The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“What else is free?”
Thanks to a $3,000 grant from the town, there will be free Nordic skiing again at the Crested Butte Town Ranch this winter. But there is no guarantee the free skiing will continue indefinitely.
Nordic Center director Keith Bauer and Nordic Council board member Skip Berkshire approached the Town Council at the September 6 meeting to request the funds to help pay for grooming at the Town Ranch. They said it cost the center about $4,500 per season to groom the ranch trail. They proposed that the town pay $3,000 of the cost and the center would pick up $1,500.
“The Nordic Council has struggled with the Town Ranch issue in light of funding cutbacks,” said Bauer. “I was at a council meeting a few weeks ago and heard the film festival ask for money from the service grants so I thought we should give it a shot.”
Bauer pointed out that town contributions to the Nordic Center have declined significantly in recent years. He also pointed out that the center gets contributions from Mt. Crested Butte, Riverbend, Skyland and the Gunnison County Met Rec District.
Mayor Leah Williams told Bauer she was surprised at the comment in Bauer’s proposal that Town Ranch grooming and free skiing may stop after this season.
“Unless we find a funding solution, that could happen,” responded Bauer. “It’s a very real expense. We need to fund the new snowcat barn and a new snowcat. It’s just the raw reality.”
“The Nordic Center embraced the goal to stand on our own two feet,” said Berkshire. “That’s the way it should be. But it’s not the way it is for most non-profits. The Town Ranch issue perplexes me. What else does the town do that’s free? Water? Sewer? The recreation programs? None of it is free.
“We’re in the same boat,” he continued. “We have a network of trails that bring people to town and people use. It is sort of an awkward arrangement. We have trails that people pay for and others they don’t. People should be able to enjoy the dirt but if it is improved with a commodity that provides an amenity, people should pay for it.”
“I think it is great you are trying to stand on your own feet,” said councilman John Wirsing. “The Town Ranch trails are almost an extension of our park system. It is a good amenity. I think it is a reasonable request to have them get paid to groom the trails. Maybe we need to figure in a way for the town to budget a line item to pay for this.”
“This $3,000 request might be a chance to buy us time and force the issue and come up with a solution,” said Berkshire.
“I have no problem with the $3,000 request,” said councilman Jim Schmidt. “We need to figure something out in the future. I would like to see the free skiing continue at the ranch”
Town Manager Susan Parker reminded the council that while $3,000 might not seem like a lot of money, it is. “That department is tight right now. We’ve deferred buying equipment for the parks and rec department.”
Wirsing asked if the Nordic skiing could be extended into the spring since the downhill ski area closes sometimes just when the skiing is getting good. “April skiing can be great,” he said. “Can you stay open longer?”
Bauer said the Nordic Center closes at the same time as Crested Butte Mountain Resort because most people, including the Nordic Center employees, are ready to take a break and leave the valley for a while when the ski area closes.
“We do it on the front end,” pointed out Berkshire. “We get the area up Kebler Pass ready for our Thanksgiving Camp and the skiing is free up near Lily Lake. People are up there and using it. It was wild last year at the start of the season.”
The council approved the $3,000 grant request from the Town Service Grant fund. Williams also encouraged that the town staff, some councilmembers and Nordic Center representatives get together to discuss long-term solutions to keeping the Town Ranch trails groomed.
