Public Works Department Director Philo Shelton presents his department’s budget during Tuesday night’s hearing. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Staff Report

Los Alamos County Council unanimously voted to tentatively approve the Public Works Department’s approximately $34.1 million budget during Tuesday night’s hearing.

Additionally, they tentatively approved all the budget add-on options, which included:

• $365,655 for major facilities maintenance
• $680,000 budgeted in the general fund and $320,000 from non-general funds for increase in interdepartmental charges
• $16,000 to staff Fuller Lodge on weekends
• $250,000 for an additional Atomic City Transit weekend service from the White Rock Visitor Center to Los Alamos. However, council agreed this budget option is pending research on the optimal route.
• $105,000 for material and supplies for the six County facilities acquired during the last five years.
• $156,000 for contractual services
• $85,000 for traffic signal controller upgrade
• $70,000 to purchase new fire extinguishers
• $35,000 for potential project funding

Public Works Director Philo Shelton provided highlights from his department’s budget. They included:

• Budget allows the Custodial and to maintain approximately 600,00 square feet of County buildings. Budget allows Engineering & Project Management Division to manage multiple capital transportation and facility improvement projects
• Facilities Division provides preventive building maintenance program and routine maintenance in most all of the county buildings
• Budget includes funds necessary to cover utility costs in most county owned and operated facilities. 
• Residential curbside collection of trash and recycle on a weekly basis for approximately 6,850 residential customers, and Commercial recycle and trash dumpster collection for about 320 customers.
• Support roadway and right-of-way maintenance will also include, street sweeping, striping, vegetation control and snow removal
• Replace 30 vehicles and equipment
• Provide maintenance on 345 vehicles and 278 components
• Provide weekday bus service between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on seven neighborhood routes and Dial-a-Ride until 9 p.m.
• Provide service between White Rock and Bandelier National Monument seven days per week seasonally. Provide special event service to support community events