Chelsea Cosh, manager of waste facilities, brought Minden Hills council up to date on work towards the Scotch Line transfer station design – as well as to ask for more money for 2025.
Speaking Oct. 10, Cosh noted council approved $1.4 million for phase one of the project in the 2024 budget. She is seeking another $710,000 for next year. She said staff need an additional $543,300 for construction costs, a little over $30,000 to cover HST, and $136,604 for contingency. She thinks the final price tag will be about $2.11 million.
Staff are looking to add 80-foot scales to accommodate larger vehicles and trailers, accessible wheelchair ramp, lighting, design specific document for concrete, site works, mechanical, thermal and moisture protection, an electrical site plan, and an additional one metre width for the bypass lane at the scale area.
Cosh was seeking budget pre-approval, saying the project “is critical and will be essential in managing the growing population in the township. With the growing population comes increased traffic, and demand on the Scotch Line landfill site.”
She added scales will allow for waste disposal fees to be applied more precisely and be more accurate with the cost of managing the material.” She expects more construction and demolition material in future.
Cosh further said they would be able to further landfill in the northwest portion of the site once the reconfiguration takes place at the site. She said the only other option is having waste hauled away, which is costlier.
Coun. Bob Sisson asked if there was any way to cut the number back. “Do we need two sets of scales… do we need 80-foot scales?” he asked. “You go to any gravel pit, and they have one set of scales, and you go around again. We have to try to cut some money here.” He said they are already 50 per cent over budget and is worried about how much the project could blow out.
Director of public works, Mike Timmins, said they are recommending 80-foot scales as tractor trailers are 53 feet long, which is what their haulers use. “The last thing we want to do is undersize this facility.”
As for two sets of scales, Timmins said during peak days of 500 vehicles-a-day in summer, he anticipates long waits with just one.
CAO Cynthia Fletcher told Sisson she asked similar questions, however, “we’re building for growth in the future. This is a very important project for Minden Hills.”
Coun. Tammy McKelvey was struggling with pre-approval in October, faced with unanswered money questions and not having an overall look at the township’s finances. But Coun. Pam Sayne was okay with going over budget, saying it would contribute to the longevity of the site. Coun. Ivan Ingram asked why they could not just put it out to tender now, without pre-approving $710,000.
Cosh said it would appear they were fishing for quotes and that could get them into trouble. She said they are doing their best to keep the budget in-line but would not know an actual cost until they put it out to tender.
Fletcher said council can put a stop to the project, or put it out to tender to see what the actual price might be.
Mayor Bob Carter said they were not buying anything today, simply pushing the project ahead to get a tender. If they don’t like the price, they can then make a decision about whether to go ahead or not.
“The fact of the matter is our present situation is not something that’s sustainable. We’re building here for the next couple of decades at least. It’s a responsible thing to do for the municipality.”
Council approved the request.
