STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — — Steamboat Springs won’t solicit bids for an operator of the Depot Art Center.
One of several strategic initiatives presented Tuesday night to the Steamboat Springs City Council was issuing requests for proposals from organizations to run the century-old restored train station for a fee. The initiatives were intended to save money or generate additional revenue. City staff identified the initiatives during the budget process in October, and they were supported by City Council members.
The Steamboat Springs Arts Council has operated from the Depot since 1972, when resident Eleanor Bliss led an effort to raise more than $400,000 to save the building. At Tuesday’s meeting, 11 local arts supporters opposed putting the Depot out to bids.
“They’ve been, I think, an exceptional steward of the building and an exceptional supporter and incubator for the arts in Steamboat,” said Stuart Handloff, artistic director of The Great American Laughing Stock Co., an affiliate organization of the Arts Council. “My feeling to you all is you’ve got a really good partner here, a really god caretaker of a city asset. Why rock the boat? .”
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