NEWS: Prop HH fails at the polls, A8
VOL. 142. NO. 45 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 | $1.00
Brookhart, Coleman, VanderVeer elected to school board Slate wins clear victory over independents Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
T h e re s u l t s f o r t h e G u n n i s o n Watershed School District's first contested school board election in a number of HANDLING THE STARS AND STRIPES: Gunnison Fire Chief Hugo Ferchau helped young community members properly fold a large American flag after the Gunnison High School football game on Saturday, Nov. 4. (Photo by Jacob Spetzler)
INSIDE
TODAY
NEWS: ‘A mother’s village,’ A13
COMMUNITY: Majestic celebrates one year, B1
Gunnison transit Voters pass ‘rec and roads’ center now on 5-7 year timeline sales tax plan RTA plans for Four new city councilors to step in this December
SPORTS: Cowboy football marches on, B6
OBITUARIES A2 OPINION A4 CLASSIFIEDS A14-A17 SPORTS B6 ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM
School board A6
Bella Biondini Times Editor
On its third try, the City of Gunnison passed a ballot measure that will create a sustainable funding stream for its tight roads budget. On Tuesday, question 2B passed at the polls with unofficial results reading 74% for, and 26% against, out of 1,811 total votes cast on the issue. Although each ballot ques-
tion has looked different, this is the third November in a row the city has asked residents to help create an additional funding source for its deteriorating street system. The city’s first ballot was combined with an ask for the Gunnison County Fire Protection District in 2021, followed by a request for a 0.5% sales tax increase last year. Both failed at the polls. As leaders struggled to find a solution, voters made it clear they wanted the city to live within its means, before asking for more money. “Voters were really clear, multiple years in a row, a tax increase was not their preferred option,” said City Manager Roads A7
more diesel buses in the future
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
Locals keep piling on G u n n i s o n Va l l e y R u r a l Transportation Authority’s (RTA) buses and the new winter schedule, with more runs than ever before, is about to start up. To ensure the organization can meet soaring demand for public transportation in the future, the board is budgeting and setting a timeline for future capital projects, like the Gunnison
transit center and the addition of new buses. At a regular meeting on Friday, Nov. 4, the board updated bus driver policy and received an update on the winter air market. No transit center in five-year budget The board adopted the 2024 budget last week, which is slated to bring in close to $7 million and will support commuter bus service, senior transportation, more airline service and the replacement of three bus shelters in Gunnison. But what’s missing from both next years’ budget and the RTA’s five-year financial plan is the Gunnison transit center. Last winter, the project was RTA A6