The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Crews will be focused on the project
by Mark Reaman
The Crested Butte Town Council is officially in for $1 million in cash and in-kind contributions for the proposed Center for the Arts expansion. The board unanimously passed a resolution at the July 6 council meeting acknowledging the pledge.
Supporters of the Center for the Arts applauded the decision at the meeting. Center representatives have said such a pledge would be a major plus in this summer’s fundraising efforts.
The council had wanted to make sure ownership issues were clear before making the pledge and the town and the Center agreed to a 99-year lease for the new facility on town-owned property in the park by the current location. Under the resolution, the town will not donate more than $500,000 out of a sales tax interest fund that currently holds about $700,000.
“The in-kind contribution would certainly be a large project for the staff,” town manager Todd Crossett told the council. “It would be part of our budget discussions and work plans for the upcoming year. The day-to-day things for the town would get done but it would result in less work somewhere else by the staff. Remember, too, that other in-kind contributions could include things like having the staff write grants, for example.”
“It would be similar to the situation we had when the Big Mine Ice Arena was being built,” added town public works director Rodney Due. “It takes up all of our time and crews would be focused there.”
“The council understands that there will be some work that won’t happen as a result of this,” confirmed councilman Glenn Michel.
Councilmember Shaun Matusewicz said he was still a bit uncomfortable with committing $500,000 out of a $700,000 fund for one project “when there are other worthwhile projects out there. If we extend the $500,000 limit with grants the town writes, I would suggest it offset the cash contribution from that fund.”
The staff and representatives of the Center for the Arts were comfortable with that model.
Councilmember Jim Schmidt pointed out that the town had not made a major capital contribution to the Center for the Arts in many years.
Finance director Lois Rozman said the council had made an initial contribution and then funded the facility for $20,000 to $30,000 annually until about seven years ago.
“I see it sort of like Christmas,” said Schmidt. “Some years the kids get bigger presents than other years. A few years ago the parks got a big gift with Big Mine. I think this is a reasonable thing to do and a great opportunity for the town.”
The rest of the council agreed and the resolution passed 6-0, with Chris Ladoulis not being at the meeting.
