Councillors here have approved about half million dollars to upgrade sewage projects in Harriston.
On April 7, council approved the third phase of the Harriston sewage works upgrade (Mill Street sanitary sewer, Young Street forcemain and emergency overflow at the Young Street sewage pumping station) as it awarded the tender to Kurtis Smith Excavating, of Brussels, in the amount of $496,649.
It was the lowest of five bids, and each included a contingency allowance of $25,000 and 5% GST.
In his report to council, Dale Erb, of BM?Ross and Associates Ltd., stated “We have dealt with Kurtis Smith Excavating on various projects in the past and in all cases, our experiences dealing with them have been positive.”
Mayor David Anderson asked for clarification that the work is through a Canada-Ontario infrastructure grant.
Treasurer Gord Duff said it is under the Building Canada Fund, and this is the third part of the project.
Dust control tender
Council subsequently approved a dust control tender to supply and apply dust control and road stabilization materials.
That tender of $22,100 went to Pollard Highway Products for 260,000 litres of a liquid calcium-magnesium solution.
“It will keep the dust storms down,” Anderson commented.
Grass mowing tender
Another tender approved that night was for roadside grass mowing.
Council approved the bid by Driscoll Farms (Neil Driscoll) as a rate of $6.80/kilometre plus GST ($2,516 per cut) and $60 per hour for any unforeseen cutting within the municipality, including the urban areas of Clifford, Harriston and Palmerston.
Anderson asked if any local bids were received.
The town only received two offers, and there was a significant difference in the bids -roughly $1,500 per cut and $20 per hour to deal with unforeseen cutting within the municipality.
