Rico awards $269,250 contract to replace water line under Dolores River

The Rico Board of Trustees approved a construction contract with Lewis Excavation Inc. for the Dolores River waterline replacement project in an amount not to exceed $269,250.

The project covers replacement of the water service line beneath the Dolores River between Piedmont Street and North River Street and includes installing ductile pipe to replace older materials and a new fire hydrant on River Street. Staff told trustees the upgrade should increase the system's lifespan and will make future repairs simpler.

Trustees discussed contract duration after the contractor's bonding agency requested a longer window. Staff recommended extending the contract completion time to 90 days to ease bonding conditions and to accommodate potential monsoon flows; the motion approved that extension and asked counsel to incorporate the changes. Chauncey noted easement progress: existing easements cover the Cummings and PSO properties, the Kellys provided a written commitment to record a new easement if alignment requires it, and staff said the Army Corps has accepted the packet of documents related to the river crossing.

Construction is expected to start within one to two weeks, with an approximately three-week active work period at the crossing. During the tie-in staff plan to disinfect the line per standard procedure (24 hours) and maintain temporary water service from storage tanks; CDOT permitting is required for work in the utility right-of-way above grade. The board authorized the town's account manager to execute the agreement after contract language is finalized.