Mountain Briefs

Mt. Crested Butte encourages ballot issues
During a Town Council meeting on Tuesday, October 7, the town of Mt. Crested Butte approved four different resolutions in support of several issues on this year’s November 4 election ballot. Resolution No. 4 was in support of the town’s own referred ballot measures, issues 2A and 2B, which call for a property tax increase and withdrawal of municipal bonds, respectively. Resolution No. 5 is in support of the proposed Amendment 59, known as the “savings account for education” measure. Amendment 59 seeks to eliminate the restrictions of the TABOR amendment and allow the unrestricted revenue to be channeled into a separate account for educational use. Resolution No. 6 is in support of the Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority’s sales tax reauthorization, ballot issue 5A. The three resolutions were approved with little discussion.

The council also approved Resolution No. 7 in support of the school improvements bond, ballot issue 3A, after hearing a presentation from RE1J School District board president MJ Vosburg. Vosburg said the biggest issue at the Crested Butte Community School was space, with more than 500 students in a school built for 350. They currently needed 12 additional classrooms, and the bond issue would provide 16.
Council member Andrew Gitin asked how much time the additional space would provide before more space would be needed again.
Vosburg said she hoped the new space would provide 10 more years before crowding would become an issue again. “I’ve got just as many people saying you’re building it too big as people saying it’s not big enough,” Vosburg said.
The council voted unanimously to approve each of the four resolutions.

Highway 135 construction almost complete
Provided the weather hasn’t caused any difficulties or delays, construction crews hope to be finished with the Highway 135 repaving by this Friday, October 17. The $4.8 million project is being paid for by the Colorado Department of Transportation, and the construction was performed by A&S construction and started on July 30. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, October 14, CDOT public information officer Nancy Shanks said the construction company had completed resurfacing the eight-mile stretch of highway, and were finishing up adjusting the guardrails. “They’re literally raising the guardrail after adding a couple inches of asphalt,” Shanks said. She said construction crews were expected to begin re-striping the roads on Wednesday. “They should, weather permitting, be done (with everything) by this Friday, but it could go into next week,” Shanks said.
Earlier this summer CDOT officials announced that 34 paving projects statewide could be delayed due to a shortage of asphalt. CDOT previously anticipated only being able to recycle the existing road material on Highway 135, and a two inch cap of fresh asphalt would have to wait until spring. But as construction crews began the project, Shanks said, asphalt production plants started to utilize a different type of binding agent to produce more asphalt, and the two-inch overlay was installed on schedule this fall.
Shanks thanked local motorists for their patience and cooperation during the resurfacing project, and encouraged motorists to remain cautious until the project is completely finished.

Tests begin for possible reservoir
The Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District has begun geotechnical testing for a potential reservoir site, known as the North Village reservoir, nestled between the town limits of Mt. Crested Butte and Snodgrass Mountain. According to district manager Frank Glick, drill tests commenced on September 16, but he is not sure when crews will be finished with testing and have a report on the data.
The district is pursuing a new reservoir due to projected water supply shortages in the future.
The district holds a decades-old water right for the North Village Reservoir location, but district officials have previously stressed that a final location for the district’s new reservoir has not been determined. The geologic tests are to see if the North Village site is suitable for a reservoir, but the district was forced to pay a $40,000 settlement to the Allen family to access their land after a controversial request for condemnation last fall.

Mt. Crested Butte supports event organizers
The Mt. Crested Butte Town Council is making an effort to support two organizations that help bring events and pedestrians to town—the Crested Butte Music Festival and the Mt. Crested Butte Town Center Community Association.
Both organizations came before the council last month to request a contribution from the town’s admission tax fund, a special tax charged on events or activities with “admissions.” The tax revenue must be used on marketing and transportation.
On September 16, Music Festival artistic director Alexander Scheirle said the festival tries to hold as many events as possible in Mt. Crested Butte, but the loss of Rafters in the Gothic Building and the theater in the Elevation Hotel has left the organization struggling to find venues. Scheirle said there weren’t many places left that would be suitable for performances, but he said if the town could find any rehearsal or practice spaces, that would be helpful.
Mayor William Buck directed town staff to come up with a list of possible practice spaces for the organization. Councilman Mike Kube said the music festival was on the town’s radar for a possible future financial contribution.
Town Center Community Association marketing and special events manager Allison Yeary also made a request for funds on September 16 and gave a recap of the summer’s events, including the Live from Mt. Crested Butte concert series and the Alpenglow Gallery receptions.
Kube praised the community association’s efforts in bringing events to Mt. Crested Butte this summer. Kube said when he first joined the council, “You could roll a bowling ball all the way from the Red Lady Lift through Mountaineer Square without hitting anybody… It’s a tremendous improvement. You deserve a lot of credit.”
Mayor Buck asked to see the association’s budget before approving a funding request.
After reviewing the association’s budget on October 7, town manager Joe Fitzpatrick said a $10,000 donation would help keep the events organization financially afloat. The council unanimously approved the donation.