Council purchased new scales for the facility in 2009 and has been planning since then to construct a new scale house and public drop off facility.
Council tendered for the construction project last summer but after hearing from six bidders for the job, the lowest quote came in at more than $720,000, almost double the muncipality’s budget for the job of $396,700.
After revising its design to a “bare-bones”option, a new quote from the lowest bidder came in at $475,303.
By that period, however, it was determined that the work could not be carried out prior to the end of last fall’s construction period. In the meantime, staff determined the best course of action would be to review and revise the entire design process and that a tender for the project be withheld until the process is complete.
“So we’re suggesting that by cancelling that tender and retendering, we’re more apt to get a better price?” Deputy Mayor Bill Masters asked, during last week’s council committee meeting.
“We believe so, yes,” responded Wayne Wamboldt, the municipality’s Solid Waste director.
