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Vol. 142. No. 7
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Building permit numbers decline in city, rise in county High interest rates slow housing market Bella Biondini Times Editor
Board to be wild
Jacob Spetzler
Painfully high interest rates, the lack of available space for new homes and the rising cost to build have caused the number of residential building perBuilding permits A6
Ian Ash grinds a rail during Western Colorado University's Rail Jam on Friday, Feb. 10. For more photos, see A18 and A19.
INSIDE
TODAY NEWS: Avian flu linked to deaths of black bear, mountain lion, A10
COMMUNITY: Telemark ‘festivus’ returns to Monarch Mountain, B1
City considers vacant property fees Aims to incentivize housing development
SPORTS: GHS swim and dive bring home honors from state meet, B8
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
OBITUARY A2
The highly-anticipated opening of the Gunnison County Food Pantry’s new space has been tentatively set for this coming spring after construction delays and electrical issues extended the original timeline. Soon, pantry patrons will collect their groceries in a space that’s nearly four times larger, with new services like direct access to clean water and mental and behavioral health resources. The pantry board purchased the new building, located at 405 W. Tomichi Ave., in early 2022. The move was precipitated by a need for more space, food pantry Board President
CLASSIFIEDS A14-A16 SPORTS B8 ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM
The City of Gunnison is considering a fee for properties that are tapped into, but not actively using city’s water, electric and
sewer utilities. A possible ordinance, which staff will continue to develop and fine-tune, stems from the community development department’s desire to find a way to manage abandoned
and uninhabitable properties within city limits. Last fall, staff presented various methods of addressing these kinds of buildings with the intent of pressuring owners to either renovate, Vacant fees A7
Food pantry set for springtime opening New space includes county services and water tap
OPINION A4-A5
Bella Biondini Times Editor
Steve Secofsky said. The current space, a 900-square-foot building on the southwest corner of Ohio Street and Main Street, could no longer serve the community’s needs after the pandemic created greater food insecurity in the valley. “COVID really hit home that we have a bigger mission to serve than we had anticipated,” he said. “Our challenge was providing the kinds of programs and services to meet all those needs.” In response, the pantr y opened a mobile food clinic and “mini pantries” in schools around the valley. But the expanding programs only reiterated a need for more space. Food donations have never been a pr imar y problem, Secofsky said, but the space to store and prepare the food for distribution has. The move has been supported by organizations and local governments throughout the valley, including contributions from Gunnison Food pantry A6
Abby Harrison
Food pantry staff help clients on Feb. 14