Center — The Center Town Board discussed finances and an international art opportunity during their meeting on Sept. 22. Separated by glass partitions, Mayor Anthony Garcia and the trustees wore masks, and other attendees participated in person or via Zoom online.

The meeting kicked off with the board’s approval of disbursements and a discussion about buying a former employee’s four-wheeler for snow removal. At the close of the meeting, Garcia returned to money matters and dove deeper into details.

The town had 40 outstanding checks in 2017 and 2018 (valued at approximately $10,000). Deputy Clerk Rose DeHerrera devoted a couple of days to track the uncashed checks. Without a policy for writing off outstanding payments, Mayor Garcia requested guidance from the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The board discussed printing “void after six months” on checks, and not all disbursements follow the same channels. In some cases, the money goes to the Great Colorado Payback program, a state treasury system for lost or forgotten funds and property.

Mayor Garcia noted new accounting procedures to help with future audits. He also floated the idea of hiring a Certified Public Accountant to create a financial department. Trustees agreed, noting how Monte Vista hired a CPA and may have paid for the position already through tighter funds management. Municipal “fund accounting is a different animal,” Garcia noted. Also, staff stability helps stabilize account balances over time.

Money matters aside, Steve Huey and Krystal Anton are new entrepreneurs in town who hope to bring an international art project to Center. Huey and Anton bought four buildings in the area for development. The Doug Aitken project is an extension of their philosophy.

“Doug Aitken is an interesting guy,” Huey explained. “He calls his studio a ‘nomadic studio.’” Huey described one of Aitken’s projects funded by Levi’s Strauss. A passenger train ride from New York to San Francisco (and 15 other cities) featured light shows and other art projects. Aitken’s work appears in London, Switzerland, and several art galleries in the United States.

But the “Nomadic Mirror” project is different. For one, it will be positioned near town but in open space. Almost 40 feet long and 15 feet wide and tall, the stand-alone structure will attract one visitor at a time. Aitken calls the design a “mirage” because it reflects the surrounding environment. Once inside, the viewer will be immersed in a reflection of the landscape.

The project is also different because it will move through different locations in Colorado while visitors enjoy it and gallery owners appraise it. Construction can begin this summer in Center, and Huey said he is currently getting cost estimates for the steel, design and fabricated panels. Because the exhibit is nomadic, everything needs to be disassembled for trucking elsewhere. The foundation is precast concrete, and the steel frame breaks down into smaller pieces for transport.

Huey said he sent pictures to Aitken in Venice, showing off a sunrise over the Sangre de Cristo mountains and sunset over the La Garitas.

“I have sold them on the idea of the San Luis Valley,” Huey told the trustees. “We could find another site. But I’d like to steer the project this way to Center, if you’re willing to go on the wild ride with us.”
The Center Town Board will conduct a special session on Sept. 28 to approve the audit report that Mayor Garcia distributed to trustees for review. Also, on Sept. 30, board members will interview three municipal judge candidates. The next scheduled court date is Oct. 21