There are times when I think that the most urgent issue facing Estes Park is not a new development code, not rezoning reform, not workforce housing, not electric vehicles, not a new post office, or an additional produce store.
At those times, I consider upgrading our water system and replacing our aging water plants a top priority. We can’t last long without pure, safe water.
Of course, the Town of Estes Park’s Water Department is exceptional in its dedication and skills in managing our two plants, including all the requisite testing and more. The expertise of Director Jason Fredericks and his water crew allows us to continue to use these aging systems to provide the high-quality water to which we are accustomed, for whatever purposes we need it.
So, you can feel safe and secure in your water usage — while recognizing the need for urgent upgrades.
Our utilities department presented its master plan for the next few decades at the June 23 town board meeting, and the board approved it. Many of the current water system components, including tanks and pipes and, of course, the water plants, were built many decades ago and are rapidly approaching the end of their operational lifespans. The water experts stressed the urgency of moving forward.
Given the need for a new and redundant water plant, even at current costs, the known replacements, repairs, and remediation exceed $100 million.
There will be grants and other funding opportunities from various levels of government. However, there will most assuredly be an impact on rates. The utilities staff will continue to conduct rate studies to determine how much outside funding and water rate increases will be needed to implement the plan. There will be two public hearings, along with further study and discussion, before we have the full story.
It’s possible that the town will consider some multi-year rate “smoothing,” where increases are spread over several years to avoid a very large percentage increase in a single year.
Urgency, yes. Rate increases, yes. We must have water. I have heard that we only use a small amount, 12 or 13 percent, of what pours into the Estes Valley.
The remainder (and anything reclaimed by our sanitation districts) flows down the river for downstream uses in electricity generation and domestic and business needs.
I’ll be done with this term as mayor in 2028, and we won’t have a new water plant by then. As an elected official, you’re not necessarily in this position long enough to see the fruits of all the projects you approve and support. You need to help set things up so that momentum carries on after you’re gone.
Like the flowing river, I’ll likely be way downstream by the time Estes has a new water plant. Still, I want everyone to understand the high importance — and urgency — so we can all understand where the additional costs come from. Only we can make this happen.
In the meantime, we must address Estes’s many other needs. And it’s not just the town addressing these.
The sanitation districts must stay up to date on their systems. The bigger system, the Upper Thompson Sanitation District, has plans that seem to stand a fair chance of getting there, even at a cost in the same neighborhood as our water repairs and upgrades.
The Estes Park School District will likely repurpose or replace the middle school, as it is the oldest of the three school buildings.
The hospital has a long way to go to fully accomplish all the tasks from its UCHealth acquisition; such transitions typically take a couple of years to be fully settled. I’ve had consistently excellent health care from UCHealth over many years and am confident that excellent medical care is at the center of their efforts, even as things evolve and change.
The library district has already begun its major remodel, improving the building in many ways to enhance efficiency, safety, and learning.
The town will create a new safety facility, including the new police department, to replace antiquated and inefficient quarters.
And road repairs, a new fire chief, trimming trees, building out broadband, and keeping electricity healthy — yes, we have plenty happening.
All of the above needs good water to keep flowing and keep us and our environment healthy. Let’s make these water management upgrades happen; it will take all of us to support these improvements that will keep Estes strong for many more decades.
Yes we need good water in our Town. Perhaps $100 million is a bit excessive, but the fact of the matter is that Gary is correct. It’s a bit hard to understand how everything needs to be upgraded and expanded when our population growth is (and has been for years) relatively flat, but we do need clean water and proper sanitation. However, Gary then starts listing other items to wastefully spend money on. For example, building a new police station (and jail and command center??) on the outskirts of Town. A new building will not enhance police protection! Paying our officers better could help and may allow officers to actually live here. A new police station will only waste money that could otherwise be used to help make our Town more affordable. Another example in his list is a replaced or repurposed middle school. This is another waste of money that should be used to pay teachers better (so they can live here) and to improve school resources (books, computers, food, etc). A replaced middle school will do little to improve the education of our children. Let’s stop with these consultant-driven, money wasting projects and focus on our struggling local businesses and our local working population. Let’s work to make Estes Park more affordable!