The County of Stettler council examined price quotes for a multiple-user water hook-up project. The discussion was held at the Feb. 14 regular meeting of council.
Director of Municipal Services Andrew Brysiuk presented councillors with an update for the water hook-up project that originally stemmed from a property owner’s water well issue.
“In December, council authorized the construction of two water service connections, for Plan 2120944, Block 1, Lot 2, and Plan 2120944, Block 1, Lot 3 (Pt SW 21-41-20-W4) with expenses of up to $30,000 to be funded from revenue from two connection fees with the remaining balance from reserves,” stated the staff memo presented to councillors.
“As per council’s direction we obtained a total of three quotes to show the cost of installation of two connections with meter vaults and roughly 250 metres of pipe.” The report stated quotes came from Action Plumbing ($46,000), Wally’s Backhoe Service ($58,000) and United Utilities ($62,490).
Readers should note this effort to hook a residence up to the municipal water system was originally requested by a single landowner but councillors counter-offered by saying the County of Stettler may approve it if multiple residences were involved. The property owner found more users to sign on and the project was approved.
Brysiuk noted in the memo GST was extra and all the submissions were examined to ensure they described the same service.
During discussion Brysiuk stated councillors already approved this project along with a budget amount which the low bidder fell within, so no further action was needed.
However, since councillors requested staff search for multiple offers, staff felt councillors would like to see the results.
Coun. Ernie Gendre voiced his concern about inflation, referring to certain prices from 10 years ago.
Coun. James Nibourg responded inflation is affecting virtually everything in the economy including fuel, wages and groceries.
“They have gone up extraordinarily as well,” said Nibourg, referring to grocery prices.
Coun. Justin Stevens asked for clarification on whether any resolutions were needed by council for this item. Brysiuk responded no, the project was already approved and the work will be awarded to the low bidder.
Reeve Larry Clarke noted that when this project last appeared at council he voted against it, and wanted to explain why. Clarke stated the County of Stettler is looking at a water strategy and felt that if this project was included in such a strategy the municipality may have been able to get a lower price on it.
Clarke did clarify, however, that the quotes before him didn’t seem like bad prices.
Councillors unanimously accepted the quotes as information.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review