Briefs Crested Butte

Putting USE back on the agenda
Town manager Todd Crossett told the council at the February 3 meeting that he and town attorney John Belkin had a brief conversation with U.S. Energy (USE) president Mark Larsen. “U.S. Energy told us they were interested in a proposal from the community to buy them out, take over the VCUP and take over the water treatment plant,“ he said.
Crossett said USE had reached out to former county commissioner Jim Starr to be a conduit to the community and Starr had generally asked that his time be compensated between the community and USE.
“At this point, there is no agreement with Jim,” Belkin made clear. “Right now we have a direct request into USE to tell us what they are doing and how any new VCUP application would impact the federal lands on the site and how it would affect their proposed plan of operations to move ahead with a molybdenum mine. We are waiting.”
Mayor Aaron Huckstep asked that an agenda item be put on the February 18 meeting to openly discuss the USE mine situation.

Compliments
The town received accolades from Crested Butte Nordic board member Skip Berkshire for the town’s help with the Alley Loop. “It was a stellar event and people from all over the country came to race in the event,’ he said. “We couldn’t have done it without the town.”
And High Country Citizens’ Alliance board president Rob Burnett told the council that the HCCA board “is thrilled that the two are working closely together with the USE discussions. “It is important we continue to work together,” Burnett said.

Bring that beer out of the brown bag…
Huckstep asked the council to consider an ordinance that would allow for open containers of alcohol to be carried around town during certain events. He said Breckenridge has a similar ordinance and it makes sense during some special events such as Vinotok and the Fourth of July. “It’s not something we would allow every Saturday but why not legitimize it during times like Vinotok,” he said.
“It’s a great idea,” agreed Councilperson Jim Schmidt. “It would be so much easier for everyone, including the Marshals, during certain events.”
“Would we do the same for marijuana?” asked Councilperson Roland Mason.
“State law prohibits smoking in public,” said Crossett.
The staff will gather information about the alcohol side of things and report back to the council at a future meeting.

Time to change the name of Caddis Flats?
Councilperson David Owen, who sits on the Gunnison Valley  housing authority, said a change in the name might be in order for the Caddis Flats affordable housing project. He said some members of the board are less than enthralled with the name, especially after they heard the nickname “Cannabis Flats” that has apparently been used for the project.

Setting council and town manager priorities
The council will hold its third retreat in a six-week span to talk about priorities for the council. This one is slated for the afternoon of February 10.

Planners coming to town
Town manager Todd Crossett said the three finalists for the town planner job would be in Crested Butte for interviews February 20. He expects the council to have an opportunity to meet each of the finalists.
 
Expect another retail marijuana outlet in Crested Butte
Council approved an ownership change for the Crested Butte Wellness Center medical marijuana dispensary. The business will now be owned by the same group that has the Breckenridge Cannabis Club. The intent is to begin selling retail marijuana as well as medicinal weed.

Blunck and Chodounsky get the month of February
The council declared February to be Aaron Blunck and David Chodounsky Month. The two community members are Olympic athletes participating in the winter games in Sochi. Mt. Crested Butte passed the same resolution.