Briefs Crested Butte

What’s the plan Paula?
Gunnison County commissioner Paula Swenson took the county’s Economic Development presentation to the Town Council on Monday, July 18. With help from housing authority executive director KT Gazunis, Swenson outlined the direction of the county. She said the goal was to have a more detailed plan in place by September. A subcommittee headed by the local Chambers of Commerce, is looking at how best to implement a corporate economic development structure and recommend how to fund it.
Basics of the plan are to help grow existing businesses, bring in new businesses, figure out how best to streamline red tape from the various governmental entities in the county, how to shore up things like air service and telecommunications infrastructure, and how best to craft a community-wide marketing plan and get the word out about it.
Swenson said it was important to get people relocating here and attract them with attributes unique to the region. Whether it is marketing to the tourist market or those who might relocate here, “We should be telling the same story no matter who we are talking to,” Swenson said. “We are hearing we need a more friendly business climate, we can use Western State College better and we need to support things like stronger arts and health care systems in the county.
“If we can market this place as a great place to relocate to, everything else can follow,” Swenson concluded.

Gunnison County split?
Local Democratic party leader Jim Starr informed the county that the state is looking at a redistricting plan that would split Gunnison County in the Colorado State House. He said Gunnison would be in one district, while Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte would be in a separate district. “It’s not a partisan thing but it just doesn’t work well if the county is split like that,” he told the council. “The reps don’t make the effort to get here and it doesn’t help bring the two ends of the valley closer together.”
Starr said the state committee making the recommendation will be in Gunnison Friday, August 5 at Western State College. He would like the Crested Butte council to weigh in on the recommendation before that, so he will come to the council at the August 2 meeting and get their input.
Baxter Gulch trail starting
Parks and Recreation director Jake Jones said work on the Baxter Gulch trail project will begin this week. Some flagging and trail building discussion will commence shortly.
“We want to learn from the Lupine Trail so we want to complete the first phase before opening it up,” he said. “The most visible part of the trail could be the last part to go in. It is a multi-year project with completion not expected before the summer of 2013.
“It will be a great trail when finished,” Jones said.
The trail will start on town property behind the county shops off Highway 135.

Race agreement (most of it anyway) finally approved
The council agreed to sign an official agreement with the organizers of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge Race coming through the community next month. In an extensive document, the council agreed with town attorney John Belkin and struck out a provision from the agreement requiring that every vendor and sponsor indemnify the race organizers. The city of Gunnison eliminated the same provision. The mayor will sign the contract without that particular provision and it will be sent to the race organizers for their signature.

Safe Route for Schools
The Safe Route for Schools project is moving along. Town manager Susan Parker said work has started and while it has taken longer than expected, the project should be finished on the east side of town about a week before school starts. A new sidewalk will parallel Eighth Street to the Community School and be the recommended route for students walking to the campus.

It’s busy out there this summer
Chief marshal Tom Martin confirmed that it is busy out there. “It seems like town is crowded,” Martin told the council. “Special events are keeping us busy and we have a new officer coming on board after he graduates from the police academy on August 12. But we’re doing great.”
In that vein, the council wants to review the summer and talk about how to better improve the Elk Avenue experience. Should bicycles be allowed on Elk? Is sidewalk seating working? Are there enough public restrooms? The council will take a look back sometime after the busy season subsides in mid-August.