City of Powell River’s consolidated wastewater treatment plant is progressing well, city councillors were told recently.
At the July 22 finance committee meeting, manager of engineering services Nagi Rizk outlined progress and expenditures on the plant in his monthly report to the committee.
Rizk highlighted expenditures related to Associated Engineering (AE) for the construction administrative contract. This included $95,547 for a review and comment on the conceptual outfall realignment, plus all geotechnical support services required for successful completion of the consolidated wastewater treatment plant construction. Cost of this service is $170,462.
The third expenditure is $43,160 for all engineering redesign efforts associated with the new concept for the outfall pipe in the tidal and intertidal zone. Rizk said this will bring the adjusted value of the construction administration contract with AE to $4,805,304.
“We are seeing constant changes on this project,” added Rizk.
The mediation process for determining final contract costs and material purchases for termination of the marine outfall contract with Caribou Mountain Construction is ongoing, according to Rizk. The company was awarded the outfall contract, which came to a halt because of orders from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Rizk said Graham Infrastructure, the main contractor for construction of the plant, is moving along nicely on the jobsite. He invited councillors to have a look at the progress and drive by the project on the public access road. He said because of the terrain contour, they would not be able to see the vast excavation that is taking place. He invited the mayor and councillors to schedule visits to the site.
Rizk said the contractor is hauling soil steadily. He said he was onsite and believes there were 10 trucks – six local and four from out of town – working on the project.
The city has closed the bidding process for the linear work, which will involve the piping to the plant.
“We had quite a few questions and received tenders from only two out of the three shortlisted contractors,” said Rizk. “They are very competitive numbers and it’s under review. That’s all I can say until I come back to you, likely to full council for recommendation, to award, hopefully.
Rizk said city officials met with some residents who were concerned with some of the construction in their neighbourhood.
“I think we answered all of their questions,” said Rizk. “There will be a little bit of modification on the design to accommodate some changes on accessibility. I don’t see that being a problem. We will work with the public to accommodate them as much as possible.”
Mayor Dave Formosa said the city had anticipated three bids for the linear work but only received two. He asked if the city is within its right to get another bid to replace the anticipated one that didn’t come in.
Rizk said the bidding is closed and he did not see the benefit of doing that. He said the question had been raised but because prices are coming in very closely, he anticipated a third bid would come in around the same range.
“It’s not worth going into it when we are in a time bind right now,” said Rizk. “The review process is quite expedited and we are under the gun a little bit. We need to come to you with a conclusion. Trying to put another tender out, or bring in another price, that’s pretty tough.”
