RIDGWAY TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 26, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was held both in person and via virtual meeting portal Zoom Meeting, pursuant to
the Town’s Electronic Participation Policy.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Decker Community Room, 675 Clinton
Street, Ridgway, Colorado. The Council was present in its entirety with Councilors Grambley,
Kroger, Montague, Scoville, Schuyler, Mayor Pro Tem Lakin and Mayor Clark in attendance.
Town Clerk’s Notice of Special Meeting dated January 15, 2026.
The Mayor asked the Mayor Pro Tem to chair the meeting because he was participating remotely.
ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
The Town Manager requested to add to the agenda a conference with the Town Attorney for the
purpose of receiving legal advice on a specific legal question under C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b)
regarding Ridgway Suites LLC dba MTN Lodge and its proposed use and compliance with the
Ridgway Municipal Code, along with possible action as a result of the executive session.
ACTION:
Councilor Kroger moved to add the items to the agenda, Councilmember Grambley seconded
and the motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
POLICY MATTERS
- Update on the Beaver Creek Diversion Restoration Project and addendum to Professional
Services Agreement with RESPEC Company
Memorandum dated 1-23-26 from the Town Manager presenting an update on the Beaver
Creek Diversion Restoration Project, and consideration of amending the Professional
Services Agreement with RESPEC Company LLC.
Manager Neill displayed a PowerPoint Presentation with slides on the progress of the Beaver
Creek Diversion Project. He reported Meridian Construction demobilized from the site in
early December. Since that time staff has worked with the design engineering firm RESPEC
and Meridian to execute a change order to reduce the guaranteed maximum price of the
project and remove the installation of the infiltration gallery from the scope of work, and
change the final completion date to May 30, 2026. He explained initially the infiltration gallery
was designed to be located upstream of the coanda screen. After observations on the project
site, the engineers decided it would function better downstream of the screen. RESPEC
solicited a price from Meridian for installation downstream of the coanda screen and the price
was well above the price submitted for placement upstream, with little justification for the
price increase. RESPEC and Town Engineer have advised the Town to proceed with a
change order to reflect removal of the infiltration gallery from Meridians scope of work, and
hire a contractor to perform the installation after completion of work by Meridian. This
installation would take place in the late summer or fall of 2026.
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Special Meeting
January 26, 2026
Page 2
The Town Manager reported moving the infiltration gallery will require RESPEC to complete
a more detailed design, which will require an amendment to the agreement for services.
They anticipate $19,550 for additional design and construction observation costs when
returning to the project site in the spring’ and estimate redesign of the infiltration gallery and
construction observation of the infiltration gallery at $55,190. Additionally the engineering
firm recently informed staff that to date they have incurred costs of $13,821.63 over the
contract value. He stated the Council is being asked to increase the contract value of the
Professional Services Agreement with RESPEC to $657,312.
Manager Neill reviewed the financing mechanisms being used for the project. A grant award
from the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Emergency Watershed
Protection Program to pay for 75% of the eligible construction expenditures up to $2,911,026
and $430,000 worth of 100% technical assistance for engineering and preconstruction
expenses. On January 14
th
an additional $367,892.99 was granted for technical assistance,
now bringing the total to $792,892. Additionally a grant was secured from the Colorado
Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Managements Disaster Emergency
Fund (DHSEM) for $2,000,000, with a fifty percent local match requirement. Also secured
was a loan from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) not to exceed $8,080,000
for project costs and a one percent service fee. He reviewed to date projected expenditures,
and noted the total project cost should be close to $4,000,0000.
There were comments and questions from the Council. It was noted the infiltration galley
has the potential of gathering more water when flow rates are seasonally low.
Alan Leak, Principal Engineer with RESPEC, presented three proposals. He reported the
project was more challenging than anticipated, and subsequently there were over runs in the
contract due to necessary daily construction observations. He noted these amounts are over
the contractual agreement and the Town is not obligated to pay them. This amount is
encompassed in the first proposal. The second is additional costs for construction
observation for two weeks at six hours a day, when Meridian Construction begins work in the
spring. The third, design of the new Coanda Infiltration Basin, and construction observation
of 90 hours for four weeks. He noted the Town Engineer can oversee some construction
observation, which will reduce costs.
There were comments from the Council.
ACTION:
Councilmember Schuyler moved to approve the Addendum to the Professional Services
Agreement between the Town and RESPEC as presented. Councilor Grambley seconded and
the motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
ACTION:
Councilmember Schuyler moved, Councilor Kroger seconded, to direct staff to work with RESPEC
to complete a redesign of the infiltration gallery and to prepare bid documents for solicitation of a
contractor to complete the scope of work. On a call for the vote, the motion carried unanimously
on a roll call vote.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Town Attorney asked the Council to enter into a closed session pursuant to C.R.S. 24-6-
402(4)(b) regarding Ridgway Suites LLC dba MTN Lodge and its proposed use and
Town Council
Special Meeting
January 26, 2026
Page 3
compliance with the Ridgway Municipal Code, along with possible action as a result of the
executive session.
ACTION:
It was moved by Councilmember Kroger, seconded by Councilmember Grambley and
unanimously carried by a roll call vote to enter into closed session.
The Council entered into closed session at 6:45 p.m. with the Town Attorney, Town Manager and
Town Clerk. The Council reconvened the regular meeting at 7:05 p.m.
POLICY MATTERS (Continued)
The Town Attorney stated staff is requesting the Council consider taking action to engage
litigation services with the law firm of Nathan, Dumm and Mayor.
ACTION:
Moved by Councilor Scoville to enter into an engagement letter with Nathan, Dumm and Mayor
to serve as litigation attorneys for the Town of Ridgway, with a second by Councilor Kroger the
motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pam Kraft
Town Clerk