Whose financial legacy is truly at stake—Purcellville’s or Fraser’s?
Continuing to examine the claims made by former Mayor Kwasi Fraser, it is essential to differentiate between the statements he has presented and the realities behind them. Below, we delve deeper into several key assertions made regarding infrastructure, environmental initiatives, recreational projects, and public health efforts during Fraser’s tenure.
3. STATEMENT: Invested in Infrastructure and Business Growth: “We prioritized investments in road, water, and sewer infrastructure on 21st Street, enabling key businesses like Southern States, Bia Kitchen, Tree of Life Ministries, Another Turn Tack Shop, Monk’s BBQ, Catoctin Creek Distillery, and Nichols Hardware Store to invest millions in the community.”
IN REALITY: According to the Financial Department’s reports presented during the January 28, 2025 Town Council meeting, numerous Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) were significantly delayed during Fraser’s term, leading to substantial cost increases for each project. For instance, one water CIP project saw an increase of $400,000 over a two-year span. It was Fraser’s stated goal to avoid incurring new debt, resulting in the initiation of only those projects that could be completed using reserves or grants. Each year, the progress of CIP projects is documented in the town’s budget report.
The improvements for 21st Street were actually initiated by Mayor Lazaro’s Council following the 2003 Downtown Charette. Grants were secured to kickstart streetscape enhancements, ensuring the viability of Purcellville’s Historic Downtown, with significant contributions from Bruce Brownell, Terry Martin, and the town staff to complete the project.
Fraser’s Council frequently questioned these improvements, perceiving them as a means to promote The Vineyard Square project on 21st Street. Notably, no business growth occurred that had not already been approved prior to Fraser’s administration, with even approved projects like Panera Bread facing challenges. Additionally, transportation projects that received funding during Fraser’s term were obstructed from further progress. Planned initiatives aimed at easing traffic congestion and extending trails include the 690 Interchange, the Main and 32nd Street traffic signal, and the trail from Purcellville to Franklin Park, has yet to commence due to delays attributed to Fraser’s administration.
4. STATEMENT: Led in Environmental Innovation: “We planted a forest, establishing Virginia’s largest nutrient credit bank on municipal land, yielding over $900,000 in net revenue for the town and an 800% return on investment.”
IN REALITY: Fraser explored various “innovative solutions” for the Aberdeen property, considering options such as wedding venues, hop cultivation, and equestrian events before ultimately deciding on tree planting for nutrient credits. The time spent by staff, legal advisors, and consultants to evaluate these monetization ideas incurred considerable costs to the citizens; a recent FOIA request revealed that 53 staff hours were dedicated to assessing the feasibility of growing hemp on the property.
While Fraser claimed that the nutrient project yielded an 800% return on investment (ROI), he omitted the land cost from his calculations. Purcellville had paid approximately $2,175,000 for 189 acres, including a dilapidated home. If the land cost—around $1,000,000—had been factored in, the return on investment (ROI) would have shown a loss.
Former Town Manager Dave Merkarski pointed out during a public budget meeting that even if the nutrient credits were realized, the town would only receive a one-time payment of $1,000,000, which represents only one-third of the annual revenue required for Purcellville’s utility funds. The town needs over $3,000,000 in additional revenue each year for several years. Additionally, the town is obligated to maintain the 100,000 trees planted indefinitely, which means this land cannot be used for any other purposes.
5. STATEMENT: Supported the Construction of Adam’s Bike Park: “With the support of private funding spearheaded by Adam Caudill’s mother, we championed the construction of a space for recreation and community connection in Adam’s memory.”
IN REALITY: This memorial park holds a special place in the community and serves as a heartfelt tribute to Adam, inspiring a love for biking throughout the town. In his eagerness to back the project, Fraser initially suggested Historic Fireman’s Field as the location, believing that securing the necessary approvals would not be a problem. He assumed it would not violate the Virginia Historic Conservation Easement since it was not an Indian burial ground. This proposal was ultimately rejected due to the violation of the conservation easement on Fireman’s Field.
Fraser then pivoted to offer the land behind Haske Field, mistakenly assuming it was unused. Many young baseball players in the Little League know that this land is actively utilized for their games. Projects were often expedited without a clear understanding of the long-term commitments required by Purcellville.
6. STATEMENT: Pioneered Public Health Initiatives: “Collaborating with MIT and Harvard during COVID-19, we monitored community health using wastewater epidemiology, detecting virus spread in an innovative, cutting-edge way.”
IN REALITY: In an email dated April 22, 2020, Town Manager David Mekarski responded to Fraser’s COVID-19 news release, which touted a pilot program with a firm called BioBot to evaluate wastewater for tracking COVID-19. Mekarski alerted Fraser that the wastewater staff lacked proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to safely collect raw sewage for testing.
The email noted that the town planned to participate in the pilot project for at least 30 days, collecting two samples of raw sewage per week to be shipped to BioBot’s headquarters in Massachusetts. After staff expressed serious concerns about potential COVID-19 exposure during testing, the Mayor suggested hiring a private contractor for this task, which would cost approximately $2,540. Ultimately, this endeavor provided little to no benefit to the Town of Purcellville.
7. STATEMENT: Converted Blight into Innovation: We transformed a dilapidated town property into a community makerspace, teaching valuable skills like welding, robotics, and drone research. During the pandemic, local students even built 200 desks for remote learning, and volunteers crafted face shields for frontline workers.
IN REALITY: Purcellville entered into an agreement to lease the former Waste Water Treatment building to Makersmiths Inc. a 501(c) nonprofit organization. Most nonprofits serve and benefit the community in many ways and Makersmiths Inc. was no exception.
The agreement with Makersmiths Inc. included a reduced rent. Additionally, Purcellville took on the expense of installing a sewer connection for Makersmiths, which was a legitimate cost since it benefited town-owned property. However, when a little league nonprofit sought to extend water and sewer lines to their field, which is also situated on Town of Purcellville property, Mayor Fraser proposed charging them $50,000 for the work.
Continuing our examination of these statements, it becomes clear that the realities often tell a different story than the achievements proclaimed. The examination of these claims is crucial for understanding the true impact of leadership on the community. Stay tuned for further insights as we delve deeper into Fraser’s tenure and the implications of his decisions for Purcellville.
