Truck drivers too dang independent
ASPEN – The highway across 12,095-foot Independence Pass isn’t for the faint of heart. Unpaved until 1967, it is sliced into the mountainsides with the aid of sharp, hairpin turns. Those terrorized by heights of a ferris wheel will almost certainly hate the road.

But that’s hardly all of it. In short segments, the highway narrows to one lane, and you can’t see around the corner. You’d better hope nobody is coming in the opposite direction, because somebody will have to back up or down.

Yet in just the first six weeks since the pass opened for the summer season, 29 tractor-trailer trucks have been stopped and ticketed. There are any number of signs alerting the truckers to the fact it’s illegal for them to use that segment of highway.

But the truckers have a strong motivation for disregarding the law. By taking the pass, they can save 145 miles on the trip between Aspen and Leadville. The fine for violating the law is $200. It’s a calculated risk for many.

The Aspen Daily News reports that Pitkin County commissioners are scratching their heads about how to discourage truckers. They are concerned partly by the weak foundation or the road, which means trucks can easily damage it.

Enlightened ideas for Crested Butte
CRESTED BUTTE – How much is too much? That’s the question in Crested Butte, where individual businesses want to extend Christmas into July.
Bright lights seem to be a universal form of a Christmas celebration. Boulder allows Christmas lights from mid-November until mid-January. Aspen, until mid-March.

Crested Butte allowed the twinkle-twinkles through ski season, but then businesses started leaving the lights up through summer.

Enough is enough, decided the town council, which last year enacted limits on summer lighting. In doing so, it was partly motivated to protect the sanctity of the night sky. At nearly 9,000 feet in elevation, you can actually see stars! But also to preserve the integrity of the old historic district.
Not all businesses agree. “Tourists like lights,” said Eric Roemer, a business owner. “It adds to the excitement and safety for people visiting here. Much of it enhances the architectural highlights of the business buildings.”

The Crested Butte News reports that he failed to persuade the town council. “It’s always a matter of degree. It shouldn’t look like Vegas, but it also shouldn’t look like 1880 when there was no electricity in town,” said Jim Schmidt, a long-time councilman.

The council is staying the course, at least for now, and local bar and restaurant owners will be required to tone down their Vegas tendencies.

Illegal rentals are targeted in Jackson
JACKSON, Wyo. – Illegal rentals are rampant in Jackson and Teton County. The local officials want to suppress the practice, which is in violation of zoning laws. In addition, no sales tax is collected on the illegal rentals.

The Jackson Hole News&Guide reports that the local officials are questioning whether state authorities can be called in to help with enforcement, as the state is also shorted in income by the illegal rentals.

“As much as I love the lodging industry, I don’t love it in everyone’s backyard, where it wasn’t zoned. We have to be willing to specifically confront (people), knock on doors,” said Jackson Mayor Mark Barron.

The town planning department actively searches for violators of the rules, but proving a violation is difficult. “You actually need to prove the transaction,” explained Tyler Sinclair, the town planning director.

The county government only responds to complaints. Jeff Daugherty, the county planning director, described a whack-a-mole situation. People commonly remove their online advertisements once they have been notified, but that rarely lasts. “As soon as we refocus our energy and efforts somewhere else, it tends to pop back up,” he said.

Planning staffers estimated that only 10 to 20 percent of violators are property management companies. The rest are private homeowners.
The News&Guide also talked with Links Luxury Rentals, which has two homes available for rental on a per-night basis that are outside areas designed for short-term rentals. Jeff Jensen, the company’s chief executive, said many of his clients are affluent and have families. Some even fly in private jets.

“The residential neighborhoods are what give any town its flair,” he said. “It doesn’t come from staying at the Four Seasons. When people are able to come in and experience the family neighborhood … that’s what people want.”

But Bob Lenz, a city council member, has another name for the high-end underground economy: tax evaders. “They’re not different than the guy that’s selling trinkets that’s not paying sales tax,” he said.

Cable magnate center of Sun Valley buzz
SUN VALLEY, Idaho – The buzz going into the Allen & Co. conference this summer was mostly about John Malone, the Denver-based titan of the cable industry.

“Consolidation in cable is going to happen. The question is, who leads it? Malone has the credibility,” said Matthew Harrigan, a Wunderlich Securities analyst, told Reuters.

