Over the past eight months, the Authority and its consultants, R.W.Beck, have
laid the groundwork for the procurement of new recycling and composting
facilities and for countywide recycling education services. The first piece of
the procurement process is an RFQ (request for qualifications) for a new
recycling facility to be released in March. Such recycling facilities are more
often referred to as material recovery facilities or MRFs. Companies will be
asked to submit details of their qualifications and experience in the area of
MRF design, construction, start-up, acceptance testing, operation, and public
education. A short list will be developed from the respondents and these
companies will be invited to respond to the Request For Proposal (RFP) that
will be released in July. Short listed companies will propose costs for a
publicly owned facility and site that is privately operated, but vendors will
also be able to submit alternate bids which may include private ownership of
the facility and/or site. In line with this approach the Authority has recently
asked R.W. Beck, in conjunction with Rocky Mountain Consultants, to begin a
solicitation process to identify sites that may be suitable for the MRF. On
March 20th a 6:30 p.m. public meeting will be held to explain the solicitation
process and advise potential site offerers of the criteria to be used in site
selection.
R.W. Beck has also recently presented a draft composting feasibility study to
the Authority. This report includes a cost comparison between the development
of a new in-county composting facility and contracting for the processing of
yard trimmings at an existing out-of-county facility. Currently, the Authority
is also in the process of hiring an Executive Director to administer its
programs. For more information, contact Solid Waste Coordinator Hilary Collins at 441-4598.
The Commissioners approved several open space purchases in February, including
approximately 120 acres of land north of Dillon Road between 120th Street and
124th Street. The land is very visible from State Highway 287 because the land
rises almost 100 feet heading east on Dillon Road to an elevation of 5365,
offering a tremendous view of the Continental Divide. The entire property was
designated open space in 1978 as part of the Louisville/Lafayette/Buffer. The
County has purchased other land in the area and the purchases of this property
brings the acreage preserved as part of this buffer to nearly 2,000.
The County also agreed to purchase a conservation easement for approximately
184 acres east of State Highway 287 and west of East County Line road, between
Niwot Road and Oxford Road. This property is prime agricultural land and is
adjacent to the approved Wambsganss open space acquisition and the large
agricultural outlots of several non-urban planned unit developments in the
area.
The County also agreed to a joint purchase with the City of Lafayette of the
Serrano property, which is approximately 25 acres between Flagg Drive and South
Boulder Road. Coal Creek runs through the southeast portion of the property
and this area is designated as a prehistoric travel route for people. In
addition, the entire Serrano property is designated as part of the
Louisville/Lafayette/Broomfield buffer and portions of it are designated as
significant agricultural land. For more information, call Parks and Open Space
Director Carolyn Holmberg at 441-3950.
1996 Non-profit Contracts:
With Boulder County Legal Services ($27,300);
With Boulder County AIDS Project ($21,224);
With Rocky Mountain Rescue Group ($13,000);
With Boulder Day Nursery ($19,300);
With Parenting Place ($30,319);
With St. Vrain Community Council ($3,150);
With Family Extension ($30,000);
With The Service Exchange of Boulder County ($5,000);
With Big Sisters of Colorado ($6,300);
With I Have A Dream Foundation ($2,500).
Architects Division Contracts:
With Contract Carpet Distributors for the Environmental Health Division
remodel ($5,190).
Human Resources Division Contracts:
With Human Performance, Inc. for Wellness Program ($25,000);
With Sloans Lake Managed Care, Inc. ($70,000).
Information Services Division Bid Award:
For Olicom Token Ring Cards to Rocky Mountain Networking ($6,650).
Transportation Department Bid Awards:
For 75th Street Project (Baseline to Arapahoe) to Western Mobile/Boulder Inc.
($673,284);
For Niwot Area Improvement Project to National Construction Company
($287,836);
For Concrete Box Culverts, to Carder Concrete Products ($16,256).
Road Maintenance Division Bid Award:
For Steel Cutting Edges to Wagner Equipment Company ($20,605).
