City of Powell River Council will consider allocating money from the RCMP building roof replacement budget to replace the roof of Powell River Public Library.
At the December 1 committee of the whole meeting, director of infrastructure services Tor Birtig made a presentation advocating the reallocation of $100,000 from the RCMP building fund to increase the library roof replacement fund to enable the awarding of a contract for the full replacement of the library roof.
Birtig said that recently, the city tendered an upgrade to the library roof, which will include a two-ply membrane and some seismic upgrades, plywood sheeting and installation of steel plates. He said the tender was offered with three options: a 50 per cent replacement, a 75 per cent replacement and a full replacement, because it was considered that the city might not have an adequate budget to do the entire roof, with the thought of doing the remaining 25 or 50 per cent in the following year.
After receiving five bids for the three options, Nelson Roofing was the low bidder.
“It was apparent to us that doing the entire roof would be more cost effective for the city and obviously less disruptive to the tenants of the building,” said Birtig. “The problem, obviously, is we don’t have enough funds for this project.
“What we are asking is $100,000 be reallocated from the 2020 budget for the RCMP roof and then during budget deliberations for 2021, we would ask for those dollars to be reinstated into the RCMP roof renovation, with the hope we wouldn’t require the whole $100,000.”
Mayor Dave Formosa said it was time to get the roof done and it’s been needed for some time. He asked when the project could be undertaken.
Birtig said if the budgetary changes are made, it’s anticipated the work could begin early in the new year, perhaps in February or March.
Formosa said he would be supporting the initiative.
Councillor George Doubt said it makes sense to do the entire roof at once rather than doing it in two stages because there is always going to be the issue of how to deal with the seam between the two roof jobs.
“With a single roof replacement all at once you get a better product,” said Doubt.
He added that he had some questions about the RCMP roof that was budgeted to be $300,000, and the intention was to do the RCMP and library roofs in 2020. He said it appeared from Birtig’s report that the plan was to do both in 2021, so the city will have to come up with at least another $100,000 for the RCMP roof.
“Would I be correct in guessing that if the library roof didn’t come in at the budgeted price, the RCMP roof probably won’t come in at the budgeted price?” asked Doubt.
Birtig said the RCMP roof doesn’t include the seismic upgrades and the additional vapour retardant, so even using prices received for the library roof, he thinks $300,000 for the RCMP roof would be adequate.
Committee chair councillor Cindy Elliott asked if the budget for the two roofs is expected to be higher or lower than planned.
Birtig said it is going to be approximately $84,000 higher, but hopefully less. He said the RCMP roof hadn’t gone to tender so the city doesn’t know exactly where that roof replacement is going to fall into place.
“Our anticipation is that we are not going to require $84,000, but somewhere around the $40,000 to $50,000 range,” said Birtig.
The matter will go to city council on December 17.
