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Thursday October 22, 2009
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
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Vol. 21, No. 253
RO U T T
C O U N T Y ’ S
DA I LY
N E W S PA P E R
S t e a m b o at s p r i n g s
Homes evacuated A gas leak in Red Hawk Village causes residents to temporarily relocate Page 11
sports
Future of local race uncertain Page 21
Inn faces new quandary City’s lease to hotel operator could force out Iron Horse tenants Brandon Gee
Correction
PILOT & TODAY STAFF
The story “Discussing funding” on page 16 of Wednesday’s Steamboat Today incorrectly reported that the Colorado Department of Education was creating a new standardized curriculum, which is done by each school district based on the state model standards. The department is creating new state model standards, which define what students should learn each year from kindergarten through 12th grade.
■ Index Briefs . . . . . . . . . 10 Classifieds . . . . . 27 Comics . . . . . . . 25 Crossword . . . . . 25 Happenings . . . . . 7 Horoscope . . . . . 26
Matt stensland/staff
Iron Horse Inn renter Larry Haines talks Wednesday about his living arrangements at the city-owned property. Haines says he is happy the city provides the opportunity for transitional housing. He spoke at Tuesday’s City Council meeting about the city’s lease of Iron Horse to Boulder-based New West Inns.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
As the city nears final approval of a lease agreement for the Iron Horse Inn, some say the former hotel is fulfilling its intended purpose of providing long-term affordable rentals and should not be operated as a nightly rental facility that would compete with local lodges.
■ lotto Nation . . . . . . . . 20 The Record . . . . 10 Scoreboard . . . . 24 Sports . . . . . . . . 21 ViewPoints . . . . . 8 Weather . . . . . . . 35
Wednesday night’s Powerball numbers: 6-16-34-45-51 4 Lotto numbers: 4-7-11-25-35-42 Cash 5 numbers: 1-7-11-15-23
On Tuesday, the Steamboat Springs City Council preliminarily approved a three-year lease with Boulder-based New West Inns, owners of the Comfort Inn in Steamboat, to manage the Iron Horse Inn. The move is expected to reduce the Iron Horse’s annual losses to about $160,000 from what originally was projected to be as much as a $500,000 loss this year. The lease is subject to
■ weather
Times of clouds and sun. High of 54.
Page 35
final approval at the Nov. 3 council meeting. A previous City Council bought the inn in 2007 to provide affordable housing at a time when property values and housing costs were soaring. The inn nearly broke even through its first winter. A recession, a bedbug problem and several operational scenarios later, the inn was declared to be nearly vacant in August, when
the council first unanimously directed that the city negotiate a lease with New West Inns. In an effort to minimize losses until New West Inns’ scheduled takeover of the Iron Horse in December, the city offered $600 monthly rentals. Twenty-eight of its 52 rooms now are occupied, and there is a waiting list for the “efficiency See Iron Horse, page 13
■ There’s more online For around-the-clock updates, breaking local news and sports scores, videos, photos and an interactive community forum, visit www.steamboatpilot.com.