During its Jan. 20 regular meeting, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved a contract for services with Concrete Connection to provide snow removal services at Stevens Field Airport, along with two airport hangar assignment leases.
Airport Manager Chris Torres briefed the BoCC on the items during a work session held earlier that day, explaining that the county only received one bid for snow removal services for the 2024-2025 season.
Torres mentioned that the contractor was unable to commit to a three-year contract, with the contractor expressing concerns about having enough employees going forward.
He added that the contract has come up again to allow the county to give Concrete Connection the first right of refusal going forward.
“So, that’s what the snow contract was all about,” Torres said, explaining the county is trying to retain the contractor for as long as possible.
Torres also commented that the budget for the snow removal is “high,” but that it may not all be used depending on how much it snows over the winter season.
In response to a question from Commissioner Warren Brown, Torres explained that the contractor is paid an hourly rate of $75 per person per snow event, with no minimum charge incorporated.
Commissioner Veronica Medina noted the last bill for snow removal services at the airport was around $1,800, as Torres noted the contractor uses a five-person crew.
Torres also explained that the county owns specialized snow removal equipment for the airport that is used by the contractor.
“We do have specialized equipment for the airport,” he said, noting that if the contractor has to bring in his own equipment, then the rate goes up to $150 per hour per person.
In response to a question from Commissioner John ranson, Torres explained that the county began purchasing snow removal equipment for the airport in 2019, with the last piece of equipment purchased three years ago being a dump truck with a 24-foot plow auctioned off by Denver International Airport.
“And that’s where most of our equipment comes from,” Torres said.
He noted that the county only had to pay approximately $2,500 for the dump truck with the cost being a 90 percent/10 percent split with the state.
Brown described that as “very affordable.”
Torres then provided information on revenue the county receives from hangar leases at the airport, noting this year revenues will total at $104,488.80 just from hangar leases.
Torres also noted that property tax totals for 2025 are going to be $179,585.33, clarifying that those numbers are only for hangars at the airport field.
Torres explained the county leases ground space per square foot to individuals to then build a hangar on.
He indicated that the county charges around 68 to 70 cents per square foot, and that price goes up annually.
Torres then explained how lease assumptions work on the hangars,noting that the county offers 25-year renewable leases, but that people can sell their hangars and transfer the lease.
Medina then asked how much the county receives on hangar leases, with Torres referring to the $104,488.80 figure previously noted.
“That’s what we receive for just hangar leases?” Medina asked, noting that with 79 hangars on the airport, field that comes out to about $1,300 per hangar per year.
Medina acknowledged that it is expensive to build a hangar, but suggested the county might want to review its pricing before Torres noted that pricing is on par with the industry standard.
Torres also clarified that the county does not build any hangars, and only leases the land for them.
“We’re right there in the ballpark,” Torres said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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