![]() Congress is expected to soon pass a short-term measure designed to keep the government in business for the next 10 days, says sources. The move comes as members of both parties in both chambers are working to avoid a partial government shutdown scheduled for midnight December 16. Lawmakers hope to be able to pass a spending bill. But differences exist over what should be in that spending bill. According to Alabama Senator Richard Shelby, there is a gap of around $25 billion in terms of budget priorities. The spending bill is expected to come in at around $1.6 trillion. A continuing resolution in the House is designed to keep the government fully funded through December 23. Speaking to reporters, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer declared, “We have no intention of shutting down the government.” Domestic and non-defense related spending levels remain one of the primary differences between the two parties as the shutdown deadline nears. Congressional leaders have maintained that the likelihood of an actual government shutdown appears remote, even as a document issued from the Office of Management and Budget has said it will work with senior agency officials in order to “review and update orderly shutdown plans.” By Garry Boulard
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![]() Final federal approval has been secured for the building of two massive reservoirs in growing northern Colorado. The Northern Integrated Supply Project is designed, upon completion, to get water to more than a dozen cities, towns, and water districts in the northern section of the Centennial State. The new water storage reservoirs will provide water for an estimated half a million people. For years, local officials in northern Colorado have talked about what they regard as a pressing need for more water in a part of the state that is expected to see a doubling of its population in the next three decades. Now, the U.S. Corps of Engineers has issued a final permit to build the Northern Integrated Supply Project, which is expected to cost $2 billion to complete. Upon that completion, the new reservoirs will be capable of supplying up to 40,000 acre-feet of water on an annual basis. Design work on the two reservoirs is currently underway, with the actual construction expected to launch either in late 2024 or the early part of 2025. If all goes as anticipated, the big project will be completed sometime in 2029. Although the project has been opposed by some environmental groups, a press release issued by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District noted that the Corps of Engineers had concluded that it was the “least environmentally impactful means” of satisfying the increasing water needs of the region. By Garry Boulard ![]() Plans are underway for the construction of a first-of-its kind all-abilities park in Farmington. The park would go up at the site of the former Tibbets Middle School, located at 312 East Apache Street. The more than 75-year-old school was demolished in 2017, with Farmington Municipal Schools donating the 7-acre site to the City of Farmington last year. Upon that transaction, the city applied for and received a Resilient Park Access Grant through the National Recreation and Park Association. A $300,000 grant was subsequently awarded to cover the cost of construction design documents for the all-abilities park. Aspects of the park, the plans for which are open to public input, could include a skate park, walking trail, and zip line. A press release issued by the City of Farmington said the park will also feature “visual impairment areas, therapeutic elements, outdoor musical instruments, adaptive swings and wheelchair swings,” along with shade structures and bathroom facilities. All-abilities and inclusive parks are specifically designed for children with disabilities and are increasingly seeing construction across the country. According to the site GameTime, such parks typically include accessible ramps, climbers, and transfer platforms, and are located at supervised places with accessible routes of travel. It is expected that it will cost around $13 million to build the Farmington all-abilities park, with funding coming from a variety of public and private sources. By Garry Boulard ![]() Continuing a trend that has been ongoing throughout the year, construction companies hired more than 20,000 new workers in November. According to a new analysis compiled by the Associated General Contractors of America, the residential construction sector took on around 3,900 new people last month, with nonresidential construction employment seeing a marginal gain of 300 workers. Building contractors saw a healthy increase of 8,200 people, followed by a gain of 5,300 workers recorded by the nation’s civil engineering firms. While most industry segments noted November job gains, specialty trade contractors saw a decrease of 5,500, with building contractors off by 2,600. At the same time, seasonally adjusted average hourly rates for nonsupervisory and production employees have seen an increase of just over 6% compared to November of 2021—a figure larger than the average 5.8% increase for all private sector employees in the last 12 months. The latest increases work out to just under $33 an hour nationally. A press release issued by the AGC suggests that despite the new job gains, construction job openings continue to outpace hiring, a sign that employers “wanted to bring on many more workers than they are able to find.” By Garry Boulard ![]() In a move that has caused some concern among developers and builders, the City of Scottsdale has announced a series of mandatory green codes for all new commercial and residential developments. Approved by members of the Scottsdale City Council, the codes require, among other things, the installation of irrigation systems and solar panel systems in new structures, while also mandating the use of low gas emitting paints, sealants, and flooring and ceiling tiles. In taking the vote, council members were adopting the latest version of both the International Energy Construction Code as well as the International Green Construction Code. According to city sources, benefits to be expected from the new codes will include a 10.6% decrease in overall energy costs, as well as a greenhouse gas emission reduction of 10.2%. Additional aspects of the code will see