Briefs Crested Butte

Applications pouring in
The town posted the opening for the new town manager position on its website Friday, January 4. Similar internet postings were placed with various professional organizations. By Tuesday, January 22, 68 applications had been received with more expected by the Sunday, January 27 deadline. The council held a day-long “retreat” on Tuesday, January 8 to discuss qualities they want to see in the final candidates. They have also budgeted about $8,500 for the search process. Ideally, they want to have the bulk of the interview process out of the way by the end of the ski season. The council compiled a lengthy list of “characteristics” they require and prefer in a candidate. Aside from the expected ability to manage a staff and communicate effectively with employees and the public, the desires included experience with a number of elements including ski area impacts, historic preservation, affordable housing, economic development, and snow. They want someone with a passion for lifestyle and community, knowledge of laws and codes and an understanding that the job is more than full-time. Oh, and the candidate should also be open minded, intelligent, street smart and politically savvy.

Town to protest super stringent water standards
Town public works director Rodney Due gave the council a heads up that the town is filing “party status” in a legal proceeding dealing with very stringent water quality standards being imposed throughout the state when it comes to arsenic. The new standards would require discharge from the water treatment plant to be no higher than .02 micrograms per liter. Currently the regulation calls for allowing 10 micrograms per liter of drinking water. Due conveyed that the new regs would be expensive to enforce and are more than a little over-the-top. “A lot of municipalities across the state will be getting involved with this given the ramifications,” he said. The council agreed with the move.

Growth paying its own way got more expensive
The council in its role as town planning commission approved a resolution increasing the developer requirements for snowplowing equipment donations in a large subdivision or annexation. The fee will go up considerably to 58-cents per square foot of right-of-way and other areas to be plowed by the town. Mayor Aaron Huckstep pointed out that nothing currently in the pipeline will be impacted and when it comes to annexations, “everything is negotiable.”

Winter Growth grants
A committee of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte councilmen awarded grants in the new “Grow Winter” event program. Each town contributed $7,000 to the fund with the hope of attracting more business. The committee awarded $12,500 this week. The Center For the Arts received $3,000 to market the winter entertainment program outside of the county. $1,500 will go toward an off-season “Pole, Peddle, and Paddle” event. $3,500 was awarded to the Songwriter’s Festival. Another $3,500 went to Blackline Entertainment for a Spring Break concert and KBUT was awarded $1,000 to help sore up the Mardi Gras celebration this year.

Atmos Energy agreement set for public hearing
After a closed door executive session, the council agreed to set a public hearing for February 4 to discuss a proposed franchise agreement with Atmos Energy. The town hasn’t had a gas franchise agreement for about two years. This council will consider such an agreement next month. They are looking at an agreement very similar to the one rejected by the council two years ago. Councilperson John Wirsing, who has consistently had an issue with the lack of some insurance provisions in the proposed agreements, questioned why some clauses he wants in regard to the town being named “additionally insured” continue to be left out. Atmos public affairs manager Brian Martens said it is the company policy to not provide that provision in any of its franchise agreements. Under the new proposal, in-town customers would see a 3-percent surcharge on their bill. That money would go to the town and is expected to raise about $35,000 in annual revenue.