By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Improvements for the Los Alamos County Golf Course will continue as a result of Los Alamos County Council unanimously approving a $393,000 contract with iConsult LLC and GrassRoots Design during its regular meeting Tuesday night.

The motion was passed 6-0; Councilor Keith Lepsch was not in attendance.

The project, which focuses on design development, is divided into two phases, Community Services Department Director Cory Styron said.

He explained the first phase will address holes number four through 18. The second phase will address holes number one through three as well as the driving range.

According to the staff report, improvements in phase one include:

• Evaluate existing tee boxes and provide design drawings for existing tee boxes. Designs need to include either a four-tee or five-tee system and align with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards for size, location, geometry, elevation, grading and slope.
• Have design drawings for reconstruction of existing bunkers with a new drainage system, liners and sand.
• Have design drawings for the installation of two, new pre-manufactured restrooms to replace existing ones on the back nine and add one on the front nine.

Additionally, it was stated in the staff report that phase two work would include:

• Potentially expanding the course to accommodate one or two new holes.
• Potentially expanding the driving range
• Make improvements to cart paths as well as other areas.

This is all part of a $2.5 million budget that council approved in January to make improvements to the golf course.

In an unrelated matter, Council Chair Randall Ryti asked about the status of several projects the County is undertaking.

The first one being the housing project known as Arkansas Place.

Community Development Department Director Paul Andrus said work on the housing development halted due to COVID-related issues with subcontractors.

“They are moving forward,” he said. “If you look at the old Piggly Wiggly, they have started demolition. They are doing it from a deconstruction sort of standpoint. They are back on and moving forward (but) I don’t have a definitive schedule on that …”

Ryti also asked about the Hill Apartments.

Work on the apartment complex, located off Trinity Drive, went on a hiatus due to weather, Andrus said.

“…they are still on schedule to be completed by the end of this year,” he said. “We’ll see … depending on the different variables with the construction industry it may end up taking a little longer. Their projected schedule is by the end of this year.”

Another item Ryti inquired about was the project on 20th Street, which is planned to have a Marriott hotel.

Andrus said a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday with the current contractual party. The meeting, he added, will address the status of the project and the party’s feasibility for moving forward.

What about the North Mesa housing project, Ryti asked.

Andrus said the consultants for the project, which is a joint venture between Los Alamos Public Schools and the County to provide affordable housing, are finalizing the financial feasibility analysis. This analysis accounts for how some projected alternatives for the housing development on the site might look and what it will take to get the process moving forward as well as comply with state requirements, he added. Andrus said the project is expected to return sometime in July in either a joint meeting or just to the Los Alamos Public School Board.

Finally, Ryti asked about the proposed bike trail in Pueblo Canyon.

Styron said two hybrid meetings are scheduled for the project. One will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 330 at the Municipal Building. Participants can attend on Zoom. A second meeting is 5:30 p.m. May 10 inside Council Chambers. Participants also may attend this meeting by Zoom. He explained the idea for the bike trail started in 2015 and has been through several starts and stops at various proposed locations. Ultimately, Styron said Council put the project back on the budget in 2019 when it approved a skills park and a contract. The only option for the trail, he said, is Pueblo Canyon. Its location is in the downtown, it is close to the aquatic center, its restrooms and parking and has an access road.

In other business, council:

• Unanimously passed an ordinance amending the economic development project for public support from the state for the benefit of Pebble Labs, Inc.
• Unanimously passed a resolution to support authorizing an application for New Mexico Department of Transportation funds for the Rose Street Reconstruction Project.
• Unanimously passed a resolution to support authorizing an application for New Mexico Department of Transportation funds for the Loma Linda improvements project.
• Unanimously tentatively approved a one-time lump sum inflation and COVID payment to County employees. The proposed amounts County employees would receive varies according to tiers. For unions, County management will enter discussions about this concept. This item will return May 24 for final approval.