This Week in Gunnison

It's warm and sunny in Gunnison and we hope you are all enjoying the summer. City employees are busy serving our citizens and visitors. The Refuse Crew continues to convert City dumpsters for pickup by the new automated refuse truck. The Electric Crew is busy with tree trimming following some of our very windy afternoon and evening storms. If the loose branches are not removed they can fall on the lines and cause a widespread power outage. They are also performing some power factor work at the WAPA (Western Area Power Administration) substation behind the City shops on West Virginia Avenue. The Water Crew is working on repairing a water leak in the 300 block of South 12th Street and will be working on a water service upgrade to the Catholic Church Parish Hall renovation project. The bids for the 2010 street improvements project will be opened today at 2pm. Street sweeping continues. The Parks Crew is busy with Parks maintenance. It's an unending job in the summer trying to keep the parks in good shape between all of the events that are held in the parks. The Recreation Staff finished up the summer youth baseball program last week. The Finance Department has processed this month's utility bills and customers should be receiving those any time. Remember - they are due on the 10th of the month. The Municipal Court staff had a very full Court docket last week and follow-up continues on these cases. Summer is still in full swing and all City employees are busy with summertime projects. The Building Official continues inspections on the HIgh School construction project as they are trying to get everything ready for the return of the students in not too many weeks time!

Tomorrow night at the 7pm City Council meeting, the Councilors will hear pubic input on the issuance of a 3.2% beer permit at the local Wal-Mart Store. The Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association will give a quarterly update on their activities. The presentation of the 2009 City Audit has been postponed and an extension is being requested of the State Auditors Office. Council will possibly take action on the Challenge Grant Applications from the Colorado Strawbale Association Annual Conference and the Gunnison Mud Runs. They will consider the License Agreement Application from the Gunnison Arts Center to place 2 signs on City Right-of-Way to advertise activities at their facility. Possible action will also take place on the aquisition of water rights in the Whipp Ditch on the VanTuyl Ranch and the Wal-Mart 3.2% Beer application. Council will consider the passage of a Resolution regarding the November State Ballot Measures: Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 and 61. Police Chief Robinson will give Council a semi-annual report on the activities of the Gunnison Police Department. As always - the public is always welcome at City Council meetings. Have a wonderful week!

Week of July 19th

It was a fun and busy weekend in Gunnison. Many thanks go out to the Cattlemen's Days Committee for all of their hard work in putting on their annual event. It brought a lot of folks to town and always provides a great western venue for locals and visitors alike. A lot of folks say that summer is all downhill after Cattlemen's Days. But - there is still a lot to do in Gunnison! This blog will help to keep you informed as to some of the "goings-on" in our community.

But first....This week the Streets & Alleys crews will start on the City right-of-way work on the 100 block of North Wisconsin. The large cottonwood stumps will be removed and eventually the concrete will be replaced and new tress will be planted in the area. The 2010 slurry seal bids and tree grinding bids will be opened today at the Public Works Shop. The Electric Crew continues with electric line maintenance (a never-ending but crucial task) and with taking down and putting up banners and flags over Tomichi Avenue. The Water/Sewer Crew continues with videoing the sewer lines in preparation of slip-lining the interior of the problem pipes later in the summer. Slip-lining corrects a sewerline leak without having to dig up the entire pipe. Lexan windows are being installed in the new RTA bus shelter on North 11th Street. And of course - street sweeping and refuse collection continues every work day. The Recreation employees continue with the fun summer recreation programs and are now making preparations for the fall and winter programs! It's hot outside but they are already thinking about football, hockey and cross-country skiing. The Parks crews are working to keep all of the parks facilities and amenities in shape and safe for the multitude of summer events and activites. Finance is processing the June sales tax receipts and the June utility bills. The Clerk's Department team is revamping the off-site records storage facility and preparing for a busy Municipal Court session on Wednesday afternoon.

