Well....I'm sorry to say....there are many who "pick up the hammer" and start building....leading to serious problems down the line for the customer. Governments don't start a program unless folks complain or "demand services"...be it recreation or building inspection. A couple of months ago, when a guy died, who did everyone blame for lack of a CO2 detector?
Our building department is among the best in being reasonable and cost conscience. I would suspect here that our governmental leaders stripped off "the profits" from the building department during high volume times for their own political reasons leaving less than required as "reserves" for lean times.
There are well studied and published "suggestions for fees" in all building codes...my guess is Steamboat remains below the suggested amount.
A building inspector is a professional, educated but also experienced over time. Be careful in what you say as it could be your house or the bulding you're in when the deck collapses or the drywall cracks or just the damn circuit breaker keeps tripping when you want to toast the bread and microwave the coffee at the same time.
I was always taught one doesn't pass on the right side. And never ever pass a 18-wheeler on the right side without extreme caution and an understanding they can't see you!
Hey...it's Steamboat kids these guys are marketing to. Non-US Citizens makes it worse. Why any bail at all? SOBs should get out of the slammer just long enough to shovel the Court House steps this winter...rake leaves and mow the grass in the fall.
Affordable housing remains relative. No one in a"ski town" making $10 to $15 / hour is going to be able to afford to live here in a family environment....they can't compete with second home owners....they can rent "with friends" for a season or two then they have to get a "real life.
They can buy a trailer, then work the politics so they can buy the land...I've seen that work.
Else, they need to get a good education and good grades....get some experience, save their $$$ then look at moving to a ski town......after all....that's what the folks they're competing with did. Imagine that!
On a business sense...if a business needs workers they'll find housing...but it won't be "pretty" and probably not a "family" environment.
"Affordable" is affordable. A developer knows his market much better than those educated in municiple management.
No resident of SS should have to pay one red cent for an expansion of the City Limits! It should reduce their overall costs....period....more folks and fixed costs. No SS resident should subsidize growth....one reason is it reduces property values.
The problem here is some relatively well off folks buy a house and the Steamboat Dream....then they wish to pay the same construction and maintenance costs they paid at their original place of residence. They want the "bike paths they had at home". Well....their houses won't get painted and their carpet won't get changed out, fridge fixed......or something else......until housing becomes "affordable". That means amazing high rates for labor and a reduction in housing costs.....or something in-between....AKA...a "Market".
Moral of the story is the "Market" will determine "affordable".... over time. Each individual makes his own choices.
I myself....have determined the Winter Sports Club is no longer affordable or predictable in projected costs. I've determined one can't buy a pair of affordable shoes here in Steamboat.....and a set of name brand tires in Denver in $120 less for 4. The price of Milk kills me....but as a great ski racer once said....."until folks vote with their feet"..... move on.
Well, guess we've already set the precedent of a Government back entity, that is okay to lose money, competing with a private for-profit business. Love Obamanomics.
While, in 12 years, I've not seen even a hint of "Elitism" among SSWSC coaches and staff....I have seen a seemingly inability to control costs, a lack of respect for the dollar and an over valuation of the type of quarters a young athlete requires when on ski race travel.
And yet no one's yet reducing rates. In fact SSWSC raised alpine ski racing by 10% this year over last and the work deposit (to ensure volunteering) went up 11% to $600.
Yesterday I sat and watched two baseball games at Emerald Park. About 20 folks came by me from either the bike path or from some open space in the park to their car in Emerald Park parking lot with dogs not on lease. This was the same time as the Steamboat Soccer Little Kid Round Robin.
While these dogs were all well behaved and came by to give me a friendly sniff I was thinking "Steamboat must be a Special Place with all these special people with special dogs who don't have to follow the rules."
I wonder how they'd feel about a fellow driving with a .08 BAC.
Rules are rules and if you don't like them lobby to get them changed. Following the rules is a sign of rspect for your fellow citizen and ignoring the rules is a sign of disrespect.
We have enough coal to last for a really really really long time. Need to make it cleaner for sure, and we should be focused more on that than solar or wind. Electric cars, once battery design develops will help but those cars will still require the same amount of energy to get around town or over the hill be it in the form of a kilowatt-hour or a BTU. Our power grid is not sufficient to deliver that level of power to all the vehicle charging stations. Any second year engineering student can tell you that solar and wind simply don't offer the power density necessary for a vibrant society. And they have a problem when the wind doesn't blow of its dark and/or cloudy. Nuclear, clean coal, hydro-electric, perhaps geo-thermal and a vastly more robust electrical distribution system is the relatively near-term answer for the most part. Wind turbines and solar is only a drop in the power-needs bucket.
Struggling building department seeks 58 percent fee increase
Well....I'm sorry to say....there are many who "pick up the hammer" and start building....leading to serious problems down the line for the customer. Governments don't start a program unless folks complain or "demand services"...be it recreation or building inspection. A couple of months ago, when a guy died, who did everyone blame for lack of a CO2 detector?
