CREEDE — Creede City Manager Katie Sickles on Monday, June 15, addressed some of the community concerns regarding a recent public notice announcing a hearing to potentially abandon the Townsite of Creede. 

Notice for a public hearing was published June 10, of the potential abandonment of the Townsite of Creede, also known as North Creede, located near Windy Gulch. Under the guidance of the Mineral County Attorney, Mineral County Commissioners petitioned the State of Colorado under 31-3-201, Colorado Revised Statutes, to abandon the townsite. 

“We have been getting a lot of calls, and we want to clear up any misunderstandings regarding the abandonment of the old townsite,” said Sickles. 

As a previous Geological Information Coordinator, Sickles explained that this is a common occurrence in mining communities throughout Colorado and beyond. 

“We hired engineers to research the boundaries of the old townsite, which were a result of the initial boundaries platted for Creede before current-day Creede was created,” she said. 

The hearing notice states, “Pursuant to section 31-3-201, C.R.S., the county attorney of the County of Mineral, State of Colorado, made application to the Secretary of State for a determination that the Mineral County Town of Creede is abandoned. The application alleges that the town failed, for a period of longer than five years immediately before the filing of the application, to hold any regular or special election, elect officers, or maintain any of the functions of town government.”  

According to Mineral County Administrator Janelle Kukuk, the townsite is no longer viable and has not had any form of legal government for nearly 100 years, which is a requirement for a Colorado town to maintain town status.  

“This is done through state and county authority, and the abandonment will not affect any property located within the documented municipal boundary of the City of Creede.” 

The hearing will determine the township's future, which is home to about five residences. Possible outcomes could include being annexed into the city limits, or the township could be left as is and remain part of Mineral County.  

The hearing is scheduled for July 13 at 1 p.m. in the Mineral County Commissioners' chambers, or anyone interested can register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wTig_aJOQh-fAcf2DwZQKg  

The City of Creede will have representation at the hearing to answer any further questions. 

For more information, reach out to Kukuk at 719-658-2331.