Archuleta County Public Works Director Mike Torres approached the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) during a work session held on Oct. 1, proposing the county purchase an office trailer to be put in at the county’s landfill on County Road 500.
Torres explained that there are currently no restroom facilities for employees to use other than portable toilets, mentioning the county spends approximately $3,500 per month to have those serviced.
Torres proposed the county purchase an office trailer that has restroom facilities, office space and a kitchenette area.
“Right now, as you guys know, they have basically a shed that we have converted into somewhat of an … office space,” Torres said.
He indicated that the current space is often dirty and dysfunctional.
“I’d like to get them an office space,” Torres said, mentioning a clean and organized space will make it easier to locate and provide documents when needed.
Torres explained that the department originally budgeted $100,000 this year for a new pole barn building to be put in at the landfill.
“However, I think this is more of an essential need than a pole barn,” Torres said.
He mentioned the trailer will cost approximately $74,000, and that the county would purchase the trailer outright, and not lease it.
Torres noted the trailer will have one restroom, an office space and a kitchenette area.
Torres also mentioned that the restroom will have a cistern and a vault toilet, which will cost approximately $10,000.
He explained that setting of the foundation, plumbing and trenching utilities will be performed by the county.
“I think we need to take care of our employees down there who are having to work in harsh conditions,” Torres said, “give some kind of benefit down there.”
Road and Bridge Manager Eric McRae confirmed that the Public Works Department can perform the work needed to install the office trailer, which will help keep the costs down.
Later that day, during the regular meeting held by the BoCC, it voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a 10-foot-by-44-foot office trailer in the amount of $73,716, to be placed at the county’s landfill station.
New equipment
During the Oct. 1 meeting, the BoCC also voted unanimously to approve the purchase of two pieces of equipment for the Road and Bridge Department.
The two pieces of equipment include a Cat 306 Excavator in the amount of $105,600 and a hydrovac truck in the amount of $625,000.
McRae briefed the BoCC on the two requests during the work session held earlier in the day.
He explained that the department has been struggling to cover ground in cleaning up ditches and maintaining drainage systems across the county.
He explained the county has been renting a 306 excavator for two months, at a cost estimated around $7,000.
“We’ve been struggling to send it back because we can’t stop using it,” he said.
County Manager Jack Harper indicated that the cost to rent the excavator is listed at $5,500 per month.
McRae explained that the county’s only excavator it owns weighs about 40,000 pounds and that a 306 excavator weighs closer to 4,000 pounds.
He explained that the 306 excavator allows the county to broaden its service area.
“We’re struggling to keep up with our ditches and culverts,” McRae said, noting the 306 excavator has rubber tracks, making it easier to use on roads without causing damage.
The other item approved by the BoCC for purchase is a new hydrovac truck, which is “geared towards fixing and maintaining our drainage systems,” McRae said.
He explained during the work session that his proposal is for the county to enter a lease-purchase agreement for the hydrovac truck, paying $140,000 a year for five years, totaling at $625,000.
McRae also explained that the county contracted a company this summer to excavate culverts with a hydrovac truck, indicating that the purchase order was submitted for $30,000 and 20 culverts were maintained over a three-week period.
McRae mentioned that the county was also able to demo the truck and was able to clean three small-diameter culverts with a county crew in one day.
“We believe we can manage five or six a day on average,” he added.
McRae explained that the hydrovac truck has a wide range of uses, and can help crews locate and avoid utility lines when digging trenches.
He also explained that the hydrovac truck allows crews to pump and push water in one spot, instead of filling a tank and having to haul it off.
“So, hydrovacs system is another item we can’t seem to live without,” he said.
Commissioner Warren Brown questioned if the item is within the department’s budget.
McRae and Torres both responded that it is and that they had met with the county’s finance director to confirm.
Harper explained that the county will take possession of the truck immediately, and that payments won’t start until January 2025.
McRae explained the county will be purchasing a demo unit, and that he feels this is the best option for the county, given that quotes on having a unit built are running about a year out.
McRae mentioned that the department is looking into exactly how many culverts there are within the county, estimating there are about 500, suggesting that more than 200 of the culverts are 100 percent plugged.
He noted there are more than 76 culverts on County Road 500 alone.
Commissioner Ronnie Maez mentioned those estimates do not include private driveway culverts, which are the responsibility of the property owners.
“We’re trying to spread the word about that,” McRae added.
He mentioned that approximately 50 percent of the complaints and calls received by the department are in regard to water on roadways.
“It’s the biggest problem we have with deteriorating roads,” McRae said, mentioning heavy rains and flooding that occurred in the area over the spring and summer. “It’s pretty evident that if we don’t manage our culverts and drainage systems, we can’t build new roads overtop of ‘em.”
Additional milling
The BoCC also unanimously approved the spending of $55,395.50 for additional milling performed on County Road 200 and County Road 175.
McRae explained that the Road and Bridge Department was able to budget for two additional roads in its chip seal project.
“Because we chose to do some extra roads, it costs us a little more to do some extra milling,” he said.
Payouts
During the Oct. 1 BoCC meeting, the board also voted unanimously to approve two payments outside of its consent agenda — one for the Light Plant Road construction project and one for work at the new transit facility.
Torres explained at the work session earlier in the day that pay app three for the Light Plant Road project includes a credit of $92,000, coming from the materials itself.
He noted that the whole road is approximately one-16th of an inch less in depth than what was bid out.
The pay app was approved for the amount of $429,967.15, and it was noted there will be one more pay app for the project.
The other pay app approved at the Oct. 1 budget for work done at the transit facility was in the amount of $311,032.85.
During the meeting, Commissioner Veronica Medina asked if the funds were coming from a grant or within the county’s budget.
Torres explained that the pay app would come from the county, but that the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will reimburse the county.
“But, we have had issues with CDOT reimbursing,” he said, noting other counties in the area have experienced the same issue.
Torres mentioned that he is working with CDOT and other individuals to make sure the county gets reimbursed and that “this is all just part of the basic work” and not a change order.
clayton@pagosasun.com
