Winter Park – A plan to consolidate the towns of Winter Park and Fraser makes economic and practical sense, officials say, but the logistical battles over a new government will be overshadowed by a single emotional issue: the town name.
“If this is going to come to a vote, it’s probably going to come more to emotion and feeling than anything else,” said Winter Park Mayor Nick Teverbaugh at a joint meeting Tuesday night.
A task force has spent the past year evaluating the prospects of the annexation of one town by the other or creating an entirely new town, looking at everything from political representation to zoning and land use.
The neighboring Grand County towns already share municipal services such as police protection, building inspection and courts.
But if Winter Park annexed Fraser – it could not be done the other way around to maximize tax revenues – the combined town would have an extra $786,192 at its disposal.
“This is a real windfall of money, and it’s a large sum of money. And in my mind, I can’t understand why there aren’t more people in this community just knocking down the door, saying: ‘What’s taking you guys so long?”‘ said Winter Park Councilman Jimmy Lahrman.
Officials acknowledge residents take enormous pride in living in one community over the other, and selling the complex requirements of forming a new town may be more trouble than it’s worth.
Officials from both towns vowed to begin informational campaigns to show residents the costs and benefits of consolidation, and then to listen to the responses.
Staff writer Steve Lipsher can be reached at 970-513-9495 or slipsher@denverpost.com.
