Briefs Crested Butte

Ice rink getting closer
The Big Mine ice arena is coming along on schedule and should be ready for skating by mid-December. Parks and recreation director Jake Jones told the Town Council at its meeting Monday, November 7, “We are nearing the finish line. There is still a lot of work but the concrete should be done by next week and the tin will start on the roof soon. The dasher boards should be installed around November 28.” He hopes there can be an official dedication around the week of December 12.

Council hitting the hard issues
Council will hold two substantive work sessions before the next two meetings. On November 21 the council will dive into affordable housing fees. The previous council raised the fees significantly last year and the resulting jump angered some local businesspeople. The town is working on adjusting the fees and the council wants to provide fresh input.
On December 5, the council will hold a work session over franchise fees in general and the Atmos franchise agreement in particular. The previous council passed on signing a franchise agreement with Atmos Energy; this council wants to re-evaluate the loss in revenue from franchise fees and the status of liability protection provided the town without a franchise agreement.

The future’s so bright—a solar array
The council instructed the staff to work with the Office for Resource Efficiency and investigate the feasibility of pursuing a solar array in town. Councilperson Jim Schmidt recently made contact with a firm called Martifer that utilizes tax credits to make such arrays financially possible for government entities. Town building and zoning director Bob Gillie said such a project shouldn’t produce less than 100 kilowatts in order to be worthwhile. The new town clarifier was constructed and oriented with the idea of eventually placing solar panels on the roof but Gillie said that would provide only about 50 kilowatts. “Given some government deadlines there is a lot to look at in a fairly short time span,” said Gillie.
But the council agreed it was a worthwhile pursuit. They instructed Gillie to investigate the economic feasibility of working with Martifer.
“It needs to be a true economic benefit and not just a feel-good project,” said councilperson Glenn Michel. “We need to be honest and very critical of the numbers.”
“And we need to consider the maintenance costs as well,” added councilperson and new father Roland Mason.
Gillie will spend some time pursuing the idea and report back to the council in December.

Crested Butte summer booming
Sales tax continues to boom in the summer. A new record was reached for September—that month’s sales tax was 4.8 percent over 2010. For the year, Crested Butte sales tax is up more than 7 percent. “That’s good news,” understated town finance director Lois Rozman.
Leaving the invisible streets
The town will hold a public hearing November 21 on vacating public rights of way for the platted streets and alleys running through the town park by the Center for the Arts. The land will still be retained as public use but won’t be used as thoroughfares. The action comes as a result of a request from the Crested Butte Center for the Arts board, which is planning on expanding the building in the future.

Trash relief
The council will also hold a public hearing November 21 to essentially allow condo complexes to opt out of paying the individual fee for trash collection if there is a Dumpster provided for the complex. Currently, every residential unit in town must pay the monthly $17.89 even if they don’t use the service. There will now be an option to eliminate that individual charge. Approximately 255 units could feel the relief.

Deli is second in command
Councilperson Schmidt was appointed mayor pro tem. Surprise.

Shifting transport to Snodgrass and through Denver
Transportation representative Roland Mason informed the council that Mountain Express is planning a regular stop at the Snodgrass trailhead as part of the condo loop this winter. Some other service will be reduced to accommodate the new route but Mason said it is expected to provide service for the Nordic Trails on Snodgrass as well as nearby affordable housing.
Mason also told the council the Rural Transportation Authority cancelled three direct flights from Houston to Gunnison in mid-December because of low volume on the jets. “I think only 10 or 15 seats had been sold on those flights,” he said. “The people were rerouted through Denver and we’ll try to provide them with something special to make up for them getting rerouted.”

Bringing in broadband
Huckstep said he was joining a group being formed by county commissioner Paula Swenson that will attempt to bring broadband to the county. “There may be federal dollars that become available in 2012 to get better Internet and broadband up here,” he said. “It could be a great opportunity.”

Organic burials
Schmidt said he’s been hearing about the new trend for people to simplify their burial choices. He wondered if the town should set aside a spot in the town cemetery to accommodate people who don’t want a heavy metal casket but rather “a more organic situation. There is a movement for people who want to be buried more naturally,” he said. “We’re a natural community.”
Town clerk Eileen Hughes explained that the cemetery doesn’t require metal caskets or vaults for local burials. “For example, there is an ad in the paper for pine box caskets and we allow for that already,” she said. ”Without doing more research, I’m not sure we need to dedicate a portion of the cemetery.”