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Lyons candidates at forum emphasize wastewater, wildfire mitigation, housing and downtown vitality
Summary
At a Lyons candidate forum, 11 people seeking seats on the board of trustees gave one-minute answers outlining priorities: fix the wastewater plant and stormwater risks, expand wildfire mitigation, pursue affordable/workforce housing, and support downtown economic vitality and the arts.
A crowded candidate forum in Lyons brought 11 people seeking seats on the town board together to introduce themselves and outline their priorities for the community.
Candidates repeatedly framed infrastructure and environmental protection as top concerns. "We could never have recovered from the flood without, I believe it was $76 million of federal grants," Mark Brownley said, adding that federal and state funding pipelines are tightening and the town must prioritize carefully. Several candidates named the wastewater treatment plant and stormwater risks around Steamboat Valley as immediate priorities they would push to address.
Many of the candidates described a mix of big-picture and detail-oriented governing styles. One candidate said the board should "determine what the big rocks are" while relying on staff to execute and on commissions to provide technical input; others emphasized listening, outreach and using the town's comprehensive plan to guide decisions.
Affordable and workforce housing also featured prominently. Candidates tied economic vitality to housing availability, saying businesses need employees who can afford to live locally. Ideas floated included mixed-use development in the downtown core and creative financing strategies to support workforce housing.
Preserving Lyons' character while supporting economic development drew broad agreement. Several candidates said incentives and communications — not immediate mandates — are the right first step when dealing with historically significant properties.
The forum closed with quick-statement answers on governance items such as staggered four-year trustee terms (several candidates favored staggered terms; some said state law complicates a change) and a reminder that the candidates will be available afterward for informal conversations with residents.
The next formal step is election day; candidates invited voters to continue conversations about the town's priorities at upcoming meetings and neighborhood events.
