Chris Pelletier, Nederland Public Works Manager. Nederland Public Works has had another very busy month as is typical for the department this time of year. Between operations in the field, construction oversight, and day to day demands along with a reduced staff, Public Works is stretched thin. Nonetheless, the Department has had several accomplishments this month.

Staff has continued its road stabilizing methods this month on the Sixth Street intersection and Big Springs Drive. Staff focuses this technique on areas of high traffic which provides for the best use of the Department’s time and addresses areas that normally require constant maintenance. Staff anticipates that through our improved methods of stabilizing the road that it will remain intact until next summer and we hope longer as we improve our techniques.

Staff has been pursuing the installation of a bus shelter on the Peak to Peak Hwy near the Big Springs Drive intersection for over a year. Because the area needed for the shelter encroached on the neighboring property, negotiations were needed to come to an agreement for permission to use the area. Nederland was finally granted permission earlier this year and construction has begun. We are expecting completion of the shelter installation next month.

Electric at the Performance Space is moving along at a steady pace. Staff has secured permitting and contracted an electrician to perform the work. The utility shed that will house the components is nearly complete.

Staff updated the efforts in regards to mitigating noxious weeds in last month’s staff report. Progress continues in the downtown area in collaboration with the DDA and local Ecologist, Rea Orthner.

The Town’s parks have been busy during the pandemic as folks are trying to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. The demand for these facilities is heavy. Staff recently installed signs at Chipeta informing the public about moose in the area. These signs were provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in response to recent increased moose activity.

Staff has also started the kick-off meeting with JVA to begin the Master Infrastructure Plan update and the utility Rate Study. The first step in this process is gathering data on consumption and demand of the two treatment facilities, billing information, infrastructure data and historical info, and existing facility and infrastructure equipment. Having this data will help guide priorities for future planning and funding that will become part of the MIP. Flow data in the distribution system is also being analyzed as part of a Water Model to understand bottlenecks in the system and prepare for future upsizing and upgrades to the distribution system. This is necessary for planning when considering future growth.

One example of distribution needs occurred this month at the BCHA affordable housing construction project. One of the criteria of approving the project was to upgrade the nearby fire hydrants to accommodate the need for increased fire flow. One of the hydrants replaced was one of the oldest in the system from 1963. Aside from the fact that the hydrant was of an insufficient configuration for fire flow the age of the hydrant presents a snapshot of the potential condition of the distribution system as a whole.

Staff did some striping to define the parking spaces that were added on First Street to make-up for the ones lost for outdoor dining at the Covered Wagon. 

Soil testing at the old Town Shop site progressed one more step this month with more samples taken to understand the extent of contamination and define the size area to be mitigated. Working with DS Environmental Consulting, Staff was able to pothole areas around the shop site and help define the area to be cleaned up. DS Environmental Consulting will provide test results and recommendations for next steps in the near future. 

Staff worked to remove grit from the headworks this month. As previously reported grit removal has become an increasing priority with the new Biosolids facility. Grit damages equipment causing costly repairs. Staff was initially looking for an interim solution to create a settling basin prior to the waste treatment process. Staff hired JVA for an analysis of the grit to give recommendations on sizing and detention times. Upon further review it was realized that this could be a phased approach and avoid doing work that isn’t necessary. Staff will request funds to be reallocated from the I&I approved CIP portion of the 2020 Budget to accomplish the first phase of a grit removal system this year and install a tank that will act as a settling basin. Staff will budget for a second phase of the grit removal system in 2021 and utilize the existing settling basin to install the remaining equipment needed.

(Originally published in the July 22, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)