Construction bids for the new pool project were unveiled June 1 in a public opening, and go up from the last estimated cost of $15.3 million.
Chair of the now defunct pool committee, Rob Balay, said he was a little surprised by the bid amounts.
“I was expecting them to come in more competitive than that,” he said. “There’s quite a difference between the high and the low. Now I guess it will be up to the joint councils to meet and decide where we go from here.”
Athabasca County manager Ryan Maier unveiled the bids, opening each of the four envelopes and reading the construction company and bid number. There was no discussion following the opening.
Stuart Olson Construction’s bid came in at $19,744,665 and halfway through the price being read, Town of Athabasca Coun. Tanu Evans gave a laugh.
Clark Builders was the lowest bid at $15,295,000 and Scott Builders was $18,958,200.
The highest bidder was Krawford Construction at $25 million, but after a bid price amendment it came in at $19,754,346.
Before the bids were unveiled, Evans asked town chief administrative officer Doug Topinka if the prices would include equipment for the exercise facility. Topinka said equipment is not included.
Among representatives from the town and county gathered in the Athabasca County council chambers, there were also nine town and county employees, community members and representatives from the bidding companies.
“Indications were the market was, jobs were coming in, projects were coming in under estimations. We were hoping this was going to be the case here,” Balay said.
Athabasca County Coun. Warren Griffin said he was a little disappointed by the tender amounts and was hoping for a better price.
“I was expecting a lower number. Not that the economy has really swung around; my sense of it is that these construction companies aren’t as hungry as they maybe were a year or two ago,” Griffin said. “I think the prices reflect that. I think if there was a little more demand for work the number might have been a little lower.”
As to what this means for the project’s go-ahead or not, Griffin said councils will have to take a hard look at the numbers and the affordability of the project for each municipality.
“The public wanted a number on the whole package as designed. We have that number now and councils will have to have a heart-to-heart at the joint council meeting and decide is this the way to go and can we do it,” he said.
Athabasca County and the Town of Athabasca have arranged to discuss the pool tenders at a joint council meeting June 7 in the Athabasca County council chambers at 5 p.m.
