The rehabilitation of the Annex building parking lot to support the use of a new medical centre is going to cost more than anticipated, Huntsville Council heard at its June meeting.
Huntsville councillors heard that the current state of the parking lot is very poor with insufficient drainage and road base materials, according to a report by Huntsville Civil Engineering Technologist Brandon Hall.
A preliminary cost estimate previously provided by staff indicated that it would cost about $60,000 to rectify the small parking area. The sum was included in the 2023 budget which was to be funded from the Town’s Capital Replacement Reserve which contains a balance of $275,176. When the project was put out to tender there was only one bidder and the expected cost rose to $116,000—$56,000 more than anticipated.
The rehabilitation works will comprise stormwater management, stormwater infrastructure installation, and re-paving. Council heard that if approved, the overage would also come out of the Town’s Capital Replacement Reserve.
Hall broke down the $116,000 as follows:
• $6,000 design work (already spent) and
• $100,039.41 for construction.
“We did only receive one bid for the project and as we’re seeing this year, it’s extremely high construction pricing,” he told council.
Hall also noted in his report that the “Town already incurs maintenance costs on this parking lot. The work to be done on this parking lot should reduce current issues with uneven pavement and improve accessibility to the building.”
Councillor Bob Stone noted that the building sits lower than the road and asked whether the grade would be changed. “What we’re doing is we’re installing a secondary catch basin to attract that water and run it out to the road to another one,” responded Hall. “So we’re gonna change a bit of the grade slightly to get it to come around, so it’ll all be overland flow,” he said, adding that it’s one of the most cost-effective solutions.
“With the price going up the way it is, can you sign that dotted line as soon as possible?” said Deputy Mayor Dan Armour, who also asked whether a contingency would be built into the project, “just in case the numbers change on us again.” Hall said there is a $10,000 contingency built in.
Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock asked whether contingencies were being built into other projects. Hall said staff were looking at how to best adapt to increases in construction costs. “We’re definitely looking at it and do our best to incorporate it,” said Hall. “That’s good to know,” responded Alcock. “So you don’t have to keep coming back, right?”
Councillor Cory Clarke confirmed that the repairs were part of the lease agreement with the clinic. Huntsville Director of Finance/Treasurer Julia McKenzie confirmed that the $60,000 that had been set aside for the repairs by the Town was part of the lease agreement with the clinic.
Council approved the additional $56,000 in unbudgeted funds.
You can find the staff report, HERE.
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$116,000 for parking of what 6 cars, must be a huge pothole!