Councillors here are hoping a concrete solution will provide the relative sounds of silence residents are looking for at the town’s recently constructed skate park.
On Nov. 20, council reviewed recommendations by recreation manager Graham Smith who asked council to approve the construction of the sound barrier fence at the Erin Skate park as submitted by Verti-Crete Inc.
Smith said financial impact for the construction of the sound barrier will be $12,015 +GST.
This money would come from cash-in lieu of parkland reserve funds.
He explained that in October, council directed staff to seek cost estimates for a sound barrier fence for the skate park based on the recommendations made from HGC Engineering.
Staff received four quotes of which three met the requirements – one of those exceeded the recommendations.
He said staff evaluations support the bid from Verti-Crete as the best solution in terms of durability, aesthetics, superior sound barrier results and maintenance/accessibility as the main benefits of the fence.
He added the concrete barrier is the same cost as a wood barrier fence, but exceeds the sound barrier recommendations.
Smith added that Verti-Crete could install the fence in two weeks if council agrees to proceed.
In 2010, the skate park project was estimated to cost between $85,000 to $100,000.
By early 2012, that amount had risen to $112,468 followed by noise concerns which ramped up the costs by an additional $12,015.
Smith noted that currently, the budget indicates there is $160,000 allocated for the project.
He said the barrier would put the project $3,000 over that amount.
The 10-foot tall sound barriers would only be on two sides of the skate park
Councillor Barb Tocher believed the concrete wall would be more effective as a sound barrier.
She quipped “We may just get our graffiti wall after all.”
While Mayor Lou Maieron had no issue with the current project to alleviate the noise generated by the park. He noted this project was initiated before the current term of council.
He thought the original costs were around $100,000, “now we are up to $160,000.”
Tocher said the $160,000 figure was in last year’s budget and the mayor was part of that process.
Maieron said that he just wanted some clarification why the costs had increased.
“It seems we keep adding to it to solve issues.”
He said that even if it is just a learning exercise, it would be useful to see how this happened.
Councillor John Brennan added it is a good idea for any project.
