Pitkin County Commissioner Q&A: Incumbent Francie Jacober

Incumbent Pitkin County Commissioner Francie Jacober and challenger Tony Kronberg are vying to become one of the county’s five commissioners. The Aspen Times asked each candidate where they stand on key district issues ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Jacober, finishing her first term, hopes to serve a second term.

The Aspen Times: Which airport-related ballot question will you vote on? Why?

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Francie Jacober: I already voted and my vote was yes for 1C and no for 200. Pitkin County cannot afford to replace the runway, build a new terminal, upgrade our avionics capabilities, raise our environmental standards, and add solar power to the airport without FAA funding. I have a fiduciary responsibility to the residents of Pitkin County and attempting to disrespect the FAA and ignore their safety policies is a clear path to cutting off further federal funding for the airfield or terminal and would be the height of irresponsibility. Modern aircraft – after the Embraer 175 – will have wider wingspans, providing greater efficiency and less noise. It’s time for the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport to modernize, improve aircraft safety and reduce its carbon footprint.

AT: Will you vote? “Yes“ or “No“ about a property tax to fund affordable housing? How do you think affordable housing should be approached in the Valley?

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FD: I voted yes on 1A to have the mill levy generate $8 million a year. This will give Pitkin County the opportunity to partner with other organizations that want to improve the housing situation for our employees. People working in Aspen and elsewhere in the valley are forced to move further and further from their places of work due to high real estate and rental costs. Even in Glenwood, a person wanting to buy a home needs $6,000 to $7,000 a month to afford a mortgage (the average home price in Glenwood is now $900,000). Using the recommended 30% of income spent on mortgage or rent, that works out to $280,000 per year. How far can people move to work in Aspen and still afford a home? The average rent in Carbondale is $4,000 per month. Clearly, if we want to stabilize our workforce and improve the quality of life for our constituents, we must continually take steps to improve housing conditions and reduce commute times. Housing should ideally be located near a transit zone and in an area with existing infrastructure and a stable supply of water.

AT: How will you work to balance the area’s natural beauty with infrastructure projects or improvements such as cell towers?

FD: I was the only one to vote against the BOCC in response to SkiCo’s request to add 11 cell towers on Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk Mountain and the Highlands. These mountains have an excellent safety record and outstanding ski patrols, and I believe the main purpose of the towers is to improve the customer experience, not save lives. The environmental costs associated with installing these towers are significant, and while SkiCo has extensive experience restoring post-construction landscapes, I believe our obsession with “improving our lives” through constant infrastructure and development is misguided and compromises the beauty of this valley.

AT: What solution would you propose for entering Aspen, especially considering escape routes in the event of a wildfire?

FJ: While it’s hard to imagine turning open space into roads and traffic, I’m leaning toward the revised Preferred Alternative. Jacobs Engineering predicted five-hour traffic delays over three years if the Castle Creek Bridge was rebuilt without building an alternative bridge. Any commuter who has been stuck in traffic at Buttermilk station knows that a five-hour delay is unacceptable and will jeopardize the stability of our workforce. Obviously, a city needs more than one exit point in case of an emergency such as a forest fire. However, I am open to hearing more information as the Aspen City Council continues to survey public opinion and initiate an environmental impact study. Additionally, I intend to explore a holistic approach to the Aspen entrance without focusing solely on the bridge. The impacts of the airport, AABC and the new affordable housing project at the sawmill must be considered when developing plans to improve efficiency and reduce travel times. I hope that Snowmass, Aspen and Pitkin County can move forward in exploring new ideas and a global approach to our traffic and evacuation problems.

AT: Pitkin County has unanimously expressed support for the Highway Safety Improvement Program grant application for the Colorado Highway 82 projects at Lazy Glen and Smith Way. What other safety features do you think could be used on the highway?

F.D.: The most important thing is fewer cars on the roads. Traveling together or traveling by bus. RFTA is the most successful rural transportation system in the United States. It runs every 10 minutes during morning and afternoon rush hours and significantly reduces travel time. In addition, drivers need to take some responsibility for hazardous conditions. The speed at which many, if not most, drivers drive has gotten out of control. The difference for a driver exiting Smith Hill Way and colliding with an oncoming vehicle traveling at 50mph compared to 70mph is astronomical. If you want to reduce your travel time, stay 20 to 30 mph over the speed limit and take the bus.

Regan Mertz can be reached at 970-429-9153 or [email protected].