In a quick meeting on July 25, the Mancos Town Board heard reports from several entities, including the Mancos Days Association and the Mancos school board, and discussed a possible addition to Cottonwood Park, the off-leash dog park on the southwest edge of town.
JoDee Powers, the economic development specialist for the Montezuma Community Economic Development Association, also updated the board about the association’s work in the past year.
MCEDA, which identifies itself on its website as “a composite of investors ... who are all committed to creating a stronger, regenerative, wealthier, diverse cluster of communities and a resilient local economy,” looks to assist local businesses however it can. It offers training courses in business and computer skills and held several breakfast meetings and a regional economic conference in April.
Powers told the board that MCEDA is looking to increase investor membership by offering more incentives for investors, such as breakfast meetings, newsletters, public recognition and partner collaboration, among other benefits.
“MCEDA’s on the right track, and we’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing,” Powers said.
The board also discussed building a shelter over the concrete pad at Cottonwood Park to provide space for bands and other activities. Originally, there was discussion of constructing an amphitheater, but the board members seemed in agreement that the park should stay open for dogs, since it’s the only off-leash dog area in town. The board members did like the idea of building a shade structure as a place for future events.
“I kind of like the idea of putting up a quick and easy building ... and see if that gets used,” Mayor Pro Tem Fred Brooks said.
“I think we can still keep it as a dog park.”
Cottonwood Park typically holds just a few events each year, most notably the Mancos Valley Summer Brewfest. A separate event last year caused several noise complaints from Mancos residents because a band set up in such a way that sound projected toward town.
Building a shade structure in the park could provide a fixed location for bands so that noise would be directed away from town, as the concrete pad was originally designed to do, town Marshal Jason Spruell said during the meeting.