During its regular meeting held on Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) voted unanimously to accept a subaward agreement with the state for funds to purchase a new gasoline-powered bus for the county’s Transportation Department.
Transportation Coordinator Andrew Mylroie previously presented the matter to the BoCC during a work session held on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
See the article “Commissioners Discuss possible bus grant, service to Durango” from the Oct. 1 issue of The SUN for more information.
According to the Oct. 6 meeting agenda, the county will be awarded $204,528 with a local match of $51,132, for a total project amount of $255,660.
Other grants
During a work session held by the BoCC on Oct. 6, Mylroie spoke to the board about two more grants from the Colorado Department of Transportation “that have been in the works for quite a while.”
He noted that both grants were originally applied for in 2023, “and kind of got stuck in the backlog.”
Mylroie first explained a grant that would provide the county with two replacement propane-powered buses.
He explained that the two buses the county would be replacing are 2017 models, one with 255,000 miles and one with 95,000 miles.
He indicated that one of those buses is currently used as a backup bus by the department and the other bus model is no longer in production.
“So, parts are very hard to find,” he said.
Mylroie then explained the second grant is for facilities maintenance equipment. This grant would be for the purchase and installation of one 40,000-pound drive-through four-post lift, and one mechanical workstation for servicing vehicles, he explained.
Mylroie also clarified that the BoCC has already approved one other propane-powered bus, which he has yet to order.
He added that having two more propane-powered buses would “make our fleet a little more uniform.”
clayton@pagosasun.com
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