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June 9, 2017 VOLUME 91, NO. 114 75¢ (Home delivery as low as 58¢) Scoring for U.S. FRIDAY Veteran Fields — Page 6 — Page 9 Alamosa • Antonito • Blanca • Center • Creede • Crestone • Del Norte • Fort Garland • Hooper • La Jara • Manassa • Mosca • Moffat • Monte Vista • Romeo • Saguache • Sanford • San Luis • South Fork Alamosa approves ice rink bid By RUTH HEIDE down to the funding level option recommended by staff. Courier Editor the council approved, which “I envisioned from the She said she had heard from ALAMOSA — By January would include a shell, chiller, community members who Today's Issue Alamosa will have a new and rink and storage for equip- beginning … this was going to supported this project, and improved ice rink, which will ment such as the Zamboni, that input influenced her Sponsored By: also serve as a multipurpose for a base bid of $2.35 million. be something for all people." decision. pavilion. Working further with Also understanding that The Alamosa city council Alcon to make cost saving — Alamosa City Councilor Liz Thomas the city could fi nance this on Wednesday unanimously changes, staff was able to project with projected rev- approved a negotiated bid get the base bid down to $2.1 Hensley enues in the recreation fund, with Alcon Construction million, Steenburg said. “I am much more comfortable for $2,560,907, which will The city staff asked Alcon tions to be presented. He in addition to the hockey with this project than I was,” provide a partially enclosed to bid on three additional added that he also had said program. Daniel said. space for an ice rink in win- alternatives: 1) bathrooms; 2) if the project went over $2.5 Councilman Michael Ste- Brooks said if the city had ter and other venues in the locker rooms; and 3) conces- million, he would not go for fano agreed with Vigil “it to fi nance part of this project, remaining months. The coun- sion stand, skate rental area. it. He clarifi ed during the would be pretty useless to it would only be for about cil approved an option that Staff recommended the Wednesday council meeting build this without bathrooms four years. included add-in alternates for council go with an option that what he meant was he and lockers.” Daniel said she appreciated bathrooms and locker rooms. that included the base bid, would not be in favor of the He added that he had Steenburg and Brooks work- The total project will cost bathrooms and locker rooms, city paying more than $2.5 been in favor of this project ing to bring the bid down. $2,890,407, with expenses be- which is the direction the million out of pocket, but from the beginning because Councilor Liz Thomas HHaveave yyouou yond the contract with Alcon council decided to go. The he would support the $2.8 it would benefi t area youth. Hensley has also supported including parking expansion council could have opted to million total for the project “I am excited for it,” he said. this project from the begin- at the site located near the include all alternatives for a because of grants and other Stefano added, “I agree ning, she said. hheardeard city’s recreation center. Other bid amount of $2.89 million donations that would help with Ruthie Brown this “I envisioned from the be- project costs not included in to Alcon alone and a total pay for it. should be a facility for all ginning … this was going to Alternative Alcon’s bid include dasher project cost of $3.2 million, Vigil agreed with a state- kids whether they can afford be something for all people,” boards, utility extensions, an option the city council did ment made by business it or not.” she said. routes shared spectator seating and archi- not take. owner Ruthie Brown during Councilor Kristina Daniel Hensley said she agreed tectural costs, according to Brooks said by repurposing the public comment portion also agreed and added that with Brown 100 percent that during Ride Alamosa City Public Works one of the locker rooms for a of the meeting that if the she believed the city’s park/ all youth should have access Director Pat Steenburg. concession/rental area, the city built this facility, the recreation staff did a fantas- to this facility. She recounted the Rockies “This has been a long facility would still have four ice hockey program should tic job of making sure city when she fi rst moved here ALAMOSA — As Alamosa process,” said Alamosa City locker rooms. be accessible to all children, programs were accessible. about 20 years ago as a single hosts the beginning leg of Manager Heather Brooks Councilman Jan Vigil said regardless of their ability Daniel said she has strug- mom