Sterling commissioners table proposed $24,000 street evaluation after cost concerns

City Manager Jan Hutcheson asked the Sterling Board of Commissioners on May 18 to approve a formal street condition evaluation to guide future resurfacing and the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan. Hutcheson said the city has roughly 10.5 miles of paved streets and 7.4 miles of unpaved roads and that a formal, third-party evaluation would yield a "more objective, data-driven basis for scheduling street maintenance projects in the future."

Hutcheson outlined three proposals: JEO Consulting Group proposed an AI-powered evaluation at a $30,000 base cost with an optional ArcGIS Online mapping package for $7,450 (including a $700 annual subscription); Kirkham Michael proposed a field-observation PASER-style evaluation for $24,000; and SEH offered a Vialytics-based option ranging from $4,300 (if the city contracts directly with Vialytics) to $26,300 if SEH staff are included. Hutcheson recommended the Kirkham Michael proposal at $24,000.

Commissioners said they appreciated the proposals but questioned whether the price of an outside study was justified given the Public Works Department's institutional knowledge. Commissioner Richard L. Jones Jr. and others asked whether staff could produce a comparable prioritization list, and commissioners raised concerns about which streets would be included, including higher-traffic truck-route dirt roads. Hutcheson said he would research those scope questions and report back.

After that discussion, Commissioner Jones moved to table approval of an agreement for the street condition evaluation; Commissioner Bob Boltz seconded. The motion carried 4-0.

Next steps: Hutcheson will gather additional information about scope and alternatives and return the item to a future meeting for further consideration.