Those long-rumoured upgrades to Arnprior’s Nick Smith Centre are a giant step closer to reality.
At a Special Meeting of Town Council July 22nd, elected representatives voted unanimously to award the job to Frecon Construction Ltd, a Russell firm that’s on a roll with rink building- having done four in the past five years.
Frecon was the low bidder among eight firms that responded to tender, and the job estimate is $6,293,000 plus HST.
Two years of contributions will come from the Town’s capital budget, and the remaining cost debentured over a likely ten-year period.
Recreation Director Graeme Ivory outlines the project’s scope.
And there’s some additional work we couldn’t squeeze into the confines of our voice-clip.
Gone from the Bert Hall Arena will be one side of the stands, (the inside), replaced by visible storage space between the rinks. The exterior stands will run the length of the Bert Hall rink, with built-in accesible features to allow sledge hockey player access.
A mezzanine-level viewing area will be bookended by additional office space, and have elevator access.
Engineer Patrick Foley tells us the stands are fabricated in Almonte, and the seating is in Green Shirt colours.
Other aspects of interior decor will also reflect the Packer team spirit.
The meat and potatoes pricing was over-estimate, due in part to lead paint being discovered in the trusses, and a new seismic code requiring structural column supports.
If you’re viewing the presentation at home, there’s the obvious question, “Who’s paying for this?”
The debenture would be for a ten-year period. There are several possible grant opportunities with details forthcoming.
Councillor questions involved possible contingency requirements, spending control mechanisms, (Foley himself would be Project Control manager); and Lynn Cloutier’s query on the necessity of debenture was handled by Treasurer Jennifer Morawiec.
Councillor Burnette’s query on contractor integrity was fielded by the Engineer.
The firm also built École élémentaire catholique des Deux-Rivières on Baskin Drive on-budget and ahead of schedule.
County Councillor Lynch inquired about elevator costs, which would be minimized because the containing structure components are already intact.
As to possible grants? There are a number of categories which may be applicable in reducing some of the local costs, but they have yet to be announced, says Graeme Ivory.
A recorded vote was approved by all.
By Rick Stow