Council here approved tenders for the rebuild of four blocks of Colborne Street in Elora and the replacement of the 27WG bridge (Sideroad 20).
On July 12 Centre Wellington’s managing director of infrastructure Colin Baker recapped road and bridge tender projects for 2017:
Closed Tenders/RFPs
– 2017 pavement management
– Victoria St. pedestrian bridge – design and contract administration.
– Wellington St. watermain replacement (Cancelled)
– Princess St. (Church St. to Grand River) reconstruction (Cancelled)
– Culvert 32WG replacement (Third Line)
– Bridge 9WG replacement (Seventh Line)
– Bridge 10P replacement (Fourth Line) (Cancelled)
Under Consideration
Baker said options are still being considered for the Wellington Street watermain replacement – on its own.
The Princess Street work is being deferred to the next construction season, Baker added.
Baker noted that currently out for tender is work for the Metcalfe Street parking lot expansion at LCBO.
27WG bridge
Baker stated completed aspects of the work included the class environmental assessment, structure type selection, cultural heritage evaluation, and preliminary design completed in 2014.
One of the delays in the project has been getting permits and approvals because the Redside Dace is listed as protected under Species At Risk Act.
The species was detected about 15 years ago within the Irvine Creek watershed.
“We were told to assume it is still there,” Baker said.
As such, various actions are required to protect the species and its habitat – by both the provincial and federal governments.
Baker said there were four bids to replace the concrete girder bridge and that the project was under budget by $41,930.
Baker clarified this work does not include the costs for the five year monitoring (of Irvine Creek as required by the province).
Initially, the scope of work included reconstruction of Sideroad 20. Now it is limited to sections of the sideroad approaching structure 27WG which are required for the bridge replacement.
The work was awarded to Sierra Bridge Inc. of Woodstock in the amount of $1,765,149.50 inclusive of contingency allowance of $125,000, excluding HST.
Councillor Mary Lloyd noted the overall budgeted cost of the project cited available funding as $2.3-million – but the tender figure was different.
Baker stated the tender is only for the construction work, but there are additional costs associated with contract administration, inspection, materials testing, fees related to an on-site biologist inspections.
Councillor Kirk McElwain said it appears the road reconstruction was removed from the project.
“… so in fact it is likely this is not under budget.
Baker said the roadwork valued at $200,000 was removed.
“The project still exists, but we felt the road component based on this year’s tenders would have been over – and would have placed the entire project in jeopardy if it remained. The decision was made to removed that work from the (current) tender.”
CAO Andy Goldie said the plan is to have that part of the project happen in 2018.
Colborne Street
Baker said the Colborne project is a full reconstruction including the road, on-street parking, sidewalks, streetlights, watermain, storm sewers and sanitary sewer.
Baker said this project is being funded from a number of sources including development charges; water and sanitary sewer user pay (for the water and sewer portions of the project) and tax supported capital.
He said those development charges account for about 60% of the total construction value (with contingencies) of $1.37-million.
Baker noted additional funding is required from reserves to meet the full construction value.
This would come from reserves for development charges reserves, general capital and sanitary sewer.
Baker said on the waterworks side, money will actually be going back into its reserves as that part of the project is under budget.
Council awarded the work to Drexler Construction Limited, Rockwood for $1,143,552 inclusive of contingency allowance of $80,000, excluding HST.
McElwain questioned why additional funding sources were required.
“When we are under budget but having additional funding … I don’t understand how this adds up.”
Baker clarified only one portion of the project was under budget, overall the project was over by $123,148.
Councillor Fred Morris asked if both projects were part of the 2017 capital budget passed in December 2016.
Both were approved.
Morris asked why the projects were delayed so long if approved last year.
Baker earlier explained the delay of 27WG was in part due to delays in provincial permit approvals.
He said the delay in Colborne St. project resulted as a process of the detailed design work – which happens after preliminary budget approval.
“These are big projects for the township and we’ve been trying to move them forward as quickly as we are able.”
And being so late in the construction season, Morris also asked whether the projects could not be pushed to 2018 – to potentially save money on the bids.
Councillor Stephen Kitras said, “I’m a little bit concerned about how we are communicating this Colborne St. construction,” Kitras stated.
“The truth is that we are over budget … but we are saying we are under budget. We should just say what it is.”
Kitras said the numbers stated the township is finding additional funds for the project – from reserves.
“I think we should be telling exactly what is happening … and not say we are under budget when we are over.”
McElwain said the township has just allocated another $95,000 from capital reserves “… is there anything left there at all?” he asked.
Financial manager Mark Bradey told council the balance of reserves is at about $2.43 million.
Including the loan from reserves for WG27 the bridge which is just shy of $1.4 million, reserves are at over one million dollars, Bradey said.
McElwain said he remained puzzled because last month council was told it was too short of money to proceed with some projects.
Goldie said the arguement made at that time was that funding all the projects would take capital reserves down to roughly $200,000.
Allocating all of the reserve for one project is not really the intent of the reserve, Goldie explained.
Morris asked what the danger zone is for the balance of the capital reserve.
Bradey said $1-million was set as a reserve to allow for contingencies while allowing the township to continue tendering projects.
He said he would be more concerned if the reserve dropped below $500,000.
“At that point we might be in serious risk,” Bradey stated.
He noted in 2008, the township experienced an operating loss of $100,000 and the capital reserves provide a cushion to fall back on.
