Bowden chief administrative officer James Mason is hopeful the town's north sewage lift station can be replaced by Christmas “if we are really successful.”
But he warns “it could take till this time next year if we have a few hiccups.”
“The actual work I'll guesstimate at three to four weeks, but the preparation of tendering documents, the tendering and review of tenders could take months,” Mason said in an email to the Albertan.
“I've seen projects like this drag on for years if the wrong contractor is hired, doing the homework will likely take more time than the project,” he added.
Bowden council voted late last month to hire Tagish Engineering Ltd. to prepare documents to replace the lift station and to take the project to tender.
An initial estimate pegs the total cost of the work at between $600,000 and $700,000.
Council isn't sure how old the north sewage lift station is, but some councillors figure it dates back to the late 1970s or early 1980s.
During debate on the matter, Coun. Earl Wilson questioned whether the lift station was even needed, but Mayor Robb Stuart said lots of sewers drain in that direction. It was also speculated that the new community hall, when built, will feed into that system.
In his email, Mason said as of early July, funding for the project had not yet been worked out.
“There will be some work to make sure the best available option is used, whether it be grants, or debenture or a combination,” he wrote.
"The actual work I'll guesstimate at three to four weeks, but the preparation of tendering documents, the tendering and review of tenders could take months."JAMES MASONCHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERTOWN OF BOWDEN
