The Town of Walden Board of Trustees discussed abandoning a state sidewalk grant after investing approximately $100,000 with no reimbursement during their January 26 meeting. The board also approved a liquor license renewal and addressed the upcoming municipal election.
Sidewalk Project Difficulties
Mayor Oberbroeckling recommended abandoning the Colorado Department of Transportation grant project, which began in 2022 but has faced continuous delays. The latest contractor failed to submit a required bid bond, forcing another restart of the bidding process.
“My recommendation is we walk away from the grant and quit specifically,” Oberbroeckling said. “In the future, we can proceed to try and get grants from other places besides CDOT.”
Jim Dustin, reporting on special projects, said working with CDOT has involved multiple audit threats and documentation disputes. The project’s reimbursement structure requires the town to pay contractors upfront and wait for state reimbursement with strict documentation requirements.
Election Update
The town received only two candidate petitions for four open board positions, meaning two seats will require appointments rather than election.
Other Business
The board unanimously approved River Rock Cafe’s liquor license renewal and conducted an executive session regarding a delinquent water account.
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