Briefs Crested Butte

by Mark Reaman

CB water rights in good shape

The town’s water rights attorney consultant, Scott Miller, gave the Town Council an update on Crested Butte water rights. “The town has a pretty extensive portfolio of water rights,” he told the council at the March 7 meeting. He detailed the extensive rights held by the town and then the council met with Miller in a closed-door executive session to discuss specific issues on potential strategy matters. “The town’s water supply is in good overall shape,” he assured the council.

Blocks 79 and 80 now have six micro lots

The Crested Butte Town Council approved a resolution replatting Blocks 79 and 80. The land is set aside for affordable housing units and the replat will now include six so-called micro lots that accommodate small houses between 400 and 1,250 square feet.

Weed impact on sales tax

January sales tax revenue is expected to be about flat to last year. One major difference is the amount of marijuana sold in town. There was a major decrease in the weed sales tax collected this January compared to last year.

Budget amendment on tap

The council will consider an ordinance at the March 21 meeting to amend its 2016 budget. With last fall’s passage of an additional .5 percent sales tax, an additional $394,000 is expected to be collected this year. The budget allows for more parks crew employees and projects and also increases the town’s legal budget to deal with the evolving Mt. Emmons and Cypress Foothills subdivision projects.

Ice rink and avalanche update

Big Mine Ice Rink closed for the season Sunday. Parks and Rec director Janna Hansen said it is expected that more kids’ hockey games and practices will be held at Big Mine Ice Rink next year than what took place this year, when Gunnison was the go-to rink. She expects games to be more spread out between the two. She is also working with avalanche expert Art Mears to develop a town avalanche mitigation plan.

$90K grant received for wastewater design

Town public works director Rodney Due informed the council that the town had received a $90,000 DOLA (Department of Local Affairs) grant that will be used to design the upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant.

Upcoming Stuff: Sixth St. Station, Arts Center, Vinotok fire

The council was told to expect a recommendation soon from BOZAR on the rezoning request from the developers of Sixth Street Station. BOZAR will be discussing the issue at a special March 24 meeting. Also on that agenda will be an update to revisions with the proposed Center for the Arts expansion project.

Councilman Jim Schmidt wanted to acknowledge the neighbors around the Visitors Center and honor their annual request to see the Vinotok fire possibly moved because of their safety concerns. Staff will find a time to talk about the Vinotok fire and its impact on the neighborhood sometime this spring.

Drone alert

Citizen Keith Bauer asked the Crested Butte Town Council earlier this winter to take a look at regulating drones in town. He said while relaxing on his deck one evening last summer he heard what sounded like 10,000 mosquitoes. The noise turned out to be a drone. “It didn’t feel quite right,” he said. “It was a little weird and could be an invasion of privacy. There are a lot of hot tubs in town. Maybe just take a look at the issue in the future.” Mayor Glenn Michel said the council would keep an eye on it.