with low income raising the Ride the Rockies cycling who recounted the history a facility like this must have to pay. gled with the amount this two children in Del Norte tour this Sunday, June 11, of the project. She said the bathrooms and lockers, and Vigil also said he saw many facility was going to cost which will host 2,000 cy- city’s ice rink at Carroll Park he had pushed for those op- benefi ts from this facility the city but supported the ■ See ICE page 3 clists, staff and volunteers, was failing and unsafe, and motorists in the San Luis the city would either have to Valley may want to use these invest in improvements at alternate routes: U.S. High- the current site — a site that way 285 South and Colorado could only guarantee three Highway 17 South. Cyclists weeks of good ice — or build will be leaving the Alamosa a facility with a chiller that Family Recreation Center could provide fi ve months in southern Alamosa on of ice. Sunday morning and trav- She said estimates for the eling on Highway 160 from project changed over time, Alamosa to Monte Vista, Del with the city’s investment Norte, South Fork, over Wolf increasing as estimates went Creek Pass and into Pagosa up. The city also received Springs for a total of 93 miles about $610,000 in grants and the fi rst day. The second day about $22,000 from 14 local cyclists will travel 68 miles businesses, Brooks added. from Pagosa Springs to Alamosa will see some Durango, the third day 39 return on its investment, miles in the Durango area, Brooks said, because the new the fourth day 83 miles to ice rink will attract hockey Ridgeway, the fi fth day 33 tournaments that will bring or 19 miles depending on visitors and revenue to Ala- the route between Ridgway mosa, which will be especially and Montrose, the sixth day welcome during the slower 65 miles from Montrose to winter months. She said the Gunnison, and the fi nal day estimated economic impact (June 17) 66 miles from Gun- of two league hockey tourna- nison to Salida. Motorists, ments is about $381,000. please be mindful of c yclists Brooks added that this on the road during this time. facility would mean a great deal to community members who will use it for ice skating and ice hockey as well as a multitude of other uses. Follow Steenburg reminded the council that it gave staff ap- us proval to design the facility, and the city was fortunate on Facebook to get a bid from a local fi rm, Alcon Construction, the only Courier fi le photo by Ruth Heide - Alamosa bidder. The City of Alamosa was faced with investing money into improvements on this ice rink at Carroll Park, which Working with Alcon, staff only provides about a month’s worth of skating time in the winter, or in a new facility with chiller installed to Valley Courier was able to get the bid price provide about five months of skating on a regulation-size rink. SSLVLV WWEATHEREATHER Sign will highlight ASU track record By RUTH HEIDE the resolution supporting and per- Courier Editor mitting the sign installation. ALAMOSA — Alamosa will soon “I think this is awesome,” said be acknowledged as the “City of City Councilman Jan Vigil. “I am Champions, Home of Adams State all for this.” High temperatures will Cross Country Track & Field.” He said many other communities The Alamosa city council on do this, and with ASU’s reputation be in the 80's through the Wednesday approved a resolution with its track program, this would weekend supporting a sign to that effect to be be an ideal move. 85/45 placed on city property at the eastern Councilman Ty Coleman added, edge of town. The sign, which will be “What I like about that sign is it Sat: Sunny 86/47 next to Highway 160, will be visible talks about Alamosa being the city Sun: Sunny 83/45 to travelers crossing over the Rio of champions, and we are the city of Grande bridge into Alamosa as well champions. I think this is going to IINSIDENSIDE as those leaving the city. It will be be a positive benefit.” across the highway from the train “I am very supportive of this,” Obituaries .......................... Page 2 pavilion. added Alamosa City Councilor Liz Valley News ......................Pages 3 “You will be able to see it going Thomas Hensley. Opinion ............................. Page 4 either direction,” said Alamosa City “I am very much in support of this Religion ............................. Page 5 Public Works Director Pat Steen- celebrating Adams State,” added Sports ............................... Page 6 burg. Councilor Kristina Daniel. Valley Life .....................Pages 8, 9 He said university representatives “We have always wanted to be a Public Notices .................