The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
CBMR seeking funds for airlines
The County Commissioners made a commitment to Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) to consider a financial contribution to the 2012-2012 winter air program during the 2013 budgeting process. CBMR initially sought contributions to help cover an $89,000 shortfall to secure direct United Airlines service from Houston to Gunnison.
In early June, the commissioners discussed contributing $20,000 from funds set aside for economic development. But given recent information that CBMR did not have to pay the full $1.3 million revenue guarantee for 2011-2012 Dallas service from American Airlines, Commissioner Paula Swenson has now asked that any county contribution be a last resort.
“I would like to suggest that when we go to a vote on this, we have the motion reflect that our money would be last in, so that the normal contractees would pick up the bulk of it and we would fill in,” Swenson said.
But that vote won’t take place anytime soon because the funds would not be needed until February 2013. The commissioners can’t allocate 2013 funds during 2012 unless it is part of the regular budgeting process.
Register that cell phone
The talk has been all over town, at council meetings and board meetings, but the County Commissioners have made it an official resolution: they want you to register your cell phone with the emergency alert system. With 60 percent of homes without land lines, it’s one way to stay in the loop should something big happen. Like a wildfire.
Just go to the Gunnison County Emergency Management web site and click the yellow icon at the top of the page: www.gunnisoncounty.com/emergency_management.
One step closer to a new housing authority
The County Commissioners became the first ones to jump into the pool and sign an intergovernmental agreement establishing the new Gunnison Valley Housing Authority. Paula Swenson will be the county’s elected official on the advisory board, and the commissioners will interview sitting board members from the former Housing Authority to fill the remaining positions.
Funding another business survey
The commissioners allocated $5,000 in funding to the Economic Development Group for 2012. The group anticipates using the funds primarily for administrative expenses, a second survey of valley business owners and business owner reception and input session.
According to County Manager Matthew Birnie, the commissioners had approximate $28,600 set aside for economic development.
