A contractor has been selected for the intensive Paradise Village infrastructure and streets replacement project, set to begin this summer.
Redpoint Contracting of Denver submitted a bid for $2.3 million, roughly $753,000 over the engineer’s estimate. The city budgeted $1.5 million for the multiphase project, which includes replacing water lines as well as repaying streets and installing rollback curbs and gutters. The Cortez sanitation district is handling the replacement of the neighborhood’s sewer lines, as part of the project.
In order to cover the shortfall, the city is considering to cut funds from a few other projects originally slated for work this year, including $185,000 from the street improvements project, $50,000 from the storm drain improvement fund, and $10,000 from the downtown improvement fund. The remaining $200,000 will be covered from the city’s general fund, leaving the 2015 fund balance at $1.65 million.
Public works director Phil Johnson said making the cuts were difficult, but replacing the roughly 40-year-old infrastructure for the neighborhood should take precedence this year.
“This neighborhood has been basically untouched for a long time; this is overdue,” said Johnson.
Council members Bob Archibeque and Tom Butler voiced concerns about delaying the entry way project – an initiative undertaken by the volunteer-based Heart & Soul organization.
“A lot of volunteers put in a lot of work on these entry ways, and when they don’t see results ... in the schools it creates what we call apathy – you eventually don’t want to be involved,” said Archibeque.
City Manager Shane Hale noted that the entryway project requires property acquisition from private landowners. The city has sent letters to property owners expressing their interest in buying the land, but as of yet, has received few responses.
“It’s been slow-going,” he said.
New music school approved
The Cortez City Council also unanimously approved a new music school, located at 100 N. Piñon St.
Owner and local musician Simone Sanchez has plans to renovate the former gas station and catering business, which will include extensive soundproofing to ensure compliance with the city’s sound ordinance.
Tracie Hughes, of the city planning department, said the building met all land use requirements.
Mancos getting transmission tower
Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane is seeking a grant from the Department of Local Affairs to cover the costs of installing a new emergency transmission tower in Mancos.
“We’ve tried portable everything to service over there, but we can’t do that,” said Lane. “We’re trying to partner with everyone in the world to get the costs down; I’m not asking for money, just your good name for the grant.”