Estes Park

Speakers question police station costs

October 29, 2026·Estes Park·Larimer County

From the Estes Park Town Board meeting of October 27, 2026

Several speakers discussed the proposed police station's cost, design and whether officers could afford to live in Estes Park.

One resident said a new facility was warranted but the town's proposal cost too much, citing Mead's $16.6 million project, which the resident said appeared to meet most of the town's needs for less than half the proposed cost. The resident proposed using savings for police pay or housing subsidies, saying that if $10 million could be saved, some of it could help officers live in town. The resident said almost all Estes Park officers did not live in town, many lived more than an hour away, and a new station alone would not improve their response to major emergencies, including at schools. The resident said low pay or housing subsidies were the main reason many officers could not afford to live in Estes Park.

The resident said officers' ability to afford living in Estes Park mattered more than larger offices, conference rooms or putting all auxiliary functions in one building. The resident said dispatch could operate in a secure, standalone, state-of-the-art building for about $4 to $5 million, while about 12 FTEs in other auxiliary functions did not need to be housed in the police station. The resident suggested keeping some functions in renovated Town Hall and eliminating the second floor, which had been described as a major cost increase, with a larger first-floor footprint if needed.

A resident called for more community input, creativity and common sense on the police-station issue. Another speaker agreed with that resident's comments.

More from this meeting

Estes Park Town Board, Oct. 27, 2026
Estes Park approves $3.55 million contract to build final Fall River Trail segment; Estes Park board rejects motion to deny Verizon 10-year lease; Estes Park board changes how rezoning requests are judged, 5-2; 8 consent items adopted.
Item 4 and Item 5Estes Park approves $3.55 million contract to build final Fall River Trail segment
A separate $114,500 agreement covers construction management and inspection. Bid records and unit costs were reviewed before the construction work was awarded.
Item 6Estes Park board rejects motion to deny Verizon 10-year lease
The existing tower site brings the town $23,805 a year; the proposal keeps a 15% rent increase at the five-year mark despite extending the lease term.
Item 1.AEstes Park board changes how rezoning requests are judged
The ordinance makes consistency with the future land-use plan one way for a request to qualify; requests that conflict with it may qualify based on changed conditions or an error. The board retains discretion to approve or deny.
Item 1Estes Park town audit comes back clean for 2025, board accepts it
The audit found no internal-control deficiencies or major adjustments, and the federal-program review had no findings. New accounting disclosure requirements are expected to be implemented next year.
Item 2Estes Park delays water-rate vote to Nov. 10 on proposed 15% yearly increases
The proposal would apply to all water rates as the town plans major system work, including replacing a storage tank and developing a new treatment plant. Staff plans to refine project costs and funding options in 2027.
Item 3Estes Park board takes up $740,276 budget increase, mostly offset by revenue
The amendment includes $192,000 for a visitor-center wildlife exhibit and anticipates a matching grant for a museum gallery. It also corrects an IT allocation and reduces water-fund spending.
Item 4Estes Park OKs $50,000 more for utility billing software project
The added authority is already covered by the existing project budget, with about $16,000 for a change order and $34,000 for unforeseen costs. It does not require a new appropriation amendment.