The NoCo Herald

Larimer and Weld counties, Colorado

Cloudy, 48° in Johnstown at 8:15 AM. Forecast high 58, low 33.

Johnstown

Johnstown hires Connell Resources for raw water pipeline design-phase work

·Johnstown·Weld County·Larimer County

From the Johnstown Town Council meeting of

The council also authorized the town manager to execute the contract and to spend the extra $20,000 at the manager's discretion on additional construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) services. The agreement covers CMAR design-phase services.

The Johnstown Town Council approved a $150,645 agreement with Connell Resources Inc. for design-phase construction management services on the 11-mile raw-water pipeline from Lone Tree Reservoir to the water treatment plant, with another $20,000 authorized for additional services.

The council also authorized the town manager to execute the contract and to spend the extra $20,000 at the manager's discretion on additional construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) services. The agreement covers CMAR design-phase services. Staff said the town plans to proceed with Connell for construction after those services if the town and Connell agree on a guaranteed maximum price.

Johnstown has been designing the 30-inch raw-water transmission main and pump station since 2022, a project meant to increase the volume of raw water available for treatment. The council earlier awarded Civil Resources an agreement for the engineering design. Staff said construction was expected to begin in early 2027, with substantial completion planned for spring 2029.

The selection committee recommended Connell, citing its project approach, relevant experience and interview performance.

In the committee's proposal review, Garney Companies, Inc. ranked first with a median score of 4.09, just ahead of Connell at 4.08. MWH Constructors, Inc. was third at 3.23, and five other firms scored lower. In interviews, the committee ranked Connell first at 4.50 and Garney second at 4.05.

A Connell representative told the council the company did not expect many change orders during design-assist work. "We're not, we're not expecting a lot of change orders for design assist," the representative said. The representative also said Connell had done many CMAR projects for Johnstown's central and north sewer projects, and so knew the town's process.

The committee's evaluation summary says Connell, partnered with Moltz Construction, Inc. on the pump station, brings more than 400 experienced local crew members in Northern Colorado.

Three easements remained to be obtained, staff told the council, and staff hoped to close one soon. Council was told the remaining easements were expected to be completed before work began.

Connell's proposed schedule lists the design phase as September through December 2026, a final guaranteed maximum price submission in December 2026, and construction from January 2027 to December 2028. It identifies third-party approvals and five easements still in negotiation as critical-path issues.

Staff expected to return to the council in February.

More from this meeting

  1. Johnstown Town Council, Nov. 2, 2026

    Johnstown council approves $900,000 purchase of 15 Colorado-Big Thompson water units; Johnstown hires Connell Resources for raw water pipeline design-phase work; Johnstown awards $1.87 million West Parish Alley contract to Krische; 3 consent items adopted.

  2. Item 6Johnstown council approves $900,000 purchase of 15 Colorado-Big Thompson water units

    The resolution says town management had been negotiating to add more of the units to Johnstown's water portfolio. It says buying additional water for the town's allotment and use would benefit its citizens, residents, property owners, businesses, developers and visitors.

  3. Item 9Johnstown awards $1.87 million West Parish Alley contract to Krische

    The work includes 8,893 square feet of interlocking concrete pavers, seven light poles, 69 pipe bollards, gateway features, planter pots, 14 hanging flower baskets, fencing, planting and irrigation.

  4. Item 10Johnstown council approves $893,846 to take part in Glade Reservoir water project

    The town must pay within 30 days of an invoice, but the agreement limits its obligation to the stated share and does not require it to join later project phases.

  5. Item 11Johnstown council approves Larimer County flood map update on first reading

    The ordinance replaces the study reference in town code and removes a rule for measuring a structure’s lowest floor at a crawl space. The ban on crawl spaces in Special Flood Hazard Areas remains; the ordinance takes effect after final passage.

  6. Item 12Johnstown's proposed 2027 General Fund budget of $88.4 million includes $40.5 million for water shares

    The proposal assigns $20.2 million to buildings and $9.2 million to police. No action was taken at the hearing; formal adoption is expected in December.

  7. Item 13Johnstown conditionally approves Diamond Ridge district plan, cutting debt tax cap to 30 mills

    The revised plan must consolidate three districts into one and dedicate streets, water, sewer and storm drainage to the town upon completion and acceptance.