Tomorrow evening at City Council, your elected officials will be holding a work session meeting where they will discuss a Challenge Grant Application from the Colorado Straw Bale Association to hold their annual conference in Gunnison on September 18th and 19th. Council will also review a Challenge Grant Application for the Gunnison Mud Runs to be held in Gunnison on August 14th at the Rodeo Grounds. A License Agreement Application from the Gunnison Arts Center will be discussed. The Arts Center would like to place two signs on City Right-of-Way and this requires a License Agreement to be approved by City Council. A representative of the Gunnison Rising applicants will come before Council with a request regarding the City's subdivision requirements and the Council-approved Gunnison Rising Annexation Agreement. Police Chief Keith Robinson will give Council an update on next week's visit from the Hell's Angels motorcycle group and there will be a discussion on the 2009 City Audit. As always, information on these topics can be found on the City website at http://www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets/default.htm

The City Planning & Zoning Commission will be meeting on Wednesday at 7pm and will be discussing and acting upon a Conditional Use Application for the Gunnison Valley Hospital epansion project and on a resolution recommending the approval of the VanTuyl Ranch Management Plan. Again, information concerning the P&Z meeting and the VanTuyl Ranch Master Plan can be found at www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/community_development_planning/planning_default.htm

If you have questions about what's happening in the City Departments or want to get a comment to your elected officials, call 641-8080 and we will direct you to the right person. Have a great week!

Busy Week - Busier Weekend

City employees had a busy week. The Public Works crews removed the cottonwood trees from North Wisconsin Street across from City Hall. The Water & Sewer crew continued with the sewer line inspection work and the crew out at the Wastewater Treatment Plant on McCabe Lane kept everything flowing down hill. It's not a pretty job but it's one of the most important jobs in the City! The Police Department, Parks & Recreation crews and Streets & Alley crews are busy with preparations for the upcoming Cattlemen's Days weekend events. It takes a lot of coordination to assist with all of the events. The Community Development Department is working on several Challenge Grant and License Agreement applications, finalizing the last draft of the VanTuyl Ranch Master Plan, conducting inspections of the Cattlemen's Days Carnival, reviewing plans for the new hospital expansion and inspections at the High School renovation project.

This weekend is one of the busiest of the year in Gunnison. This evening - take the kids out to Dive at 5 Friday at the Community Pool. For a $1.00 admission, kids can participate in supervised fun games in the pool. The live music of Tyler Hanson can be heard for free on the Arts Center Patio starting at 5pm. There is public viewing of the night sky both Friday and Saturday nights at the Gunnison Valley Observatory starting at 8pm. The GVO is located south of Gunnison on Gold Basin Road across from the Hartman Rocks Recreation area. Put on your jeans, boots and cowboy hat and then "mosey" over to the Cattlemen's Days Rodeo and Carnival at the County Rodeo Grounds located south of Safeway on Spruce Street. If you're not too tired, you can finish your Friday night (and Saturday night too) by dancing at the Elk's Lodge on South Main Street. For a complete schedule of Cattlemen's Days events go to http://www.cattlemensdays.com/

Start your Saturday morning at the IOOF Park on the corner of Main and Virginia with the 1st Annual Gunnison Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. All you can eat flapjacks (pancakes) can be had starting at 7am and going until the pancakes are gone! All proceeds fund youth projects in the community. The Duster's Main Street Mile starts at 9am at the North City Limits on N. Main Street/Highway 135 and the run heads south down Main Street. It's your chance to stretch your legs before sitting down on the curb and watching the annual Gunnison Cattlemen's Days Parade at 10am. The parade theme this year is "My, how time flies!" After the parade, roam through the weekly Gunnison Farmer's Market on the 100 Block of East Virginia Avenue and pick up fresh fruits and veggies, eggs and meats, delectable baked goods, some west slope wine and beautiful arts and craft items from talented local artists. For lunch there are lots of Cattlemen's Days lunch events or stop in one of the local restaurants for some delicious "western grub". Saturday afternoon is the Junior Livestock Auction followed by the PRCA Rodeo and the carnival in the evening.
Sunday will wrap up this year's Cattlemen's Days. There will be the horse race meet at the rodeo grounds. Get out and enjoy the outdoor recreation surrounding Gunnison then finish out the weekend with a picnic supper (from one of our great local restaurants) on the lawn at Legion Park and enjoy the free live music of "Rock Bottom" during the Gunnison Art Center's Sundays at 7 program. All of the City staff and employees wish everyone a safe and fun Cattlemen's Days weekend! Yee-haw!

