Archuleta County is planning to relocate its transfer station to a new site in Cloman Industrial Park, with the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approving $37,000 to continue the design of the new transfer station.
The BoCC voted unanimously during a regular meeting held on Dec. 17, 2024, to approve a bid received from Reynolds Ash + Associates (RAA) to perform the work.
According to the bid, “The project will consist of providing you with stamped architectural, structural and civil engineering drawings for a new recycling center for Archuleta County.”
Public Works Director Mike Torres briefed the BoCC on the matter earlier the same day during a work session.
He explained the county received two bids, one from RAA and one from Short Elliot Hendrickson (SEH).
“I am here this morning to discuss the continuation and design for the relocation of the transfer station,” Torres stated.
Torres indicated that the bid received from SEH was “significantly higher” than the bid received from RAA.
Commissioner Veronica Medina asked if both companies were asked to bid on the same scope of work, to which Torres explained that the same information was requested from both companies.
Torres added that SEH was providing “a little bit more” in terms of services offered and that it would be possible to remove certain line items from its bid, but that he gave both companies “the same scope of work and requested the same documentation from both of them.”
Torres indicated the bid received from SEH came in around $96,000.
During the work session, Torres explained that he took it upon himself to try and come up with a design that meets the county’s needs and is similar to other transfer stations around the country, noting that by doing so the work from the architect and engineer will be minimal.
“I would like to kind of keep it how it is so the architect and engineer will be doing minimal work,” he said.
He went on to explain the project will carry on in sections over the next couple of years, but that “this year we did want to move forward with the design.”
Torres indicated that in 2025 the plan is to prepare the ground for concrete and utility work, and, depending on funding, construction may also be able to start and carry over into 2026.
Commissioner Ronnie Maez asked if the design would be at the current transfer station location, with Torres indicating that the design will be for a new location on county-owned property in Cloman Park, “across from the Humane Society.”
According to the bid from RAA, “The building will be a 1,600-1,800 [square foot] steel structure featuring a small office. The site is approximately 28.75 acres.”
The bid also notes that the northwest corner of the property will be primarily used for recycling operations.
South Pagosa Boulevard
Also during the Dec. 17, 2024, meeting, the BoCC also unanimously approved a blanket purchase order with Davis Engineering Services to continue the design and engineering of South Pagosa Boulevard.
According to the Dec. 17 meeting agenda, “One mile of South Pagosa Boulevard will be reconstructed from the town limit to Cameron Place.”
The contract notes that design and engineering services shall not exceed $109,135.
Torres also briefed the BoCC on the matter during a work session earlier that day, at which he explained that the county will be performing a survey of the road valued at $20,635, which will be reimbursed to the county from Davis Engineering out of the total cost.
Torres explained that the $20,535 will come from the county’s 2024 budget.
He also indicated that design work for North Pagosa Boulevard was originally included in his schedule; however, Medina noted that it was removed from the 2025 budget.
“And South Pagosa’s in dire need,” Maez added, noting that the county performed hot mill work on South Pagosa Boulevard from Cameron Place to Meadows Drive in 2023.
Maez asked if South Pagosa Boulevard has ever been addressed in terms of a redesign, with Torres replying that he was unsure.
Torres went on to mention that Davis Engineering will be providing geotechnical work, fixing base issues and “addressing whatever needs.”
Maez added that there has been patchwork done on South Pagosa, but other than that, the “road hasn’t had anything.”
clayton@pagosasun.com
