You can stop by during office hours to collect supplies for yourself or others. No appointment or paperwork is required—just drop in and take what you need. If you need a test outside of our office hours, please call and leave a message at 719-256-4313 or email crestonetownoffice@gmail.com and we will try to facilitate your request in timely manner.

Let’s work together to keep Crestone safe!

Members of the community should be aware that the effects of wildfires can extend long after the flames are extinguished. Communities in or near burned areas are at significantly greater risk for flooding for up to five years or more after a fire. Flood damage after fire is often more severe, and dangerous mudflows may occur when rainwater moves across barren ground, picking up soil and sediment and carrying it in a stream of floodwaters. 

Individuals can protect themselves against the financial risk of flooding after a fire by purchasing flood insurance through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

There is typically a 30-day waiting period before a flood insurance policy goes into effect. The NFIP has a variety of educational resources available online to help property owners and renters better understand their flood risk and mitigation options. We invite you to amplify this message by sharing the social media toolkit available on Floodsmart.gov with your networks and communities. 

Join or start a conversation on social media by using the #FloodAfterFire hashtag and learn more about your risk and take action.

We are committed to providing you with the best possible service and want to inform you of important updates to your billing cycle.

Recent Changes and Upcoming Adjustments

Due to technical limitations within our billing system, we were unable to implement our initial plan discussed by our Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees to adjust the billing cycle by issuing a half-month bill or a six-week bill. Attempting these adjustments would have caused significant issues with customer billing accuracy.

As a result, we will be making the following changes:

1. Two Bills Issued This Month:
2. • First Bill (Dated Today): Covers your water and sewer usage for the month of October. This bill is due by the 23rd of this month.
   • Second Bill (Also Dated Today): Covers your usage for the month of November. This bill will be due next month.
3. New Billing Schedule Moving Forward:
4. • Starting immediately, we will be on a set schedule of reading meters at the end of each month and sending out bills at the beginning of each month.
   • This means your usage from the first to the last day of each month will be billed at the beginning of the following month.

Why These Changes Are Necessary

We understand that receiving two bills in one month may be unexpected and possibly inconvenient. However, these adjustments are essential to align our billing cycle with the calendar month and to ensure accurate and timely billing moving forward. By making these changes now, we aim to:

• Enhance Billing Accuracy: Eliminating partial billing periods prevents confusion and ensures each bill reflects a full month’s usage.
• Simplify Budgeting: A consistent monthly billing schedule helps you plan and manage your expenses more effectively.
• Improve Service Efficiency: A standardized billing cycle allows us to operate more efficiently, ultimately providing you with better service.

Looking Ahead

We sincerely apologize for any confusion or inconvenience these changes may cause. We believe that with the adjustments to these two bills, we will be on track for a smooth and consistent billing cycle in 2025 and beyond.

We’re Here to Help

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes or your bills, please do not hesitate to contact us at 719-256-4313 or crestonetownoffice@gmail.com.

We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we make these necessary adjustments.

Sincerely,

Arielle Blackwell

Town Clerk & Interim Treasurer

Town of Crestone

Please reach out with any questions or concerns to 719-256-4313 or crestonetownoffice@gmail.com.

Dear Residents of the Town of Crestone,

You are invited to attend an informational meeting this Friday, October 11, at 5:00 PM at the Cloud Station Café regarding upcoming mitigation efforts within the Town. Earlier this year, Crestone was awarded a grant to conduct mitigation on 90 acres within the Town’s boundaries. This meeting will provide details on how, where, and when the mitigation work will take place. Additionally, information will be shared on how homeowners can volunteer to mitigate their own properties.

Attached is a flyer that will be posted around town. Please join us on Friday, October 11, to learn how these efforts will benefit our entire community.

Warm Regards

We would like to inform you about ongoing mitigation efforts taking place in and around our town as part of the BRIC 2022 Grant. These efforts include controlled burns and other activities aimed at reducing wildfire risks and enhancing community safety.

You may notice controlled burns occurring outside and around town over the coming weeks. These burns are carefully planned and conducted by trained professionals to minimize any inconvenience and ensure public safety.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the Town Office at 719-256-4313 or crestonetownoffice@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support as we work together to make our community safer.

Sincerely,

Arielle Blackwell

Town Clerk & Interim Treasurer

• Link: Safe Senior Driving: A Complete Guide For Older Drivers Based On NHTSA Guidelines

Colorado

• Governor Polis Takes Urgent Executive Action to Provide State Resources for Alexander Mountain and Currant Creek Fires
• Governor Polis Takes Executive Action to Provide State Resources for Stone Mountain Fire
• Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) (For a list of emergency alerts by county.)
• Wildfire Information & Resources | 211 Colorado (Evacuation shelters, animal shelters, and other location specific information.)
• 211 Colorado (Dial 2-1-1 for help locating potential evacuation shelters and other resources for your family.)
• Wildfire Information Resource Center | Colorado Division of Wildfire Prevention and Control
• Colorado | FEMA
• Colorado Department of Transportation (Traffic conditions.)
• Colorado Power Outages Map

Wildfire Preparedness and Recovery

• Wildfires | Ready.gov
• Wildfire Safety | American Red Cross
• Wildfires and Your Safety | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Wildfire Preparedness Tips | National Fire Protection Association