Steamboat Pilot & Today

Oak Creek — Committee heads from the Upper Yampa Valley Economic Development Council will give their first progress updates in a meeting tonight in Oak Creek.

The committees were established to help the economic development council handle a large amount of working by splitting it up among business owners in south Routt County.

Instead of taking on projects as a whole, the council asked its dues-paying members to volunteer on one of several committees.

"We'll know a lot more after the meeting but it seems to be working," council President Charlie Taylor said.

Updates at tonight's meeting will come from six of the committees: A committee trying to get more road signs in surrounding areas pointing to south Routt, a committee putting together a list of south Routt job openings, a Web page committee, a membership committee and a school committee.

The Taste of South Routt committee also will give an update.

"We're going to discuss strategies of attendance," food festival committee head David Bonfiglio said.

The council is on a limited budget, so it will explore different ways of advertising for the event without spending an exhorbitant amount of money.

The festival, held annually in Oak Creek, showcases food and crafts from south Routt businesses. It will be on June 24.

"We'll be discussing the times at the meeting," Bonfiglio said.

The 2000 event is expected to be bigger the previous two years, but the price for attendance free is staying the same.

"We want to keep it a free event for the bulk of the public," Bonfiglio said.

The council wants to have the event stay a small-town, community festival, while expanding it enough draw people from all over the county. That way, the festival can introduce what south Routt businesses have to offer to a broader range of people in all of Routt County, Bonfiglio said.

The meeting is tonight at 7 p.m. at the Oak Creek Town Hall, 129 W. Colfax Ave, and the public is always welcomed.

To reach Doug Crowl call 871-4206 or e-mail dcrowl@amigo.net