LAC LA BICHE - The lowest price to build the first of three phases of Lac La Biche County's new McArthur Park plan is double the budgeted estimate of $1.85 million.The low-bid of $3.7 million is also half of the $7.3 million budget for all three phases.
But the big number was expected, says the municipal administrator behind the project.
"With the tender opening, we were anticipating around the three million dollar mark, " said Associate CAO of Recreation and Community Services Darrell Lessmeister.
He was smoothing any concerns the public and elected officials might have following the opening of three tenders for the job last week. The bids for the first phase of work ranged between $3.56 million and $5.84 million.
The first phase of the project is set to begin this summer. In the final version of the plan approved earlier this year, the first phase includes 10 separate items, including visitor parking near the existing museum, a "food truck lane" in the same area, modifications to the McArthur Park beach, the creation of a day-use picnic area near the beach, a multi-use trail linking the parking area to the existing trail north of McArthur Place, drainage excavation, and a hand-launch dock structure. Phase two items slated for the second year of the three-year plan include a shorelline boardwalk, a skate park, bike skills park and pickle ball and basketball courts, along with more shoreline enhancements.
"This project always had the front-end, the first and second years as the heavy years," explained Lessmeister, "and the last third year was a lot less."
He went further to say that some portions of the second phase has also been included in the tenders for the first phase. Municipal officials say that some components of phase two plans, like "electrical lighting" were added to "optimize commodity of scale."
With some phase two pieces included, Lessmeister said the tendering results were "within the ball-park. He also said the bids are still "estimates" and administration would go over each of them before bringing back the final recommendation to councillors.
Despite the high prices of the first phase tenders, he's confident the McArthur Park's overall budget is accurate.
"We still still anticipate we are going to stay within the $7.3 million on this project," he said.
Borrowing the funds
Lac La Biche County council also believes in the final number, as they approved a $7.3 million borrowing debenture last week to pay for the project. The debenture will be paid back within 10 years.
Work on the park began last week with the fencing, bleachers dugouts and shale infields of both existing baseball diamonds being removed.
McArthur Park will be closed to large events during the three-year construction project. The Paul Richard Memorial Splash Park, the outdoor Rotary Club gym and portions of the McArthur Place grounds will remain open throughout the project.
