PitCo helps fund Basalt Nursery School, project funding still $277,000 short

A new child care facility is scheduled to open in Basalt this fall. Pitkin County has already contributed $250,000 toward construction, but is considering spending more as construction costs increase.

Blue Lake Preschool will occupy 4,000 square feet of space in the Stotz Mill development on Centennial Lane in Basalt. The child care company already operates two other centers in the Roaring Fork Valley and plans to expand to Basalt with the new space featuring an infant room, two toddler rooms and a preschool room, but the first is likely to start with only two rooms.

The town is leasing the space from Stots Mill developers and subletting it to Blue Lake as a result of parameters set in the $800,000 Employer-Based Child Care Facility Grant Program. The town won a grant last fall with help from Pitkin County to help build the Blue Lake space.

Pitkin County commissioners committed $250,000 in funding for the center in August. The county made good on that promise Wednesday, with 11 priority slots in the center for children of Pitkin County employees for the center’s first five years.

Town staff and the contractor, Carbondale-based RA Nelson, set a final budget for construction of $1.377 million.

“(This project) really requires a lot of work, including everything from fire suppression systems, HVAC, plumbing, electrical insulation, ceiling separation, drywall,” Basalt Planning Director Michelle Thibault told the county Tuesday. mentioned in the work session. “Other furniture, fixtures, and equipment.”

The new budget is about $277,000 more than the town expected. Pitkin County Community Resilience Manager and Housing Director Ashley Pearl surveyed the commissioners to see if the board was willing to put more money into the project.

The initial $250,000 contribution comes from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and general fund sources, $150,000 and $100,000, respectively.

Commissioners decided to use ARPA funds for child care and housing. About $1.2 million of the original $3.4 million remains. The funds must be obligated by the end of this year and disbursed by the end of 2026.

In a separate work session, the board expressed support for obligating much, if not all, of the remaining ARPA funds to the West Mountain Area Housing Coalition’s deed purchase program.

“We will keep you updated on how much ARPA funding is available, how it can be utilized, and the options available. , and you can give some of it to a local housing program, or you can give all of it to a local housing program,” Pearl said. “We will provide details next month and the board will make a decision at that time.”

Even without additional financial support from the county, the center is expected to open this fall, and the town plans to pursue other options to fund the remaining $277,000.

“I have concerns about child care at Stotts Mill. That location, with a baby, you can’t walk or ride a bike, so you’re going to have to drive,” Commissioner Patty Clapper said. “It’s on the hill. I work on that corner and I can see the traffic. It’s crazy, that intersection is crazy.”

Ultimately, the board decided to stick with its original commitment of $250,000 and defer any final decision on further funding for the Blue Lake project.

“We want the town of Basalt to understand that we’re trying to encourage the town of Basalt and we’re not running away from it,” said Commissioner Greg Poschman. “We would like to hear more details, but we are not ready to make any further commitments yet.”