Mark Reaman

A quick response by firefighters helped stop a potential spreading wildfire near Almont last Sunday. A lightning strike east of the town just over the ridge from the Almont Post Office started a wildfire about 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, July 26.

A major kink in the Whetstone Community Housing project will postpone work on the Brush Creek roundabout and underpass so neither will be done this year before the snow flies. That could set off a series of ramifications that will either make occupancy of the units delayed or possibly more expensive as safety concerns emerge about occupants being able to access the RTA bus on both sides of Highway 135.

Instead of settling on definitive direction for ballot language at their meeting Tuesday evening, the Crested Butte town council members focused on receiving more options from staff to evaluate how best to implement a “non-primary home excise tax” ballot question this fall.

The Crested Butte council approved a series of ordinances on first reading at the August 4 meeeting that will change the town’s Land Use Code if approved after a public hearing at the August 17 meeting. As part of an overall Land Use Code update, the ordinances codify the changes to zoning and subdivision regulations.

The Gunnison Valley Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board of directors is digesting a pile of information related to its overall mission and future direction. After a spring retreat, RTA executive director Scott Truex was charged with gathering information on a number of topics and he presented that written information to the board at the June meeting. Given the amount of information, the board decided to hold a two-hour work session at the August meeting to discuss the information and contextualize for future direction.

During the so-called “listening session” conducted by county officials and consultants working on the Gunnison Valley Corridor Plan specific to the north valley, the Crested Butte town council was pretty clear they are focused on where future development is located along Highway 135 between Gunnison and Mt. Crested Butte, making efforts to preserve the valley’s rural feel with working ranches, addressing affordability for residents through things like affordable housing and being environmental stewards of the land and wildlife.

The battle between the Crested Butte South Property Owner’s Association and the Gunnison County Library District is ramping up. Gunnison District Court judge Kellie Starritt denied a motion this week for a Temporary Restraining Order and set a court date for the Preliminary Injunction filed by the CB South POA against the library district.

The Crested Butte town council is very supportive of an idea originating with local citizens to form a budget advisory committee this fall. The citizens want to take a deep dive into the history and future of town budgets and come up with recommendations on how to make for a more balanced budget starting in 2027. The council has indicated they will appoint such a committee at its next meeting in September.

A 35-year-old local resident died Sunday afternoon in a dirt bike accident up Cement Creek Road. Patrick Fesenmyer was apparently dirt biking alone about 1:55 p.m. Sunday afternoon when he was involved in the crash. Officers were dispatched to the scene about 2 p.m.

In what should not be a surprise to anyone, the Crested Butte town council on Monday approved a resolution in a split 5-2 vote to ask citizens to approve a vacant home tax on the upcoming November ballot. Councilmembers John O’Neal and Gabi Prochaska voted against the resolution while mayor Ian Billick along with councilmembers Mallika Magner, Kent Cowherd, Kate Guibert and Beth Goldstone voted in favor.