Creede Trustees Hire City Manager, Discover $12,000 Annual Electric Charger CostCreede trustees unanimously hired Katie Sickles as permanent city manager and discovered the city’s electric vehicle charging station costs $1,084.77 per billing cycle regardless of usage at their February 17 special meeting, prompting discussion about disconnecting the charger. The board approved a $1.1 million certificate of deposit earning 3.35 percent interest at Del Norte Bank and voted to direct HECLA mining company’s legal team to draft documents for transferring the Lower Willow Creek Restoration property to the city after environmental cleanup. Sickles presented a new budget format designed to improve revenue and labor tracking across all city funds, with detailed electric usage breakdowns by facility expected to produce meaningful statistics within one to two years. Public Works Director Scott Johnson presented stormwater improvement plans for West 3rd Street following resident Betsy Strawn’s written concerns about flooding, and the board approved routine business including January disbursements and February 3 meeting minutes.
Electric Vehicle Charger Costs
The demand charge applies whether one car or 100 cars use the station during a billing cycle. The annual cost of $12,000 to $16,000 and an outstanding $7,200 bill from the charger company prompted trustees to discuss disconnecting the facility.
SLV-REC engineer Isaiah Abeyta acknowledged the billing structure is problematic but the cooperative declined to take over charger operation. Sickles said the grant agreement contains no requirement to maintain operation after five years, which has been completed. Trustees compared Creede’s low-traffic Highway 149 location to higher-volume chargers on Highway 160, noting other communities’ electric cooperatives own their chargers directly.
City Manager Appointment and Budget Overhaul
Trustees reviewed additional city manager resumes before approving Sickles’ employment contract after she served as interim city manager. The contract had been reviewed by the city attorney before board approval.
Sickles also presented a budget format overhaul to improve tracking of revenue, labor, and expenditures across all city funds. The system will use phone-based time cards to track labor costs by fund and provide detailed utility cost breakdowns for facilities including the skating ponds, Basham Park, and the ball park. Department directors will review the format before implementation.
HECLA Property Negotiations
The board voted unanimously to direct HECLA to have their legal team draft documents for transferring the Lower Willow Creek Restoration property after cleanup completion. The property contains mining tailings from historical operations and requires environmental remediation under a Voluntary Cleanup Program with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Mineral County Commissioner Zeke Ward explained the environmental liability framework, noting CDPHE would issue a “No Further Action” letter once cleanup meets standards, eliminating environmental liability. The property would require a maintained vegetated cap with restrictions on digging or development tied to the title.
Randy McClure, a consultant with Rio Grande Silver, recommended the city negotiate specific cleanup timelines to avoid indefinite delays, noting a new VCUP would need to be written based on current engineering work. Trustees noted their attorney had previously advised against the city taking over the property directly due to cost and liability concerns, citing the risk that future regulatory changes could create new obligations. Trustees also raised concerns about maintaining ATV trail access through the property during cleanup and securing an easement for the narrow gauge railroad right-of-way that runs through the site.
Investment and Stormwater Improvements
Trustees approved Resolution 2026-07 authorizing the 12-month CD, with approximately $2 million remaining in Colorado Trust accounts earning 3.85 percent interest. Sickles said early withdrawal penalties would be waived when working with the bank, and federal interest rates are expected to drop.
Johnson presented GMS engineering firm recommendations for West 3rd Street stormwater improvements following resident Betsy Strawn’s written concerns about flooding. The plan would relocate an existing inlet from the middle of the road to the west side and install new storm lines to address flooding from last fall’s 100-year rain event.
Other Business
Trustees reviewed a new sales tax revenue comparison format showing positive trends. A&B Auction Services will conduct an April auction of 5,300 feet of 16-inch poly pipe, with a minimum sale requirement of $63,000 including city expenses. Sickles reported progress on utility audits and bank account consolidation, and provided trustees with legal guidance on avoiding ex parte contacts ahead of an upcoming zoning amendment hearing.
A Virginia Vision meeting was scheduled for February 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Virginia Christensen Municipal Utility Fund building. The meeting adjourned.
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