Steamboat Springs City Council voted "yes" for base area work

In Steamboat Springs on Tuesday, May 18th the city council voted "yes" to allow redevelopment work at the base of Steamboat Ski Area which will occur this summer. The Steamboat Springs City Council voted too allow $2.5 million in spending for work that can begin as soon as crews are in place.

"The vote revives construction plans that were stalled last month by a contentious bid process and default notice from U.S. Bank. That notice put perceptions of the project’s financing on shaky ground and spurred a flurry of negotiations between city staff and bank officials. Those negotiations are continuing and could result in a new deal, new lender or refinancing of the city’s $17.5 million redevelopment loan. A new financing agreement could release additional funds later this summer for further base area work."

With this decision to move forward with construction brought smiles to faces of several base area stakeholders. The city awarded a contract of about $4.5 million to Duckels Construction for work last month, basically to build part of a public promenae at the immediate ski base, daylight a segment of Burgess Creek and to install other public amenities such as seating areas, fire features and stonework.

On May 6th, the U.S. Bank removed default conditions on the loan, the deal allowed the immediate use of $2.5 million which provided that the remainder of this year's funds, also about $2.5 million, be held in a construction account.

"With that figure in mind, the Urban Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee voted last week to support a $2.2 million construction plan that includes earthwork and utility work but few public amenities. That plan allows for easy transition into further construction as opposed to a $2.4 million plan that would create a more finished product but would require some backtracking and additional costs to continue work at a later date."

City Council did not select either of those plans Tuesday saying simply that work at this point cannot exceed $2.5 million. Duckels construction mentions that counting subcontractors and other crews, about 200 workers could be involved in base area work this summer and complete it in time for next seasons winter here in Steamboat. Duckels smiled with relief after the City Council of Steamboat finalized their decision "yes it is".