Pueblo West board approves fire-station design work, awards trail and PRV contracts, and changes personnel policy

At its Nov. 10 meeting the Pueblo West Metropolitan District board voted on several contract awards and policy actions. Among the actions: staff received authorization to advance architectural design for a remodeled Fire Station 1; the board awarded a federal grant-funded Civic Center Trail Phase 1 contract to Shishler Incorporated; a separate award was approved for five pressure relief valve systems; the board approved changes to personnel policies and selected a site for the proposed indoor pool; and the board authorized legal counsel to file a supportive statement of opposition in Division 2 Water Court case 25CW3001.

Fire Station 1: After reviewing concept plans staff asked the board to approve RS&H to turn the chosen pre-engineered metal-building concept into contractual architectural designs. The motion to proceed with RS&H passed. The action instructs staff to commission the next-level design work but did not adopt a construction contract.

Civic Center Trail (IFB 2025-CP-2505): Parks Director Carol Cosby presented the award recommendation for a federally funded phase-1 trail project that will link Joe Martinez Drive into Civic Center Park and tie to playground, splash pad, pavilion, dog park and skate park. Cosby recommended awarding the IFB to Shishler Incorporated as the low bidder for $199,280.39; the board approved the resolution and contract award. "It is a federally funded grant. It is an award to Shishler Inc. for $199,280.39," Cosby said.

PRV installation (IFB 2025WA2308): Utilities staff recommended awarding the installation of five pressure relief valve systems to RJ Gleason Construction as the low bidder ($173,092) and adding a 10% contingency of $17,309.20 for a total authorization of $190,401.12; the board approved the award. Staff noted past work with the contractor and that the bid came in substantially under the engineer's budgeted amount.

Personnel policies: HR director Jessica Pankey presented edits to the personnel-policy packet. Directors debated a proposed unpaid time-off provision tied to FMLA and ultimately voted to remove the unpaid-time-off language (section 7.11). The board then approved the remainder of the consolidated personnel-policy changes.

Indoor pool site selection: The board voted to select Site 2 (Assembly and McCulloch) for further conceptual design work for the indoor aquatics center; staff will follow up with the architect on site-specific adjustments and a schedule for conceptual design.

Water court filing: Legal counsel asked for board authorization to intervene or file a supportive statement of opposition in case 25CW3001, involving a conditional water right held by the Town of Florence; the board authorized the law firm to file the supportive statement and to seek intervention if required.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda approved (motion carries). (SEG 292–332) - Motion to proceed with RS&H to develop Fire Station 1 architectural designs — outcome: approved. (SEG 3830–3906) - Resolution and IFB award IFB 2025-CP-2505 Civic Center Trail Phase 1 to Shishler Inc. — outcome: approved; amount $199,280.39; federally funded, no district match. (SEG 3916–3974) - IFB 2025WA2308 (install five PRV systems) awarded to RJ Gleason Construction — outcome: approved; bid $173,092 plus 10% contingency for total $190,401.12. (SEG 4239–4305) - Personnel policy changes approved after removing unpaid time-off section 7.11 — outcome: approved. (SEG 3540–3818) - Indoor pool site selection (Site 2 at Assembly & McCulloch) — outcome: approved. (SEG 4072–4082) - Authorization to file supportive statement of opposition/intervene in water court case 25CW3001 — outcome: approved. (SEG 4311–4385)

What it means: The approved awards move smaller capital projects and critical water-infrastructure work into procurement/contract phases, while personnel- and site-selection actions advance internal administrative projects. The board asked staff to return to the board with timelines, design concepts and any funding implications for future capital budgeting.