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Taos County approves forest-thinning, community-center and sidewalk contracts as commissioners discuss local contractor access
Summary
The Taos County Commission unanimously approved multiple construction and service contracts May 5, including a Good Neighbor Agreement thinning project to reduce hazardous fuels and several renovation and infrastructure contracts; commissioners pressed staff on ways to increase local contractor participation and noted bonding and state procurement constraints.
Taos County commissioners on May 5 approved a package of contracts covering wildfire fuel reduction, community center renovations and sidewalk upgrades, while several members urged steps to help local contractors compete for government work.
The most prominent award was contract TCC 2026-17, a forestry-thinning project presented by county staff JR Getzoff. The single contract covers three project areas: about 98 acres on Pueblo Ridge, roughly 256 acres across Rio Trampas/Guccia, and creation of a fire-line near Solomon Springs. Staff said the work is part of the county’s Good Neighbor Agreement with the Carson National Forest and is intended to reduce hazardous fuels and prepare areas for prescribed fire. Commissioners voted to approve the contract unanimously.
Commissioners also approved TCC 2026-18, a design-build renovation for the Talpa Community Center that includes window replacement, new roofing, ADA-compliant doors and related repairs. During discussion, several members pressed staff and the contractor on opportunities for local subcontractors. County staff and the facilities representative explained that state price agreements and required performance/payment bonding for projects above statutory thresholds limit the county’s ability to split projects into smaller bids and that many local firms lack the bonding capacity for larger public contracts. Staff described efforts to use local subcontractors where possible and to provide outreach to help businesses qualify for larger work.
A separate contract to remove and replace sidewalks at the Taos County Administrative Judicial Complex and to install a Nelson snow-melt system was approved after staff explained the request followed an administrative lapse in a prior contract term and would complete remaining work under about $200,000 in additional contract value. Commissioners approved an amendment to TCC2020-A1 to add septic, HVAC, natural gas and parking work at the Penasco Community Center after staff said additional grant funds were available; the county reported a certificate of occupancy is in place and the amendment will fund remaining improvements.
Commissioners framed the approvals as addressing public-safety and accessibility priorities while also flagging economic-development concerns for county staff to pursue. “We need to keep local contractors in mind,” one commissioner said during the Talpa Center discussion; county staff agreed to share information on procurement coaching and business resources.
What’s next: The contracts were approved on unanimous votes and staff will begin scheduling work under the timelines described in contract exhibits.
