Briefs Crested Butte

What off-season?
Is there a fall off-season anymore? Crested Butte sales tax collections were up 27 percent in October. September was up 19 percent. For the year, sales tax revenue is 15 percent ahead of last year and retail marijuana sales tax has contributed more than $70,000.
Councilman Roland Mason reported earlier that the Mountain Express carried a lot of people this past summer and fall. He reported that ridership was up 30-percent for September and overall was up 17-percent into the autumn. “Events and conventions seem to be helping and hopefully that is reflected in sales tax numbers,” he said.

Council dealing with snow and ice plan
The council approved the annual Snow and Ice Control Operations Plan presented by the public works department. It is essentially the same as last year and will have snow plowing commence in town when there are three inches or more of snowfall. The bus route and emergency routes will receive plowing priority. Snowbanks on Elk Avenue will remain the week prior to Christmas through the week after New Year’s, and to accommodate additional snow required for special events. Otherwise, the snowbanks will be hauled away. Councilman Shaun Matusewicz voted against the plan, saying he would prefer to “save the snowbanks!”

Big Mine master planning
The first in a series of community work sessions to develop the Big Mine Park Master Plan will be held on Monday, December 15th from 4:00-6:00 pm at Town Hall.  Public input is vital to this process!  Please join the town in creating a vision and strategy for developing this valuable regional amenity.  For more information, click on the “Projects” link on the “Jobs, Bids, Proposals & Projects” tab at www.crestedbutte-co.gov or call 349-5338.
The council awarded the Big Mine Park master planning job to Mundus Bishop Design Inc. The cost of the planning will be $81,000 and was paid for primarily with a grant from Great Outdoor Colorado, with a $21,000 match from the town.

Council officially puts $700K toward Snodgrass property
At an October town council meeting, the council officially approved a resolution outlining how they will allocate the $700,000 they pledged to the Crested Butte Land Trust to help purchase part of the Promontory Ranch open space at the base of Snodgrass in Mt. Crested Butte. The town will donate $400,000 for the closing from its open space fund and then make quarterly payments of $75,000.

Council supports Trout Unlimited efforts to protect water
The council listened to a presentation by Richard Van Gytenbeek of Trout Unlimited. He explained the need for the agricultural and recreational communities to work together to protect Western Slope rivers and water. The council agreed to approve a resolution to support his efforts, as the state is working on a comprehensive water plan.

Cemetery action
Councilman Jim Schmidt reported to the council that the cemetery committee is working toward three main goals. They attacked weeds and sprayed this fall; they want to update the map and replat the road running through cemetery since it currently encroaches on some gravesites; and they want to stabilize some of the monuments that appear to be shifting from their original location.