By Shannon Lukens.

Santa Claus and his Santa Claus house are looking for a new home this holiday season, when they visit Steamboat Springs. He won’t be able to set up his house on the lawn at the historic Routt County Courthouse anymore, after 20 years of doing so.

Routt County Commissioner Sonja Macys says the current policy doesn’t allow for the ongoing placement of items on county property. That includes the Santa House which stays on the lawn for six weeks. She says there is no record of formal approval from past county commissioners for it being there.

“As we move forward, our goal is to respect the diverse faiths, traditions, and perspectives within our community, while maintaining clear, transparent, and equitable guidelines for the use of public spaces.”

File photo.

Will there be a Christmas Miracle on Lincoln Ave.? Will Santa find a new spot to visit with kids and hear their Christmas wishes? Lisa Popovich with Main Street Steamboat hopes so.

“We’re looking for a new place for Santa’s house to reside during the holiday season so we can start a new tradition, and make it great for the kids in Steamboat.”

Popovich is open to ideas to a new home for Santa’s House, somewhere in downtown Steamboat Springs. She’s in talks with a few folks and taking suggestions.

Popovich is also unsure whether the Light Up The Night Celebration will happen this year, unless there is a new spot for the Santa House and it happens there.

Popovich says she plans be at Tuesday’s meeting of the Routt County Board of County Commissioners to speak at public comment at 9:30 a.m. about Santa’s House.

 

Full statement from Commissioner Macys:

“Given the growing number of requests to use county property, including for the display of various items, we are currently reviewing our display policies to ensure they are applied consistently, fairly, and in accordance with the county’s values. The current policy, originally adopted as early as 2003, prohibits the placement of items on county property. Historically, this has been interpreted to allow temporary displays or items only during officially scheduled events on the Historic Courthouse lawn, but not for ongoing or stand-alone displays. The placement of the Santa House on the lawn for six weeks is not consistent with this policy. Furthermore, there is no record of formal approval by the County Commissioners for its installation, and it is unclear how the structure came to be placed there. As we move forward, our goal is to respect the diverse faiths, traditions, and perspectives within our community, while maintaining clear, transparent, and equitable guidelines for the use of public spaces.”

Sonja Macys 

Chair, Board of County Commissioners