Grand County election guide: Everything you need to know

FRASER — Fraser Board of Trustees candidates called for more housing for local workers and long-term water planning at a forum Thursday, Oct. 8. They differed over how quickly the town should pursue home rule and how clearly it had explained its capacity for growth.

Incumbents Lewis Gregory, Adam Cwiklin, Katie Soles and Ken Jensen and challenger Brian Roman are competing for four seats in the Nov. 3 election.

Ryan Wilson, executive director of Fraser Valley Community Media, moderated the forum, which began at 5 p.m. on KFFR and KWTR.

Water and growth

Roman, an excavation business owner and Winter Park ski patroller, said residents need clearer information about Fraser’s water rights and how future developments would obtain water.

“I’d like to know where we stand with our water,” Roman said.

Cwiklin, a former Fraser water and wastewater superintendent, said infiltration and pretreatment work was helping address wastewater capacity. He supported a regional review of treatment needs over the next 20 years, emphasizing sustainable supplies and protection of Fraser River water quality after diversions to the Front Range.

Jensen called for regional cooperation to finance treatment upgrades and acquire water rights. He said a surface-water treatment plant could cost up to $20 million, urged grant applications and warned that wells could run dry without stronger conservation by residents, businesses and visitors.

Gregory said he understood existing water rights to be sufficient for currently planned growth but urged early planning for future development and costly wastewater expansion.

Soles said town staff and outside professionals were studying Fraser’s wells and available water to guide long-term growth planning. She said existing water rights and development entitlements limited the town’s options, while climate change made supplies less reliable. Soles urged the town and state to consider adjusting water allocations to reflect reduced supplies. She said further decisions would be needed if water and sewer systems could not meet demand.

Housing for local workers

Candidates pointed to St. Louis Landing as a starting point and offered different approaches to expanding housing for local workers.

Soles supported long-term deed restrictions and developer incentives, including incentives for projects providing 20% deed-restricted units. She hoped the first building at St. Louis Landing would be occupied by year’s end. Gregory urged keeping rents as low as financially feasible, prioritizing local workers and assessing demand before planning future projects.

Roman said housing programs should help workers move from seasonal housing into homeownership and become permanent residents. He offered no specific solution but urged officials to examine existing programs and seek help beyond Fraser and Grand County.

Cwiklin called for public land, developer incentives, inclusionary zoning, accessory dwelling units and state and federal funding. He also suggested lots where residents could contribute labor and a manufactured-home or tiny-home park, with housing-needs assessments guiding projects. He questioned whether housing programs alone could close the gap between wages and living costs.

Jensen urged continued grant applications and said Fraser might need to consider fees on second homes and short-term rentals to help support workforce housing.

Home rule

Candidates weighed the benefits of a locally written charter and greater authority over town affairs against the costs of changing Fraser’s form of government.

Gregory supported home rule, saying greater control over town revenue could help fund local priorities. He said a transition in town management and other projects had made the summer an unsuitable time to move forward.

Cwiklin and Soles said they were leaning toward home rule but wanted more time and public information. Cwiklin said the earlier timeline had seemed rushed. Soles emphasized that voters would need to approve the change.

Roman remained undecided, saying Fraser needed to explain the specific benefits it hoped to achieve. Jensen said local authority and a charter reflecting community values were appealing but questioned whether those benefits would justify transition, administrative and legal costs.

Jensen also urged attention to how Fraser’s ordinances would fit with those elsewhere in the valley, saying inconsistent rules could create confusion. Soles said direct town collection of taxes could improve Fraser’s understanding of its revenue but also would  create an expense to manage.

Cooperation with Winter Park

Candidates also urged closer cooperation with Winter Park while protecting Fraser’s interests as regional development advances.

Jensen said Fraser’s role in providing housing and wastewater services should be accompanied by economic support from Winter Park and the ski resort. Gregory proposed resuming joint board meetings, ensuring equitable access to services and consolidating duplicate services where doing so would save money, citing police and building services as examples.

Cwiklin and Soles emphasized shared interests and the need to recognize Fraser’s contributions to housing and regional services. Soles said visitors staying in Fraser while using the ski area brought costs that required continued communication. Roman urged preserving Fraser’s character and to distinguish approved projects from proposals, including a possible Winter Park gondola.

In their closing statements, incumbents emphasized ongoing projects and cooperation. Gregory listed conservation, housing, child care, recreation, transit and wildfire mitigation among his priorities. Roman emphasized support for small businesses and representation for younger residents.

Cwiklin described a trustee’s role as examining development proposals, town projects and staff initiatives. He said differing opinions could improve a project and that board decisions should focus on the greatest benefit for the most people.

Soles emphasized the division of responsibilities between trustees and town staff. She said the board sets a vision and directs the manager, while the manager oversees how work gets done. She also urged residents to support local businesses, saying stronger businesses could help improve wages.

Jensen said growth should be carefully planned and coordinated, with recreation and the environment protected. Gregory identified completing St. Louis Landing and the child care facility, expanding Lions Pond Recreation Area, finishing transit and Amtrak projects, and securing a conservation easement for Cozens Meadow among the work he wanted to see through.

Fraser voters will elect four trustees: three to four-year terms and one to a two-year term. The three candidates receiving the most votes will serve four years; the fourth-place candidate will serve two.