Some Wellington County councillors want to see changes to the province’s Conservation Authorities Act after approving a $700,000 tender for the replacement of a culvert on Wellington Road 22 in Erin.
At the May 28 meeting, council approved a roads committee recommendation to award the tender to replace the culvert, located 200 metres east of Wellington Road 23, to SLR Contracting Group of Windsor for $496,000. Professional fees of $143,000 plus HST, county labour and materials costs, and a $46,000 contingency reserve boost the total project cost to $710,000.
Erin Mayor Alan Alls said much of the project cost is connected to engineering and environmental requirements.
“The contract price is $500,000 – I’m speaking in round numbers – and the total project cost is $710,000. Much of that is coming from the conservation authority,” Alls stated.
“We’ve got to get a grip on this,” he said, “because eventually we’re going to be spending more time talking about projects than doing projects.”
Noting several projects in Erin involve “similar situations,” Alls said bridge projects “are costing the taxpayer way too much money … simply because the fish might be upset for a day or two while we do it.”
Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White pointed out the province has committed to reviewing the Conservation Authorities Act, which will provide an opportunity for municipalities to have input.
“I think it’s important they hear from as many municipal folk as they can,” said White, who agreed with Alls that project costs are out of control.
“With that $700,000 culvert, the culvert portion is probably $28,000 and the rest is paperwork.”
Warden George Bridge said, “These projects now have so many layers of planning involved. I’m glad to hear it’s coming up for review.”
“I think we’re at a crisis point in how municipal construction is done,” said Ward 8 councillor Doug Breen.
“When you’re at the point where the soft costs of a project exceed the cost of actually doing the project we’re on some very dangerous ground and we’ve been there for some time now.”
Breen said he recalls being shocked the first time he heard of a project with engineering costs exceeding construction costs.
“They’ve become so commonplace now I think we’ve almost become numb to it.”
The successful bidder was the lowest of three received for the project. The other bids came from Rockwood-based Drexler Construction Limited for $568,312 and Owen King Limited of Walkerton for $894,850.
On May 31, Wellington County roads division construction manager Mark Eby emailed the Advertiser and noted the road will close on June 15, pending approval from the Credit Valley Conservation authority.
Eby said the work should be completed by the end of July as long as the weather cooperates.
A detour will be set up for duration of the work and signs will be erected with the closure date and anticipated completion.
Mapleton roundabout tender approved
Council also approved a tender for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Wellington Road 8 and Wellington Road 12 in Mapleton.
The project was awarded to Steed and Evans Ltd. of St. Jacobs. Their bid of $777,000 was the lowest of three submitted.
Drexler Construction bid $883,076 and the Murray Group Ltd. of Moorefield bid $1,013,544.
Professional fees of $102,000, county labour and materials of $20,000, HST of about $14,000 and a $77,000 contingency reserve bring the total project cost to about $990,000.
