Briefs: Mt. Crested Butte

Medical marijuana public hearing January 4
The door on dispensaries is closing in Mt. Crested Butte. On January 4, the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council is holding a public hearing on an ordinance prohibiting the retail sale, distribution, cultivation, and dispensing of medical marijuana.

The Planning Commission has reviewed the ordinance and is recommending the council approve it. The proposed changes to town code read: “It is unlawful for any person to operate, cause to be operated, or permit to be operated a medical marijuana center, optional premises cultivation operation, or facility for which a medical marijuana-infused products manufacturers’ license could otherwise be obtained within the town, and all such uses are hereby prohibited in any location within the town, or within any area hereinafter annexed to the town.”
There has been a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries in Mt. Crested Butte since March, when the town passed an ordinance to prohibit dispensaries and grow operations while it worked on a separate ordinance permanently changing town code. At the time the moratorium was passed, councilman Gary Keiser said, “It seems to me it’s not really consistent with our identity as a destination community.” He also pointed out that there are three dispensaries three miles down the road in Crested Butte if patients need to get their medicine.
Sales tax
October 2010 sales tax numbers are in, and were just a little bit below budget. October sales tax collections were $37,209, which is $291 below budget or a .1 percent decrease. For the year 2010, year-to-date sales tax collections are 4.7 percent below budget, or down $56,733. On the budget side of things, now that the town has approved its 2011 budget, staff is updating the five-year financial/business plan.

New law enforcement agreement in place
During its December 21 meeting, the council agreed to a year-long law enforcement agreement between the town and the Gunnison County Sheriff. Essentially, Mt. Crested Butte will receive $126,000 to compensate the town for the sheriff’s duties it performs at the north end of the valley.