A flurry of activities have occurred since the last published update.
Every avenue for getting our current contractors to work together and complete the system are currently being pursued.
A letter from John Mitchell, SFTR attorney, has been sent to High Plains Engineering demanding the "as-built drawings" previously paid for. The engineer responded immediately and is in the process of creating those drawings. He has been given a deadline for doing so, after which we will take action to recover our loss.
All three contractors, OPEC, Fluid Automation, and High Plains Engineering, have expressed an eagerness to perform their "perceived" roles and are waiting for direction from SFTR.
As has been noted in various reports from Michael Hughes who has spent more time with our system than anyone else, a number problems remain unfixed that fall in "gray" areas in terms of which contractor will take responsibility for the fix. Some of those problems involve fixing known and unknown leaks and some involve installing entirely new components such as strainers and shut-off valves. Advice has been sought from several outside professionals in the water system industry. All advice concurs that some modifications must be done before the system can be filled with water, tested, and sanitized and deemed ready for owner use.
Jim Davis and Rick Johnson met with Jim Fernandez of the Trinidad Water Department and some of his engineers as the first step toward locating a partner in this process. At that meeting, Robert Just was recommended as a local authority on rural water systems.
Jim Davis, Michael Hughes, Rick Johnson, and Harriet Vaugeois met with Robert Just of RG Consulting Engineers of Trinidad and Mike Ferrero, retired water system operator. The purpose of this meeting was to receive an outside bid to fix our system, get the water running, and continue to maintain the system once operational. Mr. Just will present a bid by the end of this week. Mr. Ferrero is considering presenting a bid to oversee the ongoing operation and maintenance of the system.
Michael Hughes met with Clyde Young & Company of Pueblo upon the recommendation of the Colorado Rural Water Association. Although Mr. Young was hesitant to get actively involved in our system until we’ve resolved all issues with our current contractors, he spent some time going over Michael Hughes’ assessment of the system and concurred with Michael’s findings. Michael will ask him to submit a bid to parallel Mr. Just’s bid for comparison purposes.
Repairs and modifications to pump station #1 are in progress using local contractor Leo Torres. Repairs have been suspended momentarily while we wait for additional parts. David Kessler, our pump contractor, has offered to help us secure those parts.
Although we were told that our spare parts could be returned for a partial refund, and those parts were driven to Denver for that purpose, we’ve now learned that the most valuable of those parts will not be accepted because they are over a year old. Stan Obrey will be driving the unreturnable parts back to Trinidad. Jim Fernandez of the Trinidad Water Department has said that he might be interested in buying the parts from us.
The loan of $12,000 from the POA budget has been transferred to the Metro Water District Account so that minor repairs can be made in a timely basis as those repairs are approved. A Promissory Note has been recorded as part of the transfer of funds.
By the April 21 joint meeting of the POA and the Metropolitan Water District Board, property owners should have definitive information about what yet must be done to turn on the water, when our current contractors will fulfill their contractual responsibilities, what additional expenses must be incurred by the SFTR, what options for generating needed money are viable, what options are viable for operating and maintaining the system, and what legal steps are possible at this point.
Respectfully submitted by Harriet Vaugeois, constant watchdog of the process.