Added costs to move electric infrastructure at Mineral Point

But savings elsewhere eases the sting

[  By Mark Reaman  ]

While finding no joy in further cost overruns with the cleanup of the Town Parcel 5 (TP 5) lot in the Slate River subdivision north of the Gas Café, the Crested Butte town council agreed to review and discuss another budget amendment that when all is said and done (to this point) will add about another $600,000 in cash to what has already been spent. The cleanup budget has ballooned from the original estimate of $1.3 million to more than $3.2 million. But ultimately, the area will be the site for the new Mineral Point affordable housing project.

The latest budget balloon came when it was discovered that Gunnison County Electric Association’s main electrical utility corridor serving Mt. Crested Butte is located 20 feet outside of the prescribed 20-foot utility easement. That would prohibit the building of four to six workforce housing units on the site. To move the electric infrastructure and clean up the portion of the site impacted will cost the town about $1.2 million. Without going into details, town attorney Karl Hanlon told the council on Monday that the work was the responsibility of the town and not the GCEA.

Community development director Troy Russ informed the council that through some separate project cost savings and an anticipated award of a Colorado Brownfield Tax Credits for the project, the new overage would end up costing the town about $600,000. When debating whether it was worth spending that money or not constructing four to six affordable housing units, the cost benefit analysis became apparent and the council approved the action.

Still, another budget amendment on the project will come before the council for their approval at the February 21 council meeting.