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Courthouse Clean-Up Still Top Priority

Santa Fe, NM – December 15, 2010 – The Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve three items related to the new First Judicial Courthouse at their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. Two change orders were approved, including additional funding for a contract with Bradbury Stamm Construction, Inc., and an amendment to a contract between Santa Fe County and NCA Architects providing additional funding. A portion of the approved additional funding will go to the remediation of the site and a portion is to design a new four-foot concrete baseboard barrier in the courthouse parking lot, the latest and best protective system available.

Each commissioner explained their support for the First Judicial Courthouse and reaffirmed their commitment to cleaning up the site.

“I wish the courthouse was rising from the ground right now, but we made a commitment to do this the right way. We made a commitment to clean up the environment and protect the ground, the water, and the citizens,” said Commissioner Liz Stefanics. She continued, “It is disappointing that it is taking longer and costing a little more, but it is necessary to do the right thing, we can’t turn our back on this, we have to create an environment that is safe for everyone working, visiting and doing business in downtown Santa Fe.”

Commissioner Virginia Vigil stated, “This was a blessing in disguise. This contamination would have not been discovered until it actually reached our water. She continued, “This is a huge service to the community.”

The County Courthouse was originally scheduled to be complete by the end of 2010 and has yet to start vertical construction due to discovery of contamination on the building site. Despite the budget increases approved, Santa Fe County Community Services Director, Joseph Gutierrez emphasized that the project is still within the estimated budget. He noted that when the contamination was first discovered it was difficult to pinpoint its extent and the level of remediation required. Gutierrez continued, “I am cautiously optimistic that by the end of February 2011 there will be construction.”