Brighton City Councilors discussed their options for filling the open Ward 4 council seat at their Feb. 7 meeting.

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With design work for a new Public Works service center finished councilors cleared the way for work to begin on the facility's construction.

Councilors approved a $26.1 million contract with FCI Constructors to build the new home for most public works functions, becoming Brighton's base for streets maintenance, fleet maintenance and parks and utility maintenance functions. It will also have a space for Brighton Police Substation.

Councilors first approved the concept in March 2021. That allowed work on the design of the facility, which wrapped up this year. Councilors first reviewed the designs at their Feb. 14 study session.

The city began looking at alternatives for a new maintenance facility in 2019. Each function within public works currently operates its own maintenance facilities.

"If anybody has a question as to why this facility is needed, we can take you on a tour of what they have now," Mills said. "It's embarrassing. It's very embarrassing that a city of our size has the conditions that they are in now."

The facility will include a 67,668-square-foot building on a 244,000-square-foot site. The center will be built on 15.5 acres the city owns Northwest of Main and Denver streets, surrounding the Tractor Supply store. It replaces the facility at 4th and Longs Peak, according to Director of Facilities Patrick Rome. Rome said work should begin in June and wrap up in 2024.

"Everybody has put into this as it has moved forward," Rome said. "We are all ready to move forward with contractors in place. We are very optimistic about how it will go and look forward to having it."

Councilors were emphatic in their support, with Mayor Greg Mills saying he completely supports it.

"It will give us room to grow as we grow as a city," Mills said. "We will be able to serve the public better. This is going to be able to support this operation so much better."

Councilor Clint Blackhurst noted that current city facilities are rented from other groups or failing and Councilor Mary Ellen Pollack said it was long past due.

"The current conditions are just an embarrassment," she said. "I got a tour of the site and just said 'Oh My!'"

Councilor Peter Padilla said he's happy to see so many departments working together.

"We rarely see this number of departments get together and collaborate both on what they need and what they are able to give up," Padilla said. "The collaboration and cooperation and compromise between the number of departments engaged in this is just incredible. We've talked about having departments co-locate their services and being able to provide a building that meets all their needs is pretty incredible."