Minto awards drain work totalling $334,000

MINTO – Two contractors have been hired to complete upgrades to Minto’s municipal drain 3.

Council awarded tenders for $126,516 to TAS Excavating and Rentals and for $207,474 to Hanna and Hamilton Construction, excluding HST, during an April 7 council meeting. 

The project was split into two different tenders in the hopes of receiving more bids, township staff said. The bids for both tenders were reviewed by Streamline Engineering. 

The first tender involves more specialized work with a jack and bore under Wellington Road 6, including under vital gas mains, which officials worried would deter local companies from bidding on the project.  

This portion of the project received four bids, from Cox Construction (for $214,768 and an expected completion date of Sept. 25); Kurtis Smith Excavating ($214,800 with expected completion by July 17); TAS Excavating and Rentals ($126,516 with expected completion by Sept.  30); and Robinson Farm Drainage ($140,570 with expected completion by  Sept. 30). 

The winning bid from TAS Excavating and Rentals was 16 per cent over budget. 

The second section includes the bulk of the work for the drain improvements, including 1.7km of channel deepening and widening and installing six drain crossings. 

The town received six bids for this portion, from C&K Williams Excavating (for $282,291 and expected completion in August); Diefenbacher Contracting ($267,294 and expected completion of Aug. 31); Rice Construction Contracting ($234,000 and expected completion of Sept. 1); TAS Excavating and Rentals  ($334,817 and expected completion of Sept. 30); Hanna and Hamilton ($207,474 and expected completion of Sept. 30); and Dozlan Construction ($263,240 and expected completion in November. 

The winning bid from Hanna and Hamilton, which is based out of Listowel, was 36% lower than the engineer’s assessment.