The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Updating nuisance violations in town code
By Kendra Walker
The Mt. Crested Butte town council has agreed to a more streamlined process for handling all nuisance violations, including noxious weeds. The council recently approved an ordinance to town code that governs nuisances, with the goal to modernize and simplify the enforcement process, especially when it comes to noxious weeds.
The town defines a nuisance as any activity violating laws or regulations and poses a threat to public health, safety, or welfare, such as noxious weeds, illegal operations, hazardous conditions, environmental harm, defiance of orders, public health threats and repeated violations.
Community development coordinator Leah Desposato explained during the council’s June 17 meeting that the current nuisance code hasn’t been significantly updated since 1977, and this change will help the town more effectively enforce the spread of invasive species. “Currently, it just doesn’t work. The current weed enforcement process is overly complex, involving arbitration and lien hearings before the Mt. CB Weed Advisory Board,” she said. “This has made it difficult to act against repeat offenders. Some property owners have ignored notices about noxious weeds more than once, creating long-term issues. We’re interested in taking it to the next level with properties that have been problematic.”
The new process, she explained, will begin with staff observing nuisance conditions from public rights-of-way. Then property owners are given a formal notice posted on the property, and a timeline to correct the issue to fall into compliance. If the issue is not resolved, the town may seek a court order for abatement. With a court order, the town can enter the property, resolve the issue and bill the property owner for the cost.
“This will be a much more efficient way to enforce problem properties,” she said.
Town staff also told the council that the town may give a couple of courtesy notices before the official process goes into play. “Sometimes people think noxious weeds are pretty flowers,” said town manager Carlos Velado. “Nine times out of 10, that initial letter is all that needs to be done for someone to fix it.”
“How would an undeveloped private lot that is overgrown with invasive species be treated?” asked council member Valeda Scribner.
“If we identify noxious weeds on a property, whether vacant or developed, we could give notice,” said Desposato.
Council member Bruce Nation asked how residents with a weed nuisance violation can get the resources they need to remove the noxious weeds on their property, recalling his personal experience trying to get rid of noxious weeds on his own property and having trouble finding local help. “It’s tough for us to enforce this if people don’t have the resources to mitigate them,” he said.
Desposato explained that the town has updated its website with information for identifying invasive species and a list of local licensed herbicide contractors and landscapers. “Education is the most important part,” she said. “Our hope is when folks get a notice, they’ll call and we can do a site visit and see what they’re working with and what works best for treatment.”
The town of Mt. CB works with Native Landscapes to manage noxious weeds in public spaces and town right-of-way during the summer. The town also offers free on-site property evaluations and consultations throughout the summer to help residents identify weed species and management strategies. For more information and resources on noxious weed management in Mt. Crested Butte, visit mtcb.colorado.gov/weed-management.
