Features, Meeker

Town of Meeker awards bid for water system improvements

MEEKER | With more than $500,000 in grant funds on the table, Meeker’s board of trustees voted 3-2—with trustee Dan Conrado absent—to award the contract for the water supply improvement project to the lowest bidder Tuesday. Michael Yost, vice president of Olsson Associates, appeared before the board to respond to their questions and to introduce himself as the town’s new primary contact for the engineering firm.
Olsson had recommended that the board accept the lowest bid for this phase of the project, which includes upgrades and improvements to the electrical system and the computerized monitoring system for the town’s water supply. Some trustees expressed concerns about the way the bids were presented and wanted the option to choose the local bidder even though that bid was higher.
There were three responsive bidders for two bid packages.
Yost responded to questions he had received.
“Did any or all of the bidders ‘load’ one package vs the other? Our opinion is no, they did not. We had a prebid meeting to answer their questions, which we answered in a formal addendum. Bidders were told each bid package had to stand on its own,” Yost said.
Bidders were required to present bid security. “We checked all the boxes,” Yost said. Bidders were required to provide references, statements of qualifications, and two of three presented a schedule. “We at Olsson believe you got three competitive bids by three qualified contractors.”
Yost said questions about the bids being set at a stipulated price is a “common practice,” and pointed out that “the apparent low bids came very close to Olsson’s estimate. The bids came in as we expected they should.”
Trustee Travis Day was still uncomfortable with the way the bids were divided between two different contractors, and how the money was split between the two packages.
“I’m still not comfortable with it, but it’s up to the rest of the board,” he said.
“We have absolutely no reason not to recommend awarding the bid to the lowest bidder, frankly,” Yost replied. “In all humility, this is not our first rodeo. We’re very comfortable handling this and protecting the interests of the Town of Meeker.”
Trustee Wendy Gutierrez said she preferred a more balanced approach, and “liked the possibility of awarding to a local bidder if at all possible.”
Mayor Regas Halandras responded, “Do we save the taxpayers—do they want to spend $18-20,000 more right off the bat to keep it local? In my mind we should be bidding as per Olsson’s recommendation.”
In the end, the board agreed to award the bid to R&A Enterprises for $340,948 for the electrical upgrades and to Ridge Electric for replacement of the SCADA system for $150,603.
The board approved the 2018 budget and set the mill levy at a full 9.781 mills, choosing not to take the optional property tax reduction this year. Property tax revenue is projected at $208,000.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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