Fill station bid going to tender

Poll

Should the Taber Police Service crack down on illegal window tint?

• YES
• NO

View Results

 Loading ...

Recent News →

• Jets finish off Vegas schedule
• Edlund shines at Best of the West
• Ellis: Vacancy rates within Alberta’s RCMP are concerning
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• Is it time to defund the CBC?

Recent Blog Posts →

• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers

A sole-sourcing proposal for placing a pre-engineered building on the site of the town’s new bulk water truck fill station was unanimously defeated by town council in favour of tendering the project.

“I prefer to see a tender to see what they are telling us they can do for ‘x’ amount of dollars, rather than just sole sourcing it,” said Coun. Randy Sparks at the Oct. 15 town council meeting. “It does make sense in the letter, but I’m still slightly uncomfortable with that, just giving it to someone because Associated Engineering thinks they’ll do a good job.”

At the Sept. 23 meeting, council awarded a tender for the site development needed for the bulk water truck fill station to G. Wiebe Excavating Ltd, which is anticipated to be completed by Nov. 15. The intended plan is to place the fill station itself (building, external piping, and controls) on site.

The total cost of the building construction and placements is estimated to be $130,000.

“I can see that construction season is coming to a close, so I can see why they’d want to move forward with this,” said Coun. Rick Popadynetz. “I’m more than slightly uncomfortable with this process. Sole sourcing is not fair, the tendering process is in place for the best interests of all of our taxpayers. I can’t support this just because an engineer sends a letter saying these guys seem like they’re the best.”  

Associated Engineering researched companies capable of the work, and recommended the town use Flowpoint Systems. The town’s Procurement and Purchasing Policy CS-FIN-1 requires expenditures of the estimated amount of $130,000 to be tendered. Prior to the vote, administration’s recommendation was to sole source the project to Flowpoint Systems, which would have required council to make an exception to Policy CS-FIN-1.

“I know time is of the essence in some aspects, but I believe that if this thing does not get built this fall, the world will not come to an end,” said former town Coun. Garth Bekkering. “We’ll do it next spring. We’ve got an existing, viable, operating bulk truck filler station — what’s the big deal?”

The new bulk water truck fill station is to be located at 6335 65th Street.

Get More The Taber Times →