The Bayfield Town Board trustees and staff are thankful town residents approved a one-cent sales tax increase on Nov. 3, with the proceeds earmarked for town streets and stormwater projects. In a small gathering before Tuesday's town board meeting, town staff and trustees thanked members of Save Our Streets, a citizens group that raised funds to promote passage of the tax. The vote passed by a large margin, with 68 percent of town voters casting yes votes.
"We all played different parts," chair Jackie Morlan said of the small group's success.
Marcel Theberge, who helped raise funds for the group. cited Chris LaMay's work in presenting information about the town's infrastructure and finances to voters.
In other action, town trustees approved funding to non-profit organizations and partner agencies, such as the Regional Housing Authority, Roadrunner Transit and Bayfield Family Center. They also appproved moving the health insurance policy for town employees to Rocky Mountain Health Plans.
The board discussed a proposal by the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce to remove the chamber's visitor center and public restroom building in Roadside Park. The chamber has not been able to use the center for years because a water line the town installed to the center has broken so many times it no longer can be repaired.
While chamber members and volunteers built the center in 2004, it sits on town property.
"We need to get rid of it together," said Anne Cook, the chamber's vice president.
Mayor Rick Smith said he would like to be able to have the town attorney review the contract between the chamber and town, and asked to defer a decision to the town's Dec. 1 board meeting.
Trustees agreed.
