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OCN > 2605 > El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, April 16 – Design contracts awarded

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, April 16 – Design contracts awarded

Highlights*

  • The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority awarded design contracts for two major Loop portions, selecting JVA Inc. to finish the pipeline and pump design begun by Burns & McDonnell, while CDM Smith continues work on expanding the Callahan Reservoir.
  • Burns & McDonnell had brought 28 miles of pipeline and five pump stations to 30% completion; JVA's proposal will complete the remaining design work, per board guidance from President Jessie Shaffer.
  • An ARPA deadline extension was approved, extending the expenditure deadline from June to September 2026, easing time pressure on the Loop to spend about $1.3 million of the $4 million ARPA funds.
  • The Loop reported ongoing project updates: Merrick & Co. reviewed Callahan Reservoir expansion design; Western States Land Services LLC finished surveys for Southern and Northern Alignments; Central Alignment surveys are ongoing with some landowners delaying easement negotiations.
  • The board received March invoices total of $253,000 for payment and noted BOCC reimbursement of Q4 2025 expenses, with cash reserves at $595,000 at the end of March.
  • An employee handbook was presented as the Loop moves toward hiring its first employee, an executive director, with the handbook ensuring compliance with the Family Medical Leave Act; the board will vote on it at the next meeting.
*AI-generated

By James Howald

The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) awarded contracts for the design of two major portions of the Loop at its April meeting. Board President Jessie Shaffer discussed an extension of the deadline for the Loop to spend the money it received from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA). Rebecca Hutchinson, the Loop’s interim workflow manager, gave the board an update, and Shaffer presented a financial report on behalf of Fromm and Co., the Loop’s accounting firm. In anticipation of hiring its first employee, an executive director, the board adopted an employee handbook.

Pipeline design and reservoir expansion contracts awarded

Shaffer told the board that he had discussed the future of the contract to design the pumps and pipelines with the other directors on the Loop board, and a consensus was reached to hire JVA Inc. to complete the design that was begun by Burns & McDonnell.

Burns & McDonnell brought the design of 28 miles of pipeline and five pump stations, needed to convey treated water from the Callahan Reservoir to customers in the participating water districts, to 30% completion. The terms of the Loop’s funding from ARPA required the remainder of the design work to be rebid, Shaffer said, and JVA’s proposal led to it being chosen to complete the design. He asked Hutchinson to reach out to JVA to start the process.

Shaffer said CDM Smith would continue with its design work for the expansion of the Callahan Reservoir.

ARPA deadline extended

Shaffer said about $1.3 million of the $4 million the Loop received from ARPA in 2022 remained to be spent. The act required the funds, which are administered by the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), to be spent by June 30, 2026. Kathy Fromm, the Loop’s accountant, asked the commissioners for a three-month extension of the deadline, which the commissioners granted, giving the Loop until September to spend the funds. Shaffer said the extension took pressure off the Loop board.

Project update

Hutchinson said she was attending meetings to manage the integration of JVA into the work on the Advanced Water Treatment Plant and other aspects of the Loop. She noted there was continued interest in the Loop on the part of contractors and engineering companies. Merrick & Co. reviewed the design work on the Callahan Reservoir expansion. Western States Land Services LLC has completed the survey work required for the easements for the Southern Alignment, which will connect the water treatment plant at the Callahan Reservoir to the Sundance Pipeline, and for the Northern Alignment, which will connect the Sundance Pipeline to consumers in the participating districts. The survey work for the Central Alignment, which consists of the Sundance Pipeline, is ongoing, Hutchinson said, noting that some landowners are holding back in their easement negotiations.

Financial report

Shaffer told the board invoices totaling $253,000 had been received in March. The board authorized payment. He said the BOCC had reimbursed the Loop for its Q4 2025 expenses, and the Loop’s cash reserves were $595,000 at the end of March.

The board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.

Employee handbook presented

Shaffer presented an employee handbook for the board’s consideration. The Loop is hiring an executive director, who will be its first employee, and the handbook is part of that process, Shaffer said. The Loop will abide by the rules of the Family Medical Leave Act, a federal program that provides unpaid medical leave, Shaffer said, arguing it was needed to attract the level of employee the Loop is seeking for the executive director position. The board will vote on the handbook at its next meeting.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 21 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. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

Loop water supply route.

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