Council approves renovation contract

The revitalization of Boulder City's downtown corridor came a step closer to becoming a reality Tuesday night as the City Council voted 3-1 to award a contractor the construction project.

Eldorado Rock Products was awarded the contract by a 3-1 vote after the company came in with a low bid of just more than $528 million.

Only Councilman Bill Smith voted against the resolution, saying that owners of downtown commercial property should help foot the bill because of the benefits the project will bring their businesses.

The other council members disagreed.

"The merchants of the downtown area would find that to be a great hardship, and I believe that it is a city responsibility," Mayor Bob Ferraro said.

The streetscape project, which will affect Nevada Way between Wyoming and Denver streets, is intended to provide a facelift for downtown Boulder City, or Old Town as it is known to locals.

The project will widen Nevada Way by 3 feet, extend sidewalks and create more parking, all of which is expected to slow traffic and stimulate business.

The streetscape is scheduled to be finished by April 23, and Eldorado Rock Projects has been given 60 nights to complete it.

"The construction will be at night to disrupt business as little as possible, and an incentive has been put in the contract if the work is completed early," City Manager John Sullard said.

For every day early that the project is completed the city will pay the contractors $2,000 up to a $20,000 ceiling, but if the project exceeds the allotted 60 days the city will charge the contractor $2,000 a day.

Downtown business owners and the Chamber of Commerce are working together to make the construction as small a financial burden as possible. Together they have formed a task force that will use advertising, promotions and fund-raisers to offset the lost business from the construction.

"We plan on having 'Hard Hat' discounts and other promotions to help the businesses," said downtown business owner Donna Draney. "We want to make sure to remind residents to frequent downtown businesses during the construction."

City Engineer Scott Hansen will work as a liaison between the city and downtown businesses and residents during the construction.

"I'm sure there are going to be concerns from residents on the nightime construction noise," Hansen said. "Some residents live only a couple of blocks away from the site and I'm sure the noise will carry.

"There will also be concerns about traffic and detour routes while the street (Nevada Way) is shutdown."

Hansen said that as of today, 180 notices will have gone out informing residents near the site about the construction and that his office will work on any concerns.

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