During a work session held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Tuesday, Jan. 13, the board heard from Airport Manager Chris Torres in regard to the upcoming runway repaving project at Stevens Field Airport.
Torres explained that he was presenting the “best estimate of what this project is gonna cost,” and that the design phase of the project will occur in 2026, while the construction phase will occur in 2027.
Torres noted that the design phase includes boring approximately 80 holes along the runway to determine what level of work needs to be done, noting that at least four spots need a complete reconstruction.
Torres also explained that exact costs won’t be known until the county receives bids for the construction phase, but noted that right now there is an estimated $4 million “shortfall.”
Torres mentioned that the county has been in communication with Congressman Jeff Hurd getting information on how to possibly get more funding for the project.
“We’re trying to find other routes to find more funding for this,” he said.
Torres described the repaving as a “big project,” noting that it shouldn’t have to be redone for at least 20 years after completion.
County Manager Longinos Gonzalez asked for an explanation on the “matching” aspect of the project, with Torres explaining that, right now, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would cover 95 percent of the project, while the county and the state would each provide a 2.5 percent match.
He also explained that the FAA is currently reviewing its matching percentages, and there is a possibility that it will change it from 95 percent down to 90 percent, requiring a 5 percent match from both the state and the county.
“The FAA is looking at it right now,” Torres said.
Commissioner Warren Brown commented that, according to the information provided to him, with a 2.5 percent match, the cost to the county for the project would be $376,543 for the construction phase.
Brown also noted that if the FAA changes its percentages, the cost to the county would go up to just over $1 million.
“We won’t know final numbers until we start getting bids in,” Torres commented.
Commissioner John Ranson expressed frustration with the situation, stating, “I know nothing … I know absolutely nothing about this.”
He mentioned that he has heard about the project from constituents and friends who utilize the airport.
“So, I would look for better information if you’re gonna ask me for any kind of a vote. It’s just not right to bring stuff like that to us if we don’t have the information,” Ranson said.
Ranson commented that there may have been some communication with the previous BoCC chair, Commissioner Veronica Medina, but expressed that this project needs to be done “professionally.”
“I’m not gonna sign things if I don’t know the facts behind it,” he added, asking who is paying for the engineer that the BoCC is being asked to sign for.
Torres explained the engineer design is part of the project, so it would be split between the county, state and FAA.
Brown asked if the county had budgeted for that expense, with Torres confirming that the cost is in the 2026 county budget.
Ranson explained that he was the one who asked for the matter to be put on the work session agenda, stating, “I am gonna demand better information.”
He added, “We need to know and the public needs to know what the heck’s going on.”
He compared the matter to the county’s administration building situation.
Medina commented that there have been conversations about the project to get it to this point, but noted that it has not been on the top of the BoCC’s priority list, with other events such as historic floods and multiple fire events over the past year taking priority.
Medina also stated that while she was chair of the BoCC, she made sure to share any information she received with her fellow commissioners by asking either the county attorney or county manager to relay information.
Medina mentioned that with this year’s budget and financial crunch, “I think all of our senses are a little heightened.”
Gonzalez explained that he wants to make sure early on that people who utilize the airport are prepared for the project and are informed about the closure during the construction phase and how long it will last.
“Our estimation right now is 90 to 120 days,” Torres explained, reiterating that it depends on final bids.
Torres also noted that a partial closure would not be an option.
Gonzalez also clarified that if the FAA were to go to a 5 percent match for local entities, the county would actually pay more due to a “cap.”
Brown explained that he received the contract for the design phase last week and had it sent out to his fellow commissioners.
Torres commented that the contract is for the design phase, indicating that the sooner the BoCC could get it signed, the better.
Cloman Park strategy
During the same work session, the BoCC later discussed strategic development goals for county-owned property located on Cloman Boulevard.
Brown explained that he had a walk-through with the owner of the former county courthouse, Ronnie Urbanczyk, who inquired about what the “county would like to see” on Cloman Boulevard.
“I think he was specifically referring to the property that he owns, and the county has a share in that,” Brown said.
Brown explained that it sounded to him that Urbanczyk is trying to make a plan based upon what the county thinks it needs out there.
Brown explained that Urbanczyk brought up the possibilities of housing, light industrial or hangars.
Medina commented that a constituent is in the process of applying for a grant to bring three-phase power “to where it needs to be” for others to use as well.
“I really think more light industrial, having that available would be huge since that is the county’s only industrial park,” she said, adding that it is not the right spot for more housing.
Medina also commented that there “may be some misunderstandings” in regard to what the county is expecting to get out of that property.
Ranson commented that recently the discussion of the county’s portion of that property being bought came up, but indicated that he’d rather hold on to the land.
Ranson also agreed with Medina in that it is not the right spot for more housing.
“I’m pretty sure the airport folks aren’t gonna like that,” he said, adding that light industrial “makes sense.”
Brown also agreed that it is not the right spot for housing, explaining that would cause a lot of complaints about air traffic.
Brown expressed that the county will likely have more of a need for light industrial space as it continues to grow.
“Especially with the installation of three-phase, I think this is just opening the door to welcome businesses to come into that area,” he said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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