Multiple city projects will feel the pinch as $80,000 is being added to the budget of the Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre’s roof replacement project, which requires more work than originally expected.
The City of Merritt’s new director of recreation and facilities, Brad Gilbert, said the original budget estimates approved by council last year were only based on a contractor’s visual inspection of the roof.
“When previous management contracted the inspector to prepare the contract tender, after they knew the budget was approved, the contractor arrived and preformed what are called cut tests,” Gilbert told council at its regular meeting last Tuesday (June 28).
He said these tests examined below the surface of the roof to confirm the scope of the project.
It was during that process that it was discovered the exterior insulation and finishing system (EIFS) would need to be replaced and the condition of the moisture barrier along the edge of the roof had deteriorated from being reusable as initially thought back in 2014, Gilbert said.
He said no bid on the project has been made that is below the original budget about of $220,000.
The lowest bids for the project are in the $270,000 range.
“As with any roof project, there’s still potential for further contingency costs because even with the cut tests, you still haven’t seen deeper below the surface, so we’re trying to build in a contingency above and beyond the two lowest, current bids,” Gilbert told council.
In order to keep the project under budget, the city will take funds from three other projects from the recreations and facilities budget as recommended by Gilbert.
Council’s request for a sun shade at Spirit Square has been deferred from the 2016 budget to 2017, and the Spirit Square wood restoration project, as well as an assessment of the Nicola Valley Memorial Area’s life cycle will be conducted by staff as opposed to contractors.
The budget for the roof replacement moves from $220,000 to $300,000, but is offset by a federal grant of $110,000 for the project.
Gilbert said he’s estimating the project cost now at about $276,000.
Council voted unanimously to add to the project’s budget by redirecting funds.
The aquatic centre roof is about 23 years old and in need of a replacement.
Next Tuesday, city council will be presented with a contract with one of the project proponents, Gilbert told the Herald.
The start date for construction is Sept. 6, which lines up with the pool’s annual shut down period to reduce impact to customers.
He said the project needs to be complete by the end of March 2017 as per the federal grant.
