Briefs Crested Butte

Finance chat
Town finance director Lois Rozman presented the council with first-quarter budget figures at the May 6 meeting. Overall, things look good on the financial front. Sales tax is up, with last March showing record numbers for the month despite feeling relatively slow. Rozman said this could be attributed to spring break being spread out over more leisurely three-weeks as opposed to getting slammed for eight days. She said use tax from automobiles and building materials is ahead of budget. Real estate transfer tax, however, is down. The building department has issued four permits for residential remodels and one permit for a commercial remodel in the first quarter. But Rozman informed the council that three new home permits were issued in April and more are expected.

Recreation conversation
Parks and recreation director Jake Jones rattled off some impressive figures for the council. He said his department is growing and as an example said adult hockey grew from 70 people in 2010 to 148 in 2013. Soccer grew from 220 kids to 344 in the same period. Youth hockey and town tennis programs are seeing comparable jumps in participation. As a result, Jones asked for and received $3,000 to hire a summer intern for his department. Jones also said he is looking into grants to help complete regional trail projects near town. His top three priorities are the trail between town and Crested Butte South, the Baxter Gulch trail and the Perimeter trail. He said the Great Outdoors Colorado may have some funds to help build those types of regional trails.

Cop talk
Chief Marshal Tom Martin reported that a small bear is occasionally wandering around town already. Martin’s department is reminding citizens and businesses of the regulations dealing with trash and Dumpsters that attract bears. “We are trying to get people reeducated,” he told the council. He also told the council that local safety organizations are meeting to discuss the potential summer wildfire situation. And he informed the council that officer Jack Crumpton would be retiring. Crumpton will stay on the force until a replacement is found later this summer.

Town clean up close
Town clean up is scheduled for May 18. Bring work gloves and a good attitude. Paradise Café will provide lunch.

Learn a bit about where you live…
Local fourth graders collaborated with the town to learn about Crested Butte history. The staff helped take the kids on a town tour, and later the kids built several models of town buildings. Those models are currently on display at the town hall and at various local businesses. Compliments flew between the teachers, town staff and kids for the project at the Monday council meeting.

Pole painting
Interim town manager Bob Gillie informed the council that the light poles in Crested Butte will be painted this spring. Work will commence shortly and all 103 poles will receive a spruced-up coat of paint before June.

Public hearings: Handcarts, daytime noise limits and marijuana…
Council set a May 20 public hearing on an ordinance expanding the size of handcarts. The pushcarts will be allowed to go from 20 square feet to 24 square feet. The council will also consider an ordinance that reduces the noise allowed in town during the day, from 70 decibels to 60. And the council will consider a moratorium on recreational marijuana sales, essentially for the summer. They want to gather more information on how the state is implementing the new regulations.