This week, Basalt Town Council was half-staffed for its pre-Thanksgiving meeting when the council discussed the latest construction on Midland Avenue as well as some additional construction on Two Rivers Road to repair a water line.
In lieu of Mayor David Knight, Councilor Ryan Slack acted as the chair for this week’s meeting, which was sparsely attended on account of the weather.
Without any comments from the public or council, the session began with a brief monthly update on the Midland Avenue Streetscape Project from Town Engineer Catherine Christoff and project representative Joe Farstad.
The construction team, led by contractor Stutsman Gerbaz, achieved a significant milestone earlier this month when the team completed its primary asphalt paving activities happening adjacent to the Ann Korologos Gallery. Currently, nearly all the pavement, curbstones and asphalt are in place in the area, and much of the team is working on preparatory work for future supplemental pavings, planters and more finishing details. According to the team, “substantial completion” is still on track for the end of 2024, as long as weather allows.
However, delivery of lighting units has been delayed multiple times and, now, new streetlights are not expected to be delivered until mid-February of 2025. Until then, six of Midland Avenue’s original streetlights will remain along the street as a temporary solution through the holiday season. Notably, this delay did not result in any adjustments to the budget, and the project’s contingency fund remains healthy at approximately $461,000 to cover any unforeseen difficulties.
Christoff remained at the table to present the night’s first council action item, which was to approve a contract with Stutsman Gerbaz to repair a water line along Two Rivers Road in front of the Traffic Clothing.
Just before a 24-hour water service shutdown along Midland Avenue last year, a critical valve broke in downtown Basalt’s water system, and a temporary fix was put in place so that the shutdown could continue as planned. However, due to the temporary fix, one of the fire hydrants downtown is still non-functional and some businesses are still on a temporary water service.
Due to their familiarity with refurbishing much of the area’s water systems as part of the streetscape project, Stutsman Gerbaz has applied to repair this valve, simplify the water system and install a new fire hydrant for a bid of approximately $130,000.
The contract was approved unanimously, and weather permitting, the construction will take place over a 2-3 week period in January.
More to do with Midland, the council also unanimously approved a minor subdivision of Alpine Bank’s property lines at the Midland Avenue right-of-way in order to enable more streetscape improvements.
On a final note, the council approved the expenditure of its Holy Cross Community Enhancement Fund for an energy monitoring program developed by the Community Office of Resource Efficiency (CORE).
$45,000 from the fund will be directed towards CORE to develop a “Building IQ” program designed to benchmark and track energy use for municipal, commercial and multi-family buildings. Over time, the program will benchmark energy usage and establish performance standards with the hope of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
All its business concluded, the council adjourned the meeting with happy Thanksgiving wishes to everyone.