Craig Bakay | May 18, 2022


Anyone who’s priced out some renovations for this summer will have no doubt noticed that things have become more expensive than they were before the pandemic and Central Frontenac Council were made all too aware of this at their regular meeting May 10 in Sharbot Lake.

Manager of Development Services Andy Dillon presented reports on three projects at Township facilities this spring, all of which came in over budget.

First up was replacing the shingles on the Mountain Grove Hall (which have reached the end of their service life) with a steel roof as well as replacing some gutters and downspouts.

The budgeted amount for the job was $30,000 but the lowest bid (from Wise Choice Contracting) was $34,000 (the other two bids were $49,500 and $70,000).

Council approved taking $4,000 from reserves to cover the added costs.

Similarly, while $75,000 was budgeted for consolidating two accessibility ramps at Kennebec Hall in Arden, the lowest bid (Wise Choice Contracting) came in at $94,675, and Council approved taking the extra $20,000 out of reserves.

“Construction materials and labour are currently in short supply, which has limited the number of bidders and increased the construction costs,” Dillon said.

The final project was for the renovation of the former Harvey Barber Shop adjacent to the main offices in Sharbot Lake. The amount budgeted for renovations was $144,000 (plus $25,000 for furniture, equipment and IT, not included in tender price). The lowest bid (Jones Contracting and Building Service) was $169,000.

However, Dillon suggested some negotiations around scaling back the scope of the work could bring the project back under budget.

“Some of the exterior work could be scaled back to offset the cost of furniture and equipment,” he said. “Leave the existing windows as is, eliminated the front entrance to the meeting room, reduce the length of the new sidewalk, eliminate the exterior foundation insulation, eliminated the foundation drainage, and change the barrier-free entrance from anodized aluminum to a steel door and frame are items that can be removed/adjusted.”

Coun. Tom Dewey suggested he’d be OK with taking an additional $14,000 out of reserves to get all the work done.

“With costs going up, it will only cost more to get this done later,” he said.

But Dillon suggested that everything he asked for on the RFP wasn’t really necessary.

“I was hoping to get all this work done with the budget I had but with the cost of labour and materials, it just wasn’t necessary,” Dillon said. “The windows and doors would be nice to have but they really aren’t an absolute necessity to make the space work.”

“I trust that at the end of the day, everything that needs to be done will be done,” said Coun. Brent Cameron.

No meeting road show in summer of ‘22

Central Frontenac’s standard practise of holding a Council meeting in each of Arden, Mountain Grove and Piccadilly during the spring/summer months has been on hold during the pandemic and it looks like it will remain on hold for a while longer.

The procedure bylaw’s provision for said meetings was suspended for 2022 as CAO/Clerk Cathy MacMunn said they’re looking at being able to stream meetings from those locations in the near future.

“Is there a possibility we’ll ever be able to stream from the other locations?” said Coun. Bill MacDonald. “If not, why suspend the bylaw for one year?”

“We’ll be revising the entire bylaw and bringing it back to Council,” MacMunn said.

“Moving equipment is an issue,” said Coun. Brent Cameron. “We’ll have to look at costs.”

“I’d like to invite the Arden group to come here to Sharbot Lake and provide us with a meal,” joked MacDonald.

 

Swim Program Cancelled

During her Mayor’s Remarks, Mayor Frances Smith announced that the swim lessons program has been cancelled for this year.

“We haven’t been able to find instructors,” she said. “Anybody who’s already paid will have their money refunded.”

Fire works on

Coun. Cindy Kelsey announced that Victoria Day Fireworks are scheduled for May 21 at 9 p.m. in Kennebec Recreation Park (behind the post office). Rain date is May 22.

Call if trees are down

Public Works Manager Tyson Myers has asked the public to call in if they spot downed trees from windstorms blocking roads.

“Let us know where they are and we’ll make time to get to them,” he said.

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