Councillors here have approved a series of tenders that public works director Larry Lynch says will save taxpayers money – even though the township has not yet approved its entire budget.
Lynch brought council several recommendations for sidewalks, equipment and the supply of road materials.
The first was to supply 20,000 tonnes of annual maintenance gravel. The Murray Group was the low bidder at $213,400. The high bid was Cox Construction Limited of Guelph at $246,000.
Lynch said he had no problem supporting the low bid. He said there was some concerns with the quality Murray Group provided recently, but tests of that gravel showed it meets the required standards, and Centre Wellington Township also approved that gravel.
“They did their due diligence,” Lynch said of Murray Group.
Lynch explained the main focus for material placement will be gravel roads within the boundaries of County Roads 11, 86, 9 and 109.
Lynch noted the budget estimate for the gravel was $215,000.
Sidewalks
Council awarded the tender for sidewalks and curb repair at $96,500 (all figures rounded off) to Berlin Concrete Limited, of Kitchener. The budget was $100,000 and the high bid was $185,000, with seven companies bidding.
“The 2012 proposed sidewalk repair program is intended to address random sidewalk slap repair outside the downtown core, in the village of Drayton,” Lynch said in his written report.
He added it is also to “address enhanced corner ramping at all Drayton intersections while replacing concrete pedestrian areas around the concession booth at the Drayton Kinsmen Ball Park.”
Lynch said there was “a lot of interest this year” in the work and added the winning company is owned by the son of a contractor that had done the same work for the past three years.
Lynch also noted, “There was considerable savings in sending [the tenders] out early.”
That caused councillor Neil Driscoll to wonder how it was council could approve the tenders when it has not yet approved its township budget.
“How can we pass and approve these when we don’t have the money in place?” he wondered.
Mayor Bruce Whale agreed, and suggested in the future council should set its budget by January.
Lynch said he understands Driscoll’s apprehension, but noted his report cites a “proposed budget.”
Driscoll said, “So, you’ve covered us?”
Whale agreed such approvals are not the way council would want to do business all the time.
But Lynch pointed out, “I had direction to get tenders out early this year.”
Council then approved the sidewalks and cure tender award.
Asphalt
Council also approved a tender for the supply, placement and compaction of asphalt, won by The Murray Group, at $339,450. The highest of the four bids was Cox, at $404,300.
Lynch’s report said the paving program includes:
– Sideroad 12, from Concession 12 to 700 metres west;
– Concession 8, Sideroad 12 to the Moorefield village limit;
– Concession 4, west of County Road 10 to 2.7km west; and
– the Drayton municipal parking lot.
Lynch said asphalt was up slightly, “primarily because of oil costs and costs for transportation.” He said the paving is part of his five-year roads plan.
Dust control
Council split its tenders for dust control this year. That is the supply, delivery and application of HL4 calcium-magnesium chloride on township gravel roads.
He recommended 552976 Ontario Limited of Stoney Point, be awarded part of a contract with a bid of $90,125, and Da lee Dust Control be awarded a full contract for $53,250.
Councillors wondered why two companies were being considered.
Lynch said the Stoney Point Company’s total supply would actually cost $47,100, and he was not recommending the full amount of its bid.
Lynch explained in his report that company has been supplying the township for several years, but staff is concerned with the performance of its liquid brine equivalent solution on the township’s gravel roads.
He said that material requires a double application to achieve the 35% equivalent of the calcium-magnesium chloride, and there is concern wet spring weather washes away considerable product before it can penetrate gravel.
He said last year there were numerous dust complaints throughout the summer the township has not received in other years.
He said he divided the tender for comparison purposes because “it makes no sense to me to put brine solution on if it’s not working. It works, fine – sometimes. Last year, it didn’t.”
Rubber tire roller
The Murray Group was awarded a tender to supply the township will a rubber tire compactor that can be hauled behind its grader.
Council had considered bids several months ago, but the best bid was $1,000 over the budget price and was rejected. Lynch asked at that time if councillors knew of anyone else who builds them.
He said councillors did, and “The Murray Group obviously has a lot of ability in fabricating.”
He asked council to accept the Murray Group bid of $10,000 because he wants to be using the roller by May. Company officials have already looked at the equipment they will have to connect with the roller.
Lynch also provided some road facts for council:
– 156km of gravel roads in Mapleton, and 10.1km of earth roads;
– the annual cost for gravel on those roads is estimated at $240,000 this year; and
– dust control is another $120,000.
Councillors heard the roller helps keep roads in good condition longer. When councillor Neil Driscoll asked about the number of gravel roads, Lynch wryly noted some do not have much gravel on them.
Council approved the tender.
