Briefs Mt. Crested Butte

Sales tax
For Mt. Crested Butte businesses, February was better than the town had guessed it would be. Sales tax came in 2.5 percent above what had been budgeted, at more than $217,700, “which made up a little bit for January,” Town Manager Joe Fitzpatrick said. Lodging and retailers saw modest gains in February, while restaurants and everything else were down.

In the context of the past few years, the most recent sales tax numbers could be a sign of improvement, coming in 5.5 percent above collections from February of 2010 and nearly 13 percent above February 2009. However, year to date the town is still 3.2 percent under budget and about .6 percent below February of last year.
Less exciting was sales tax for March, which was down nearly $35,000, or 11 percent, below budget.

Town adopts International Building Code
The council took up the topic of building codes last Tuesday, considering an updated ordinance to establish a minimum construction standard for property and buildings in Mt. Crested Butte. The community development department tweaked the language of the 2009 International Building Codes (IBC) to better suit the mountain environment.
First to be changed was the repeal of its former adoption of the 2007 Green Building Standard, which required town buildings to beat the International Energy and Conservation Code’s (IECC) minimum standard by an additional 15 percent. “In speaking with IECC consultants, staff has determined the requirements set forth in the 2009 IECC achieve the energy goals of the Town,” the ordinance says.
In part responding to the unfinished foundations in the Wildhorse subdivision, another change to the building code will require developers, and anyone who might undertake a construction or excavation project in town, to get a bond for 125 percent of the estimated total cost of the project that would allow the town to finish the work if the permit applicant fails to do so. That amendment to the code could be up for debate, however.
Other changes will require an additional carbon monoxide detector to be placed in a sleeping room with a “fuel fired appliance,” like a gas fireplace, and the town is foregoing the IBC requirement that all single family homes be equipped with sprinkler systems.
Every three or four years, the town has been trying to adopt an updated version of the International Building Code, which is the construction standard used by most municipalities. Four years ago, the town adopted the 2006 IBC and Tuesday, the council voted to adopt the newer 2009 IBC.

A positive start to permit season
The Mt. Crested Butte building department issued one of its first building permits for the 2012 season on a million-dollar facelift for a single-family home. “Ultimately the permit ran a cost of $40,000, so it’s a major permit. Even though it’s a remodel, it’s coming in above the cost of most of our new construction permits at this time,” community development coordinator Carlos Velado told the council. “It’s that time of the year again and things are picking up a little bit in the building department and that’s a good sign.”