During a regular meeting held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Tuesday, Oct. 7, the board voted unanimously to rescind a bid from Anderson Hallas Architects for the engineering and design services of a new county administration building.
The matter was discussed earlier that day at a work session with all three county commissioners expressing concerns over the original request for proposal (RFP) sent out for the project and wanting to wait and revisit the project at a later date.
During the work session, Interim County Manager Mike Torres explained that at a previous BoCC meeting, the board had voted to move forward with the bid from Anderson Hallas, but that after reaching out to ensure that the county’s RFP guidelines were met, Torres explained the RFP “is incomplete.”
He explained the RFP is “great,” but that “what they provided us does not match” what was in the county’s RFP.
“Therefore, our proposal is incomplete with Anderson Hallas,” he added.
Torres noted that two of the original bids received for the project came in at $298,824 and $414,499, and the third was $1,291,155.
He noted that the two lower bids only sent the first stage of the design and engineering process, “before we even get to what the building is gonna look like.”
Torres also noted that the county does not really have the money to move forward” with the higher bid that would provide details on the actual building cost.
“I think we really need to reconsider our decisions and what we want to do moving forward,” he said, explaining the BoCC could vote at its meeting to put the RFP back out, hold off, or even to purchase the Wyndham building that some of the county’s offices recently moved into and entered into a two-year lease on.
Commissioner Warren Brown commented that he found it “troubling” that local folks had not been notified of the RFP, recalling a “very specific conversation” with the former county manager about making sure local folks were aware.
“Obviously that was not followed up on,” Brown added.
Brown also mentioned that he did not have the opportunity to view the RFP before it was put out, “which is also troubling.”
He mentioned the county needs to be careful with its expenses at the moment, “but it seems to me like this has just been the perfect storm of not getting anything done.”
Brown commented that he was “irritated” by the situation, explaining the BoCC has an obligation to make sure the county can move forward.
“In my mind, we’re back at square one, if not negative one,” he said.
Brown expressed the need for the county to have a suitable administration building while commenting on the building that some of the electeds are currently occupying.
“And we know temporary moves into 30-year permanent in Archuleta County, and I think that’s the wrong way to go,” he said, explaining the Wyndham building is “too small to move into” and that the county is still paying to rent additional storage spaces.
Brown commented that the Wyndham building is not a solution for the long-term, but that it may be the county’s only option at the moment.
Brown explained that the county has been in a two-year-long discussion on the matter, “and yet were no further along.”
Commissioner John Ranson commented that he was “really disappointed” in what transpired, noting that he originally voted against moving forward with Anderson Hallas bid.
Ranson commented that the county has had to “weed the garden out,” noting this situation as another example of that.
Ranson also thanked Torres for his work and role as interim county manager, commenting that he has provided the county with a good light.
“I fault the previous folks,” Ranson said, noting that he did not see the original RFP either.
Ranson also commented that the county has made positive changes with “good folks” coming in.
“I’m waiting,” he said of the decision on moving forward with a new building, adding that it is “not a no, but not now.”
Ranson explained that with multiple entities in the community in need of funding, “there’s just a lot of money out there that we need to come with in this county to move forward.”
Ranson also responded to Brown’s comment about not wanting this to be an issue much further down the road, stating, “as you said, that’s Archuleta County.”
Commissioner Veronica Medina stated, “I too was disappointed when I heard what happened,” noting she did not see the original RFP either.
Medina also expressed concerns about the Wyndham building, noting “it is small” and does not entirely fit the county’s needs.
“We do need to be aware of where we’re at as far as financial responsibility,” she said, noting that things like the federal government shutdown and the state government operating in the “red” might affect funds coming into the county.
Medina suggested possibly waiting until a new permanent county manager is hired to revisit the situation.
She commented that it is “not a prime time to do this” while also expressing she wants to ensure that locals are aware of the RFP.
Medina explained that she had originally voted in favor of moving forward, but, with new information coming about on the matter, decided to reconsider her original stance.
During the meeting that afternoon, Ranson emphasized how it is “not a no, but not now” in regard to the decision on the RFP, commenting that he was comfortable waiting and rescinding the bid from Anderson Hallas.
Brown motion to rescind the bid, which was seconded by Ranson and unanimously approved.
clayton@pagosasun.com
