Barkerville has successful year PAGE A3
Friday, November 20, 2015
brenda’s bursary PAGE A8
VOL. 102 NO. 23
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City staff given go-ahead on planning for new public works building RYAN GRAHAM Observer Reporter Council has given staff direction to move forward with developing plans for a new public works building. Monday council heard from Director of Infrastructure and Capital Works, Ken Coombs detailing the process, where they’re at and estimated costs. Council has given staff direction to move forward with developing plans and related pre-counter petition works for the proposed facility on the old soccer fields located on Sword Avenue. In addition council approved a budget of $185,000 in the 2015 Capital Works program for planning work and providing an updated estimate of costs. As of now pre-counter work has been awarded to A-49 Inc for $136,500 and GeoNorth Engineering Ltd. for $10,826. SSA Quantity Surveyors finished their estimate in late October with a projected cost of $9.9 million. The estimate includes a design contingency of five per cent, an escalation contingency of 1.5 per cent (based on the project proceeding within six months) and a construction contingency of three per cent, which is a total of 9.5 per cent in total contingency. Other costs related to the project but not included in the SSA Quantity Surveyors, include financing costs, design fees, technology equipment (IT, audio, visual, security and communication tower), furniture
(furnishings and appliances) and moving. Currently there is $579,000 in reserve for the project that will be applied to the design fees. With this it will reduce the estimated costs not included in the Quantity Survey from $975,00 to $396,000. The construction costs of the buildings on site can vary plus or minus 15 per cent based on level of finish/design. The recommendation was that council receive the report for information and that council direct staff to bring a business plan outlining the taxation impact this project will have on residents with the goal of moving towards an alternate approval process in early 2016 and a construction date beginning in 2017. “The value engineering process is still ongoing at this point in time,” city manager Byron Johnson said. “That value engineering process can result in significant savings to that project as we move forward. With this resolution we would bring back to council a business case around this project where we talk about potential saving that exist by pushing forward with this project. Also talk about how this fits the overall affordability for our tax payer moving forward in a big tax framework.” “I know that we all agree that we need a new public works facility,” Coun. Ron Paull Paull added. “We’ve needed a public works facility probably 40 years ago. I’m hopeful that we can go to the alternative referendum process for something under $10 million.”
Just out for a walk 73-year-old Jim Brennan from Los Angeles, California is walking from Alaska to Argentina just because he can. He walks about 15 miles a day and has already replaced his footwear several times. This picture was taken at the top of Dragon Lake Hill on Monday. Monday night’s destination was the Alamo Restaurant in Kersley. Karen Powell photo
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