the construction of low slope cool roof surfaces, LED lighting, and interior lighting controlled via dimmers and sensors. Electric charging garage outlets for electric vehicles will also be required for all new residential projects. In a statement appearing on the City of Scottsdale’s website, Anthony Floyd noted that the environmental benefits to be gained from imposition of the green codes include “conserving natural resources, improved air quality, enhanced occupant comfort and health.” Additional benefits: “Reduced waste streams, low environmental impactful materials, and minimized strain on local infrastructure.” Floyd is the green building program manager for the City of Scottsdale. By Garry Boulard ![]() Some $84.5 million in federal funding has now been secured for a wide variety of water infrastructure projects in New Mexico. The funding is coming through the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act and will see, among other things, $22 million going for new water and wastewater infrastructure in Espanola, as well as $15.5 million for water infrastructure work in Farmington. The funding was earlier inserted into the 2022 Water Resources Development Act, which ended up becoming a part of the massive $768 billion defense bill. “Water is ground zero for climate change, and communities across New Mexico and the West are facing rapid hydrologic change,” said New Mexico Representative Melanie Stansbury in a statement celebrating the legislation. Another supporter of the measure, New Mexico Representative Leger Fernandez, said the bill “includes provisions that are important to New Mexicans, like greater funding and protection for our acequias and water infrastructure, and funding to clean up environmental contamination.” The bill also includes $2.9 million for wastewater infrastructure in Mora County; and a big $21 million for water and wastewater infrastructure work in Santa Fe. Up to $27 million will go for to the Acequia Irrigation System in a specific effort to upgrade vulnerable acequia systems throughout the state. Altogether, the Water Resources Development Act provides just over $25 billion to a wide array of water infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and flood mitigation infrastructure across the country. By Garry Boulard ![]() More than $57 billion in bond-funded projects at the state level were approved by voters in the November mid-term elections. That figure comes from S&P Global Market Intelligence, which notes that the bonds for such things as building schools, paving and upgrading roads, and climate resiliency, were successful in every region of the country. That said, a significant proportion of the successful bond elections took place in the always-growing South and West. Texas bond elections, in fact, comprised $35 billion. According to the Wall Street Journal, the new bonds will prove the equivalent of up to $90 billion in municipal debt. That figure is the highest on record since the 2012 election. Altogether, the passage rate for all the bond elections combined was around 83%. According to an analysis published by Bloomberg, the bonds represent “more than double” the amount proposed in elections last year. While bond elections, unlike elections with candidates, rarely end up in litigation, one measure in Salem, Oregon is proving the exception. The results of a successful $300 million infrastructure bond may be legally challenged because a paragraph explaining how the bonds would be repaid was inadvertently left off the ballot. City officials have been vowing to take the matter to court to validate the results of the election which saw 64% of voters approving the proposal. By Garry Boulard ![]() University of Colorado at Boulder officials are making a funding plea to wrap up renovation work on one of the school’s oldest structures. Built in 1921, the Hellems Arts & Sciences Building was designed by the renowned architect Charles Klauder and is the first structure on the Boulder campus to be designed in what is known as the Tuscan Vernacular style. An east and a west wing were added to the 90,000 square foot building in 1938. Because of the variety of disciplines taught within the building, up to 80% of all CU Boulder freshmen end up taking at least one class in the structure. Plans call for an extensive interior renovation of the Hellems, as well as the building of an open atrium at the building’s central entrance. Work will also include making the structure Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. State funding has already been secured for the first two phases of the Hellems renovation. School officials have now gone before the state legislature’s Capital Development Committee to make a pitch for the third phase funding. It is expected that the final phase will cost around $42 million to complete. Of that figure, it is hoped that just over $17.1 will be provided by the state, with CU Boulder paying the rest. If that state funding is secured, the actual renovation work is set to launch next summer, with a spring 2026 completion date. By Garry Boulard ![]() The always-busy main public animal shelter in El Paso is expected to see the construction of a new clinic and expansion of its kennel space next year. The project will also include the building of a modern HVAC system. Located at 5001 Fred Wilson Avenue on the northeast side of the city, the El Paso Animal Services has long been overwhelmed trying to shelter upwards of more than 3,000 animals in any given month. According to sources, the shelter, built to handle up to 450 animals, has by day seen its population nearing the 1,000 mark. The demand has led to cramped facilities, with sometimes two or three dogs sharing a single kennel more appropriate for one, and a concerted effort on the part of the agency to place mostly kittens and puppies in foster homes. A design phase for the expansion project, which will lead to the building of 400 new kennels, is expected to begin in early 2023. The new clinic space is designed to isolate animals suffering from parvo or a respiratory disease. Around $9 million was originally approved by members of the El Paso City Council in 2019 for the project, but work was delayed due to the Covid 19 outbreak. Work building the new clinic and kennel space is expected to take around 12 months. By Garry Boulard |
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