Council passed a motion to award Aquatec Construction Ltd. a $546,213 tender to complete the Powerhouse Springs project delivering approximately 120 litres of water per second in three new wells.
Tenders were initially received on March 29 and Aquatec was the low bidder at $819,104. This far exceeded the district consultant's $549,353 estimate. Council ordered a value engineering review be undertaken with the low bidder shaving $270,000 from the original bid primarily by leaving an existing building intact instead of building an addition and constructing a new timber frame building rather than a masonry building to house additional control equipment and the genset.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said she wants to see a masonry building rather than a timber frame to keep the infrastructure safe from fire. Coun. Mike Jenson also expressed concern with the timber model, saying it would not be as durable. The cost of building a masonry building would substantially increase the bid, said Prescott.
Council unanimously passed a motion to support the staff recommendation and receive an exact cost assessment of a masonry building versus a timber structure.
Trade, investment and marketing program supported
Council adopted in principle the Trade and Investment Strategy, supporting the integration of its findings into staffs work plans. The initiative establishes Squamish's first-ever comprehensive trade and investment strategy, as directed by council, in order to "maximize the community's ability to establish and maintain a diversified and stable economy over the long-term," according to a staff report. The report summarizes the 127-page Trade and Investment strategy and must be supported by council before staff can begin integrating the ideas into a working plan.
Councillors Jeff MacKenzie, Lonsdale and Jenson said they hadn't had time to look at the document and so requested a deferral. Coun. Patricia Heintzman said it's an organic strategy that will evolve in time. Sutherland put forward a motion to approve the strategy in principle rather than to defer. The motion passed with Jenson and Lonsdale opposed.
Council OKs Test of Metal course
Council unanimously passed a motion to authorize road closures for the Test of Metal Mountain Bike Race, scheduled for Saturday, June 17. Closed will be The Boulevard's eastbound lane from 11:40 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the dirt access road near the top of Thunderbird Ridge to allow riders access from the Merrill and Ring property to Alice Lake from 11 a.m. to noon; and Loggers Lane between Finch Drive and Centennial Way from 10 to 11:05 am.
Council supports $8,000 in grants-in-aid
Council supported staff recommendations to support grant-in-aid requests totaling $8,000 from six different organizations. A $1,027 request was granted to the BC Whippet Racing Club to cover the costs of renting municipal owned facilities for the Annual Whippet Racing Event on Aug. 26 and 27.
A $996 request was granted to Canadian Cancer Society to cover the costs of municipal owned facilities for the Relay for Life on June 23.
A $760 request was granted to Howe Sound Men's Hockey League to cover the costs of municipal owned facilities for the Gadge Jhuty Memorial Fundraiser on Oct. 27.
A $2,000 request was granted to Howe Sound Secondary Dry Grad 2006 to cover the costs of renting municipal owned facilities for the 2006 Howe Sound Secondary Dry Grad mocktails and activities May 27 and 28.
A $1,882 request was granted to Squamish Days Loggers Sports to cover the costs of municipal owned facilities and street cleaning for the 10K Run of Squamish Days Festivities on Aug. 4, 5 and 6.
A $1,281 request was granted to Howe Sound Secondary School to cover the costs of renting municipal owned facilities for the 2006 Howe Sound Secondary Grad Commencement Ceremony on May 26.
