The Fremont County Commissioners awarded a pair of bids for construction of four salt-sand sheds this fall in preparation for snowy and icy roads this winter. Key to the project is a $200,000 Colorado Mineral Impact grant the county Road & Bridge Department secured this summer. The Commissioners awarded a low bid of $250,170 to Patch Construction for concrete work to build ten-foot high side walls for all four sheds. Cover-All was the successful bidder for the shelter covers on the four sheds with a low bid of $39,528.
The $289,698 project cost is still $54,000 more than the cash the county had available for the project. In addition to the $200,000 grant the county has a $25,000 contribution from the Cripple Creek-Victor Gold Mine and had $10,000 in county matching funds. Because of the need to finish all four sheds in time for winter road maintenance the Commissioners decided the $54,000 balance will be paid from the Road and Bridge reserve fund. The Commissioners said they felt it is important that the project not be delayed so concrete work can be completed before winter sets in. The Commissioners say they also hope that getting the salt-sand sheds constructed will not only keep the salt from leaching out of the sand into the soil but also produce cost savings by allowing bulk purchases in off season months when prices may be lower.
The $289,698 project cost is still $54,000 more than the cash the county had available for the project. In addition to the $200,000 grant the county has a $25,000 contribution from the Cripple Creek-Victor Gold Mine and had $10,000 in county matching funds. Because of the need to finish all four sheds in time for winter road maintenance the Commissioners decided the $54,000 balance will be paid from the Road and Bridge reserve fund. The Commissioners said they felt it is important that the project not be delayed so concrete work can be completed before winter sets in. The Commissioners say they also hope that getting the salt-sand sheds constructed will not only keep the salt from leaching out of the sand into the soil but also produce cost savings by allowing bulk purchases in off season months when prices may be lower.
The Commissioners also approved the renewal of an agreement with the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments to continue participation in the regional recycling program. Cost of participating in the recycling program in 2008 will be $27,761, money that the county collects from surcharges on trash dumped at local transfer stations and Twin Landfill. Finance Officer Dana Angel said that amount is down $7,600 from the 2007 cost because of revenues collected from sales of recycled materials.
The Commissioners approved on second and final reading an ordinance adopting the 2003 version of the Colorado Model Traffic Code. Among several changes, the code puts in place new surcharges collected with traffic fines for speeding and other traffic violations. Most of a new $12 surcharge is directed towards state mandated programs while only $2 of the surcharge is kept in Fremont County for administration costs.
In other business the Commissioners:
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Reappointed Brian Rupp to the Fremont County Building Code Board of Appeals;
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Reappointed Andy Neinas to the Fremont County Tourism Council for a three year term retroactive to January 1, 2007, when his term originally ended;
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Approved annual agreements for the Colorado Works Program, the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (USDA Food Commodities) with the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments.