Castor town council read a letter from the local golf club that was quite blunt about their unhappiness with a hail repair project.
The letter was read at the June 8 regular meeting of council.
The Castor Community Golf Club and the town have been working to get the clubhouse repaired after the 2019 hail event.
A letter signed by club president Todd Pawsey stated the organization was unhappy with the way the project has been progressing.
“As of our June 2 golf club executive meeting, the board of directors passed a motion to send a letter to the own expressing our extreme displeasure over the handling of the roof damage and insurance claim,” stated the letter, dated June 3.
“The main reasons being a) the lack of progress, b) the apparent efforts by the town Chief Administrative Officer to disqualify a local contractor and member/supporter of the golf club when he appears to have met all qualifications, yet never having seen a list of requirements put forth from the town as to what specifics the town was requesting of their contractors submitting bids.”
Town CAO Christopher Robblee stated that contractors working on behalf of the municipality require WCB and liability coverage and the contractor in question didn’t submit information confirming they had that coverage.
Robblee stated the contractor was disqualified for the project on that basis.
Pawsey’s letter gave a summary of dates since the clubhouse suffered damage.
He stated by Oct., 2019 wind and hail damage had been documented to the clubhouse.
He stated a golf club member along with himself provided a quote for the repairs to an insurance adjuster then went to the town office to fill out some forms.
However, Pawsey stated the club didn’t hear anything for about four months.
It was stated that the club appeared before council to discuss the issue, and town staff confirmed they were collecting quotes for the work.
Later, the club supplied a quote from a local contractor who had done similar work in the area while the town stated they would like to see three quotes.
Pawsey stated in his letter by May 6, 2020 the club contacted the town to find out the status of the project but the “reply from CAO questioned the local contractor’s qualifications, coverages and stated needed time to get quotes.”
Pawsey stated the club contacted the town in June and were told the town was waiting for a quote for the work.
Pawsey noted on June 3, “our member and contractor supplied to the town CAO his WCB and liability insurance information and CGC had previously expressed satisfaction that all items required for supply were in his bid.”
The club president closed his letter by stating the executive strongly felt the town and club needed to complete an operational agreement for the golf course “to relieve all parties of the stresses of dealing with these types of issues.”
Councillors accepted the letter as information.
Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
