Briefs Crested Butte Council

Sales tax up but Open Space fund down
The second quarter of the year looks mostly healthy for the town from a financial perspective. Most revenues so far this year are higher than anticipated—due to more sales tax being collected, more tap fees coming in and more construction permits being issued. One area where revenues are down is the real estate transfer tax (RETT) that helps fund open space and some capital projects. Town finance director Lois Rozman expects to make the budget, but warned the council that the RETT funds are well below where they were just a few years ago.

Town will consider another conservation easement
The council has set for public hearing the acceptance of an open space conservation easement. The Crested Butte Land Trust has asked the town to hold the conservation easement. The easement is for a parcel of land in the Slate River Valley on the west side of Smith Hill and adjacent to the town-owned Kochevar property. The council has pledged $200,000 to help purchase that property.

HCCA says higher bond needed for mine facility
High Country Citizens Alliance water director Jennifer Bock updated the council on some local water issues. She said one thing the environmental organization is pushing for is a higher bond on the Mt. Emmons Waste Water Treatment Plant. The Forest Service currently mandates the operator, U.S. Energy, post a $1,000 bond in case of major accidents. Bock said now that the company has a Plan of Operations to start mining, the bond should cover at least a year’s worth of operation, which would be more than $1 million. Bock said HCCA has circulated a letter of support to raise the bond among local businesses and more than 40 have signed it.

Insurance attorney tells council to leave the staff alone
The general counsel for the town’s insurance agency, CIRSA, gave a two-hour presentation to the council about personal liability issues and reminders of how to stay within the boundaries of the job of an elected official. She basically told the council to not interfere with staff duties and to let the people hired to work for the town do their jobs.

Bids awarded for new path and historical building
The council approved bids for construction work on the Depot building and for some work on a wetlands boardwalk that will be part of the recreation path extension.