Latest cost estimate shows library project on target but contaminated soil found on site
Posted Mar 4, 2010 By Ashley Kulp
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Tweet ThisEMC News - As it moves closer to a groundbreaking this spring, the latest cost estimate shows the central North Grenville Public Library (NGPL) project remains on budget for the time being, despite hitting some snags, namely the discovery of contaminated soil on the site.
Gerry Shoalts of Shoalts & Zaback Architects Ltd. of Kingston, responsible for the design of the new building, and Michael Paul, project manager with MHPM, who were hired by the NGPL board to oversee construction, provided council with an updated Class A cost estimate during Monday evening's Committee of the Whole meeting. They were also looking for a recommendation to go ahead and begin the tender process for removal of the contaminated soil on site, which will cost an estimated $150,000, and the green light to tender the entire project to a general contractor. Committee of the Whole approved this and the matter will be passed at council on March 8.
"We have had another estimate done and based on that, as you can see...we are on target within the budget and we are really asking for approval tonight to proceed to tender the project when the drawings are complete," explained Shoalts, adding that there are four major differences in this cost estimate, compared to the previous one. "The foundations are more expensive, so we're looking at an $80,000 increase. There is more information now on the conditions under the ground."
Other savings of $46,000 were found in the exterior enclosure, as well as in the mechanical and site work aspects of the project. The savings have been used to top up the project's contingency fund from $219,000 to $242,000. Shoalts indicated that local company Fast Eddie's has also been selected for demolition of the former Pump Fitness building, at a cost of $28,800.
"We removed the demolition from the main (cost) estimate because it's a separate contract that was tendered and awarded."
Paul noted that demolition of that building could start in as early as two weeks. "(Fast Eddie's) has started to take out the valuable stuff inside the building and in a couple of weeks will start to take the building down," he stated.
One thing the project managers weren't planning on, however, was the discovery of contaminated soil on the site. After recent soil tests, including additional boor holes for further testing, it has been revealed that some soil has been affected by coal tar and diesel materials. The cost to clean this up, $150,000, is not in the current $5.1 million project budget.
"...It's a separate project that needs to be tendered to clean up the site before the main project can be tendered," Shoalts commented.
"With the contaminated materials, we will go with a separate tender to get prices up front as to how much it will be," continued Paul, who added that the tender for this closes today (March 4). "...The additional boor holes drilled by Kollaard & Associates...gives them a pretty good idea of where holes need to be dug...but we have given a conservative estimate in the tender that they'll (companies) be bidding on."
CAO Andy Brown, in consultation with public works director Karen Dunlop, noted that some of the top layers of the soil aren't contaminated, but deeper down is where the problem lies. Paul pointed out that the contaminants are found between three and nine feet from the surface. Also, due to the type of contaminants found, the fill must be trucked to a registered landfill that accepts such soil and the Ministry of Environment (MOE) must be notified of the process.
"When we built this building (municipal centre), there was lots of contaminated soil where it sits and we moved it to the back of the forestry nursery, spread it out and let nature take its course," mayor Bill Gooch stated, wondering why the same thing couldn't be done in this case.
However, Brown said that due to the difference in the contaminants (the municipal centre soil showed herbicides and pesticides), that's not possible. "They are different contaminated materials and we have to dispose of them differently," he said.
In terms of selecting a general contractor for the construction of the building, Paul pointed out that MHPM and the library building committee had undergone an extensive evaluation process to pre-qualify six contractors. "We had 20 responses, which is quite a few. It seems to be quite hungry out there which is good for pricing," he admitted.
Gooch hoped that when selecting a general contractor that they were encouraged to use local trades people.
"There's no way we can ensure they're considered, but we evaluated (contractors) on how they would incorporate local subcontractors," Paul responded. "The top six responded fairly well to that and have indicated they would set up accounts at local supply stores and use local trades people...that's the best we can do."
Deputy mayor Ken Finnerty wondered if municipal staff had gone through the Pump Fitness building to take an inventory of materials which could be reused before Fast Eddie's began its demolition process. "Are we covered during this demolition if something happens to that retaining wall?" he added. "Because he'll be skating on thin ice."
"Based on the timing of everything it would take a lot of coordination and effort to do that so we decided to move on," said Paul, indicating that Fast Eddie's will keep everything in the building. "We got a very good price and they will re-sell or give away what they can...and yes, we are covered in that respect."
Dunlop stressed that in a conversation with Fast Eddie's, they have already found another use for many of the materials in the vacant building. "He has called me and already found reuse and repurposing for all of the windows and the siding, the glass on the first floor and the doors on the first floor," she confirmed. "...He's actively gone out to see if he can reuse and recycle all of the items.
"I'd like to point out that was a requirement of the specification (tender)," Shoalts added.
During the last cost estimate, the contingency fund was decreased in order to remain on budget, so councillor Terry Butler wondered why it was topped up again.
"There have been some savings in other items such as the transformer. It was originally $90,000 and is now $60,000," explained Paul.
"The new transformer and hydro service to the building has gone down as well. We felt it (contingency) was a bit low, so we applied the savings to that."
Gooch felt that the savings found could be put to better use. "The question people are going to want to know when they read about this in the press is that if there are savings in these items, why not take the money and take some off the total cost and reduce the cost of the project, rather than roll it back into the contingency plan?" he said.
Paul indicated there were a "number of unknowns" with the project. "We don't know what we'll run into and given these amount of unknowns, a bigger contingency made us feel better," he stated.
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