Craig Daily Press

Craig — There were two County Shops on the Moffat County Commission’s meeting agenda Monday, but the county is not currently using either of them.

The Commission met with County Attorney Kathleen Taylor and Risk Manager Ute Murray to discuss possible temporary repairs to the County Shop condemned recently after a fire weakened the structure.

Taylor presented a contract with Western Slope Erectors, a contracting firm out of Parachute, which the Commission approved and signed.

Moffat County’s insurance company, County Technical Services, offered to pay for renovations at the current County Shop — estimated to be $58,000 — and selected the company chosen for the project.

These temporary fixes would allow the Road and Bridge Department to store its road graders and some other vehicles inside instead of letting them brave the elements outside, Department Manager Linda DeRose said.

“It’s easier on equipment if it’s inside,” DeRose said. “If we go out at three in the morning, it’s harder on the vehicles when they’re covered with snow and ice. It’s like any vehicle.”

Road and Bridge vehicles do have engine heaters that can be plugged in to keep the engines warm, she added, but leaving vehicles outside puts the rest of their parts at a greater risk.

The county did not put the construction project out to bid because it’s important to get the vehicles somewhere inside as fast as possible, Taylor said.

The Parachute-based construction firm is expected to begin the project in two business days and be done within another 14, officials said.

“By the time we would have a bid process done, we wouldn’t need” the temporary shelter, Taylor said. “This is because of the weather.”

Western Slope Erectors is planning to tear down two vehicle bays on the building’s east side and put up a temporary wall as part of the project.

The Commission then met with Road and Bridge Department officials to get an update over a hiccup in Steamboat Transit’s construction of a bus station on the east side of Craig, on the lot where an old County Shop building once stood.

Construction there hit a snag when ground soil testing confirmed the soil was contaminated.

According to the contract between Moffat County and the city of Steamboat Springs, Moffat assumes all liability for any site cleanup of “hazardous materials.”

But, the soil tested as “contaminated,” not hazardous, according to state standards. Talks are currently ongoing as to which entity will assume cleanup costs, said Bob Robichaud, Steamboat Springs city facilities manager.

“This is just a small problem,” Robichaud said. “I have full confidence that this will get worked out soon.”

In the meantime, Moffat County Road and Bridge Department workers will continue to excavate the remaining contaminated soil and take it to the Moffat County Landfill.

“For two reasons,” Robichaud said. “There’s a future liability there (to have contaminated soil on the property) and because of what the soil is contaminated with, it isn’t compactable.”

Moffat County officials don’t mind hauling the dirt.

“We’re helping them out just to get the project going,” said Bill Mack, Road and Bridge Department director.

For a building to stand, the foundation has to be compacted or it could shift and cause damages, he added.

Actual building construction is planned for mid-March. The bus station will have 50 parking spaces, five bus spaces and an indoor waiting room with restrooms.