Mt. CB briefs

Rec Path closed
Work began last week on a repair of the bridge crossing the wetlands along the recreation path between the two towns. The path is maintained by the town of Mt. Crested Butte. The town has hired a contractor to pour a new helical foundation for the bridge, which should prevent future warping. The path is closed between the bridge crossing the Slate River and Moon Ridge Lane. On Tuesday, September 16, town manager Joe Fitzpatrick said they were making good progress, and the bridge should be fixed and the rec path re-opened by the week of October 6. 

Mt. Crested Butte 100 percent wildlife resistant
The bears in Mt. Crested Butte are moving on. In a September 16 report to the Town Council, police chief Hank Smith said the town’s residents and property owners are 100 percent in compliance with the town’s wildlife-related garbage provisions. The rules require property owners to properly secure trash before it is placed at the curb, or make use of bear-resistant Dumpsters and garbage enclosures. Despite bears being in their pre-winter feeding frenzy before the winter, Smith said there have been remarkably few bear sightings. Mayor William Buck asked that the police be commended in their wildlife-resistant trash handling enforcement efforts.

Next presentation on ballot issues
The Mt. Crested Butte Town Council invites residents, businesses and property owners to the second public presentation on the upcoming ballot issues and Five Year Financial Plan. Three property owners spoke during the last presentation on September 9. The next presentation will be held on Tuesday, October 7, at 5 p.m. at the Mt. Crested Butte Town Hall along Gothic Road. Copies of the plan are available at www.mtcrestedbuttecolorado.us.

Sales tax down
After seeing an increase in sales tax revenues during the first quarter of 2008, the town of Mt. Crested Butte’s sales tax revenues during the summer  took a dip. In May, June and July the town had seen a decrease in sales tax from last year. On Tuesday, September 16 town manager Joe Fitzpatrick reported that July sales tax collections were approximately $97,000, a 6.5 percent decrease over the last year. Three of the four tax categories (lodging, retail and other) posted a decrease. The restaurant category saw a tax revenue increase. With a new restaurant in town, plus the concerts, restaurants are up 47.7 percent, which is a great jump in that category. Town clerk Donna Arwood said during the free summer concerts at the resort base area it was hard to even get a table at some restaurants. Fitzpatrick said despite the loss in July, the town was still pacing ahead 7.5 percent in yearly sales tax revenues.

Master Vision website finished
An Internet marketing tool created by Crested Butte Mountain Resort and other local real estate agents and developers will go online this week. CBMR real estate and sales marketing manager Bo Stambaugh says there will be a launch party this Thursday, September 25 for the first version of the Crested Butte Master Vision website. He says the website is intended to provide a big picture map (literally) of existing neighborhoods and future developments in the Crested Butte area, as well as highlighting the various amenities such as the recreation path and the proposed aquatic center. “This is a very unique project and is a collaboration between a lot of the major developers in the area,” Stambaugh says.
CBMR is creating 10,000 printed brochures that will be distributed locally and to prospective buyers to complement the Master Vision Website. The launch party will be at 4 p.m. in the Alpine room at the Mountaineer Square Lodge, and the public is invited to attend. In the spirit of football season there will be free beer and nachos. The website is www.cbmastervision.com, but Stambaugh says it may not be up and running until Friday.