Oak Creek Candidates Debate 2% Tax and Water Leaks

Steamboat Springs —The most expensive piece of infrastructure Oak Creek is about to buy isn’t a pipe, a road, or a building. It’s a habit. Specifically, the habit of throwing away 78.5% of the water that leaves the treatment plant. To hear the candidates tell it, the town isn’t just thirsty; it’s leaking money so fast that the question is whether a 2% sales tax is a cure or a complication.

The town hosted a mayoral candidate forum last Tuesday, Sept. 22, giving neighbors a rare chance to hear directly from incumbent Mayor Melissa Dobbins and challenger Alvin Powell. David Bonfiglio, owner of Bonfiglio Drug, moderated the 1.5-hour session. With only two candidates, the atmosphere was informal, lacking the rigid time limits typical of larger debates. Instead, the conversation flowed through questions submitted in advance by the public.

Dobbins opened by framing her two-and-a-half years as a period of restructuring. She cited grant acquisitions and a harder push on code enforcement. But her proudest recent win was a $161,000 award from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This funds 550 bear-proof trash containers — 96 gallons each — for every resident, free of charge. It’s a tangible fix for a nuisance that plagues the valley.

On security, Dobbins noted that after dissolving the local police force, the town signed a temporary contract with the Routt County Sheriff’s Office. Starting Jan. 1, that service expands to a 24-hour officer stationed in Oak Creek, with broader service offerings.

Powell, who has lived in Oak Creek with his wife since 2020, entered the race after seeing years of uncontested elections. “There’s no reason to do better. So I signed up,” he said. His background is in IT, where he solves problems rather than legislates. He argues that sustainable, large-scale law enforcement resources matter more than the pride of having a local chief.

His primary focus is infrastructure. The math holds up: with nearly 80% water loss, utility rates are poised to spike. The proposed 2% municipal sales tax aims to offset these costs. Some locals worry this adds to an already high cost of living, particularly regarding grocery items.

Powell sees his role as a troubleshooter. “Understanding the problem and finding the solution to it is what I hope to accomplish,” he said. For now, the town waits to see if the new year brings a permanent sheriff’s presence and a clearer path toward fixing the leaks in its pipes, and its budget.