In this scene from Loveland Pass, snow fences are visible on the side of the peak across the valley above I-70, set up to break up the buildup of snow that could trigger avalanches big enough to close the highway.
Steamboat sales tax revenue down, Durango impact fees delayed and late-season skiing in France and Scotland
Less Taser action in Wyoming
Our weekly spin around the mountains this week begins in Wyoming, where the Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that local law enforcement agencies have modified their Taser policies to disallow their use to force compliance by people who do not pose an immediate threat.
The change comes after an April 7 incident in which a Jackson police officer attempted to arrest a man and then used the Taser to stun him when he resisted. The News & Guide reports that Jackson Police Chief Todd Smith said that use of Tasers will no longer be allowed if suspects are not physically aggressive toward officers. Read the rest of the story here.
Richest county?
The News & Guide is also reporting that Teton County is the “richest” county in the country, with the highest adjusted gross income — $142,048 — per tax return for 2008, the latest year available, according to the IRS. The U.S. average was $55,361. Wyoming’s average was $62,077. The next wealthiest county after Teton is Fairfield County, Conn., location of the town of Danbury. Adjusted income per return in that location was $118,286 for 2008. Lowest in the U.S. was Douglas County, Mo., at $18,262.
Steamboat sales tax revenue down
Steamboat Springs is seeing some ups and downs in sales tax revenue, according to the Steamboat Pilot, which reported that, after an encouraging February, March sales tax figures dropped by about 8 percent — the lowest level since 2004. The year-to-date total for the first quarter of 2010 is lagging about 5.5 percent behind an-already dismal 2009, but within the city’s budgeted 10 percent projected decline for 2010. The Pilot reported that the area’s lodging industry continued to struggle, with March revenue dropping 10.8 percent after an 11.5 decline in February. The decline in tax revenues has lasted for 19 months in Steamboat, dating back to August 2008, the last time monthly revenues showed an increase from the previous year. Read the story here. 
Base area woes
And Steamboat is also still wrestling with a planned redevelopment of the ski area base. according to the Pilot. After recent political and financial controversy surrounding the project, the city has delayed action on the work pending the outcome of talks with banks about financing after a default notice on the project’s $17.5 million loan. The bank is requiring the city to provide $3.75 million within 30 days as additional security for the loan because of property tax rates that decreased without city documentation, and were not changed in the loan conditions, before the loan was approved. Read the details here.
San Miguel goes solar
Tiny Norwood in San Miguel County will get a two-megawatt photovoltaic power plant, touted as the largest solar project in the nation that provides power to a distribution electric cooperative — in this case the San Miguel Power Association. The photovoltaic installation will be owned by SunEdison and located on a 40-acre plot of land southeast of Norwood. The company anticipates breaking ground on the Norwood project in September with construction being completed in December and could be providing power to SMPA power-purchasing members by January 2011. Get the full story from the Telluride Watch.
Phish-ing for tickets
In what could be one of the hottest shows of the summer in the Colorado mountains, Phish is playing in Telluride for two nights in August, and — believe it or not — there might still be a few tickets left, but only if you’re a resident of San Miguel County. The Telluride Music Company still has local tickets for both nights on sale, according to Telluridenews.com. As of May 5, there were 76 tickets for Monday Aug. 9, and 88 tickets for Tuesday Aug. 10. When the Telluride Town Council approved the Phish shows, they reserved 1,500 tickets for each night for San Miguel County residents. About 8,400 tickets were allocated for each night and the remaining tickets sold out within minutes online at www.Phish.com through the band’s lottery process. Read more …
Wilderness bill progresses
Telluridenews.com is also reporting that the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act is progressing through the U.S. Senate with due speed. The wilderness bill reportedly got a thumbs-up from federal land managers during a hearing before Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee hearing last week and is expected to reach the floor on before the end of the session. The bill will protect more than 60,000 acres of public lands around Telluride. The legislation would expand the existing Mt. Sneffels and Lizard Head Wilderness areas, establish the McKenna Peak Wilderness, create the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area along the alpine ridge between San Miguel and San Juan counties, and prohibit oil and gas development in Naturita Canyon. Get more details here.
Durango impact fees delayed
La Plata County commissioners have delayed a vote on proposed road-impact fees, the Durango Herald reports. The delay came after concerns about the fees surfaced, including how they could dampen new building and deter potential start-ups. The fees were originally proposed as a way to ensure that new development pays its own way. The fees would range from $3,954 to $5,110 for single-family detached homes to $6,634 per 1,000 square feet of commercial space. Durango Mountain Resort officials wrote a letter expressing concerns about the proposed fees, calling them a “significant burden” on the local economy. Read more …
Pagosa unemployment spikes
The Pagosa Springs Sun reports that unemployment hit double digits for the first time in 17 years, reaching 10.2 percent in January, up from 8 percent in December. The national unemployment rate is holding at about 9.7 percent, with 15 million Americans are currently out of work. The Sun also reports that foreclosures in Archuleta County are at a record high level, with 70 foreclosure filings in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 45 filings during the same period last year.
First-hand oil spill story
The Salida Citizen has a report from a local resident currently in New Orleans, who writes about the growing environmental fallout from the spill and its affect on him and New Orleans. Here’s an excerpt:
“I’m guessing all y’all know what happened down here last week, and the heart pounding love for the City and the comeback that is contrasted by this absolute catastrophe in the Gulf. People are crying and disgusted and it’s like a hurricane, slowly getting bigger and worse every day. Animals that aren’t covered in oil are dying and washing up on beaches already.
I haven’t seen the beaches yet, but you could smell the test oil burn the other day all the way up here. There are photos around online of the oil getting to shore even though they put out booms which are inflated long surface chains that tries to keep the oil contained, but not very effective due to the high winds these past few days … “ Read more …
Euro ski season continues
And our favorite Euro-source of mountain news, PlanetSki.com, reports that parts of the Alps are also experiencing good spring conditions, with fresh powder in France. And skiing in Scotland could last through June, after the Scottish Highlands saw record snowfall this winter. Cairngorm will re-open each weekend for turns as long as skiers and boarders keep coming. Catch the rest of the story, and Scotland ski video, online here.
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