County deals with honest contractor

by Bill Knowles
TRINIDAD — Citing an inability to provide gravel at the specifications required by the Las Animas County Road and Bridge Department, Brendt Tamburelli, the owner of Tamrock, stood before the Las Animas County Commission during the regular meeting July 21 and asked to back out of a contract.  He said he would be glad to pay the difference between his bid and the next highest bid for the Gulnare Road project.
“The moisture content of the gravel is too high and the sifters arenʼt accepting that.  Also the gravel that I have on hand is starting to get overrun with weeds and that is not good.  Road and Bridge canʼt use gravel when there are roots in it,”  Tamburelli said.
The Tamrock bid was for $5.99 a ton, $74,875 for 12,500 tons of gravel, the lowest bid for the road base.  The next highest bid was from Leone Ready Mix Concrete at $6.23 a ton, $77,875 for the gravel, a $3,000 difference.
In a special meeting at 1:30 pm, the county commission voted 3-0 to terminate the contract with Tamrock.  In a separate action they voted 3-0 to award the contract to Leone Sand and Gravel.
The commissioners also voted 3-0 to accept a contract with Alta Valley Fuels.  Alta, the lowest bidder for the contract, will provide fuel for the road and bridge department at $2.323 per gallon for 8,000 gallons of fuel for a total cost of $18,584.
The project at the justice center received its third extension.  On a 3-0 vote the commissioners extended the completion date 21 days to August 7.  Previous extensions were for June 15 and July 11.
On a 3-0 vote, the commission granted the Shopping Bag in Weston a liquor license.
The Kiwanis Club hopes to be holding a demolition derby at the fair grounds arena September 26. The annual fundraising event will host several categories for entrants.  The pitch was given during public comment time.  The commission didnʼt take action at the time on the request.
The owner of the Middle Fork Resort in Stonewall approached the county commissioners requesting they help him get a burn permit for a campfire.  He said tourists using his resort wanted to roast marshmallows and hotdogs.  After being refused a permit from the Stonewall Fire Protection District Chief, he approached the commissioners.
Las Animas County Sheriff James Casias also acting Las Animas County Fire Marshall, told the commission he had surveyed the countyʼs fire chiefs.  “None of them wanted the stage one fire ban lifted.”  However the area of the county in the foothills has received considerably more rain than the area east of I-25.  “What is needed is permission from the local fire chief and a burn permit can be issued for a small fire in a safe burn area,” Sheriff Casias said.
The county commissioners adjourned the meeting and entered executive session at 10:01 am.