Mar 24, 2011


Wide tender spread engenders caution

The township received three tenders for interior demolition and masonry work, and the installation of in-floor plumbing in the new Addington Highlands Community Centre at the former Denbigh school. The work involves stripping all the cabinetry and blackboards, etc., putting in two new masonry doorways and moving one, trenching through approx 100 lineal feet of the concrete floor, and installing drainage plumbing.

The lowest tender was from Silverstar Mechanical of Brampton, for $12,500. That was about one-third the cost of the next highest quote, which was about $37,000, while the third quote was for around $83,000.

Councilor Tony Fritsch reported that he did extensive background checks on Silverstar. He contacted three of the four references that Silverstar had given and received only positive comments. He was unable to reach the fourth reference because they were away on holidays. “I found nothing to cause suspicion except the price,” he said.

Councilor Helen Yanch said that to her the trenching alone should be worth $12,000 and asked if Silverstar is aware of the township’s timelines.

Fritsch replied, “They’re ready to start tomorrow.”

The company also offered to post a security bond, but as they will not invoice the township until 30 days after the work is completed, council decided the bond was not necessary and awarded the tender to Silverstar.

Logging trucks versus half-load signs

Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath told council that a logging company has been ignoring the township’s half-load signs and has continued to haul full loads, on the Glenview Road in particular, causing damage to the road. He said that because of the problem the township closed Glenview Road, but he alleged that the signs were moved out of the way and the trucking continued. He said he had called the OPP but they were unable to catch the perpetrators. He said the township would fix the road and asked council if they wanted to send the bill to the company that had allegedly caused the damage.

Deputy Reeve Bill Cox, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of Reeve Henry Hogg, said it seemed to him that the township would be entering into a legal situation if they invoiced the company for the damage.

Councilor Helen Yanch asked if the Ministry of Natural Resources could help the situation by controlling the logging since it is was being done on Crown land.

Rosenblath replied that he has been trying for years to get the ministry to specify in the timber sales that logging must be stopped while the half-loads are on, but has had no success.

Council passed a motion to send the invoice to the logging company.

Councilors Tony Fritsch and Adam Snider will attend a free seminar, “Essentials of Municipal Fire Protection – A Decision Makers’ Guide”, which is being given on April 13 at the South Frontenac Fire Department by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office. The seminar is being given in three locations on different dates and Deputy Reeve Cox will attend one of the other seminars.

Council discussed a draft policy for possible uses of the Federal Gas Tax Rebate to the township, which will be approximately $77,000. Deputy Reeve Cox commented that there was no shortage of projects to spend the money on. “There’s 10 inches of water in the Northbrook Fire Hall,” he said. However, he also said that the money could not be used for just building a new fire hall from the ground up; that it could only be used for upgrades to certain components in the building such as heating, lighting, ventilation – anything that would increase energy efficiency.

As to the building of a new fire hall, the township has been putting money aside for a new fire hall combined with an administrative building, but they only have about $107,000 saved towards the project, which will cost over $1 million.

Cox asked how much it would be to build only a new fire hall. He commented that the need for one was first discussed seven years ago, which was “a long time [for the firefighters] to live with those conditions”. He said that the township needs to set its priorities.

 

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