Township approves $1-million tender for office expansion

by Chris Daponte

BRUCEDALE

An expansion that will nearly double the size of the municipal office here is one step closer to reality after Guelph-Eramosa council approved a $1-million tender last week.

The 3,850 square foot addition was made possible by a 2012 budget amendment in May, which estimated the project cost at $1,062,000 - with $930,000 coming from a debenture, $76,700 from capital reserves and $55,300 from development charges.

Later that month 18 contractors expressed interest in bidding on the project, 13 of which attended a mandatory site meeting. Just two submitted bids that were within the township’s budget, and they were interviewed in June.

“After scoring the proposals and interviewing the general contractors, it was determined by staff that the municipality would be best served by awarding the project to Devlan Construction,” parks and recreation manager Robin Milne told council on July 3.

A few weeks prior, the township’s strategic planning committee recommended council accept the Devlan bid which, with the inclusion of an elevator and a $47,525 contingency fund, totalled $1,014,474.

Last week council approved the bid and directed staff to enter a design/build contract with Devlan Construction.

In May township staff and Mayor Chris White said the addition will eliminate the need for the trailer that houses some staff members outside the main office, and it will also address accessibility issues and alleviate some of the crowding inside the current office, which measures 3,753 square feet (the trailer is 429 square feet).

July 13, 2012