Installing River Mill Park’s washrooms could come in at less than half the budgeted price.
That after Huntsville council approved a $171,445.50 installation bid for the facility with Cobourg-based Drocon Inc., down from the $330,000 budgeted last year. The figure includes a $50,149 contingency fund, which would allow staff to complete the project without further council approval, meaning the final figure could be as low as $121,297.
Civil Engineering Technologist Brandon Hall told council any use of the contingency funds would need to be agreed on by both the contractor and town staff, with solid justification provided.
“There has to be just cause for an inflation in cost,” said Hall. “The contract was laid out in itemized breakdowns—those are the quantities. If you go over those quantities, if you go under those quantities, prices always fluctuate. So that’s what we manage, and again, it has to be agreed by both parties.”
Price had been a sticking point in previous discussions around the item, as original estimates for installation had been around $60,000.
“This really is a good news story,” says Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock. “This is such a different number from what we were talking about before, and we all benefit.”
The location was also finalized, with the site at the north end of the parking lot chosen. According to Hall, installation will begin at the end of May or after half-load restrictions are lifted—whichever comes first.
