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Pueblo West reports LS‑1 sewer spill cleanup costs approaching $144,000; seeks $203,500 for trail repairs
Summary
District staff told the board the LS‑1 sanitary sewer spill cleanup has cost about $144,000 so far and asked the board to approve a wastewater-fund budget amendment of $203,500 to repair Coyote Trail damaged during cleanup.
PUEBLO WEST, Colo. — Pueblo West Metro District staff told the board on Friday that cleanup from a recent lift‑station 1 (LS‑1) sanitary spill has generated roughly $144,000 in landfill and emergency response costs so far, and staff requested a budget amendment of $203,500 from the wastewater fund to repair Coyote Trail sections damaged during cleanup.
District Project Development Manager Sherry Reid said contaminated soil removal and landfill acceptance have been the major cost drivers and that the $203,500 estimate covers full‑section asphalt trail repair plus a 10% contingency.
The request follows emergency work that, according to Reid, included surface removal at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s direction and heavy truck movements across the trail to haul contaminated material. Reid said about $60,000 in initial emergency funds and roughly $71,000 for contaminated soil removal had already been spent; total landfill-related costs are “just under $144,000” at the time of the report. She said the trail repair estimate includes asphalt replacement and necessary base work.
Board members asked whether insurance might reimburse some costs; Reid said the district is investigating insurance options and will try to have an update by the next meeting. Director Carol Cosby, parks and recreation director, said the damaged trail sections are large and that the work will replace full trail segments rather than patchwork repairs.
Reid said the repairs have not been put out to bid because funding approval is required before bidding. She also said photos and a vicinity map will be added to the Monday board packet so directors and the public can see the damaged areas and proposed repairs.
Board members asked whether other trails on utility easements might face similar risks from heavy equipment movement and whether different materials or routing should be considered; staff said the district will evaluate and include that information in the bid packet. Reid said heavy equipment use on trails is a primary cause of the damage because the trail sections were not built to carry heavy trucks.
Ending: The board will consider the wastewater‑fund budget amendment for Coyote Trail repairs at its next public meeting; staff will add photos, site maps, and any insurance‑recovery update to the packet ahead of that meeting.
