Crawford Town Council Regular Meeting Wednesday, April 4, 2012, 7 p.m. Crawford Town Hall
Present: James Crook, Mayor; Trustees Bill Mosey, Mike Teideman, Christie Young, Susie Steckel, Bruce Green, Hetty Todd; Jackie Savage, Town Clerk; Bruce Bair, Director of Public Works
Outgoing Mayor Jim Crook conducted his last meeting at the helm of the Crawford Town Council just the way he always has: briskly and with no time wasted. After calling the meeting to order at 7 p.m., Crook moved the trustees through a short agenda of old business, including the approval of an investment policy for the town and the unanimous acceptance of a contract with Ridgway Valley Enterprises for the replacement of the windows in Town Hall as the first phase of the building’s historic renovation project.
Council member Hetty Todd expressed the Council’s thanks and appreciation to Susan Hansen and the Friends of Crawford Town Hall for their work on the renovation project. A full house of guests then witnessed Town Clerk Jackie Savage swear in Susie Steckel as Crawford’s new mayor and four new trustees: Wanda Gofforth, James Sorenson, and Larry Kontour, who will serve four-year terms, and Christie Young (this reporter), who will serve for two years.
Jim Crook turned his massive set of keys over to Steckel, and the ex-mayor and departing trustees moved to seats in the audience while the new mayor and trustees took their seats at the Council table. The audience and new Council gave Crook and the departing trustees a standing ovation before taking up new business.
The new council approved a renewal of Crawford Liquors’ liquor license and learned that the owner has apparently found someone to re-open the store and operate it “more or less on a regular basis.”
The trustees also approved a request by Jay Ziegler, owner of the former Western Slope Alternatives medical marijuana dispensary, to convert his water and sewer accounts from commercial to residential. Crawford narrowly voted down a proposal to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the town in the election the day before.
Public Works Director Bruce Bair reported that he and assistant Don Ludwig had posted signs at the two entrances to town on Highway 92 informing drivers of off-highway vehicles that they must be licensed to operate those vehicles on Crawford’s streets. “That will give more weight to law enforcement,” said Bair.
Before adjourning at 7:47 p.m., a new trustee asked former mayor Crook what he would do on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. “I don’t know,” he replied. “Television is pretty rotten on Wednesday nights. I might end up here.” As new mayor Susie Steckel announced the adjournment, trustee Christie Young urged: “Bang the gavel, Susie!” “I’ve wanted to do this my whole life,” responded Steckel as she enthusiastically rapped the gavel to bring the meeting to a close.
Tags: Christie Young, Crawford Town council, James Sorenson, Jim Crook, Larry Kontour, Susie Steckel, Wanda Gofforth
