The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
What is fair?
It looks like the great fireworks debate of 2010 is starting to heat up. The issue is over where to hold the July 4 fireworks show at the north end of the valley.
The Crested Butte Town Council wants the show to originate in town. Mt. Crested Butte council representatives want it to blast off from The Summit subdivision in their town. Both towns contribute money to fund the show, which is put on by the Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Executive Director Richard Bond has stated that the Chamber endorses having daytime activities on the Fourth originate in town, while evening festivities should take place on the mountain.
Crested Butte mayor Leah Williams broke the news to her fellow council members Monday night that she had spoken to Mt. Crested Butte mayor William Buck, reporting that Buck was standing firm to hold the fireworks on the mountain. This despite what Williams saw as a tacit agreement between the two councils last year to shift locations every other year. The Crested Butte council in 2009 agreed at the last minute to let Mt. Crested Butte host the show.
“I think we need to set this as an agenda item and discuss the situation,” Williams said. “I reminded William that it was understood to be a fair compromise for everyone to alternate between the two towns and it was in Mt. Crested Butte last year. I remember there was a fear from some council members that once we voted to move the fireworks we would never get them back.”
Councilman Reed Betz confirmed that concern and was disappointed it was becoming real.
Buck said the best-case scenario was to find a site to launch the fireworks that could be viewed by people in both towns. “We want it to work out for everyone and if we can find a place where people in both places can enjoy the show, that would be the best outcome,” he said Tuesday. “The people launching the fireworks are looking at a site this week above The Summit that might work. Certainly having the fireworks up here last year in conjunction with the music was a benefit to the town, and we’d be happy to do it again.”
Buck said Bond brought the program of holding the fireworks in Mt. Crested Butte after holding daytime festivities in Crested Butte to the council a few months ago, and everyone in Mt. Crested Butte thought it was a fine idea.
“If push comes to shove, who ultimately makes the decision?” asked councilman Jim Schmidt.
Williams said Bond was meeting this week with representatives of the company launching the fireworks to look at different locations. They will judge safety issues and recommend a site but it is ultimately up to the councils to figure out a place to launch the fireworks.
The issue will be placed on a Crested Butte council agenda in May so that the pushing and shoving can begin.
