keoadmin
01-05-2004, 10:43 PM
Jim Sarazin Whig-Standard
Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 12:00
Local News - There’s a new price tag attached to the Strathcona Paper Centre project – it’s now $9.8 million
That’s up almost $2 million from a figure released by Greater Napanee council last summer.
An eerie silence crept through the council chambers following the announcement.
“I can’t deal with this,” said councillor Shaune Lucas. “I didn’t come here to write more cheques.”
Councillor Roger Cole said he wouldn’t have voted in favour of the project if he knew the contract price on the project was nearing the $10 million mark.
“How come were weren’t told before. I don’t understand,” he said.
The bearer of the bad news was Kevin Hill, the director of parks, recreation and culture for the town. He has overseen the project since the beginning and has been working with officials of Peak Engineering and Construction Limited on furnishings and possible upgrades.
Hill, chief administrative officer Ray Callery and Wilson Bigelow, the town treasurer, made a half-hour pitch to council members before striking the final blow.
Council members were agog at the total which is now one major upgrade away from topping $10 million.
And one is in the works. Council must make a decision shortly on whether to get a bleacher section at the north end of the building poured with cement in order to expand seating capacity.
Hill said the added bleacher section would push the total from about 700 seats to 900. He insisted there would be savings if council acted quickly on approving the proposal.
Hill estimated costs at about $13,000. He said once the building is completed the cement slab would cost in the neighbourhood of $40,000.
Council must make a decision on the matter by early January.
Hill said about $750,000 of the additional arena costs were attributed to building site work. He said one of the unforeseen expenses was a hydro sub station which has now pushed the hydro bill up to $170,000.
“That was the biggest one,” said Hill.
The director said parking lot lights would cost $110,500, soccer pitch lights $144,500, and landscaping $74,000. The additions pushed the total site costs over $1 million.
He did add that the $9.8 million figure could be lowered if council decided to trim down landscaping costs or other planned furnishing upgrades.
Since the twin-pad arena is a design-build project, it allows the builder to work with town officials on additional features.
Plans call for quarry tile to be installed at a cost of $50,000. The bill to get the dressing rooms painted is $8,000.
Hill said council can decide on trimming costs as they see fit. He said the parking lot could also be reduced in size by about 200 spaces. Paving costs are $74,000.
“How can you build a $9.8 million arena with a gravel parking lot,” stated councillor Mike Schenk.
The seven-member council, with four new members occupying chairs from the previous council group which approved the project, didn’t deal with possible cutbacks to furnishings at the meeting.
Instead, they tried their best to gulp down the latest figure served up on the council table.
Schenk did bring up the matter concerning the north bleacher section. He wants council to discuss it at their next meeting.
Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 12:00
Local News - There’s a new price tag attached to the Strathcona Paper Centre project – it’s now $9.8 million
That’s up almost $2 million from a figure released by Greater Napanee council last summer.
An eerie silence crept through the council chambers following the announcement.
“I can’t deal with this,” said councillor Shaune Lucas. “I didn’t come here to write more cheques.”
Councillor Roger Cole said he wouldn’t have voted in favour of the project if he knew the contract price on the project was nearing the $10 million mark.
“How come were weren’t told before. I don’t understand,” he said.
The bearer of the bad news was Kevin Hill, the director of parks, recreation and culture for the town. He has overseen the project since the beginning and has been working with officials of Peak Engineering and Construction Limited on furnishings and possible upgrades.
Hill, chief administrative officer Ray Callery and Wilson Bigelow, the town treasurer, made a half-hour pitch to council members before striking the final blow.
Council members were agog at the total which is now one major upgrade away from topping $10 million.
And one is in the works. Council must make a decision shortly on whether to get a bleacher section at the north end of the building poured with cement in order to expand seating capacity.
Hill said the added bleacher section would push the total from about 700 seats to 900. He insisted there would be savings if council acted quickly on approving the proposal.
Hill estimated costs at about $13,000. He said once the building is completed the cement slab would cost in the neighbourhood of $40,000.
Council must make a decision on the matter by early January.
Hill said about $750,000 of the additional arena costs were attributed to building site work. He said one of the unforeseen expenses was a hydro sub station which has now pushed the hydro bill up to $170,000.
“That was the biggest one,” said Hill.
The director said parking lot lights would cost $110,500, soccer pitch lights $144,500, and landscaping $74,000. The additions pushed the total site costs over $1 million.
He did add that the $9.8 million figure could be lowered if council decided to trim down landscaping costs or other planned furnishing upgrades.
Since the twin-pad arena is a design-build project, it allows the builder to work with town officials on additional features.
Plans call for quarry tile to be installed at a cost of $50,000. The bill to get the dressing rooms painted is $8,000.
Hill said council can decide on trimming costs as they see fit. He said the parking lot could also be reduced in size by about 200 spaces. Paving costs are $74,000.
“How can you build a $9.8 million arena with a gravel parking lot,” stated councillor Mike Schenk.
The seven-member council, with four new members occupying chairs from the previous council group which approved the project, didn’t deal with possible cutbacks to furnishings at the meeting.
Instead, they tried their best to gulp down the latest figure served up on the council table.
Schenk did bring up the matter concerning the north bleacher section. He wants council to discuss it at their next meeting.