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Town awards Chicago Ranch 5K trail contract and adds funding; trail to open this fall
Summary
The town accepted bids and awarded a contract to construct a looped 5K trail at Chicago Ranch, choosing a compacted road‑base option (a middle “option C”) that balances durability and cost; trustees approved a one‑time CIP budget amendment to accept donor funding and proceed.
Buena Vista trustees authorized contracts July 22 to build a 5K loop trail on the Chicago Ranch parcel and approved a budget amendment to accept and spend a donor’s $138,000 pledge to fund construction and trailhead work.
Why it matters: The Chicago Ranch trail is the first step in a larger master plan for recreation connectivity on the annexed parcel and will provide a year‑round trail that can serve recreational runners, the high‑school cross‑country team and the public.
Public works and recreation staff described a formal RFP process that attracted seven proposals from qualified regional trail contractors. Staff recommended a middle‑ground construction method (referred to in the packet as “option C”) — a shallower excavation and three inches of class‑6 road base — because soil conditions on the site make a natural soft surface unsuitable for long‑term durability. The recommended option improves compaction, drainage and year‑round usability while preserving funds for additional trail connections, a small trailhead/parking area and fence work where the trail crosses to the rodeo grounds.
Staff also recommended Western Sky Dynamics (and related subcontractor Troy Baker) as the awardee; staff said the bidder’s timeline met the project target and the middle option would leave contingency funds for small additional connectivity work. The town had already received the donor’s $138,000 and staff recommended adjusting the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to record the revenue and expense. Trustees approved a motion to amend the CIP to add the revenue and expense and then voted to award the contract and associated resolution.
Schedule: Staff said the contractor proposed completion in late summer/early fall (option C schedule cited early September completion on some elements), and the town expects the trail to be available for public use after final compaction and surface work in the autumn.
Ending: Trustees asked staff to include a maintenance plan and periodic compaction/weed‑control steps in the item’s next administrative report. The town will coordinate trailhead signage and the high school and other user groups for events.
