Briefs Crested Butte

Time to find a town planner….
The town is beginning the search to fill the town planner position left vacant by the retirement earlier this year of John Hess. Some of the duties performed by Hess have been split up by other departments. Town manager Todd Crossett explained to the council that the new job won’t necessarily be a formal department head position and will report directly to the town manager. “We can recruit someone with two to five years experience and the salary will be less than in the past,” he said.

 

Fixing an intersection issue
Public works director Rodney Due said the town has a decent chance to obtain some state funds to reconfigure the Red Lady Avenue intersection by the school. He said the town was making a priority list for the Colorado Department of Transportation.

August sales tax up even without bike race boost
Sales tax for August was up 6.2 percent over the previous year. That comes without the boost of the USA Pro Challenge bike race that came through town in August of 2012 and 2011. For the year, sales tax collection in town is up 8 percent. “It was another record for the month,” said town finance director Lois Rozman.

 

Wirsing’s last piece of advice
Outgoing Councilperson John Wirsing was presented a certificate and photo for his four years of service on the Town Council. He reminded the current council to think not just for today, but for 10 or 20 years down the road. “And the ability to agree to disagree is important,” he said. “Don’t take things too personally.”
 
Volunteer for the kids, bear lite, parking issues…
Chief Marshal Tom Martin said the Re1J school district is looking to hire a crossing guard for that intersection. In the meantime his department is soliciting volunteers to pick up the slack.
Martin also reported to the council that it was a slack summer for bear activity—and his department was very happy about that.
On a tougher note, given early-season snow, Martin said his night crew would begin leaving warning flyers on illegally parked cars. But soon, those flyers will turn into yellow tickets, and even towed vehicles if the situation warrants.

More lights!
Town parks and recreation director Jake Jones said he has purchased more holiday lights for the upcoming holiday season. He said the crews would start putting up some of those decorations around town soon. Look for more lights at the Four-way Stop intersection and on the wreaths hanging on the lamp posts downtown. “It will definitely look more festive than it has in the past,” he promised.

How many is too many at the Four-way?
Council will look at an ordinance on December 2 limiting the amount of vendors at the Four-way Stop to seven on any given day. Last summer, it apparently got pretty crowded at the town’s main intersection so an attempt to formalize the situation is being considered. A public hearing on the matter has been set for the next meeting.

Town has healthy money balance
Town finances are looking strong according to the third-quarter financial update. September sales tax is being reported as down but town finance director Lois Rozman said several businesses are late in reporting. She expects September to be about flat from 2012.

 

You own historic property? Find out what that means to you….
The town has produced a brochure dealing with the historical properties in town. It is meant to educate new owners of historical property in town about the regulations and expectations that come with owning such a property.

Solar array moving ahead
The town and the Gunnison County Electric Association are negotiating how best to install a solar array on the Crested Butte clarifier building. According to town building and zoning director Bob Gillie, the intent is to see if the public will lease panels that will be installed on the roof. He expects about 20 such panels to be installed. “It would allow people to get the benefits of solar panels without having to install them on their roof of their house,” he said. It is hoped the project will begin next spring.

More Kochevar open space to move into town’s hands
The town is working out final details to take possession of Phase 3 of the Kochevar open space property up Slate Rive Road. The 40-acre parcel is currently held by the Trust for Public Land and would be added to the town’s quiver of nearby open space.