Construction of Mountain View County's new $2.1-million agriculture lands and parks services shop is on schedule and on budget, councillors heard following a recent tour of the site near the existing county office off Highway 2A.
The two-storey shop will be about 7,000 square feet in size and will be used to house and service agricultural service board equipment, lands and parks department equipment, pesticide and parts, and will also include working spaces, washroom facilities, a shower and locker room.
As well it will have a lunchroom, meeting room, two office spaces and second washroom on the mezzanine level.
Work on the shop site began in September and is expected to be completed this spring.
In a report to council, CAO Tony Martens said the project is on time and budget.
“Current charges to the project for 2015 total $862,110,” said Martens. “Due to the county supplying the aggregates to the site, the contractor has not submitted the full costs for the site work where this credit will be applied which results in the discrepancy in the forecast, but is still within the projected costs.”
The following tenders have been awarded for the project: concrete reinforcement, mechanical, overhead doors and windows, steel stud framing and drywall, painting, piles, insulated metal panels, concrete supply, electrical, miscellaneous steel, fireproofing and firestopping, and permanent chain-link fencing.
“In a number of cases when local contractors or vendors supplied bids they were awarded tenders as a result of the competitive bid process,” he said.
Activities completed at the site to date include grading, stormwater management, gravelling of the road, installation of the well and septic system, and the installation of structural steel and insulation metal panel wall. The exterior man doors and roof have been installed.
Ongoing activities include interior mechanical and electrical work, and the investigation of fibre optic installation options between the shop and the main county office.
Councillors and staff toured the construction site following the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
Scott Builders Inc is the general contractor on the project and Netook Construction Ltd., based northwest of Olds, is doing the earthwork.
The building is scheduled to be completed by May, said Scott Builders spokesperson Derrick Bentley.
