Contractor Abandons Smucker Park Project; Yuma County Seeks Replacement

The Yuma County Flood Control District board voted March 8, 2022 to terminate the contract with Meridian/Millennium Engineering for the Smucker/Mucka Park detention-basin project, CIP #3.9703, after the company stepped away from flood-control and drainage work at Smucker Park, county documents show. The board moved to authorize advertising for construction services so the district can solicit bids to complete the detention-basin work.

According to the Citizen Portal record of the meeting, the board held an executive session before voting; the motion to terminate the flood-control district contract was seconded and carried by voice vote, with ‘Aye’ responses recorded. The board authorized the flood-control district manager, subject to legal review, to sign termination documents and then directed staff to advertise for construction services to finish the basin work.

Local reporting and officials say parts of Smucker Park have reopened while the unfinished detention work remains on hold. City of Yuma leaders told KYMA that additional repairs and landscaping are planned this spring, and Mayor Doug Nicholls said, “most of the dead trees have been removed and the city is reviewing a contract to replace them.” County officials are reviewing their options, including possible legal action, and are looking for a new contractor to complete the job, local reporting added.

The contractor’s departure has affected regular park users. Norma Guerrero, described by KYMA as “a regular at the park,” said, “In the morning, we used to see people exercising before work, and we don't see that anymore because the path is blocked.” Her observation underscores the public disruption on and around Ray Smucker Park and the need for a clear timeline to finish the detention basin and reopen blocked paths.

Social posts offer unconfirmed timelines and statuses: a Facebook post attributed to someone named Quintero states, “The work is now expected to finish at the end of October, and with that a full re- opening of beloved Smucker Park off Ave. A,” but that projection is not corroborated in county board documents. A YouTube video titled “Yuma County replaces contractor for basin construction near Ray Smucker Park” appears online with metadata showing 36 views and a posting time of roughly two weeks ago; the Citizen Portal record, however, documents only authorization to advertise for replacement construction services rather than an awarded contract.

With the board’s termination vote and authorization to advertise, the Flood Control District has opened the formal procurement pathway to finish CIP #3.9703, but officials have not publicly confirmed a replacement contractor or an updated schedule beyond social media projections. The district’s manager may sign termination documents after legal review, and staff can then move forward with soliciting bids to complete the detention-basin work and restore full public access to Smucker Park.