Beav’ voters approve money to fix roads
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Beaver Creek voters Tuesday gave their metro district power to use surplus bond money for street improvements.
Voters also elected incumbent Steve Friedman and newcomer John Forstmann to the district’s board of directors.
Fifty seven voters – 40 of whom mailed in their ballots – voted in the election. There are 157 people eligible to vote in metro district elections.
By a 50-4 vote, voters allowed the district’s directors to repair roads using some of the surplus money from a $4 million bond measure approved by voters in 1998. The bond was issued for the purpose of building a new maintenance and public works facility, which hasn’t yet been built but which the district says it can now do for less money.
Dr. Gary Cage, who was among the 17 voters who showed up at the polls Tuesday, said he voted in favor of spending the money on the roads.
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“I can see the roads need a little upkeep. You can see a couple spots that need to be repaired,” said Cage, 70, who has lived in Beaver Creek for eight years.
The metro board also plans to use some of the bond proceeds for the new maintenance facility, said Larry Grafel, general manager of the metro district. Friedman, the re-elected incumbent, also endorsed the road repairs.
“It was the right thing to do,” said Friedman, who will serve his second term on the board. “We certainly are going to spend the money on what the voters approved.”
Also with resounding approval, voters authorized the metro district to enter into multiple-year contracts for vehicle maintenance and fire protection. The district contracts with the Eagle River Fire Protection District for fire safety and the town of Avon for vehicle maintenance.
Voters approved vehicle maintenance contracts that will not exceed 50 years and fire protection contracts that will not exceed 10 years. The district currently reviews contracts on an annual basis.
Veronica Whitney can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 454 or at vwhitney@vaildaily.com.
Beav’ ballots
Question to use 1998 bond surplus to repair roads:
Yes: 50
No: 4
Metro district board (2 seats)
Steve Friedman: 45 votes
John Forstmann: 33 votes
Michael Bowen: 26 votes
