Joe Fitzpatrick looks back at his 40-year Mt. CB tenure

Gets a Rec Path named in his honor

By Kendra Walker

Joe Fitzpatrick has worn many hats since moving to the valley: Mt. Crested Butte town manager, former Mt. Crested Butte mayor, former Planning Commission board member and former business owner. Fitzpatrick retired September 2, but his imprint on the town will very much remain on the community.

After moving here with his wife, Beverly, in 1978, Fitzpatrick started a property management company, Solutions, Inc./Crested Butte Accomodations. He spent the early 1980s on the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council and Planning Commission board, and was mayor of Mt. Crested Butte from 1986 to 1992. In July 2004, the town council named Fitzpatrick as acting town manager and then he was hired on as the full-time town manager that November.

 

Highlight reel

Looking back at his 16 years as town manager, Fitzpatrick recalls many highlights. During his first year, “We essentially had a boom starting then and the Mueller family wanted to help develop in the base area, and the Lodge at Mountaineer Square was built. Going through that whole process was quite an event, to say the least,” he said. “Working through the public/private partnership with Crested Butte Mountain Resort and the Downtown Development Authority to develop the Adventure Park at the base area has greatly improved our summer base area visitor traffic.”

Another significant project for Fitzpatrick is the construction of the Recreation Path. “We were always working on the Rec Path,” he said of the project’s 30-year-long evolution, which required cooperation between Mt. Crested Butte and Crested Butte, getting through dozens of property easements and patience.

“We started the Rec Path between the towns in 1991,” he said. “When the ski area was sold to Vail Resorts, Tim Mueller wanted to wrap up his agreements and obligations,” which included negotiations to extend the Rec Path up to the Snodgrass Trailhead and improve Gothic Road. “That is the construction going on right now that should be finished in September,” said Fitzpatrick.

The town’s new maintenance facility, completed in December 2019, was another milestone for Fitzpatrick. “The town’s original maintenance building is the Town Hall council chambers that we sit in today. That was originally a garage and housed a fire truck and the town maintenance equipment and staff.”

But when the fire district continued to grow, the town helped build the fire district its own building and the town moved into the original fire barn. “But as time went on we outgrew and really needed more space,” Fitzpatrick said of the design process for the new facility located near the Snodgrass Trailhead. Fitzpatrick remembers presenting the project in Golden to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for a potential grant that would fund up to 50 percent of the project. “We were happy to get even $200,000,” he said. “Well, we must have won them over, because they gave us the maximum amount,” which was about $700,000 for the project.

Fitzpatrick was also instrumental in the town’s work with Crested Butte Mountain Resort and the Crested Butte Land Trust in solidifying the Snodgrass Trail as access to National Forest land.

 

Looking ahead

Throughout his time working for the town, Fitzpatrick has noticed the relationship between the two towns progress with collaboration and cooperation, which is especially important in today’s coronavirus climate, he said. “Originally up valley/down valley relationships weren’t really good. It’s been a real blessing to witness our improved relationships, partially triggered by the Mayors & Managers meetings once a month. That has helped us work together for the betterment of the whole county in ways that other counties in Colorado haven’t really been able to do.”

Looking ahead, Fitzpatrick has his eye on some town improvement projects that he hopes can move forward with his replacement and interim town manager Carlos Velado. “We need to improve the town park pavilion. We’ve outgrown it and we need to expand it. We need to improve our playground equipment, which was installed in 1981. The Town Hall itself could use some remodeling,” he says of the 1974 building.

As for larger projects, the North Village development is top of the list, along with finishing the Crested Butte Mountain Resort parking garage and skier drop-off.

But Fitzpatrick knows he leaves with the town in good hands. “We’ve got a great staff of police officers and administration and maintenance and community development. It’s a great bunch of folks that are really dedicated to the town,” he said.

 

Words of wisdom 

“Keep the community and relationships with all the government leaders in the county alive and well, but don’t overlook state and national relationships either,” Fitzpatrick advises his future successor. “You need to keep us on the map of the world. That’s important.

“Keep good communication going with the citizens and take care of the staff. Continue to have good housing for our workers here. Keep the relationship going with Vail Resorts. We are the bedroom for the resort and so it’s important to keep that perspective. Look to develop a better downtown, make our community so it functions both in winter and summer.”

Among Mt. Crested Butte town council members who have received Fitzpatrick’s advice over the years, current mayor Janet Farmer recalled the joys of working with him. “I’ve known Joe a long time, but had not worked with him until I went on town council in April of 2016. I was always impressed by his dedication and love for Mt. Crested Butte.  When I became mayor in April of 2019, our friendship and working relationship went to an entirely different level.  He has been there for me in ways I can’t thank him enough for doing.  He has been a wonderful mentor in leading me through aspects of being a mayor that have made me better at a job I never expected to have. His knowledge of the town along with his wonderful smile will be missed, but since he’s not leaving town I may have to call him occasionally.”

Fitzpatrick chose his retirement date, September 2, to coincide with his 75th birthday. During the September 1 town council meeting, council recognized Fitzpatrick’s dedication to the town and officially proclaimed September 2 as “Joe Fitzpatrick Appreciation Day.” Council and staff are also honoring him by naming the Rec Path after him, news they surprised him with during the meeting.

“Needless to say Joe’s fingerprints are all over this town,” said interim town manager Carlos Velado, noting Fitzpatrick’s large role in the 30 years in the making of the Rec Path. “I think it’s only fitting for your name to be on that.”

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Fitzpatrick. “Thank you, it’s just been a great, great journey and I’ve had the support of many councils and an absolutely fantastic staff to work with and I just wish you all the best in the future.”

Fitzpatrick is also an ordained deacon in the Catholic Church and plans to devote more time to church activities. He and Beverly have been married for 43 years and look forward to relaxing in retirement with hiking, skiing and e-biking. “We’re making good use of our Rec Path, too,” he said.

Aside from soaking in the Mt. Crested Butte lifestyle, they plan to do some traveling to see family in Bend, Oregon and Minnesota.

“We love the mountains and we’ll just continue to enjoy being here.”