The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
by Alissa Johnson
Standing O for Ochs
At an April meeting, councilmember David O’Reilly led the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council in a standing ovation for Dave Ochs, outgoing executive director of the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce. O’Reilly commended Ochs for his work and teased him abut the pace at which he presents to the council.
“You talk so darn slow, you never get it out,” O’Reilly joked.
Funding the bus to Gothic
Ian Billick, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), sent a letter to the Mountain Express board indicating that the organization will “eventually stop funding regular bus service” to Gothic. He also sent a copy to the town of Mt. Crested Butte.
RMBL currently contributes about $7,500 for the service. Not providing the funds “will allow us to focus our resources on providing unique educational opportunities for the local community, and to support initiatives for management of the Gothic Corridor for which there are not obvious funding sources.”
Outgoing councilmember Gary Keiser, who sat on the Mountain Express board, clarified that locations outside of the towns have always been expected to help pay for service.
“The Mountain Express board hasn’t addressed this so I don’t know why it came to the town,” he said.
Smooth sailing with audit
The council passed a resolution accepting the 2015 audit for the town. “It was a smooth audit. Our funds are in really good shape,” said Karl Trujillo, town finance director.
Land on the move
Council gave town manager Joe Fitzpatrick the go-ahead to spend up to $15,000 for the town to purchase a lot on Cinnamon Road. The land in question moves anywhere from two to six inches a year.
Fitzpatrick explained that during spring runoff, water lubricates an underground layer of shale, causing the earth on top of it to slide. “We spent around $50,000 a few years ago to put a trench on the uphill side of the road and intercept the groundwater.”
Purchasing the lot, which is not buildable, will give the town leeway if more control work is required. The owner has agreed to sell it for $11,000. The $15,000 approval is intended to cover closing costs and other expenses associated with the sale.
Controlling noxious weeds
The council will continue its agreement with the county to get assistance with fighting noxious weeds.
