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More money going out the door |
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Wednesday, 12 March 2008 |
What's an extra $266,692.51 among friends when it comes to an important community project?
For the Town of Taber, a municipality also on the hook for major, multi-million dollar wastewater treatment plant upgrades and other infrastructure needs, another quarter-of-a-million dollars is just another step on its back. Town administration and the consulting firm hired, to use its expertise and knowledge in getting the Aquafun Centre project going, asked council Monday night for $241,692.51 more. It was for work beyond the "original project scope," for such extravagances as the tile surface of the leisure pool and the hot tub, among other items.
To boot, another $25,000 was dolled out for further "unexpected" costs which may pop up in the next two months.
As many on town council expressed, the town should simply not be on the hook for any more money.
A deal was struck, a contract was signed in good faith and a timeline was given as to when the project was to be completed.
But in today's hot economy, such liberties seem to be taken more and more often. In this case, the Aquafun Centre's completion is very important to the community, and groups like the swim club, who are relying on the timely opening of the facility.
As such, even though many town councillors seemed very upset with the prospect of forking over more money, some conceded they had no choice but to push ahead.
When it is all said and done, it is just another quarter-of-a-million dollars in a deep pool of infrastructure debt. However, it also hurt the town in seeking grant funding. If these "unexpected" costs were known from the start, perhaps a few more grant dollars would have come the town's way, due to the higher cost of the project.
In a project with a list of 47 items, from a $164.38 lower telephone line to $100,959.60 in pool repairs and tiling, it may seem reasonable that something may fall through the cracks. But in this case, $266,692.51 is very, very hard to swallow, especially when some of the new work was identified through the town's own health and safety program (including $53,025 for exterior concrete to put it in accordance with the town's safety/trip hazards bylaw).
But despite how unjust the extra costs may seem to be, town council has agreed to buck up, and pour in money which could have contributed to any number of needed projects - how about a new arena, Agri-Plex upgrades, street repairs or downtown beautification?
When everything is completed at the Aquafun Centre, however, the town promises a more efficient and safe facility.
In the end, that may be the one positive Taberites can look forward to. However, they should always also look backwards, and push their politicians and bureaucrats to make sure a similar situation does not happen again. |
