Don’t start 2010 in the waffle iron…

The Crested Butte Town Council is relatively young. That is still no reason to waffle as a first option. Some unsolicited advice as you head into your January 12 retreat; please remember you are elected officials voted in to make decisions that impact Crested Butte. You were not elected to be timid bureaucrats straddling a fence, spending your time on the smallest details of process. Too often, council members fall into the safety net of mediocrity when confronted with real issues. It is much easier to schedule another meeting “to gather more information” than to take a stand, but it’s not always the right thing to do.
When 250 people packed the gym 10 days ago to talk about Snodgrass and the council weighing in with a letter to the Forest Service, not one person on either side came with the hope you would arrange another meeting to delve into the minutia of NEPA.
Not one.
That is the job of others, not the political body of Crested Butte.
Good politicians have the opportunity to set a direction and get a town from point A to point B. There is an equation for getting things done and politicians are part of it. Elected officials ideally set the tone and point the way. The staff is paid to figure out how to get the politicians where they want to go. In this particular case, you as a council can basically say, “we want to see the Snodgrass expansion plans end up A) in NEPA and eventually approved, or B) on the side of Charlie Richmond’s decision with no more development on that mountain.”
There is a strong staff behind you that is paid pretty well to dig into the details of how to get there. If it is the council’s priority, let them investigate the ramifications of NEPA or any other avenue that will get you to where you want to go. If you want to be personally briefed about NEPA, the folks at the Forest Service headquarters in Delta are very friendly and accommodating. They can be reached at (970) 874-6600.
But, believe it or not, this Snodgrass thing is a constantly moving target. It is situated less than you think in a hard-and-fast bureaucratic world and has entered a more political realm. Even the guy who wrote the decision has shifted at least one significant part of his conclusion. The decision that was declared final and not allowed to be appealed is currently under appeal. So digging into NEPA to find cast-iron rules and procedures won’t get you any closer to what people on both sides are looking for.

Here are a few easy arguments. Pick one or come up with your own but start 2010 with the council playing the proper role in the equation: Set a direction.

—We are a ski town and Snodgrass enhances the ski area. It will help boost a shaky economy (have you seen your sales tax numbers recently?) and help those working families who are here to be able to stay in the valley. Expansion will make for a more pleasant experience for ski guests and help the resort succeed by giving guests another day or two of winter fun. We’ve grown to a certain point and if we can guide the change, we all benefit. Let’s encourage the Forest Service to approve the plan with conditions specific to Crested Butte.
—If Snodgrass is not approved, the ski area will finally find its right size. There will always be a ski area up the road and we can focus on the current mountain. We can market the “smaller and greener is better” idea and shrink the town and its economy to a manageable size that works for the people who really want to be here. That move may help the working people to be able to better afford a home and raise a family here. We are what we are and being a smaller ski area can actually benefit those of us living in the valley. Let’s tell Charlie he was right.
—The town should never have taken a stand in the first place. Let’s write a letter explaining that the snapshot has changed since 2008 when the last council sent a letter, but remind the Forest Service it is their decision and Charlie shouldn’t put any of the blame (or credit) on us.
—Let’s protect our property values and economic quality of life. We all could use more money and Snodgrass can be part of a successful resort equation. This place will never be Aspen but we can all be more comfortable with a better ski area. Let’s do all we can to get it approved.
—We need to be more environmentally aware and Snodgrass would contribute to climate change and global problems. There are too many immediate local environmental concerns as well, such as water issues and the cutting of thousands of trees. Let’s do all we can to stop it.

Surely each of you sort of knows which camp you are closer to. There are ramifications to each position, so think about it. But looking at NEPA regulation 365.5-(subsection 7)-c.r.p isn’t going to change that core belief.
Look, it is too easy to use “proper process” as an excuse to waffle and pick up more splinters from straddling the fence. The Crested Butte council has always been given greater credence as a political body than surrounding boards. Recognize that and make an honest case of what it is you believe is best for the town. That’s why you were elected to sit in the cushy seats. You’ve had the time to consider options over the big issue, so take a deep breath and lead. Set a direction.

If you choose instead to waffle and spend your time facilitating work sessions on process…the council might find that when you want to discuss the next real issue, no one will bother to show up because there will be little faith you will do anything anyway.