County Briefs

By Katherine Nettles

10 developers interested in Whetstone Community Housing project 

County manager Matthew Birnie reported that the county’s community development department received responses from 10 prospective development partners for its Whetstone Community Housing project. The request for proposals ended March 19, and the hope is to select a developer by June. 

County to move fiber for Mineral Point affordable housing

As the town of Crested Butte prepares to adjust power and utility lines within a portion of the Sixth and Butte land parcel to make way for its future Mineral Point affordable housing project, the county has learned that it has some fiber optics placed within the area that also need to be moved. The fiber was installed along with the transmission lines as part of a plan for eventual wireless connectivity. “It’s been there six years and it’s never been lit,” said Birnie. County commissioners agreed to authorize Gunnison County Electric to move everything out of the way at once and help foot the cost.  

Sales tax and LMD level off

The January sales tax and local marketing district tax reports show an overall increase of 7.68% from the same month in 2022 in county-wide taxable sales. The city of Gunnison decreased taxable sales by 5.82% from the same month last year, while Crested Butte gained in sales by 0.55%, Mt. Crested Butte gained by 29.58% and Marble, Pitkin and unincorporated Gunnison County gained in sales by 28%, 244% and 26%, respectively. Birnie noted that overall sales tax and growth were slightly down, “But following astronomical growth after several years, we have to see a settling point,” he said.

Lodging and grocery sales were up from last year, but building materials dropped in sales. The county’s community development department reports that building permit numbers are up, and commissioners speculated that perhaps project managers have been waiting to purchase materials until the snow slows down.