Our building department is among the best in being reasonable and cost conscience. I would suspect here that our governmental leaders stripped off "the profits" from the building department during high volume times for their own political reasons leaving less than required as "reserves" for lean times.
There are well studied and published "suggestions for fees" in all building codes...my guess is Steamboat remains below the suggested amount.
A building inspector is a professional, educated but also experienced over time. Be careful in what you say as it could be your house or the bulding you're in when the deck collapses or the drywall cracks or just the damn circuit breaker keeps tripping when you want to toast the bread and microwave the coffee at the same time.
November 17, 2009 at 6:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Semi driver cited for careless driving in Lincoln Avenue wreck that tipped Jeep
I was always taught one doesn't pass on the right side. And never ever pass a 18-wheeler on the right side without extreme caution and an understanding they can't see you!
September 11, 2009 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
No-knock ACET raid catches 3 with meth and coke
Hey...it's Steamboat kids these guys are marketing to. Non-US Citizens makes it worse. Why any bail at all? SOBs should get out of the slammer just long enough to shovel the Court House steps this winter...rake leaves and mow the grass in the fall.
September 2, 2009 at 7:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Our View: The 'hows' of housing
Affordable housing remains relative. No one in a"ski town" making $10 to $15 / hour is going to be able to afford to live here in a family environment....they can't compete with second home owners....they can rent "with friends" for a season or two then they have to get a "real life.
They can buy a trailer, then work the politics so they can buy the land...I've seen that work.
Else, they need to get a good education and good grades....get some experience, save their $$$ then look at moving to a ski town......after all....that's what the folks they're competing with did. Imagine that!
On a business sense...if a business needs workers they'll find housing...but it won't be "pretty" and probably not a "family" environment.
August 31, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steamboat 700 affordability concerns raised
"Affordable" is affordable. A developer knows his market much better than those educated in municiple management.
No resident of SS should have to pay one red cent for an expansion of the City Limits! It should reduce their overall costs....period....more folks and fixed costs. No SS resident should subsidize growth....one reason is it reduces property values.
The problem here is some relatively well off folks buy a house and the Steamboat Dream....then they wish to pay the same construction and maintenance costs they paid at their original place of residence. They want the "bike paths they had at home". Well....their houses won't get painted and their carpet won't get changed out, fridge fixed......or something else......until housing becomes "affordable". That means amazing high rates for labor and a reduction in housing costs.....or something in-between....AKA...a "Market".
Moral of the story is the "Market" will determine "affordable".... over time. Each individual makes his own choices.
I myself....have determined the Winter Sports Club is no longer affordable or predictable in projected costs. I've determined one can't buy a pair of affordable shoes here in Steamboat.....and a set of name brand tires in Denver in $120 less for 4. The price of Milk kills me....but as a great ski racer once said....."until folks vote with their feet"..... move on.
August 23, 2009 at 7:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Marijuana dispensary on tonight's City Council agenda
Well, guess we've already set the precedent of a Government back entity, that is okay to lose money, competing with a private for-profit business. Love Obamanomics.
August 18, 2009 at 7:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
House of Cards Part 3: Holding a losing hand
While, in 12 years, I've not seen even a hint of "Elitism" among SSWSC coaches and staff....I have seen a seemingly inability to control costs, a lack of respect for the dollar and an over valuation of the type of quarters a young athlete requires when on ski race travel.
August 14, 2009 at 7:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
House of Cards Part 3: Holding a losing hand
And yet no one's yet reducing rates. In fact SSWSC raised alpine ski racing by 10% this year over last and the work deposit (to ensure volunteering) went up 11% to $600.
August 14, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Off-leash rules expanded for 2 city parks in Steamboat Springs
Yesterday I sat and watched two baseball games at Emerald Park. About 20 folks came by me from either the bike path or from some open space in the park to their car in Emerald Park parking lot with dogs not on lease. This was the same time as the Steamboat Soccer Little Kid Round Robin.
While these dogs were all well behaved and came by to give me a friendly sniff I was thinking "Steamboat must be a Special Place with all these special people with special dogs who don't have to follow the rules."
I wonder how they'd feel about a fellow driving with a .08 BAC.
Rules are rules and if you don't like them lobby to get them changed. Following the rules is a sign of rspect for your fellow citizen and ignoring the rules is a sign of disrespect.
July 12, 2009 at 7:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YVEA candidates disagree on utility's rate structure
We have enough coal to last for a really really really long time. Need to make it cleaner for sure, and we should be focused more on that than solar or wind. Electric cars, once battery design develops will help but those cars will still require the same amount of energy to get around town or over the hill be it in the form of a kilowatt-hour or a BTU. Our power grid is not sufficient to deliver that level of power to all the vehicle charging stations. Any second year engineering student can tell you that solar and wind simply don't offer the power density necessary for a vibrant society. And they have a problem when the wind doesn't blow of its dark and/or cloudy. Nuclear, clean coal, hydro-electric, perhaps geo-thermal and a vastly more robust electrical distribution system is the relatively near-term answer for the most part. Wind turbines and solar is only a drop in the power-needs bucket.
June 4, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )