Commissioner Vickrey takes issue with rising project costs

Brady Oltmans, boltmans@pinedaleroundup.com
Posted 10/21/21

The county’s various ongoing projects were discussed, some at longer length than others, during the Sublette County Board of Commissioners’ meeting at Marbleton Town Hall on Oct. 19.

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Commissioner Vickrey takes issue with rising project costs

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SUBLETTE COUNTY – The county’s various ongoing projects were discussed, some at longer length than others, during the Sublette County Board of Commissioners’ meeting at Marbleton Town Hall on Oct. 19.

Todd Hurd of Forsgren Associates was present and delivered the updates. He said he hoped to see the Big Piney Library and check in with its progress following the meeting. Commissioner Dave Stephens asked if he’d actually be there – in person. That, more or less, set the tone for the project discussions as a whole.

Sublette County Unified Fire Chief Shad Cooper talked about construction and new projects at the planned Daniel Fire Hall that will be shared with county Road & Bridge. Cooper presented the board of commissioners with two quotes to install a new exhaust system at the station in Daniel. Cooper recommended the MagnaGrip system because that is the maker of exhaust systems in both Pinedale and Marbleton fire halls and it comes with a 3-year warranty. That system, however, cost $69,496.75 while its competitor was quoted at $63,750. Cooper spoke highly of customer service with MagnaGrip when they were contacted in the past. MagnaGrip officials also toured the facility to look at power supplies and scope its project.

When asked, Cooper said the cost would not come out of the SCUF budget and that it was always planned in project costs. He said it wasn’t included in the general contractor bid, along with a generator for the building, to save 15 percent on that bid. The proposed exhaust system would only apply to the SCUF side of the building and would not be attached to the Road & Bridge side.

Commissioner Doug Vickrey reiterated his vote against the additional cost. He stated his rationale as the growing list of wants and requests made while the county was still taking a conservative approach to its financials.

“My question is: When is it going to stop?” Vickrey asked. He said he didn’t believe the exhaust system was necessary and that saving the 15 percent on that general contractor bid amounted to .0003 percent of the project’s total sum.

Cooper said crews start the truck while they got dressed and prepared to go out on a call. Long-term exposure to those diesel fumes, without extensive ventilation, has been linked to health problems.

“In the simplest terms, this is the right thing to do for our firefighters,” Cooper said. “If firefighters are breathing diesel exhaust fumes, we’re going to give them cancer.”

Cooper then read from the NFPA 1500 standards that specified minimum requirements for safety and health programs for fire departments. Those standards suggested exposure to diesel fumes have been linked to cancer and other health problems.

Vickrey asked Hurd, if those fumes were that harmful, why wouldn’t the exhaust system also pertain to the Road & Bridge side of the building. Hurd said he wasn’t sure about that. Hurd later said that exhaust system does not meet state standards now but it likely will be down the road.

Stephens pointed at a line item that called for additional funds. Hurd said those costs were for a bigger footprint than originally planned for the generator because dimensions were larger than initially planned.

County clerk Carrie Long said there was a lack of communication pertaining to the Daniel building project on what was to be budgeted and what was to be held. She was not told what to budget items for and what to budget for engineering.

Commissioners voted in favor of the exhaust system by a 4-1 vote with Vickrey opposing.

Big Piney Library

Following a week of no progress because of COVID-19 exposures, crews have returned to the Big Piney Library. Hurd said crews were there on Tuesday and he looked forward to speaking with them. Commissioner Stephens said he was as well, after not seeing anyone working there in the weeks leading up to the meeting.

Hurd said the major issue is the sewer line, which was blocked at 35 feet with no blow spot. That section will be replaced. Hurd said crews will also fix different 90-degree sections in the piping. Eventually, it’ll all be PVC pipes instead of mixes with cast iron, Hurd said.

The Big Piney Library project has been discussed across multiple boards and was finally approved in the winter. Construction started in the summer with community members in Big Piney and Marbleton helping house books, now shelved temporarily at the Big Piney Rec Center. Young Big Piney students volunteered to move inventory. Since then, the project has experienced lapses in updates.

Sublette County Fairgrounds

Hurd said crews are making headway on the fairgrounds project. There’s been optimism that the project could be completed this year but supply costs and availability become the issue.

Those working on the project instead focus on spring to complete. Commissioners didn’t have an issue with a spring completion so long as it is done by fair time.

Hurd said he’s hoping to get someone he knows to look at the cupolas and costs associated in removing them. They’ll eventually come down, as part of the project, but Hurd said he hasn’t gotten a solid quote on costs. Stephens suggested going with someone in the area, allowing them to have a look and give an estimate.

Rendezvous Pointe garage

The demolition has been completed. It’s basically winterized, or at least safe through the winter, Hurd said. In his update, Hurd said some on the project would want the insurance agents to look at walls adjacent to the trusses.

Falling in line with what county administrator Matt Gaffney and deputy county attorney Clayton Melinkovich said at a previous meeting, the goal on completion of that project is to not cost an extra dime of county money.