Reclamation is on a skeleton crew due to the feds incentivizing non replacement retirement. Burnout is a real factor in the 11 left trying to manage and rehab wells in the project.
Mcdermott did have a titch of good news in that a Super El Niño is developing due to warm waters at the equater in the Pacific. This could bring higher precipitation during monsoon season and next winter...
Liza Marron for Saguache County Commissioner
Working for a Resilient Saguache County
April 20th, 2026
Since Columbine - Nurturing our Families
Dear Gentle Readers,
I write this on the anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School. On that day I was working for Center School District leading a youth mentoring/education program that served youth in all three districts here. We were in Denver for training, when this unfolded on the screen in the lobby.
Opalanga Pugh - a 6’ Nigerian storyteller led us in singing Kombaya, which she said was an African community spiritual meaning “Come by Here” Lord. We probably sang that for half an hour sobbing and holding hands. Columbine made our work even more important back home.
Guns are a very important part of the conversation and even more important is building community assets around families and children.
Here at home, we are working with Social Services, The Sheriff and Public Health to provide resources for people here to lead their best lives. We are working on fair housing with our community of builders, we are bringing in new resources that go above the taxpayer’s pockets. We have a new partnership with (ScSEED) Saguache County Sustainable Environment and Economic Development for right-sized economic opportunity. I helped found this
organization back in 1999 with many other great community advocates.
In these important times, I believe I am the right candidate at the right time for re-election as County Commissioner. I show up, I listen, I learn and then work to make the best choice for people to live their best lives here.
I ask for your vote in the June 30 primary; and in the November 3 general election.
Liza Marron for Saguache County Commissioner
Working for a Resilient Saguache County