More contractor paving, less city crew paving in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs retains only a few paving machines, following a national trend of more privatization of public works services.

Corey Farkas, manager of the city’s streets division, said most of the paving equipment was sold three years ago during the administration of former Mayor Steve Bach.

Farkas said the remaining equipment is used for about 20 percent of the city’s paving needs, mostly small projects and emergencies.

“We’ll spend $1 million on our own paving and $4.5 million on the rest of it,” he said.

Two local contractors, Martin Marietta and Schmidt Construction, do the rest of the paving work.

Farkas said private paving and city paving cost about the same, but by contracting most paving needs, the city avoids paying for additional equipment and personnel.

“Our people do top-notch work,” he said. “But when you look at the recessions and cutbacks we’ve had, the resources just aren’t there to buy a lot of equipment and pay a lot more workers.”

Farkas said the city also occasionally rents paving equipment. A rented paving machine and two city-owned machines are involved in a paving project near Seven Falls.

“That’s example of where our crews come in,” Farkas said. “The road there isn’t bad enough for a full repave, but we can repave parts of it to add life until it’s ready for extensive repair.”

KRDO NewsChannel 13 is waiting on a response from the city about how much money came from the sale of paving equipment.

Farkas said if a proposed sales tax increase for expanded paving is approved by voters this fall, private contractors will do the work.