The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Oak Creek — Despite the rising insurance costs and liabilities associated with Oak Creek’s annual Labor Day celebration, the Town Board voted to include the event on the town’s policy Thursday, ensuring the festivities will continue for at least one more year.

The annual Labor Day celebration started in 1912, only five years after Oak Creek was recognized as a town. Last year’s Labor Day celebration cost the Oak Creek Labor Day Commitee $13,265 — and a large portion of that was donations, committee Chairwoman Becky Wisecup said.

In 2007, the cost for the Oak Creek Labor Day Committee to provide its own insurance for the event was estimated at $3,500, which Wisecup said is more than the organization currently has is in its bank account.

“If there is an insurance problem, Labor Day will cease to exist,” Wisecup said.

In the modern litigious climate, insurance companies prefer that events where alcohol is served — such as Labor Day and Taste of South Routt — have their own insurance rather than fall under the town’s policy as Oak Creek historically has done, Town Clerk Karen Halterman said.

The Town Board ultimately decided that the importance of the Labor Day events to the town outweigh any insurance concerns. The town’s policy will not see any definite increases, though their premiums may rise in the future and the town could be burdened with deductible payments for any liability claims arise from the event, Trustee Josh Voorhis said.

The Town Board also ap­­proved the closures of Main and Moffat streets as necessary for the weekend’s events.

This year, the Oak Creek Labor Day Committee is planning to host one band Friday night and another band along with a comedy showcase Satur­day night, at a location to be determined. Sunday’s events will move to Decker Park, with the fishing derby, kiddie fun fair, silent auction and beer garden. The parade will be held on Labor Day, along with skydivers and field races in Decker Park.

Hauled water rate increases

The Town Board voted to raise the rate for hauled water, which previously had been one cent per gallon. Effective June 1, the cost for the town’s public works staff to fill tankers with treated water will be a new $20 flat fee per fill, plus 2 cents per gallon.

The town’s attorney also will be tasked to write an ordinance assessing penalties for filling tanker trucks at private residences.

Board salaries

Town Board members also voted unanimously to waive their pay for the current term. Trustees discussed allocating the budgeted funds to a specific cause but ultimately decided to leave the money in the general fund for now.

The mayor would have been paid $90 per month and board members $75 in return for their service, Halterman said.

In other business, the Town Board voted to subdivide the residential property at 107 S. Grant Ave. Owners Scott and Ann Kirton plan to eventually build a second home on the property.

The board also scheduled Oak Creek’s annual Yard Sale Day for June 21, to coincide with sales in Yampa and Phippsburg.

— To reach Melinda Dudley, call 871-4203

or e-mail mdudley@steamboatpilot.com