The Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) is experiencing mixed outcomes with two of its housing projects. One has alleviated teacher housing struggles, while another, intended for leadership recruitment, remains unoccupied.The Sopris Sun recently spoke with Chief of Operations Ben Bohmfalk about the district’s two housing scenarios. MeadowoodOn Sept. 19, a ribbon-cutting ceremony saw key stakeholders […]
Ben Bohmfalk
Posted inLocal Government
One year after unhoused newcomers influx, regional response coalescing
It was November 2023 when Voces Unidas de las Montañas, an advocacy organization, sounded the alarm about close to 100 unhoused people, mostly from Venezuela and unfamiliar with a Colorado winter, camping in cars and tents beneath the Veterans Memorial Bridge at the north entrance to Carbondale. According to Carbondale Police Chief Kirk Wilson, what […]
Posted inLocal Government
Pool demolition to begin amid close vote
All trustees were present during Carbondale’s regular Board of Trustees meeting on July 9 with Ross Kribbs joining via Zoom from Scotland. The meeting concluded with the narrow passing of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract for the demolition of the John M. Fleet Pool, utility work and excavation for the new pool. A second […]
Posted inLocal Government
Carbondale Report: Outdated building codes clash with state energy updates
The Town of Carbondale Board of Trustees carried out its June 25 regular meeting at the Third Street Center. All trustees were in attendance with the exception of Chris Hassig.The agenda item that took up most of the meeting was a proposed ordinance to adopt state required energy code updates and adjust the Town’s municipal […]
Posted inBusiness
Builders FirstSource pulls its weight
In late August 2023, Builders FirstSource quietly opened its new lumberyard facility in Carbondale. Located just north of the City Market shopping complex on Highway 133, it was the culmination of a years-long process leading to the consolidation of the company’s three operations in the Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen, Willits and Glenwood Springs) at the […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Commissioners deny Carbondale $50K request for newcomer help
At the regular meeting held on Tuesday this week, the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) heard from library malcontents during the open public comment period. Commissioner Tom Jankovsky arrived late due to traffic problems and had to leave after the first item on the agenda — a letter to the BOCC written in early January by […]
Posted inLocal Government
Carbondale’s response to migrants
When Town officials first learned that up to 80 people were camping under the bridge at the entrance to Carbondale in early November, we decided to respond in a humanitarian way that is consistent with Carbondale’s values, balanced with pragmatism based on our limited capacity. We determined that the impacts on the community and the […]
Posted inLocal Government
Carbondale Report: Venezuelans, Town Center and pool top the agenda as budget is approved
The Board of Town Trustees met with a packed agenda on Tuesday, ranging across many topics.Luis Yllanes was absent, and no students were present to receive Student of the Month awards. The consent agenda consisted of accounts payable, a snow removal contract, marijuana and liquor license renewals, approving revisions to the employee handbook and a […]
Posted inEnvironment
Carbondale geothermal project wins Dept. of Energy grant
Dave Reed is communications director at CLEER. A local team has kicked off the design phase of an innovative geothermal demonstration project in Carbondale, with test drilling likely to begin in early November. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gave the official go-ahead to the Carbondale Community Geothermal Coalition to begin work on the project […]
Posted inNews
Seeing the Forest Service for the trees
Construction on the new Aspen-Sopris Ranger District buildings in Carbondale is one step closer to becoming reality. The White River National Forest (WRNF) awarded a $6.3 million contract to Dare-Case Contracting Services LLC of Grand Junction on Sept. 28 — one day after WRNF Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams signed a new decision memo for the project. […]