KRW Associates LLC Basalt, CO, USA
Town Manager- Town of Basalt, CO
The Town & Surrounding Community
The Town of Basalt CO is located in the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley in Eagle and Pitkin counties along State Highway 82. It is a three-hour drive west of Denver and 25 minutes to Aspen. Basalt is a tight-knit family friendly community, with residents who value the small-town culture and outdoor recreation opportunities.
The historic downtown sits at the confluence of two of Colorado’s Gold Medal Streams-the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan rivers. This unique location is ideal for the river water park that is nestled among the Victorian-style buildings housing restaurants, shops, art galleries, and other local attractions. While Basalt began as a railroad town (incorporated in 1901), over the years, it has evolved into a mountain resort community for those who enjoy fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, skiing, boarding, sightseeing and local attractions. Basalt offers the perfect mix of old and new. In addition to the historic “Old Town”, the Willits development is one of the newer areas that resembles an urban center, with modern housing, hotels, stores, dining and amenities. The Willits Town Center is a community hub and a mixed-use development. Whole Foods Market and the Element Basalt-Aspen hotel complement the locally owned restaurants, brewery, unique shops, sporting stores, and businesses. The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW), hosts performing arts, entertainment and events. Basalt’s budding arts scene promotes a summer concert series and festivals.
Basalt’s residential population is over 4,000 but increases to over 12,000 when considering the unincorporated surrounding area. As a year-round tourist destination, the daytime population increased considerably over the residential population.
Basalt enjoys strong community support for its excellent schools. The Roaring Fork School District includes public, private, and charter schools that serve over 1,500 students. The Colorado Mountain College has conveniently located campuses in nearby Aspen, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority and the Basalt Police Department provide fire and police protection, and residents have easy access to outstanding regional hospitals in Glenwood Springs and Aspen.
Transportation options in the Basalt area are many. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) provides highly efficient local bus service to the town with connecting routes serving the entire valley. Basalt’s WE-cycle bike share program is popular due to the vast trail system for non-motorized bikes that connects the different parts of town and beyond. Basalt Connect is an on-demand local shuttle serving all areas within Basalt. The nearby airports in Aspen, Eagle County and Grand Junction offer daily commercial flights.
Basalt is a full-service home-rule municipality with a council-mayor form of government. The Town has enjoyed financially responsible forward-thinking leadership over the past several years. This an excellent opportunity for the new Town Manager to build on a solid foundation. To learn more, go to: basalt.net, Basalt’s official website.
The Position
The Town Manager reports to the Mayor and Town Council and is responsible for the overall operation of the Town and all Town staff. The Town Manager has six (6) direct reports: the Chief of Police, Public Works Director, Planning Director, Finance Director, Recreation Director, and the Town Clerk (total staff size-36). The Town Manager is responsible for the execution of projects/initiatives established by the Mayor and Council. The Town Manager, with the assistance of department heads, implements policies and procedures, works with the public on a daily basis, strives to maximize public satisfaction with municipal services, serves as a liaison between the Town Council and community stakeholders, performs analytical and policy research, and is responsible for coordination of legal matters with the municipal attorney.
Opportunities & Challenges
This is an opportunity to work with the Council, staff and the community to complete the projects outlined in the current strategic plan. While much has been accomplished in the areas of fiscal transparency, capital projects, housing, evaluating and updating policies, and promoting sustainability initiatives, work is still needed. Other opportunities and challenges relate to the following:
Compensation & Benefits- Salary Range: $170,000 - $210,000
The Town offers a very competitive salary and benefit package.
* Colorado Employer Benefits Trust (CEBT) is a self-funded, governmental multi-employer trust that provides employee benefits for over 440 public entities with over 37,000 employees and dependents covered in Colorado.