The new Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill chalet has just over $100,000 in council-approved cost overruns, according to a change order record.
The Aug. 20 change order record, which Westlock County provided to the Westlock News, shows the project has gone $100,469.64 over its initial $1.82 million budget — about five and a half per cent.
The county will seek to have about half that amount, $50,000 for crawl space remediation after a spring flood, reimbursed through its construction insurance.
“We’ve claimed the reason for the flood in the spring is they were bringing in services, and as a result the water came through where they brought in the services,” interim CAO Rick McDonald said last week. “They are going to be doing the work to clean that out and the insurance is going to pay it.”
Reeve Bud Massey said he and council don’t know for certain if that money will actually come from the construction insurance.
“To our knowledge as a council, it has not been confirmed that insurance will actually cover that,” he said. “It’s in process.”
Other major items on the list, which presumably won’t be covered by insurance, include: $9,800 for modification to a beam; $25,600 for additional piles under the barrier-free ramp; $5,300 for revisions to hold-down anchors; $14,400 to supply and install duct insulation in the attic and $3,400 to provide a pressure-tank closet in the ski patrol room.
There were also a handful of change order that resulted in about $10,000 coming off the contracted price, as well.
One item listed as a contemplated change order but not yet approved is to engage a wastewater engineer, which relates to the ongoing water issues at the site — but Massey said he and council know little of that process.
“Council has been given no information on that, except that there was a discussion and they were looking at engaging that,” he said, adding council doesn’t think anyone has been hired yet.
Nonetheless, the possibility remains for more cost overruns, which Massey said is a major concern, especially as it related to dewatering the site. He raised the possibility the building might have to be lifted, moved or that it may already be compromised, although he conceded nobody on council has the kind of expertise needed to make those determinations.
“We have asked those questions. It’s difficult to have a serious conversation because we are lay-people,” he said. “It’s necessary for us to ask that of the professionals.”
Unfortunately, he said, councillors aren’t convinced they’re getting all the advice they need.
“We’ve discussed administration engaging other professionals to ensure we’ve explored all opportunities and all options to make sure we have the best building for the most competitive price and if mistakes were made, how can we correct those mistakes and do it cost-effectively,” he said.
As for council’s direction in a worst-case scenario, he said it’s too soon to seriously consider any options.
“Is there a question about walking away from the building? It’s $2 million. That’s a very serious question,” he said. “It’s taxpayers’ dollars and our council is very committed to making sure taxpayers get value for their dollars.”
