Attorney for Erie Resident Demands Delay of Mineral Rights Vote Pending Procurement and Contract Review

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Darren O’Connor Law, LLC

ERIE, Colo. — Attorney Darren O’Connor, on behalf of an Erie resident, has issued a formal legal demand to the Town of Erie requesting that the Town delay any final action on the proposed sale of Town-owned mineral rights associated with the Draco project until questions regarding procurement compliance and contract performance are fully addressed.

The demand follows public statements made during recent Erie Town Council meetings indicating that the Town’s procurement process may not have been followed when Alameda Mineral Advisors was retained and that contractual requirements related to competitive bid solicitation may not have been completed.

At issue is a contractual requirement that Alameda Mineral Advisors conduct a competitive bid and solicitation process before recommending the sale of Town-owned mineral rights. According to the demand letter, that process was intended to test the market and help ensure the Town received the best available value for public assets. Instead, questions have emerged regarding whether competing bids were ever solicited and whether negotiations were effectively limited to a single company.

“A competitive bid and solicitation process was required by the contract between the Town of Erie and Alameda Mineral Advisors,” said O’Connor. “That requirement exists to help ensure the Town receives the best possible value for public assets. Instead, it appears Alameda may have negotiated with only a single company. The public deserves a clear explanation and transparency regarding how this process was handled.”

According to O’Connor, these issues extend beyond routine procedural questions and involve the Town’s responsibility to protect public assets, comply with its own procurement requirements, and enforce contractual obligations entered into on behalf of Erie residents.

“The Town should not proceed with a major mineral-rights transaction while unresolved questions remain about whether the consultant was hired in compliance with Erie’s procurement rules and whether the consultant performed the competitive bid-solicitation work required by contract,” O’Connor stated in the demand letter.

The demand requests that the Town provide records related to the procurement and selection of Alameda Mineral Advisors, determine whether contractual bid-solicitation requirements were fulfilled, identify whether any Town official instructed the consultant not to perform those duties, and explain any actions taken to modify or waive contractual requirements.

O’Connor is also requesting that the Town defer any final vote, execution, or implementation of the proposed mineral-rights transaction until those questions are resolved and the public has received a clear explanation of the process.

The legal demand includes a records preservation request and asks the Town to provide a written response within two business days due to the Town Council’s scheduled June 16 vote on the proposed mineral-rights agreement.

“The public is entitled to a transparent explanation, and the Town is obligated to protect municipal assets and taxpayer funds,” O’Connor wrote in the demand.

A copy of the demand letter has been provided to the Town of Erie and is available upon request.

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Contact: Darren O’Connor

720.961.3869

darreno@dolawllcocm

Darren O’Connor, Esq.

Darren O’Connor Law, LLC

Tel.: 720.961.3869