Name? Katie Schwoerer (no age given)
What brought you to Basalt and what keeps you here? Basalt is my home because I enjoy the town’s historic, small-town character; the readily accessible recreational opportunities of the mountains, rivers and trails; and, the passionate, intelligent residents who care about preserving our exceptional town and valley.
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Have you ever been arrested? If so, why? No
Who is your personal hero and why? Wangari Maathai. As a poverty reduction and environmental conservation activist, she devoted her life to the greater good of the planet and its creatures. She was a Nobel Peace Prize winner for her successful approach to sustainable development that integrated democracy, the environment and women’s rights. Her actions were guided by present conditions with an eye to the future: “We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk!” She was a trailblazer and a global inspiration.
Why should you be elected to Basalt Town Council? I have always been guided by the greater good, to act with respect and without expectations that my decisions will generate a personal financial benefit. I am a fiscal conservative — it’s in my blood as a former banker and current finance director of a respected, successful nonprofit. My life revolves around budgets and prudent financial management. I will never place Basalt nor its citizens in a financially compromised situation.
If you could accomplish only one thing as a Basalt Town Council member, what would it be? I hope to create a more efficient, effective and inclusive public process. Most Basaltines want to know the issues facing their community, but the public process is too onerous, too inaccessible. A first step toward my goal of an inclusive process is the establishment of neighborhood caucuses where people can gather in small groups, ask questions in an informal setting and discuss applications before they enter the formal process. Caucuses allow citizens to have a say early in the public process before an application is fully formed.
What about the current Basalt Town Council that needs to change? When an elected official states in a public meeting during a critical discussion (the Willits’ subsidy deliberation) that he does not care what the electorate thinks of his voting, it’s time for a change. The condescending tone of several officials needs to change and we have the opportunity in this election to vote these men out of office and replace them with more open-minded, progressive citizens.
Basalt is grappling with several issues. A big one is how to go about the Pan and Fork property. As a Basalt Town Council member, what would you advocate for? I support an active river park that features families, kayakers, the arts, concerts and recreation. I support limited development closer to the Rocky Mountain Institute portion of the park. I support a park that generates sustainable economic activity for the downtown. I support complete investigation of the numbers: the sunk costs, the appraised and market value, the intrinsic value and the economic contribution of a vibrant river park. I support understanding what can actually be constructed on the parcel. For example, based on conversations with town staff, underground parking is a fantasy because it’s cost prohibitive. I am a fiscal conservative and I will never place Basalt nor its citizens in a financially compromised situation. Remember, I spearheaded the defeat of the midvalley recreation center that would have cost taxpayers millions upon millions, forever.
Some people say Basalt is split over how to manage the Pan and Fork. Others say most people want the same thing, it’s just some of the details are different. What do you think? Basalt’s motto is “the confluence of rivers, recreation and culture.” This motto can now manifest itself into a reality with smart development of the Pan and Fork parcel. I think the majority of Basalt is very excited about this possibility. Over the past several months, the commercial square footage on the parcel has been reduced from 150,000 to 55,000. I think this is progress and a reflection of the majority’s vision of the parcel. I think the split is based on the financial feasibility of owning the parcel and the possible tax implications. I understand that a combination of open space contributions, Great Outdoors Colorado, sale of a portion of the parcel to a developer and our 1 percent open space sales tax Basalt can achieve a vibrant park without increased taxation, a unique and sustainable economic engine for downtown businesses and acceptable development on the parcel.
Old Town is still struggling to fill storefronts. How much does town government play a role in changing that? To start, the council must unequivocally deny any developer’s request for subsidies that further invigorate the Willits area while leaving downtown holding the proverbially bag. Councilors Stevens and Ross voted to subsidize the Willits development. I find that unconscionable. It would have established a dangerous precedent for other local municipalities and placed downtown at an even greater competitive disadvantage. We also need to address the fact that we are online shoppers, so there needs to be creativity in how we fill the storefronts. Traditional retail may not be the answer.