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Ridgway council approves consent items, event permits and appointments; discusses community grant program
Summary
At its April 10 meeting the Ridgway Town Council approved the consent agenda including liquor license renewals, proclaimed April as National Donate Life Month, approved two special-event permits (Hyde Street closure and a Youth Advisory Council pickleball tournament), and reappointed Russ Meyer as mayor pro tem; council also discussed a proposed Community Grant Program.
Ridgway — The Town Council’s April 10 meeting covered routine business, community presentations and several event approvals.
The council approved the consent agenda, which included the March 13 meeting minutes, the register of demands for March 2024, the renewal of a restaurant liquor license for True Grit Café, a change of location for a retail liquor license for High Spirits Liquor, and renewals for tavern liquor licenses for Steps and The Patio at Steps. Councilor Lakin moved, Mayor Pro Tem Russ Meyer seconded, and the consent agenda carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Public comment included praise from Carl Romemus, who called Ridgway a “great town” and noted volunteer efforts to provide dog clean-up bags at Athletic Park. Mayor John Clark asked for a moment of silence for community member Patrick O’Leary.
The council received several presentations: Town Clerk Pam Kraft introduced two new clerks, Becky Schmitz and Lori Patton; Tanya Ishikawa of the Ridgway Chamber of Commerce presented a 58-page Gravel Adventure Guide funded by a $34,500 state grant with 9,000 copies to be distributed locally; and Jessi Rochel of the Chris Klug Foundation asked the council to proclaim April as National Donate Life Month, stating “95% of the Americans support donation, yet only 48% are registered.” The council approved that proclamation unanimously.
Two special-event permits were approved. Saran and Tomas Volstad were granted a closure of Hyde Street between Elizabeth Street and the alley for a private neighborhood party on May 11, with the condition that the street remain open to pedestrians and that a porta-potty be provided. The Youth Advisory Council’s request to hold a pickleball tournament at Athletic Park on May 11 was approved; Mayor Pro Tem Meyer moved approval and authorized staff to finalize event details. The tournament has a $5 entry fee; proceeds will go to the Pickleball Club and a women’s shelter. The pickleball permit vote carried with Councilmember Terry Schuyler not participating in the vote.
On governance, the council reappointed Russ Meyer as Mayor Pro Tem and updated council representation on local boards and commissions, assigning Councilor Schuyler to the Ridgway Sustainability Advisory Board (with Lakin as alternate), making the Town Manager the alternate on the County Weed Board, naming Schuyler as the Sneffels Energy Board representative, making Lakin an alternate to the Ouray County Water Users Association and designating Councilmember Scoville as liaison to the Chamber of Commerce.
Nut graf: The meeting combined routine approvals with community-focused presentations and local event decisions; the council advanced several items that affect tourism promotion and community activities while reserving budgetary decisions, such as an earlier school funding request, for future deliberation.
Manager Neill highlighted items from the monthly Manager's Report and the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
