The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Oak Creek — In a six-week period, Black Mountain Tavern co-owner Doug Diamond said he had eight regulars — from nearby communities including Steamboat Springs, Lynx Pass and Kremmling — seek him out and tell him that while they love the restaurant, they will not be returning to Oak Creek until the police situation changes.

Black Mountain Tavern has lost $11,000 worth of business this year as a result, Diamond said at Thursday night’s Town Board meeting.

“My business partner and I are very concerned about the perception of Oak Creek,” Diamond said. “We elected you guys to please help us.”

Diamond’s statement garnered applause from the standing-room only crowd that packed Town Hall for the first half of Thursday night’s Town Board meeting, which focused on an independent investigation of recent actions by the Oak Creek Police Department.

Some business owners and residents in town have been airing concerns about the current police department for nearly a year, alleging that over-enforcement is harming Oak Creek. The department’s supporters, in turn, counter that enforcement of laws from nuisance violations upward is a welcome change.

Others still have mixed feelings.

Liquor store owner Virginia Paxton said she does not mind one bit that the Oak Creek Police Department has slowed down the speeders on Main Street and ticketed drivers making illegal U-turns on the highway. However, she says a number of former customers stopped shopping after being “harassed” for not having their liquor purchases in a bag, which is not illegal unless the container has been opened, Paxton said.

“If we don’t have business, we don’t have a town,” Paxton said.

Ultimately, the board vot­ed Thursday to have outside eyes examine the circumstances surrounding Kathy “Cargo” Rodeman’s July 19 arrest and police Chief Russ Caterinicchio’s subsequent in­­ternal investigation into the matter, which found no wrongdoing or violations of department policy. Rodeman was arrested on suspicion of charges including driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting arrest after Sgt. Erik Foster used a Taser on her in her Oak Creek home.

Foster tried to stop Rodeman’s vehicle after she failed to signal a right turn from Lincoln Avenue onto Meyers Street, while driving home from the Colorado Bar shortly before 2 a.m. Police said Rodeman sped to her residence and ran inside with passengers Tashena and Shoshanna Montoya, who allegedly sandwiched Foster between the door and its frame to prevent him from entering.

The Town Board discussed waiting for an amended complaint from Rodeman but ultimately opted to get the legwork for an independent investigation started. Rodeman and her attorney were given a deadline of Aug. 24 to amend their prior complaint and make her grievances more specific.

“I’m hearing one side tonight. When I’m on the street, I hear a different side,” Trustee Josh Voorhis said. “There are a whole lot of people in this town who don’t want this (investigation) to go any further.”

Gerry Greenwood, who also sits on the Oak Creek Planning Commission, was appointed Thursday to fill the vacancy on the Town Board created by former Mayor Pro-Tem Angie Krall’s resignation last month. Greenwood defeated opponent Bernard Gagne, 4–2, in a secret ballot conducted by the Town Board.

Greenwood and Gagne ran for seats on the board in the town’s most recent municipal election in April, though their bids fell short in heavily contested races.

Trustee Wendy Gustafson was appointed the new Mayor Pro-Tem. Greenwood will join her as an administrative commissioner for the town, taking over Krall’s former appointed oversight position.

— To reach Melinda Dudley, call 871-4203

or e-mail mdudley@steamboatpilot.com