Commission directs staff to pursue softball-field option for BMX track after engineers flag utility conflicts

The Aztec City Commission asked staff to prepare a formal agreement for siting a proposed BMX track at the softball field after staff said engineers identified significant water, sewer and irrigation infrastructure in the previously considered north parking-lot site.

Jerick, a city staff member who spoke for the engineering review team, said conversations with engineers indicate the "recommendation from them is likely going to be the softball field" because the parking-lot location contains an irrigation vault, water main and sewer line that would need relocation. "Those certainly could be moved, but that's going to be a time investment and a money investment," he said.

Staff and several commissioners contrasted timelines and costs: full replacement of utilities at the parking-lot site could push construction out about a year, while repairs or using the softball field would allow for a much quicker start. One commissioner said the softball field has only minor sprinkler heads and no major sewer or water mains and is "kind of ready to go." Commissioners also noted frustration that earlier discussions had suggested no utility conflicts for the parking-lot site.

Staff reported they had contacted a smaller contracting firm (DTF, Kirtland) that could schedule the engineering work sooner; the firm expected to put the project on its schedule within one to two weeks. Commissioners asked staff to return the engineers' final report, cost estimates and a draft agreement identifying the softball-field option at the next meeting so the commission can vote on a final location.

No formal vote on the BMX site was taken that night because the item was not a business item; the commission instead provided direction to staff to prepare the documents needed for a substantive decision at the next meeting.