By James Howald
In June, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board met to hear a request from John Kuosman, a water practice leader with Merrick and Co. who also serves as the Loop’s project planning and workflow manager, to award a contract for right-of-way acquisition services to Western States Land Services LLC. Board President Jessie Shaffer presented invoices from the previous month.
An agenda item to accept a secondary director from the Cherokee Metropolitan District, currently represented on the Loop board by Amy Lathen, was tabled until the next meeting. The board also held an executive session after which no action was taken.
Easement acquisition advances
Kuosman told the board that he had received responses from four companies to his solicitation for a contractor to help with the acquisition of easements needed by the Loop project. Of the four, Kuosman recommended Western States Land Services LLC. He said Western States would provide:
- Planning and decision making, estimated at $10,000.
- A preliminary assessment of easements needed, including utility easements, estimated at $7,500.
- Recommendations for the cost of each easement, estimated at $5,000.
- Purchase of the easements, estimated at $325,000.
- Landowner coordination, estimated at $25,000.
- Post-construction service, estimated at $15,000.
Kuosman asked the board to authorize him to work with Spencer Fane LLC, the Loop’s legal advisors, on an agreement with Western States. The board voted unanimously to authorize Kuosman to negotiate on its behalf.
Invoices
In his financial report, Shaffer mentioned five invoices that had arrived in the last month:
- Fromm and Co. for $920.
- JVA Inc. for 35,158.
- Kimley Horn for $4,140.
- Spencer Fane LLC for $5,923
- The American Co. for $32,586.
The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.
Executive session
The meeting ended with an executive session to receive legal advice from the Loop’s attorney and to discuss negotiating positions. No votes were taken after the executive session.
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The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 18 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Workshop meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Cherokee Metropolitan District offices at 6250 Palmer Park Blvd., Colorado Springs. Please see www.loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.
James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.
Other El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority articles
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Sept. 19 – Board postpones non-disclosure agreements (10/5/2024)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Aug. 15 – Board amends contract with Merrick and Co. (9/7/2024)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, July 18 – Board considers new roles for Merrick and Co. (8/3/2024)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, May 16 – Board refines relationship with CSU (6/1/2024)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, March 21 – Board debates relationship to CS (4/6/2024)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Feb. 15 – Board debates relationship with CSU (3/2/2024)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Jan. 18 – Consultants address financing, CSU facilities, easements (2/3/2024)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Dec. 12 – Board focuses on budgets (1/6/2024)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Nov. 16 – Board expands contract with consultants (12/2/2023)
- El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Oct. 19 – Board reviews 2024 budget, finances (11/4/2023)