Goodbye Cottonwoods

Some of the oldest cottonwood trees in Gunnison are coming down. The City Electric Crew and Streets and Alleys Crew are taking down several cottonwood trees on the east side of the 100 Block of North Wisconsin Street. These trees were cored by the State Forestry Department and were determined to be rotten inside the trunks. This poses a safety risk for citizens and adjacent property. With this spring and summer's windy conditions, the crews are helping to maintain the safety of our community. The tree debris will be chipped and used in the City's composting operations and some of the tree trunks will be preserved for the Annual "Carvin' Up Colorado" tree carving contest held on August 19th - 21st in Legion Park. Please be alert when driving or walking by the work area. The crews have the area coned off for everyone's safety. Keep a safe distance from the work zone.

NEW - Friday Dive at 5

The Gunnison Aquatics Center announces a new kids program - Friday Dive at 5! . Every Friday from 5pm until closing, youth admission will only be $1. (this is a $3 savings) There will be games for kids of all ages in the pool. Lifeguard supervised games and activities will take place between 5 and 6pm. The pool is located in the Gunnison Community Center at 200 East Spencer Avenue (behind Wal-Mart and True Value on the north edge of town). For more information contact Ben at: bgoldstein@cityofgunnison-co.gov Come out on Friday evenings for a splashing great time!

This Weekend

It was another busy week in Gunnison. The Streets and Alleys crew are performing street maintenance, including street sweeping, pothole repairs and fixing street signs. The water and sewer crew have been sending a miniature camera through the sewer lines to detect breaks and problems. This can pinpoint the areas that need repair without having to dig up the entire line. Retrofitting of the old dumpsters for pickup by the new refuse truck continues. Grinding of tree limbs, waste asphalt and concrete has been completed. The ground organic material is used in the composting operation at the Wastewater Treatment Plant to make "Gunnison Gold Compost". The Finance Department is processing utility bills and the Clerks Department is working on completing open records requests, processing Court paperwork and working on a couple of new liquor license applications.

This weekend there will be music on the Gunnison Arts Center patio on Friday evening at 5pm. Saturday will be a busy day at Jorgensen Park with the annual Wet Grocer Softball Tournament and the Colorado State Marbles Tournament. Head on over to the park and watch the action! Saturday will also see the Farmers Market downtown adjacent to the IOOF Park on East Virginia Avenue and Sundays at 7 will take place at Legion Park - obviously on Sunday starting at 7pm.

Cattlemen's Days starts up and the Annual 4-H Horse Show takes place at the Gunnison Rodeo Grounds on Saturday. Good luck to all of the participants. Yee-haw! Have a safe and happy relaxing weekend.

4th of July Schedule of Events

The 4th of July Schedule of Events:
11am-3pm Music by Furtado and U-47 at IOOF Park. Kids' slip and slide and other activities
3:45pm Trivia questions and prizes at Jorgensen Gazebo
4 - 4:45pm Live music by Pimp Valley Drifters in Outdoor Rink
4:45 - 5pm Band Break; trivia questions & prizes at Gazebo
5 - 6pm Pimp Valley Drifters Music
6 - 7pm Patriotic Activities at Gazebo; more trivia games and prizes
6 - 7pm Beer Garden with music at Outdoor Rink
7 - 7:45pm Live music by Bruce Hayes Band in Outdoor Rink
7:45 - 8pm Band Break; trivia questions and prizes
8 - 9pm Bruce Hayes Band Music
9:15pm Elizabeth Bond sings the National Anthem at Gazebo
9:20pm Fireworks Show Begins

Independence Day Weekend!

