In Estes, we have many challenging issues, varied viewpoints, opinions, and priorities.
There are those who say fire mitigation and evacuation planning are tops. Others might think we need to move faster on stormwater management projects, since nature doesn’t necessarily observe 500-year flood statistics. We have good people in town who tag waste management and recycling as the key topic. Some find water conservation and management the biggest issue.
Workforce housing is top-of-the-line for others. Rezoning and development are big with many residents, with an emphasis on “keeping the Estes character.” A lot of folks are concerned about the impact of short-term rentals and lodging fees, the use of 6E funds, and the 40 percent of houses in town that are mostly vacant.
There’s a contingent that is primarily focused on civil communication and how to reach consensus across broadly diverse and even polarized opinions.
Many consider our impact on the environment and on our resources to be the most important. A few are concerned that Estes will turn into Disneyland, Vail, or Breck. Some focus on artistic output, and others see whimsical twists and turns that make Estes creative and fun in new ways.
And then there’s our schools, our medical care, our sanitation districts, and all the rest.
Lots of topics. And I hear them all, I hear them all.
I also hear many constructive ideas for solutions. Every day, I read information, receive input, and gather facts about several of these. Most of the above-named topics are in my orbit at least once a week.
I think my brain shifts gears at least 111 times a day. Keep the mind fit! It drives everything else.
My method of attending to the multitude of issues and concerns has developed over a lifetime of work, play, management, and education. As mayor, I don’t make unilateral decisions on hiring/firing, spending money, or signing contracts. However, the office of the mayor does have a remarkable ability to nudge, motivate, connect, affect, and steer the course of so many things.
I’ve helped many individuals with items specific to them. I’ve worked with the town board to amend ordinances that could improve our businesses’ ability to succeed. There are many policy items that the trustees have brought forth, first to study sessions, and often later to actions, to tune the town.
I try to impart forward momentum on a specific issue at the right time and in the right amount, whether by connecting resources to help progress, encouraging action on that topic, or otherwise finding a way to take the next step.
It’s not exactly herding cats. It does take a lot of attention. I see it more like a complex console of buttons, pedals, and levers, and you must know or intuitively feel when to press on each.
I’m opportunistic about nudging when a door opens. If there is a topic in my orbit on which I would like to see progress, and then suddenly, in some venue with the right people present, that topic comes up, I try to grasp that chance to make a move.
In this way, I see fair progress on many items and great progress on some. And then there are others that don’t move at the speed I’d like to see them move. For the latter, I bide my time, but when the right time arrives, I’ll consider creative actions to try to break up the logjam and get things flowing again.
The town’s 2027 strategic planning process is in gear and will be followed by the budgeting process to match the agreed-upon strategic plan. In my two years in office (my anniversary was April 23), many things have reached successful resolution, but other topics have not moved at quite the pace I’d like to see. I’ll be voicing my thoughts on those during our strategic and budget sessions.
Of course, I’m just one voice on a seven-voice board. It takes more than me to tango. We have our new 2026–2028 board seated this week: two new members and two re-elected incumbents. It is a good mix. I’m looking forward to the good works of the next two years.
The new board members will be coming up to speed on a hundred topics over the next weeks and months. They’ve already been through an intense orientation period. They’re bringing their smarts to the table. So, the multitude of matters over the next two years will have the advantage of some fresh ideas to combine with and spice up the incumbents’ experience.
Democracy in action. Ever onward.