Briefs Crested Butte

Prowling snowcats…and Irwin almost booked
The Town Council discussed the resolutions addressing the proposed routes for the Nordic track setting equipment and the CS Irwin snowcat. The Nordic Cat will be allowed on the same streets as last year. The CS Irwin rubber-tracked Tucker will be allowed primarily on Whiterock Avenue between Kebler Pass and the new offices at Fourth and Belleview.
The council held lots of discussion of an alternative route that would allow the Tucker to use the road in front of the Nordic Center and ice rink. The problem there is that many times children are in the area and there was concern about their safety.
“It’s not a Prius,” explained CS Irwin operations director Alan Bernholtz. “It’s the opposite of a Prius. They’ll hear it coming. And then they’ll probably start throwing snowballs at it.”
In the end, the council felt safety issues dictated that the snowcat stay on Whiterock.
Bernholtz also said he may be approaching the council in the future with a request to extend the hours of operation to 10 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. “We’ve had some requests for dinner tours,” he said.
He also said that Irwin is already 90 percent booked for the coming season but the new hotel, located in the old Crested Butte Club, is in a test phase and isn’t that full at the moment.

Council raise
The next council will get to grapple with the idea of a raise for the Town Council. It will be discussed at the November 21 meeting. A proposal to raise council salaries to $4,800 per year ($400 per month compared to the current $300 per month) and the mayor’s pay to $9,600 per year ($800 per month compared to the current $600 per month) was put on the agenda.
“Maybe this will help draw more than four candidates for three positions,” suggested Councilperson John Wirsing.
“Every councilperson takes time off from his or her job to attend to council business and this doesn’t cover it, but the raise could help,” said Councilperson Jim Schmidt.
“It is primarily a job of public service,” countered Mayor Leah Williams.
“This won’t necessarily attract new council candidates,” said former mayor Alan Bernholtz. “And it sends a strange message in a tough time. The economy is tough for everyone in town right now. Not many people are seeing any raises around here. It sends an interesting message to the community. People don’t run for the council because of the money. It sends a bad message and isn’t enough to truly compensate you. It’s something to think about.”
“I always found the little bit of money nice and I appreciated it,” said outgoing Councilperson Dan Escalante. “But after I argued against staff raises given the economic situation being faced by people in town, there’s no way I could support a council raise.”
He won’t have to. The newly elected council will take up the matter this month. Any raise would not go into effect until 2013 since councilmembers cannot vote themselves a raise.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac exempt?
Town attorney John Belkin said given some of the foreclosure situations in town, mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may try to claim an exemption from paying the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) in Crested Butte—but, he added, they cannot. When the mortgage lenders came into title for two recently foreclosed properties in town, Belkin said, Fannie Mae tried to be exempt from the RETT claiming it was a “governmental instrumentality.” Belkin reviewed some recent court cases and concluded that Fannie and Freddie are not governmental instrumentalities and therefore not exempt from paying the RETT.

MMJ revisions
The council approved tweaking the medical marijuana ordinance. The changes bring the town into line with state regulations. It also allows five permits in the town. Currently there are three operating permits. Grow operations and infused product manufacturing is also prohibited.

Budget done
The council passed all the necessary 2012 budget resolutions and ordinances.

Youth movement
Several bright and active local teenagers gave a brief report to the council about the recent happenings of the youth Council. From bike-in movies to pie-eating fundraisers, the youth of the community have stayed busy. Youth council coordinator Brooke Harless, who is also the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project (GCSAPP) director, stayed and gave the council an update on the new collaboration between GCSAPP and Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski area. The two are partnering on a drug-free discounted ski pass program for local high school freshmen.

Zobs time
Andris Zobs recently gave the council an update for the Office for Resource Efficiency. Zobs said the group was doing a lot of good, green stuff. He said the Energy Smart program now has 19 enrolled service providers in the valley. Zobs was also appointed to the town’s new Affordable Housing subcommittee.