Briefs Crested Butte

Millions approved for 2010
The Crested Butte Town Council acknowledged difficult financial times and approved the 2010 budget at a special meeting on Monday, November 16. The general fund is set for $2,913,479. The general capital budget was trimmed to $648,929. The water and sewer fund was allocated $3,349,142, while streets and alleys came in at $1,205,527.

Out with the old, in with the new…
The council changeover took place Monday. Recognized for their service were councilmembers Skip Berkshire, Billy Rankin and Margot Levy, along with mayor Alan Bernholtz. Each picked up a parting gift, with Bernholtz now sporting a colorful belt buckle recognizing his term.
The new councilmembers—Jim Schmidt, John Wirsing, Roland Mason and Phoebe Wilson—were sworn into office. A vote recount is being conducted to re-tally the votes for Wilson and Mason, who tied. Whoever tallies the fewest votes gets a two-year term, while the other gets a four-year term. If the recount confirms the tie, the winner will be decided “by lot,” such as flipping a coin, drawing straws, or a footrace down Elk Avenue.

Moratorium, annexation adjustments, what’s next…
The council agreed to a three-month moratorium on extending town systems (such as water and sewer) outside of town boundaries. Town manager Susan Parker said the move was meant to give the staff time to tighten up language in the ordinance dealing with extending town services to people living outside the town.
The council agreed to set for public hearing an ordinance adjusting some of the rules governing annexations. Currently, the town has an ordinance that specifically prohibits certain things in an annexation. For example, any development in the 100-year floodplain is prohibited. This would negate developed river access under the current Foothills annexation proposal.
The council agreed that more flexibility was desired in annexation proceedings. They want to be able to negotiate and bargain for amenities for the town and felt having “hard” requirements prohibited such action. The council will discuss the issue further at a public hearing on December 7.
The council will review what it means to be a councilmember at a 5 p.m. work session on December 7. The two-hour orientation will be filled with fun and frivolity. The council will also decide what outside boards each finds appealing enough to sit on as a representative.