It is a busy upcoming Independence Day weekend in Gunnison. Everyone is invited to the ribbon cutting of the new Legion Park playground structure at 5:30pm today, Friday, July 2nd. Aimee Wesley from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) will cut the ribbon. After the dedication, head downtown for the free "Fridays at 5" on the Arts Center patio. After relaxing to the great jazz music of the "Carl Mienecke Jazz Explosion" and enjoying some liquid refreshments, head inside the Arts Center and start your "Gunnison Gallery Crawl". This month the Arts Center is hosting the Francis King Western Art Collection from the Sangre de Cristo Art Museum in Pueblo. Also included in the first Friday of the month Gallery Crawl is the Brick Cellar, Gunnison Art Gallery, Rocky Mountain Frames, Mochas and the Blue Thunder Artists Coop. Have dinner at one of Gunnison's fine restaurants and then head south of Gunnison to the Gunnison Valley Observatory. Tonight, Friday July 2nd marks the beginning of the Summer Lecture/Viewing Series. Local astronomer Mike Brooks will be speaking on "Globular Clusters" and public viewing will take place through the publically-owned 30" cassegrain telescope and through smaller amateur telescope set up on the facility grounds. There is a requested donation charge of $5 for adults and $3 for children. The publically-owned GVO runs solely on donations and grants. The GVO will offer the program again on Saturday night. The gates will open both nights at 8pm. Bring a jacket - it gets chilly after dark.

Just after dawn on Saturday morning, ride your townie bike over to Jorgensen Park to watch the ascension of the annual Gunnison Balloon Rally. Stu and Diana Barton of the local Trough Restaurant are to be commended for hosting this annual event over the 4th of July. Balloonist from mostly New Mexico and Colorado come to Gunnison to enjoy the cool mountain air. bring your camera - it is a beautiful site. After a hearty breakfast at one of the local eateries, grab some coffee from one of the wonderful coffeehouses and visit the Gunnison Farmer's Market. Stock up on organic fruits and vegetables and delectable bakery goods, buy a bottle of Western Slope Wine, and peruse the arts and crafts. Local food vendors offer some tasty vitals. While you're downtown stroll through the downtown sidewalk sales for some great deals on unique items. Many other businesses in town will also be holding 4th of July weekend sales. Be sure and check them out! Saturday morning at 9am is the start of this year's Jack Russell Terrier Trials at the Fred Field Western Heritage Center (rodeo grounds) Watching this fun-filled event of these intelligent and energetic pups is free to the public.

Saturday afternoon is your opportunity to enjoy a swim and splash with the kids on the slides or water features at the Gunnison Community Center pool. If swimming is not your cup of tea - try the fishing in Pac-Man Pond at Jorgensen Park or walk, run or ride the trails at the City's VanTuyl Ranch or Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. You can finish out your Saturday activities by catching the 3-D movie at the Ruby Cinema at the Student Center at Western State College.

Sunday is Independence Day! And a busy day it is. Very early, the balloons will once again be flying over the City. Starting at 12 Noon until 4pm, there will be activities at the IOOF Park. There will be food, games and activities. The bands "U-47" and "Iola" will be providing great music. At 4pm, head over to Jorgensen Park. From 4 to 9pm, activities will be centered in the outdoor covered ice rink. There will be a "food court" of local food vendors and a beer garden with beer provided by Gunnison's CB Brewing Company.Live music will be provided by the "Pimp Valley Drifters" and the "Bruce Hayes Band". At 9:15pm, the 58th Annual Rotary Fireworks will commence. Kick back on the lawn of Jorgensen or Legion Park and enjoy the show.

Just a reminder - while many, many City employees will be working this weekend to make it a safe and enjoyable weekend, City offices are closed for the long holiday weekend on Monday, July 5th. We'll be open Tuesday morning to serve you. Refuse routes normally picked up on Monday will be picked up on Tuesday, July 6th.

For everyone's safety, Highway 50 (Tomichi Avenue) will be closed at 5pm on Sunday, July 4th and traffic will be detoured around the parks areas via North Adams Street, East Georgia Avenue and North Colorado Street. Plan accordingly ahead of time where you want to park. Parking and driving will not be allowed along Tomichi Avenue. In addition, the road around the south and east side of Jorgensen Park will be closed all day, Sunday, July 4th.

Also remember, that all fireworks that leave the ground or explode are prohibited in the City. Violators could be ticketed. For everyone's safety do not bring any fireworks with you to the Rotary event - just enjoy the show. Have a fun and safe Independence Day weekend.