Tenders awarded, deferred and qualified

Times Contributor

 

AMEC Environment & Infrastructure Engineering gained the Request For Proposal (RFP) contract for roads and bridges. A process examining corporate profiles, experience, capability, familiarity with county requirements, professional staff availability and fee schedules winnowed the count down to one from 13.

The Website development contract went to CIVIC Plus. Nine of the 17 companies were rejected because they did not address the items in the scope of the proposal guidelines. A process examining the attention to the scope, experience with local and municipal government, the proposed website methodology, timeline, schedule, contact persons and fees led to the final choice.

The fencing contract renewal will be revisited next week when all council members are present, as a tied vote left the council in deadlock over a contract renewal. Three members voted to extend the contract with a 3.5 per cent increase on material cost, as the current contractor was doing a good job and available locally.

“When someone is good at what they are doing, doing a good job and there when you need them…I say stay with them,” said Councillor Ben Armstrong. 

Three councillors voted to put the job to tender, even though they agreed the current job was satisfactory.

“Fair play is fair play,” said Councillor Brenda Knight, who felt other companies would want to bid for the contract. 

Dave Churchill, Transportation and Infrastructure Manager, asked whether tenders for grader blades should be included in association fees as part of the tender costs. Councillor Ben Armstrong said businesses belonging to the association gain volume sales and better prices for materials because they buy in bulk, transferring savings to the county. Non-members of the association do not have the fee included in their tenders. It represents about 3 per cent extra on the average tender. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t buy that,” said Councillor Alice Booth. “That’s just the cost of doing business.”

Council directed elimination of the fees when considering bids.

 

COUNCILLORS TO MEET 

WITH RURAL FIRE SERVICES 

Gerald Skibinsky, Protective Services manager met with Suncor regarding their emergency response plan. Suncor indicated they would keep county fire crews on ground response as they have contracted specialty crews from EnXco, for a three-year period, to be lead in emergency situations.

Councillors will meet with fire crews on March 15 to go over reporting and payment procedures, and to discuss clarification of high angle rescue situations.

WADING THROUGH 

WATER PROBLEMS

An undetermined water leak was spiking water usage in Rosebud. County investigators thought it might be a pipe break during the two-week cold spell in January. Resealing a leak in an unseated hydrant did not rectify the problem. Further investigation found a running toilet in the older church building of Rosebud Theatre. The building had not been on a water meter and crews will be installing a meter in the future. Continued monitoring will eliminate any further sources of leakage.

 

FINDING THE PHOSPHOROUS

Appointees Sarah Schumaker and David Churchill will sit as county representatives to the Bow River Phosphorous Management Plan committee.

“It’s a foot in the door, if we want to be represented,” said Churchill, who views the study as a living document, changing as more is known about how phosphorous is entering the water system. 

Schumaker answered council’s previous inquiry of target area specifics. She clarified that the area with the highest anticipated growth of deposits were targeted and monitoring equipment was already in place for most of the area.