Council pushes for fireworks in town of Crested Butte

Crested Butte discusses several issues with Chamber of Commerce

A gentle clearing of the air took place between the Crested Butte Town Council and the Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce. Representatives of the two boards touched base on several issues including the July 4 fireworks show and the conditions for using the town’s building at the Four-way Stop as the Visitor’s Center.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Richard Bond told the Town Council at the February 16 meeting that with July 4 falling on a Sunday this year, there is potential for an extremely busy weekend. He said the Mountain Heritage Museum’s Black-and-White Ball would be held Friday; several arts events including a performance of Bye Bye Birdie are scheduled for Saturday; and the regular Fourth of July festivities would take place Sunday.
“We are brainstorming to come up with an event for Monday that will help keep people here,” he said.
As for Sunday, Bond recommended that the fireworks be held at the Mt. Crested Butte Base Area following an evening concert. This recommendation didn’t sit well with the Town Council.
“When we discussed this last June, we said for fairness’ sake, we would alternate the location of the fireworks between Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte,” said Crested Butte Mayor Leah Williams. “I heard a lot of complaints from people who couldn’t see the fireworks in town last year.”
Bond explained that the Chamber was consulting with three companies to put on the fireworks display that he said would cost about $15,000. “The three companies have said they will have to approve the launch site and it must comply with their safety requirements.”
The Chamber’s event manager, Scott Still, added that the area is becoming “venue-challenged. Basically if the Verzuh Ranch site in town is used, they want to launch shells no larger than six inches,” he said. “Six-inch shells are very similar to the eight-inch shells we’ve used in the past. We can get a lot more six-inch shells for the cost, but they won’t launch as high.”
Councilperson Phoebe Wilson agreed with Williams that alternating launch locations was the fairest way to deal with both towns’ desire to host the fireworks. “Logistically, I think it is better in town,” she said. “People get to go to the parade, party in town and then they don’t want to drive or take the bus up the mountain.”
Councilperson Roland Mason agreed. “Sitting in the park with the Butte in the background is a great venue. It is great for families and seems centrally located for people driving up the valley.”
Councilperson John Wirsing said the addition of Rainbow Park would allow another great viewing site. “It just seems to me that town offers better viewing sites.”
The fireworks issue has been a sore topic between the two towns for decades, said Councilperson Jim Schmidt. “I have no problem going back and forth between the two towns if both are contributing funds to the show,” he said. “The problems in the past has been in part the dry conditions, and it seems like it would be safer to set them off across the wetlands in town.”
Bond said he had made his recommendation but the decision of the location would have to be made between the two towns. “I’d hope you can work with Mt. Crested Butte to find an equitable decision,” he said.
Bond said Mt. Crested Butte has $6,000 budgeted for fireworks, while the county turned down a request for $6,000. Crested Butte has committed $3,000 but pledged to raise another $3,000 for the show. Phoebe Wilson is working on the idea of holding a Soap Box Derby event to raise that additional $3,000. The local Youth Council intends to help with the fundraiser but details have not yet been worked out.
Williams promised to touch base with Mt. Crested Butte Mayor William Buck and work out a solution.
Buck said his council hasn’t discussed the issue in any detail but will address the topic. “We heard the suggestion from the Chamber and it sounded good to us to have the fireworks up here, but we haven’t really talked about it. Richard suggested the daytime activities be held in Crested Butte and evening activities up here,” Buck said.
Williams said she has since talked to Buck and he recommended the issue be worked out after the Mt. Crested Butte council election in April so the new councilmember’s can weigh in.
During discussion of the service agreement between the town and the Chamber of Commerce, the council was uncomfortable with the Chamber using the town-owned Visitor Center building but making referrals only for businesses that were Chamber members.
Williams said she had a problem with town taxpayers not getting a fair shake.
“They get the events, for example,” responded Bond. “They aren’t paying for Visitor Center representation.”
“I want the Visitor Center to represent all the businesses in town,” said Williams.
Councilperson Dan Escalante agreed. “In my ideal world, the Chamber would tell the real story of how it is and not just recommend those that pay.”
Bond said the agreement included a clause to address a solution to the concern. It reads, “The Chamber will work with the Town to define a cost-effective method of providing to payers of the Business Occupancy Licensing Tax representation in the Visitor Center for implementation in 2011.”
“We are proposing to work on the problem but it will take some time,” said Bond. “There will be space and cost implications.”
Bond said he would prefer to wait to make any such blanket referrals until the next billing cycle of the Chamber, slated for September. “I don’t want to have to refund a portion of the Chamber dues to businesses since we told them this would be one of the benefits,” Bond explained.
“I don’t understand the problem,” said Schmidt. “It sounds like the Chamber members have plenty of additional benefits. I don’t see it as being that big of a deal. It’s a town building and it should be a town benefit and the Chamber pays zero rent.”
Bond reiterated his intention to address the problem. He said he would take recommendations from Councilperson Mason and see how communities in similar situations address the problem. “I get the message,” promised Bond.
“I think we are on the right track,” said Escalante.
The council also asked that advocacy positions, like petitions, not be allowed in the public portion of the Visitor Center. Bond agreed to the request.
The Chamber and Town Council will touch base on the issue again after more research is conducted.