Updates from Division One
Happy New Year to you. I hope you had a wonderful break, you’re rejuvenated, and ready to get back to tasks at hand. I for one, with my new purple hair to keep cancer awareness on the top of everyone’s minds (no pun intended) following a successful Movember campaign, am looking for a productive and positive 2020 as 2019 is now in my rear view mirror. With my role as a councillor just past the half way point, there’s still a lot more work to be completed. Hopefully some of the main needs and concerns of our division as well as the County’s get addressed soon. I have certainly learned one thing for sure, government doesn’t move fast.
Bragg Creek Flood Mitigation
Let’s get straight to one of the main topics of conversation on everyone’s mind. And that is the question of “Where’s the flood mitigation at, when will it get started and how much more is it going to cost?” Well, at the last council meeting before the Christmas break, Administration brought us the most recent information from the front lines pertaining to the above question.
They evaluated the cost differential between construction costs estimated in 2015 and the tender price in 2019. Not including contingencies and engineering services, the cost difference is approximately $9.0 million. The main factors that resulted with the budget overrun are due to design changes based on detailed engineering (hydraulic model), conditions of the regulatory approvals, and landowner discussions: Flood barrier structures increased in length from 3,144 metres to 3,922 metres (difference of 778 metres)
- 475 metres of bank stabilization (armouring) not identified in the 2015 cost estimate
- Replacement of Bragg Creek Bridge not identified in 2015 cost estimate
- Level of accuracy between the cost estimate and tender price. The estimate in 2015 was based on 25 line items and 2019 tender price was based on a detailed breakdown of 140 line items
- Inflation over a 5 year period for construction materials and
- Price per metre to construct in 2015 versus 2019 is $4,039 and $5,533, respectively. This does not include the 475 metres of bank armouring noted above.
RVC is a contractor of the GoA for this project. My colleagues and I at RVC will work our butts off to see that this gets built one way or another. Lots of lobbying from RVC to get the GoA moving and the $$$. We’re “lifeless” and not able to grow without being able to provide assurances to businesses and residents now and in the future. Fingers crossed this gets addressed early in the new year.
A New FireSmart Committee
There’s a new FireSmart Committee to kick off the year and congratulations go out to the following folks who have generously devoted their time and energy to work on this volunteer task force on behalf of all residents in Division 1: Peter Dwan, Roche Herbst, Jorge de Freitas, Andrea Sparkes, Charlie McLean, Jeff Hughes and Ryan LeBoutillier. Gary Nikiforuk will continue to chair this group with assistance from RVC Fire Services. Thank you for stepping up. I look forward to sitting down with everyone in the coming weeks to continue to implement the plan and also add fresh ideas which has been a success over the past few years.
Councillor Sanctions
The court date is only weeks away regarding the sanctioned Councillors Crystal Kissell (Division 9), Samantha Wright (Division 8) and Kevin Hanson (Division 3) for breaching Sections #28 and #29 of our Council Code of Conduct where information deemed “Private and Confidential” and for Council’s eyes only were released publicly without Council authorization. Whatever the outcome, it has been a distraction and I’d like to see this put to rest once and for all so we can move forward.
Please go to the RVC website or follow me on You Tube or Facebook as I will try to post more information more frequently regarding our MDP, Rec Board news, etc.
Until next month, stay warm.
— Cheers, Mark
checkMarkk.ca