Malone was one of 300 or so executives plus assorted others scheduled for the conference, which always crowds the local airport to capacity with private jets.

The commissioners for all the four major sports leagues were scheduled to be at the conference, as was Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, plus Mark Zuckerberg, chef executive of Facebook, Larry Page, chief executive of Google, and Rupert Murdoch, chief executive of Twenty-First Century Fox. Among dozens of others heavyweights of business, media, and philanthropy.

The sessions are off-limits to reporters, who may linger beyond the ropes in hopes that somebody emerges and decides to talk. Usually, there’s little news that comes out of the conference – except for deals announced weeks or months later.

Such is the fascination with the 72-year-old Malone, who has bought and sold cable media companies for decades.

Magicvalley.com noted the phalanx of reporters from national media pacing back and forth, paying attention only when the clatter of cameras fire.
“Who is that?” they asked each other.

The highlight of the afternoon was a 30-second glimpse of Apple CEO Tim Cook, who bought a drink from a vending machine as photographers yelled to see if he’d turn to face them.

“That’s the one we needed, boys,” a proud shooter said as he and another cameraman headed for the exit.

Real estate slides, but not to worry
ASPEN – Total sales of real estate in Aspen and Pitkin County declined by 12 percent during the first half of the year compared to last, but real estate agents see no reason for dismay.

They tell the Aspen Times that listings have declined while demand has grown and the average sales price has increased to about $1,000 a square foot, up from $945 per square foot in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, foreclosures filings have plummeted by 50 percent, especially in the mid-valley areas around Basalt and El Jebel.

Towns evaluating potentials for pot
TELLURIDE – Telluride Buds, a business that sells medicinal marijuana, turned away 386 people during the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Sales of recreational marijuana in Colorado are not yet legal, and won’t be until some time next year.

Local communities have the prerogative of deciding whether to allow sales. Many towns, including some ski towns, seem ready to say heck no, or something like that. Others are almost sure to say yes. Count Telluride among the latter.

In San Miguel County, 79 percent of people voted in favor of the state constitutional amendment allowing marijuana sales. The Telluride Daily Planet reports that the town council favors marijuana sales, but probably restricting business be at least 500 feet from schools, the same as with medicinal marijuana.

To be determined are the taxes. In addition to a significant state tax earmarked for schools, local jurisdictions can enact up to 15 percent excise tax and as much as 15 percent special sales tax.

How can towns make deeper carbon cuts?
TELLURIDE – Over the last few years, Mountain Village and Telluride have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent. The town governments, through energy efficiency and renewable energy, have started making progress.

But this accounts for only 3 percent of local greenhouse gas emissions. The private sector has to be engaged. How so?

The Telluride Daily Planet says that local environmental activists are trying to engage the community in a discussion about how to move forward. One pertinent fact: 50 percent of emissions come from buildings.

In Telluride, one council member plans to talk about a potential carbon tax. Boulder also has a carbon tax, but in some ways Aspen was the first. Starting in 2000, it levied a de facto tax on out-of-budget carbon intensive excesses, such as heated outdoor swimming pools. Various other jurisdictions, including Eagle County, have since followed suit.

What to do about bears at landfill?
ASPEN – The Pitkin County Landfill now accepts food waste, which is a great source of revenue and perfect organic matter for its composting program.

But the food waste has been attracting hungry bears. The Aspen Times reports that county commissioners were told that hazing of bears with rubber bullets and spraying has been relatively effective. More effective is electric fencing, but it’s also expensive, about $150,000. Although difficult for some officials to swallow, killing a few bears here and there remains an option under consideration.

Which ski town has the biggest bedroom?
WHISTLER, B.C. – Whistler has beds. Boy, does it ever: 8,000, basically more than just about any other mountain resort.

Research done for the resort community found that of six other high-profile destination resorts – Vail, Aspen/Snowmass, Breckenridge, Park City, Zermatt and Ischgl – the next largest rentable bed base is Zermatt, with 7,300.

But a group called the Economic Partnership Initiative found that destination guests in winter are paying the bills. Whistler gets 2.5 million annual visitors, and winter visitors are just 1 million of them. But the winter destination guests stay longer and spend twice as much as summer guests: $350 compared to $160.

– Allen Best www.mountaintownnews.net