By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

The future for the former Women’s Army Corp (WAC) building, 1725 17 St., is getting clearer after Los Alamos County Council voted 6-1 on a design option for the building during its regular meeting Tuesday night.

Councilor David Reagor opposed the motion to approve the option. He said it was too soon to take any action on the project because there are too many questions that need to be answered and he would like to see more options about what could be done to the building.

Michelle Mullen of the firm Mullen-Heller, which was contracted to produce design options for the WAC building, said the approved option was based on community input and educated guesses on how to use the space.

On the first floor, the design option showcases a visitor center for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park as well as exhibit space, offices for the National Park Service and restrooms. On the second floor, the design features spaces for exhibits as well as a live-in suite for National Park Service staff.

A lift would be installed to get between the two floors.

The design also calls for an outdoor pavilion that would offer restrooms as well as a covered area.

Two other options were presented and regardless of which one was selected Mullen said some things will need to be done to the building. These include installing new utilities, a fire line for a sprinkler system, widening the sidewalks and removing trip hazards, rehabilitating parking and potentially enlarging the parking lot and landscaping.

She added new duct work, electric work are needed, insulation is required for the walls and roof and windows need to be replaced.

The projected cost for the option council approved is $2.6 million.

Councilor Sara Scott said she favored this option because “first of all it’s minimal initial impact and I like that about it … it’s going let us get more detailed cost estimates, it’s going let us get more clarity on really how we can use this space…”

“I’d like to say that I think it is really important to refine our operational costs … additionally, I would like to make sure we look at … green space – making it an attractive, integrated part of the neighborhood,” Scott added.

In other business council:

• Introduced Ordinance No. 720, which authorizes this County to enter a loan agreement with the New Mexico Environmental Department to obtain loan funds in the principal amount of up to $25 million plus accrued interest. The loan funds would be used toward the Bayo Lift Station elimination pipeline project and the replacement wastewater treatment plant in White Rock.
• Introduced Ordinance No. 718, which ends the economic development project between the County and TNJLA, LLC. TNJLA was granted 2.6 acres of County-owned land at 20th Street to construct an extended stay hotel and conference center. However, TNJLA was unable to secure financing commitments sufficient for the project.
• Unanimously approved Ordinance No. 715, to execute or amend existing lease agreements for hangars at Los Alamos County Municipal Airport.
• Unanimously approved a resolution for the North Central Regional Transit District FY2023 budget proposal, the FY2023 County Regional Service Plan and submittal of the County’s plan to the North Central Regional Transit District Board of Directors.
• Unanimously approved to extend the Racial Equity and Inclusivity Task Force through July 31 to allow the task force time to collect feedback for its final report and get the report finalized and approved before presenting it to council.