Resident proposes Gunnison Fourth of July history book; council discusses possible seed funding

Resident Denise Croft asked the Wild Tribe City Council on Wednesday to support a community history project documenting Gunnison’s Fourth of July celebrations and requested modest seed funding to start a presale and outreach effort.

Croft described collecting photos, personal recollections and archival material to create a roughly 200-page volume she would presell. “I would probably need a, like, upfront work with helping with maybe getting out flyers… but for a book… it’d run about $30 to $35 [to print], and he suggests selling them for $49.95,” Croft told the council. She said she planned to do layout and interviews and asked the council whether the city could provide $150 to get the project started.

Council members and staff discussed options for handling funds and administration. A council member offered $50 on the spot. City staff suggested the project could be invoiced to the city for $150 and administered under an existing Independence Day 501(c)(3) with a separate bank account, if the council and the nonprofit agreed. Staff also noted the city’s records room already contains scrapbooks and that digitization assistance could be possible.

Croft said she expected to presell copies and consider advertising to offset printing costs; she also mentioned volunteers and local journalists who had offered support. Council members asked about logistics and urged Croft to coordinate with city staff to establish a bank/accounting approach. The meeting transcript does not record a formal roll-call vote on funding; instead the discussion concluded with staff advising Croft on next steps for invoicing and nonprofit administration.